Lying in the shadow of the live volcano, Mt Yasur, in Sulphur Bay, on the remote tropical island of Tanna, Vanuatu, is the home of the ‘Jon Frum’ movement. This is one of the only remaining ‘cargo’ cults left in the world.

It was formed when ‘John from America’, supposedly an American medic, literally dropped in on this ancient culture, in a plane, distributing medicine and gifts to the local people. It was just before the time when American troops, stationed in Efate and Santo, were assigned to protect the South Pacific islands against a Second World War Japanese invasion.

The cult urged the local people to turn away from the aggressive teaching of the Christian missionaries and to put their faith in their own customs. The arrival of the white man had introduced many new diseases to the local people, causing the population of some of the Vanuatu islands to be almost wiped out.  A further decimation of the population occurred through ‘black-birding’ when thousands of Vanuatu males were conned to go to work in sugar plantations in Queensland, Australia.

Though the true source of Jon Frum is rather blurred, each Friday, outlying villagers walk to Sulphur Bay to honour Jon Frum. The men sing and play guitars while the women dance around them in the light of kerosene lamps. They call to the cowboy spirits, Cowboy Billy, Cowboy Jimmy and Cowboy Steven. These will help them communicate with Jonn Frum. Following a deep rumble, Mt Yasur in the background, lights up the night sky with spurts of glowing lava.

Many of the followers of Jon Frum believe he lives in the volcano. Accompanied by 5,000 troops he will bring sack loads of gifts and liberate Tanna to a glorious new age. At one point the villagers cleared enough bush to make an airstrip and erected a bamboo control tower, hoping to encourage Jon Frum to return in his plane.

For fifty years the Jon Frum followers have paraded on the February 15th, under the leadership of Chief Isaac Wan, in home-made US uniforms, beneath the Stars and Stripes flag. Playing the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ on bamboo flutes and carrying bamboo weapons, they hope to entice another deliver of ‘cargo’.

In 1957 the American warship, the Yankee, visited Tanna. The commander, at the request of local authorities, tried to explain to the villagers there was no such person as Jon Frum in the US. The local villagers dismissed the commander as being ‘a false American’.

David Attenborough, brother of filmmaker Richard Attenborough, one of the first foreigners to find the Jon Frum movement in the 1960’s, asked the people of Tanna, ‘Why wait for someone who never comes?’  One of the islanders is reported to have replied, adding, “You have been waiting for 2,000 years for Jesus Christ.”

Vanuatu is the tropical island ‘Must See’ travel adventure destination of the South Pacific. The perfect place to find a Blue Moon Opportunity, one that will set you free.

If you would like to know more about the author and a Blue Moon Opportunity in Vanuatu take a few minutes to check out Win A Resort

We waited for our Sunday lunch to be served on the tropical island of Vanuatu, cooled by the gentle tropical breeze. We sat watching the rays of the sun dance and sparkle off the brilliant blue-green waters of the South Pacific. As we sipped a delicate Australian Sauvignon Blanc, Just a few feet away three young Ni-Vanuatu boys cast a net in the time honoured traditions of their forefathers.

Slowly and with great care the boys trawled their net onto the white coral shore, in their minds retracing the images of having watched their brothers, fathers and grandfathers before them enact this timeless custom. Searching incredulously for the smallest of fish caught between the folds of the net, the delighted beams on the boys faces told it all. Victoriously they caughts each tiny fish between forefinger and thumb before being deposited into an awaiting 300ml green Tusker beer bottle (the locally brewed and well accepted beer).

Watching the young boys acting out the traditions of their people was a relaxing and enjoyable pastime for us. A welcome break after our 25k eco-tour bike ride, snorkelling over the reef admiring the numerous coloured fish, enjoying an early morning kayak paddle up the lagoon, or lazing in the warm sun at the resort’s swimming pool.

We thought these industrious young boys were gathering the fish in hope of catching enough to make a meal, just like some people gather whitebait. We did wonder though if the fish would be ‘cooked’ in the bottle long before the boys managed to get them home.

Time and again the young boys repeated the process, as the water glistened off their fit brown bodies. Each drag of the net managed to gather at least a couple of the tiny creatures.

Finally, one of the boys produced a plastic bottle around which was wound a long length of fishing line. It took several minutes for him to extract a fish from the bottle. With great care he attached the tiny ‘catch’ to an equally tiny fishing hook.

At last satisfied, he plunged out towards the deeper water, where he cast his fishing line for the real task at hand – catch a good size fish for the family’s evening meal.

