TRIBAL LIFE...
Tribal Life...
Tanna Island, Vanuatu...untouched, raw, and real...with an active volcano, blue holes, coral reefs, and a society unexploited by today’s consumerist tendencies. There’s very little money, infrastructure, or possessions here, yet these people live full lives, growing, gathering and trading food from the land. A place where family and community are at the core of their values.
Our accommodation was incredibly sparse...almost third world. Our daily meals consisted of chicken or beef with rice and vegetables - a staple meal on the island - yet some days they ran out of food, and although there is cell phone service it is predictably unreliable. At one point there was no running water at our accommodation . There’s no plastic, or tinfoil to wrap your food in as a banana leaf will suffice. There are no shops except for the open air market twice a week and several ‘stores’ selling the absolute necessities.
On this day we decided to venture high into the mountains to meet a traditional tribe - and clearly a very male dominated environment. Which meant the problems they face are universal. The chief’s wife was uncomfortably open about female inequality and on several occasions cornered us desperately asking us to talk to him. Woman are still traded for kava - the traditional island alcohol - and one which is also responsible for a great deal of domestic violence here.
Yet despite all this the island is still beautiful and unspoiled. The people are generous and kind. And those smiles will melt your heart with kindness.