Is the 29 year old Kate Hudson, daughter of the famous actress Goldie Hawn, living in the shadow of the adventures of ‘Indianna Jones’, with her well-kept-secret ingredient for her new hair products? Kate Hudson launched the eco-friendly ‘Vanuatu Complex’, using the vitamin and mineral rich grey volcanic ash from the tropical islands of Vanuatu, in June, believing it was her Blue Moon Opportunity.

The product claims to be able to completely revolutionize hair care. The secret ingredient, volcanic ash, is said to encapsulate ‘fly aways’ (free flying hair).  Currently the products are causing a lather of controversy in the court system. The Californian based  corporation, 220 Laboratories, are claiming compensatory and punitive damages, plus interest, because of the breach of an oral contract with Hudson.

Allegedly there are 17 causes of action filed in the Los Angelos Superior Court against actress Kate Hudson and her hair stylist-guru-to-the-stars, David Babaii. They include breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, fraud, breach of confidence and a heap of other allegations. 220 Laboratories says the duo have breached an oral contract, which established the Laboratories as the sole providers of the raw materials, used in the hair products. However, Hudson’s publicist Brad Cafarelli says Kate has not yet been served with the complaint or sighted any papers from laywers.

It is not very often that we see oral contracts as the centre of a dispute in the court system, unless you live on a tropical island, such as Vanuatu, in the South Pacific. Particularly when that dispute will involve thousands of dollars and high profile public figures. Perhaps they are influenced by the fact that Vanuatu has a history of oral traditions, used to of hand down customs and rites, through songs and dance. Vanuatu has many hidden secrets, as was seen from the recent opening of an exhibition of rare artifacts, in Sydney.  Secret and sacred art that had never before been seen outside of Vanuatu, setting the art world on fire.

The claim is that after months of dealing and negotiating with  the 220 Laboratories, Hudson and Babaii chose to take the list of secret ingredients for their range of hair products, to a competing laboratory, Universal Packaging Systems Inc. Universal agreed to produce the shampoos and conditioners at a lower price. 220 Laboratories now claims it is the same product that Kate and David discussed with them. Even down to a similar name and packaging.

Is this more of Kate’s ‘Fool’s Gold’? Is she trying to live in real life, what was only a plot for a movie, of does she truly believe she has come up with her life changing Blue Moon Opportunity?

The prosecuting attorney is Matthew McConaughey, who allegedly has a rich romantic past with Hudson. Will this complicate things even further and does Kate really not know anyone in 220 Laboratories, as she is now claiming? The water gets muddier and muddier, or is that ashier and ashier?

The question is, are Kate’s hair products the real thing, or just a cheap imitation? Either way, it would be worth a trip to Vanuatu, just to try the volcanic ash for yourself. Even if the ash doesn’t prove to be the revolutionary new product that Kate claims it is, standing on the lip of a real live volcano, Mt. Yassur, is an earth shaking and unforgettable experience. Well worth the trip, to a little known South Pacific tropical island, that is the home of travel adventure and extreme sport.

Husdon and Babaii are partners in the company ‘David Babaii for Wild Aid’, which donates 10% of profits to WildAid, a wildlife conservation group.

If you know anything more about this, please add.

You can find out more about the author and a genuine Blue Moon Opportunity at http://winaresort.com

Finally fed up with the spoiled, extravagant and ‘brattitude’ behavior of the most outrageous divas ever of  ‘My Super Sweet 16‘,  parents have joined together to exile their teenagers to live with indigenous tribes of far away countries, such as Vanuatu in the South Pacific.

‘My Super Sweet 16’, a virtual reality TV program, takes you on the roller coaster ride, in a behind the scenes visit to the drama behind the ‘Party to end all Parties’. It includes jealous siblings, stressed parents and school rivals. The teens’ methods are often extreme and often extravagant, as they endeavor to ensure the milestone of their 16th birthday, is commemorated with the ultimate celebration and beats everyone else.

In a new season, MTV is launching a ‘My Super Sweet 16 Exiled‘. Past stars in the show are, however, being exiled, by their frustrated parents, to different remote areas of the world, in an attempt to get the spoiled divas to gain a different perspective of the world.