This was not a game to these young men, but a real-life endeavour, that would sustain them in the years ahead. Education in Vanuatu is not free and over 25% of the children never have the opportunity to go to school. The ingenuity of taking hold of opportunities that present themselves on a daily basis, such as a discarded glass beer bottle, turns the ordinary into something special, (a Blue Moon Opportunity). This combined with the traditions of their parents, will keep these children alive. Our challenge is to help them move into the 21st century without losing their rich heritage.

To learn more about the author and take a few minutes to look at a Blue Moon Opportunity (one that could completely change your life) check out Win a Resort

Vanuatu, a peaceful tropical island nation in the South Pacific, witnessed an unprecedented custom ceremony when Chief Joshua Batakoro Vanua,  father of Lee Tamata, a high risk escapee from the local jail, ceremoniously handed over ten pigs to the community heads, in a plea for forgiveness for the misdemeanors of his son.

The community leaders included the new Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Edward Natapei. It was the highest price ever to be paid in the tradition of the island of Pentecost custom peace ceremony.

Earlier in the year a Pentecost chief had demanded that Jenny Lido, a woman candidate pay 10 pigs in a custom ceremony, for her right to continue to contest the country’s general elections. Jenny had already performed a 10 pig-killing custom ceremony, simply to be permitted to be allowed to enter the male dominated arena of politics.

When Chief Joshua found out how much damage and fear his son had caused to members of the local community in Port Vila, he felt compelled to offer the pigs on behalf of his son, asking for the leaders forgiveness.

Isolated away from his family and home island, Chief Joshua spent three months in the capital Port Vila. He was forced to sell kava (a local made drink) and taro in order to be able to raise the funds to buy the pigs for the peace ceremony.

It was a very expensive exercise for the father, as pigs are the wealth of a village and ten mature pigs highly prized. Curled pig tusks are used as currency in some remote areas of the Vanuatu islands, with the Tari Bunia Bank having 14 branches. The bank gives loans, issues cheque books, and has reserves, all on the currency of pig tusks. While there is a vault to the bank there is no need for the use of locks . “The bank is protected by spirits and snakes,” proudly says the bank manager.

“My son has erred and I ask for your forgiveness,” said Chief Joshua, who spent time counseling his son while in Vila. The Chief will now return home with assurances from his son that he will serve the full term of his sentence and act with respect towards the law.  Lee’s name means peace in the language of his home island, Pentecost.

Vanuatu is a ‘Must See’ travel adventure destination of the South Pacific and the place to see a Blue Moon Opportunity that can be your chance to be set free.

If you would like to know more about the author and a Blue Moon Opportunity take a few minutes to check out Win A Resort

Some kids have a lot more courage than adults often give them credit for. This was clearly shown when five year-old Jaeden Vasqeuez decided to take a Blue Moon Opportunity, (one that changes your life) and explore the big wide world of the Bronx without mum.

Jaeden lives across the street from the Public School 111 and was meant to go to the Beacon after-school program next door. However, the lovely yellow school bus looked much more attractive to the five-year old.

Sitting quietly with the other kids, Jaeden watched the world race by. At the last stop, the 60 year-old grandmother bus driver, Ewers, called, ‘Everyone out’. What else could young Jaeden do, but get out with the last of the kids? Ewers, now suspended without pay, did not know that Jaeden’s mothers wasn’t among the women waiting for their offspring.

Not daunted by the situation, Jaeden picked an unsuspecting Good Samaritan to tell her “I’m lost.” Keeping her cool, the Good Samaritan rang Jaeden’s school. It was Jaeden’s mother who went to pieces, when a strange woman on the end of the phone said, “Excuse me but I have your son.” The Good Samaritan leapt into a cab with Jaeden and returned him to his home.

A week on and Bonilla, Jaeden’s mum has received no explanation from the Education Department, the school, or the bus company. She will now sue the City, as the parents of Primary School 111 watch on in shock and horror. If their kids aren’t safe as school, where are they safe?

The question remains, who was at fault. The person who put Jaeden on the school bus, the grandmotherly bus driver, Jaeden because he wanted to explore, or the yellow school bus for looking so inviting and tempting to a five-year old? The bus driver says she is being used as a scapegoat.

There is no doubt, that Jaeden showed the same travel adventure spirit  which lead pioneers to embark on perilous and unknown journeys in the past. Journeys that founded many a colony. Journeys that led people to have the courage to go for that Blue Moon Opportunity of a lifetime. Not all succeeded, but it was better to try and fail, rather than not to try at all. For most though, like Jaeden, they embarked on life changing experiences.

Are there any other incidents out there like this one?

