The time at Oyster Island has been good. A kettle in the room has meant I can partake in my usual hobby of coffee drinking (Vanuatu coffee is excellent due to the volcanic soil). Basically it has been a holiday from the holiday.

One other nice aspect was having yatchs pull in for a drink and something to eat. This has opened up new and interesting travellers to have a drink and a chat with. Liz proclaimed the night when three yatchs pulled in as the best night for the entire trip (we also beat the late night record).

Five days at Oyster had dented the budget so it was time to venture on. We took the local bus up to Lonnoc in the more remote north (mini bus). The journey was wonderful, the locals on the bus were so colourful, laughing and joking - this place is so wonderful.

After a few hours a beautiful bay and Lonnoc opened up below. The locals called out to the workmen making the road we were on. Up here everyone appears to know everyone and if they don't they still say hello and have a chat.

We were dropped off right outside the bungalow we were going to stay at. Typical construction of coral walls and palm roof. Wendy the local owner appeared and proudly demonstrated the new electric lights that were powered from a generator from six to nine pm. It was as they say rustic but the only place that you can stay without possibly staying with a local family in more rustic conditions.

The white sand beach, offshore islands and turquoise water as seen from the balcony were stunning and a welcome distraction from the rustic accomodation.

Liz does not do creepy crawlies very well so we spent some time getting a mosy net up. Even at Oyster Island cockroaches, giant moths and rats eating the soap were a problem, here it looked worse. Liz finding a large cockroach under the thin matress as she tooked in the net did not help.

That night we sat on the balcony with some candles watching some enormous gecos taking on some equally oversized insects. As nine pm approached we retired to the moldy smelling bed and tried to get comfy (some slats were missing on the bed). Sure enough, as soon as the lights went out various noises were heard overhead.

Luckily nothing got into bed but we did not have a good sleep. Teeth marks in the soap confirmed that there was something bigger than a roach in the room.

Walking to the restaurant we noticed that one of the dogs had a rat and I also saw a rat in the restaurant. But hey ho there were places to explore.