• Marissa to the hills of India
• Chelsi to the frozen tundra of Norway
• Melany to the high altitudes of Peru
• Amanda to the wilds of Kenya
• Ava to the jungles of Thailand
• Bjorn sent to the deserts of Moroco
• Sierra to the bush of Vanuatu.

Sierra, the daughter of the famous Cee-Lo Thomas DeCarlo Callaway) and Amereican hip hop, funk, soul musician, has learned how to be the ultra Prima Donna. This she clearly showed in her behaviour at her legendary Sweet 15 birthday party. Three years later, Sierra is more of a diva than ever before.

Her parents decided to show Sierra that everything won’t be handed to her on a silver platter for the rest of her life. They agreed to let her experience being exiled to the volcanic tropical island archipelago of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, a top travel adventure destination. The aim was for her to learn that it’s not “who you know”, but “who you are”, that earns respect in the remote bush of Vanuatu. Sierra will find out what it’s like to eat, live and sleep the way the villagers have lived for generations.

Having walked for many hours to reach the village, Sierra will find there is no electric light switch to turn on after dark, just the gentle glow of the firelight. No hot and cold running water for a shower. If Sierra is lucky she may have a pipe overhead that yields cold water, otherwise it is a dip in the river, fully clothed, that becomes a daily shower.

Food won’t be purchased from a shop and Sierra will have to walk, with the other ladies, out to the village garden for daily supplies. Wood will be gathered for the fire, in order to cook the meals. The pig that has been chosen to produce the  highly prized curled pig tusks, (a form of currency in Vanuatu), will have to be hand fed.

Sierra will learn how cut and prepare the pandanus leaves and weave the coveted ceremonial mats, another form of currency. She will sleep on a mat on the coral, or earthen floor. If she is to be given the luxury of a bed, it will be made of split bamboo cut in half, with no mattress. The smoke from the fire in the middle of the room will keep the mosquitoes at bay.

Food will be eaten off carved wooden plates and there may be wooden utensils. Otherwise, fingers are put to good use. Fresh coconut juice will replace Sierra’s daily coffee intake.

In the evening the elders of the village will pass on the ancient traditions through stories, sand drawing, songs and dance. Sierra may be drawn into playing games organized for the children where they challenge the spirits of the night.

Sierra will come to understand the value of custom medicine from the local plants, as the usual medical help Sierra is used to, is only found miles away, at a small first-aid clinic, which has been supplied by one of the donor-aid groups.

I live in Vanuatu and know full well what Sierra will experience.There is no doubt that Sierra will be thoroughly challenged by her Vanuatu experience. Hopefully the friendliness and openness of the Ni-Vanuatu people will more than compensate for the strangeness of her surroundings. Sierra cannot return to her  modern, well equipped home, the same Prima Dona who left. I hope we hear more of the results from this experiment by the parents. It is hoped the spoiled brats will take time out to realize their parents are providing them with a unique Blue Moon Opportunity, that could completely change their lives.

Take time out to find out more about the author and a genuine Blue Moon Opportunity at http://winaresort.com

We offer heartiest congratulations to all the athletes who have won gold at the Olympics. Well done. They made the absolute most of their once in a lifetime Blue Moon Opportunities. They took up the challenge and succeeded.

However, the recent tragedy on K2, the second highest mountain in the world, highlights the ultimate in extreme adventure sports. Climbing to the roof of the world, some say is a harder challenge even than winning gold at the Olympics.

Not only is mountaineering life-threatening, it is a very solo act. No leaping up onto a podium to receive a medal in front of millions of views. There are no accolades from adoring fans. No millions witnessing their success, or failure. Other climbers barely register when someone else has finally reached the summit. Mountain climbing is a totally self-reliant sport, with fellow climbers often unable to assist their companions. All their energy is spent on their own survival.

It is great to see the Olympic athletes standing on the podium enjoying their hard earned glory. Yet it is only a short step down, to rightly enjoy the after-games parties.

However, once the climber has summitted the mountain, the job is only half done. No helicopter ride out. No slippery slide to take you to the bottom, unless you want to end up in a body bag. They know that if they are hurt, or injured in the upper reaches, there is no rescue mission for the climber and little or no communication with the world below.

