Bringing the nakamal to you

Yesterday afternoon I was having a long discussion with Joel about land law in Vanuatu, and what his vision is for future land development in the country.  He's one of the most outspoken opponents to land lease, sub-division of land, and land survey in the country, and he manages the Land Desk at the Cultural Centre.  We started heading to the Chiefs Nakamal for a shell - a very natural thing, really, an unspoken agreement, we both were just walking toward the nambanga - and this young guy walked past.  Joel called out to him.  He didn't recognize his uncle at first, but then Joel introduced himself to him.  The boy, Joshua, is also man Aneityum, and is the biggest table tennis star in Vanuatu.  That's right, the ping-pong champion of the South Pacific joined us for a shell.

We met up with Jimmy, the former Curator for the National Museum, and decided to pitch in for a plastic of kava and drink it at the small nakamal at VKS so we could sit and enjoy the kava.  It was raining, and Chief's is now notorious for not having the greatest place to sit.  When we got back down to VKS, we met up with Noe, Francis, and Marcellin, started a small fire, found some coconut shells, and storied.

The VKS nakamal that night:

Topics last night covered: Vanuatu's corrupt justice system; Digicel's controversy in North Pentecost (I guess they started building a tower on taboo land); the World Bank's disturbing agenda; where the best (and only) ping pong table is in town (second floor of the MOK store in Namba 3 area, and it's free if anyone is interested); and a mini-arts festival in Southwest Bay Malakula.