Vanuatu photo diary

Words can’t adequately describe paradise. Check out lastminute lovely Kirsty’s photo blog post of Ratua Private Island – Espiritu Santos, Vanuatu.

From the moment it came into view over the horizon, we knew we were in for a treat. Staying at Ratua was like living in a dream for six glorious days.
Aside from a slight run in with a small (and very protective) fish with a case of the bitey-bites (nothing serious) in our first hour, our stay at Ratua was something we’ll always cherish.
The resort is located on a private, 146 acre island and is home to delightful, 200-year-old Javanese huts that were dismantled, shipped and rebuilt on an island paradise, 30 minutes by boat from Espiritu Santos, Vanuatu. It’s an eco friendly resort that is moving towards being entirely self-sustained, with its own generators, gardens, livestock and an abundant supply of fish.

The resort vege garden

No matter how many pictures I took I don’t think I was able to capture the beauty of the place, you really have to visit to see what I mean but here is my attempt.
As your boat docks at the jetty and the welcome Tum Tum is sounding, you can tell this is a special place.

Hello paradise!

We stayed in the Crocodile hut with one bedroom and a separate room bathroom that backed right onto the beach. We felt secluded even though we were part of the resort.

Home sweet home

The view

Digesting all the food we ate was hard work, so you really need to relax as much as you can in your private courtyard.

Our daily ritual

Even the activity shed is charming and there is so much you CAN do if you are motivated, including kayaking, snorkelling, fishing, scuba diving and even spear fishing (if you’re that way inclined).

Activity shed

As well as a selection of pastries (that Mr LML could not resist) breakfast includes eggs-how-you-like-it served from this adorable cart.

Breakfast egg cart

One of the free activities is cycling around the Island. It only takes about an hour, and is really interesting to check out the Nakamal, horses, vege gardens, where the local staff live and the owner’s personal airstrip (yes, you read that correctly).

Nakamal

Resident pet goat Julie is well trained.

Resident goat

Sea life is never far away, be it the anchovy school lingering near the dock, or the Trevally that chase them into the shore for a lunchtime show (two metres from our table one lunchtime there was quite a show of fish jumping out of the water).

The view from reception

If you can drag yourself away from the resort, a morning kayaking out to the blue hole is well worth the effort. And it’s only half a day so not too much exertion.

The snorkeling out from the resort is incredible and was our daily exercise. We saw huge corals, octopus, trevally, all sorts of reef fish and even a lobster. This is Mr LML trying to get a glimpse of the local dugong who was out front.

Swim time

OMG – Just sitting in this spa is incredible as you look out to the ocean but getting a massage here is absolutely a delight.

Going to the spa

In the spa

Another visit to the amazing day spa

If you’re determined to catch a fish the team at Ratua are more than happy to take you out on the dingy for some trawling. And it’s much cheaper than booking a deep Sea fishing charter on the mainland.

Mr LML fishing

Mr LML finally snagged a Blue Trevally, which the chef later cooked up as part of the lunch. Each day lunch is cooked over the wood fire and is fresh and amazing.

The happiest cows in the world. No wonder Vanuatu beef was some of the most tasty and tender I have ever eaten. It’s all organic and local and really delicious.

Happy cows

On our last day we checked out the fishing village – a collection of houses grouped together with a communal lounge area and bar, literally over the water. Okay I admit it, we spent hours planning a huge party here. I’m still hopeful we can pull it off.

Exploring the property

Leaving was not really on my list of to dos at the end of the week!

Tearing ourselves away

The goodbye song is a cute touch to your stay… but heart breaking as it means you are leaving your island paradise.

Goodbye committee

By the end of our stay at Ratua I think our heartbeats had even slowed down. I highly recommend opting for the full board option, turning off your mobiles and stranding yourself on this magnificent island for as long as you can stand relaxation.
I will be back!
Read about our first week in Vanuatu on the Espiritu Santos Mainland
We loved these fish cakes so much we hunted down the chef for the recipe on our last day so I thought I would share with you. We have made it at home and even though it wasn’t served on a table on the beach they were still delicious.
Fishcake recipe:
1/2 cup prawns
1 cup white fish
Salt and Pepper
2 tablespoons of chicken stock
3 pieces of red capsicum
2 small onions.
Combine ingredients using a food processor until well mixed and make into balls then fry. Delicious.