Every painful step that was made in the ascent, has to be slowly and treacherously repeated on the way back down again, after spending just a few minutes, on the extreme roof of the world. Climbers know to stay longer is to risk their life. Time is of the essence, yet at some of the bottle necks on the climb, precious moments are lost, waiting for other climbers to move past.

The youngest person to climb Everest was a 15 year old. The oldest climber being a Japanese 71 year-old last year, until he was followed by a Nepalese 76 year-old in 2008. The 76 year-old says he may even repeat the climb again. If he had climbed Mt Everest as a young man it would have been a shorter climb, as each year Everest rises a few millimeters, due to geological forces.

At the Olympics no competitor has to worry about the rubbish they create. Throw it in a bin and walk away, or if you are in an event, throw it on the ground and someone else will pick it up. Not on the mountain! Every expedition is responsible to remove its litter, particularly empty oxygen tanks.

Over the years the mountain has claimed 210 lives. At least 120 corpses still remain bound in the ice and snow. Some corpses are even visible to other climbers. These bodies are not left unburied from lace of care. In the most difficult areas, climbers can’t put their own life at risk to bury those already dead.

Mt Everest, named Sagarmatha (goddess of the sky) by the local Sherpa people, is considered a jealous goddess. She rigorously punishes illicit sex on the mountain and not always on the perpetrators.

Over 3500 Nepalese have climbed the mountain. Appa Sherpa has climbed Everest 11 times, while Ang Rita Sherpa amd Babi Chiri Sherpa have both climbed 10 times. These Sherpa guides climb without oxygen. Their home base is well over 12,000 feet above sea level.

Everest is not the only mountain to act ferociously towards her conquerors. She has a far more dangerous sister known as K2, nicknamed, ‘The mountain that invites death’. Recently 11 lives were lost on her treacherous slopes, in the worst climbing incident for K2 since 13 climbers died over a two-week span in 1986.

From Olympics to extreme adventure sports there will always be men and women for whom the unattainable has a special attraction. They are not experts. They just have higher ambitions than most people. They do however, have four things in common,

• Faith in themselves
• Driving ambition
• Great determination
• And endurance.

You may not aspire to climb mountains, but there are opportunities that come your way once in a lifetime - a Blue Moon Opportunity. Like these mountaineers all you can do is give it your best shot. There will always be people out there who will criticize you for it. In the end, it has to be the satisfaction of knowing you gave it our best. And you never know - you could be the one of the successful elite who control their own destiny.

Take time out to find out more about the author and a genuine Blue Moon Opportunity at http://winaresort.com

Women in politics deserve all the encouragement they can get, in a male dominated arena. It is great to see Ms Hilary Clinton once more in the headlines now backing Barack Obama. A world away on the tropical island of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, another woman faces unbelievable odds, in an even more male oriented arena, Mrs Jenny Ligo. Jenny is taking up the challenge to go for her once in a lifetime Blue Moon Opportunity. An opportunity that will completely change her life, no matter the outcome.

Jenny follows in the footsteps of her famous aunty when she was granted a chiefly title by the head of the national Council of Chiefs, Chief Paul Tahi, earlier this year. Jenny had to ceremoniously killing eleven pigs, to gain that honour and in order to enter the brutal field of politics. A feat she also did at her wedding to Joe Ligo late last year, on the island of Pentecost.

Jenny is the niece of political and women’s rights’ activist, Grace Molisa. Jenny’s Aunt became the first woman to hold the post of Private Secretary to the country’s first Prime Minister, Father Walter Lini, after the nation’s Independence, 28 years ago.

It is now only weeks to the general election, in Vanuatu and Mrs Ligo has returned to her home, the tropical island of Ambae. All should have been plain sailing for this courageous lady, as she travelled to most parts of the island on her election campaign. Wrong!

Chief Moli Tari, speaking on behalf of some of the chiefs of the island of Ambae, says that Jenny  is not allowed to contest in her home island, according to custom principles. It seems strange that this principle never floated to the surface at Jenny’s pig killing ceremony. Perhaps ancient custom principles of the island change from day to day?