You can find  out more about the author at http://winaresort.com

New Zealand is renowned for its breath taking scenery and safety in the bush. There are few countries in the world where you can experience travel adventure and wander through the bush with no dangerous species lurking in the shadows. However under the majestic Southern Alps, there now lurks a killer that has become a deadly menace.

Ross Ivey owns 20,000 ha of high-country sheep station, next to the Mt Cook national park. Now he looks over his shoulder in fear, as he rides across his property. A rogue Killer Parrot is on the loose, who prefers its food live. It thought a large flock of sheep was a Kea-purpose-built Blue Moon Opportunity, (something that completely changes the life).

A few days ago one of Ross Ivey’s sheep died of blood poisoning, because a kea had pecked through the skin of the sheep and eaten a kidney.

The kea, one of the few alpine parrots in the world, has been classed as a protected species only since 1986. There are only around 1000 to 5000 birds left, all living in the Alps in the high-country of the South Island of New Zealand. Donald Aubrey, Federated Farmers high country spokesman said, “Kea attacks were a long established hazard for high-country farmers.”

Keas are an extremely inquisitive birds and quite mischievous by nature. They have been proven to be able to solve logical puzzles, such as pushing or pulling things in order to get food. Sometimes they work in teams, in order to arrive at a particular objective. Keas are also known to be very partial to picking off the rubber seal around windscreens on parked cars. They are the most intelligent of the bird species.

There was a time when the farmers could protect their flocks of sheep by shooting rogue keas, but this is no longer permissible. The Killer Parrot knows all this and is squawking in loud raucous glee. It has acres and acres of wonderful live-meals-on-the-hoof to choose from.

Some people are suggesting the only solution to this feathered problem, is to capture the Killer Parrot and relocate it.The rogue killer may find its Blue Moon Opportunity changes more than it bargained for.

However Ross Ivey believes, “With the intelligence of the Killer and the ruggedness of the terrain, it is more than likely the kea will find its way back to its living pantry, no matter how far away it is taken.” Ross and his neighbouring farmers are simply going to have to live with the problem and keep a vigilant eye on their flocks of sheep, until a solution can be evolved.

Does anyone know of any other killer birds that act in this manner?

If you want to find  out more information about the author, or a genuine blue moon opportunity go to http://winaresort.com

It seems Killer Rabbits keep surfacing, even in the tropical island nation of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific.

The original ‘Killer Rabbit’ was a fictional beast created for the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This was followed the President Carter’s incident when the Killer Rabbit decided to take a swim.

In Monty Python and the Holy Grail , Bors, one of knights of King Arthur’s round table, boldly approached the innocent looking Guardian Beast, known as the White Rabbit. Bor’s head is chopped off by the White Rabbit, to the sound of a tin opener at work. The knights then attacked in force, only to be driven off by the ‘Killer White Rabbit’.

The Killer Rabbit made its next appearance in a musical, Spamalot, inspired by the Monty Python movie, which in turn was inspired by Shakespeare’s, Hamelot. Since then there have been many Killer Rabbit products: ‘Killer Rabbit slippers’, ‘Killer Rabbit dolls’, ‘Killer Rabbit Tshirts’, even a Jimmy Carter Killer Rabbit attack.

President Jimmy Carter, on a break from the pressures of office, was fishing in a pond in a canoe, when he saw a desperate looking rabbit swimming straight for him. “It’s nostrils flared, hissing menacingly, with its teeth flashing, it was frantically struggling to reach a safe haven,” was the report from one eye witness. No doubt it brought back many memories to the President, of tales told in his childhood, of killer rabbits in the swamps. The President’s Secret Service men were caught flatfooted.

As he was without a weapon of any kind,  the President  was forced to use the oar against the monster rabbit, in an attempt to defend himself. Fortunately for (we are not sure who), the rabbit decided to turn tail swim for the shore line. It was thought, a photo taken of the incident by a White House photographer, suffered the fate of all ‘Killer Rabbit‘ photos. Flushed down the Presidential toilet, never to see the light of day again (until now).

Then Dean Hunt’s killer rabbit surfaced and ran riot on the social network, hitting the front page of DIGG.
Rumour has it that Dean’s Killer Rabbit has a Killer Rabbit mate who has immigrated to Vanuatu, a tiny tropical island nation, that is the travel adventure destination of the South Pacific. It has been reported that Dean’s Killer Rabbit may be holding a secret tryst with MKR-Vu (Ms Killer Rabbit, Vanuatu) later this year, at Resort, Vanuatu. Stay tuned as we bring you more in the ‘Killer Rabbit’ series.

You can find  out more about the author at http://winaresort.com

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

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