PENTECOST island
About Pentecost…
Air Vanuatu services Lonorore in the centre-south of Pentecost and Sara
in the north three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Pentecost is an island on which custom traditions are very much alive.
The traditional ways and religions brought by the missionaries somehow
blend together, each maintaining its importance in daily life. The
custom and culture are totally different in the south where the Nagol is
practiced, than those in the north. Kava “blong Pentecost”, a drink made
from pepper plant, is rated the best in Vanuatu.
The country’s most remarkable custom, land diving or “Nagol” comes from
Pentecost. Every year in April when the first yam crop is ready, a 20 to
30 meter tower is constructed for the land diving ceremony. It takes
about 5 weeks to build and all materials come from the forest: vines,
branches, trunks….During this time the men live separately from their
wives. On several occasions between April and May, boys and men will
jump from these structures with two long vines attached o their ankles
which break their fall. Each diver must select his own vine. Its length
and elasticity is of utmost importance and if it is only 10cm too long,
the diver could hit the ground and fatally injure himself. The jump is
made to ensure a great yam harvest the following year. Young boys take
part but only after circumcision, at the age of seven or eight.
The unique custom art form of sand drawing can be seen in Pentecost,
Ambae, Ambrym and Maewo. The knack is to create symbolic figures on the
sand in one uninterrupted movement, without lifting one’s finger.
Melsisi: Perched on a hill, this nice village overlooks a sandy beach.
Its large Roman Catholic mission has guest rooms where visitors can stay. There is a guesthouse on Bay Homo in the south and one
planned in Ponoduor, near Bunlap. A new road is being built across the
long narrow mountain chain to join the east coast and the west coast in
the southern part of the island.
Nangol Bungalows
Rating: 
Highlights: Traditional villages and land
diving in April and May
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Style: Local coral bungalows
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Facilities: Family run restaurant
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3 thatched bungalows with shared facilities
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Access: 15km from Lonorore airport 30 minute
drive in an open pick-up
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Telephone X * Fax Machine X
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Electricity X * Hot Water X
About Nangol Bungalows….
The bungalows are located on good swimming beach on Bay Homo in SW
Pentecost. Ideally located for treks to traditional mountain villages
and the Nangol land diving (April and May only).
Accommodation: Three bungalows with
thatched roofs and small verandahs close to a fresh clean river, deep
enough for bathing. Toilet and shower are rudimentary.
Facilities: traditional Island catering
utilizing fresh local vegetables and poultry. There is no bar.
Tours/Activities: Ratap or Bunlap village
tour. Full day by truck and trek to this pretty remote custom village; a
demonstration of the typical custom dance of the region performed
especially for you; waterfall tour- a 3 hour walk trough the lush
tropical rainforest to these lovely falls; Melanesian garden tour.
Special trips are organized to observe the Nangol ceremony. This is
occasion charged with magic and emotion and if you are privileged to be
amongst the limited few to witness it, you will never forget it.
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