Because of her marriage to Joe Ligo on Penetecost, the Chief told Jenny, she can only contest the Ambae constituency on one condition. She must perform another custom ceremony, by presenting the chiefs with ten tusked pigs.

Now, Jenny can’t just slip out and buy 10 tusked pigs, like going to the supermarket. Pig and their tusks are real currency in parts of Vanuatu. They are the wealth of every village and one of their highly prized possessions.

Pigs, chosen to produce the highly valued tusks, have their top teeth knocked out.  The bottom teeth then grow into the coveted curled tusk. It is then necessary for the pig to be hand fed for the remainder of its life and tied up, in order to prevent the animal breaking or damaging the valuable tusks.

Where does Mrs Ligo find the 10 pigs she may have to pay to Chief Moli and his group of chiefs? Particularly as Chief Moli is not a resident of the island of Ambae. Will Jenny have to present the pigs on the island of Ambae, or to the chief residing on the distant island of Santo? Will the pigs have to be flown to the island of choice, for the presentation as going by ship could not be an option.The elections would be over by the time the pigs reached their destination. This may make Vanuatu, one of the first countries in the world, where pigs can fly.

Two more chiefs have now stepped into the political arena. Chief Benwel Garae of North Ambae and Chief Pascal Sese of Lolopuepue. They come from the chiefly rank of Mambuhangvulu, the second highest rank of the Ambae chiefly system. They told the local newspaper in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, the call made by Chief Moli is childish and has no substance.

Jenny would be happy to meet face to face with Chief Moli, but for some unknown reason, Chief Moli, living on the island of Santo, is not available to see Mrs Ligo.

Jenny truly deserves to be congratulated and seen as one of our modern day heroines. Jenny could make a difference in the education of the next generation. A soft spoken mother, with iron strong determination, Jenny will look after the future of the children.

Postscript: Jenny didn’t get elected this time round, so is now planning her next election campaign for four years time. I hope she makes it then. Jenny however, is an inspiration for other women to give it a go in a male orientated society in the tropics. Jenny won’t give up until her Blue Moon Opportunity comes to pass.

Take time out to find out more about the author and a genuine Blue Moon Opportunity at http://winaresort.com

The prestigious  Annandale Gallery, built as a Methodist Church in 1860, converted to a Masonic Hall in the early 1920’s now holds a unique position in the landscape of Sydney, Australia. The gallery owners have  earned their reputation in the art world, through specializing in showing the best of Australian and overseas contemporary art.

July 22nd was exceptional from the outset. The invitation spoke about rare art on view for the first time, from a remote tropical island, of the tiny South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu. Secret ceremonial art which had never before been seen outside Vanautu. A group of nine Ni-Vanuatu artists, dressed in full regalia, would perform a secret sacred dance, from the island of Ambrym, at the opening. It all sounded rather mysterious and lots of fun.

Gentle island music greeted the guests as they arrived at the tall imposing building in the heart of a trendy upmarket inner Sydney suburb. Sipping a glass of French champagne the guests buzzed with excitement, as they admired the beautifully carved wooden figures and masks. Among the artifacts was a four metre wooden tam tam (tall thin log drum), one of the world’s largest free standing musical instruments.

“This art is unique to Vanuatu and traditionally kept hidden from the outside world, because it belongs to a secret and sacred society.” David Baker, the Gallery’s curator described the art as stunning.  “Only similar piece has been found in a British museum. The art could  easily be mistaken for any piece of modern artwork. This work has the art world agog.”

Suddenly a barely clad figure stepped up to the huge drum and began a steady methodical beat on the lip of the wooden carved face. A face that had been stylized  to represent an ancestor.  The slit up the front of the drum allowing the ancestor to speak once more. The eyes representing the morning star.

Four dancers, covered from head to toe, in what looked like a tent outfit made of dry leaves, with a painted wooden mask, topped with  chicken feathers, covered the faces of the men. In a slow rhythmic, almost dreamlike shuffle, they advanced to the center of the room. With a monotone chant, they moved as one. In the middle of these four dancers, rhythmically stomping, clapping and chanting, came five other men dressed, in the full regalia of their secret society, a bright red hibiscus flower over one ear. ‘Full regalia’ being a misnomer.

