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Port Vila - 2009 - AVanuatu - Melanesia - Pacific Ocean
Port Vila - Capital City
Port Vila is the capital city of Vanuatu. Aerial view of central Port Vila 
Map of Vanuatu Coordinates: 17°45'S 168°18'E / -17.75, 168.3 Country - Vanuatu Province - Shefa Province Population (1999) - Total 29,356 It is also Vanuatu's largest city. Situated on the south coast of the island of Efate, in Shefa Province, the city population at last census (1999) was 29,356,[1] an increase of 55% on the previous census result (1989). This suggests a 2007 population of about 40,000 or around 65% of the province's population. Port Vila is the economic and commercial centre of Vanuatu. History The area occupied by Port Vila has been inhabited by Melanesian people for thousands of years. In 1606, the first Europeans arrived at the island, led by Pedro Fernandez de Quirós and Luis Váez de Torres. In the 19th century, French settlers established the municipality of Franceville, which declared independence in 1889 and became the first self-governing nation to practice universal suffrage without distinction of sex or race. Although the population at the time consisted of about 500 native islanders and less than 50 whites, only the latter were permitted to hold office. One of the elected presidents was a U.S. citizen by birth, R.D. Polk. After 1887 the territory was jointly administered by the French and the British. This was formalized in 1906 as an Anglo-French Condominium. During World War II, Port Vila was an American and Australian airbase. In 1987, a cyclone severely damaged the city. Another powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the capital and surrounding areas. Economy Port Vila is Vanuatu's most important harbour and the centre of the country's trade. The international airport, Bauerfield International is also located in the city. Major industries in the city remain agriculture and fishing. Tourism is also becoming important, especially from Australia and New Zealand. There were over 50,000 visitors in 1997. Vanuatu is a tax haven, and offshore financing in Port Vila is an important part of the economy. Vanuatu is still dependent on foreign aid, most of which comes from Australia and New Zealand although in recent years aid has also come from the Peoples Republic of China. Examples of Aid has been the New Zealand Government paying to train doctors selected from the local community and then paying part of their wages during the first year after qualification and Australia paying the wages of consultants to work in Port Vila Central Hospital. 35.7% of exports leave from Port Vila, whereas 86.9% of imports into the country arrived in Port Vila. Demographics The population of Port Vila is around 38,000. The population is predominately Melanesian, with small Polynesian, Asian and European populations, namely French and British. Language In Port Vila, Bislama is spoken by all the population as the day-to-day language. In addition, English and French are also widespread. Other Indigenous languages are also spoken in the city. Religion Christianity is the predominant religion across all of Vanuatu, followed by more than 90% of the population. The largest denomination is the Presbyterian Church, followed by one third of the population. Roman Catholicism and the Church of Melanesia are also common, each about 15%. Climate Port Vila has a tropical climate, with a Dry season and a hot, Wet season. Rainfall averages about 2,360 millimetres (94 in.) per year. The area also has South-East trade winds. Education Port Vila is one location of the University of the South Pacific, an educational institution co-owned by twelve Pacific countries. The Vanuatu campus is the only law school in the university, it also teaches language. Heritage Port Vila was the location in August 1999 for the important UNESCO meeting "2nd World Heritage Global Strategy Meeting for the Pacific Islands Region". One of the major topics with reference to Vanuatu and the Pacific region was the question of the suitability of underwater heritage for inscription on the World Heritage List.
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Port Vila (Our) AccommodationDuring early 2008, Hui Chin and I booked a special package deal for a week in Vanuatau.Our agent came back telling us, that the one we booked wasn't available because some trouble with booking the accommodation part of. We decided to book our flight only and look for a lodging in Vanuatu after our arrival. After checking a number of hotels in the city and they all being booked out, we ended up booking in a rather pricey Moorings Hotel. Very bad move. One night we were awoken at 4 am. by loud banging on the door next to our room, accompanied by loud screening and swearing (Open the f....ng door, etc), which went on for nearly an hour. All this time I was trying to calm Hui Chin, as neither of us known, whether that noisy person was a burglar, or rapist, and will attack our door in the coming minutes. I was trying to ring the reception, without anybody responding, everything seemed to be closed. Around about 7 am I tracked down and complained to the night watchman and another staff member, - they both knew about the disturbances and show me where the manager lived, two buildings away. I decided that my complaint can wait until the manager came on duty at 8 am, as I was told. It was 9.30 am when I managed to have a word with the manager, who practically made me out as a liar and was choke full b......t. I: My wife and I very upset. We were woken up at 4 am with loud banging, yelling and swearing next to our door and partly open windows. Manager: Nothing like this ever happened here. (Well, it did happen, we were there and spoilt our best sleep as Hui Chin and I have our deepest, best, most refreshing sleeps between about 4 am and 7 am, probably you too. I: It did happen, right next to our door. Manager: I did not hear anything, I live just over there, pointing to his flat, which is visible from the reception desk, but quiet a few metres away. (I already knew, where he lived, courtesy the night watchman, but not next door to the disturbance and his glass balcony door was shut, most likely because for the airconditioning.) I: I did complain to the night watchman and another young lady (staff member) and they both knew about the loud disturbances. Manager: No one complained to me about it. There's nothing mentioned in "the book". (Well, I'm not privy, who writes what in the "the book", anyway I wasn't shown "the book".) I: They might have forget to put it in "the book" or just could not be bothered. Manager: I can give you another room. You not even listening to me! He said. As I started to walk away from that truck load of ........... Shifting to another room seemed the silliest idea to me at the that time. It is not very likely that the disturbance will be repeated next door to us. That was a mistaken assumption on our part, because there was some disturbance and yelling, this time front of us (Less than 2 m between the rows of cabins) a couple days later, about the same time. Anyway shifting to another room would have involved at least 2-3 hours of cleaning and packing and about much the same time for unpacking and making ourselves settled and comfortable. We went to Vanuatu for the rest, relaxation and tranquility, which was badly spoilt - twice. I do not usually comment about our accommodation and other services, but I like to draw your attention to the facts and the manager's attitude to our complaint. Neither Hui Chin or I have ever received any apologies or expression of regret or anything.
Despite our horrible experience with our hotel the previous year, we came back to Port Villa in 2009, because after all, as I said, apart from the hotel, we had a very unforgettable holiday the year before. We given the hotel a wide berth and enjoyed ourselves, including the hospitality of our new hotel.
2008
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