Shock registered on the Sydney matrons’  faces as the five mature Ambrym men, dressed only with a wide bark belt slung low over their hips and a Nambas penis sheath, barely covering the essential part of their manhood, concentrated on their complicated sacred dance. The performers appeared to be unaware of the sensation they were causing, as their gleaming well formed buttocks jiggled up and down in time to the beat.

“It used to be that if a woman looked on these dancers she was killed. Even today, women are not permitted to touch these men,” one of the guests laughed, as she explained to me later, what she had been told. “When the dancers first entered the room it was rather difficult to know where to look. I haven’t seen that much bare buttock since my four children were babies.”

Two cultures could not be more different. Ladies who never even think about electricity when they casually switch on the lights, or put their hands under the tap for running water. Ladies who drive in their shiny modern cars to well stocked supermarkets to buy groceries from all over the world. Before them were men who sleep on woven mats on a coral floor. Water seldom comes from a tap and electricity is non existent in their home villages. Communication is often limited to the mystical language of the gong. Their supermarket is a ride in a dug out canoe to glean the fish from the ocean, or a walk out the to village garden.

Yet these dancers come from a nation voted as the Happiest Country on Earth in 2006. What is their secret? Their environmental footprint is one of the lightest in the world. Their longevity surpassing that of many other nations. A society where family relationships are valued far above possessions.

The head on collision of two cultures will long be remembered in the minds of all who attended the opening on July 22nd.

Take time out to find out more about the author and a genuine Blue Moon Opportunity at http://winaresort.com

Kill or be Killed! It’s the bank or you! Don’t give up and quit before the ‘fat lady’ sings.

My husband died unexpectedly and left me with two million dollars of assets, but one million dollars of debt.
The ‘BANK’ dutifully offered its condolences in muted tones when its representatives attended the funeral .
One week’s grace was all they gave me.
Lined up like a naughty schoolgirl in the headmaster’s office, the ultimatums began.

‘Sell, sell, sell!’ was the long low growl that thundered across the desk and reverberated off the bank walls. This was payback time for when my now dead husband, had banged his fist on the bank manager’s desk in frustration. They handed  me over to a nice looking , charming 35 year old, who just happened to be divorced.
He would be my friend and help me sort it all out. Ha!

Friend! Over the weeks and months to follow, his job had only one directive. “Force her to go into voluntary bankruptcy!” The long hard push had began. “No woman would be left in control of the ‘R&L Group’ as they called us.

One by one I was forced to sell the the properties  under market price, through pressure from the bank. It was a case of sell to survive and no money from the sale was permitted to slip over to help any of the three businesses keep going.

No this story is not from the dim dark ages, it was only a few years ago. At least that’s how it seems in my memory. I finally made a pact with the Trouble-Shooter Bank Manager. “The day I throw the last cheque down on your desk and set myself FREE of the ‘BANK’, You will take me to lunch at one of the most expensive places in town, the Sheraton Hotel.

One year ground into three long heart-breaking years of sheer blood sweat and tears. I only just managed to keep my head above water, as I struggled to sell off the properties and rid myself of the businesses. All at a loss. Finally the day dawned. Dressed to Kill, in my top gear, high heels and all, I walked into the bank and slapped the last payment down on his desk. I was free! “You can take me to lunch, now!”

Yep, I got  my fancy lunch, supposedly courtesy of the ‘BANK’, but maybe it really came from the pocket of a Special-Trouble-Shooter Bank Manager who happened to be 35, divorced and good looking.

Now banks around the world are once more picking off their victims. Sure, some banks have become victims themselves, but along the way they made a lot of money off little people like you and me. My advice to you is don’t ever give up. Remember the opera is not over until the ‘fat lady’ sings. Bullies are actually easily frightened. Arrogance is a sign of inadequacy, the loudest person is usually the least sincere and the flatterers tend to be vicious.

Don’t be put down by what people appear to be, even banks. You have more courage in you than you realize. I survived and so can you. It’s just called, go a little bit further. You may be surprised at the end of the day.

Postcript: I recently shared this story with anther bank manager. He acted horrified that such a thing could happen. Where does this guy live? Don’t tell me they don’t all know what happens in the real world.

Take time out to find out more about the author and a genuine Blue Moon Opportunity at http://winaresort.com

In the tropical islands of Vanuatu, the people have orally passed down the stories and traditions of their ancient culture from generation to generation. A culture where many villagers still live in the traditional ways of their ancestors.

On the island of Ambrym, there lies a large rock in the Bay of Olal. The locals call it Pouviaserole. It tells of a monster that once was the guardian of the sacred waters of the bay.

Guardian Pouviaserole, was a marine beast of huge proportions, with a large horn in the middle of its head. Tradition says it had the appearance of something between a savage dog and a wild boar.

The children from the nearby villages were unaware that the innocent looking log on the beach, was really a transformed Pouviaserole, as the happily swam and played in the beautiful tepid waters of the bay.

The children would pick up the log and throw it into the water. Peals of laughter would fill the air as they watched the log drift back up on the beach again.

Suddenly, Pouviaserole would transform itself into the enormous monster it really was and pounce on the terrified children. A tasty meal of child was just what Pouviaserole was after. His belly filled with children, the beast would slink back into its underwater lair, where It would hide undetected for many months, until it once again repeated the deception.

Eventually the Chieftan of the neighbouring village declared that particular area of the ocean off limits. The children were no longer allowed to swim there.

After some time Pouviaserole realised that no more children were visiting his beach. He went to the village looking for them. Slithering along the ground it licked its lips in anticipation of the coming feast.

When the strongest and most handsome child ran to where the log silently lay on the footpath, Pouviaserole hastily snatched up the unsuspecting child and swallowed him down. Unfortunately it was the chief’s son.

The Chief, enraged with grief, declared revenge on the guardian of the sacred bay. He ordered the men of the village to hide themselves in the bush surrounding the beach.

With a growling stomach, the monster needed to hunt for more food. One child could never satisfy its hunger. It had only slithered a small way out of the water when the revenging hunters were upon it.

In spite of the humongous size of the beast, the men of the village rushed fearlessly forward. The first spear pierced the monster’s eye. The next hit it in the stomach. Grievously wounded the beast refused to die on the beach in front of its assailants. Slowly it slithered back into the sea. It was determined to take its last breath in the privacy of its lair.

Fearing the escape of the beast, one valiant warrior violently threw his spear with all his the strength he could muster.The spear planted itself in the neck of the Pouviaserole. Blood stained the sacred water a violent red. The monster remained immobile in an attempt to protect itself from the arrows and spears, which began to rain down upon it. Quickly Pourviaserole transformed itself into a rock.

The monster gained immortality even though it had lost its life. The carnivorous rock is still known as the guardian of the sacred bay and can be seen today in the popular travel destination, Bay of Olal.

Vanuatu is rich in tales such as Pouviaserole, as can be found in the book ‘Nabanga’, an illustrated anthology of the oral traditions of Vanuatu. The ancient secrets of Vanuatu society are slowly being revealed, as seen in a recent art exhibition in Australia. Art, which has never before been seen outside Vanuatu, has the art world agog.

While we may read these anthology tales with some amusement, there is an underlying tragedy in this beautiful tropical island archipelago of the Happiest Country on Earth.

Throughout Vanuatu children miss out on an education. Education is not free and remains beyond the realm of most of the isolated villagers, who live in a ‘no-cash’ economy, on under $1 per day. Paying school fees is totally beyond their meagre incomes. For the villagers the disastrous consequences are…

26% of Vanuatu children will never go to school at all.
Only 55.8% of Vanuatu kids will get to grade 6
Of those only 18.2% will go to high school

Education is not seen as a priority for the government of Vanuatu. In late 2007 they admitted they did not have the resources, or the finances to provide education beyond the main islands.

You can make a real difference in their lives and assist these children who not only appreciate their own rich cultural heritage, but are hungry to embrace the benefits of the 21st Century. Children who will never see the inside of a high school classroom without outside assistance.

Take time out to find out more about the author and a genuine Blue Moon Opportunity at http://winaresort.com