Jonny and Dianes Great Adventure: Lush Lap Lap.....not!

If you're happy and you know it, jump up and down like a complete idiot whilst the locals look on in disbelief. The shot below was taken on a timer which involved Diane settin up the shot then running around to join me before jumping to catch the action. Took about 10 attempts before we finally got the shop. 10 out of 10 for the cringe factor :)

Looking from Pentecost to Ambrym in the distance. Its Volcano top sitting inside the cloud. The views were spectacular on this particular cliff walk. Looking through the forest onto empty coves and golden sand.

I had just emerged from the water with Pastor Stuart on the left after being invited to go spear fishing. You'll notice the masks used are of the full face variety, proper old school and impossible to equalise, you have to ram your nose onto the edge of the mask which is strapped to your head like a vice.

Watching the ladies in the village prepare lap lap. Made from the boiled, mashed tarrow root, lush hmm !

Walking through our host, Joseph's Water tarrow garden. What a totally nice fella. We wander through the garden, Joseph pointing out the various bits and bobs. Tarrow, cava, chillies, grapefruit, cocoabeans.

Our man Joseph with a bit of Water Tarrow. Just chop off the root stuff it back in the ground. Couple of months later its grown again!

Tucking into fresh grapefruit.

Lads making coconut milk for the lovely lap lap

Down in one!

So now I think I should explain how lap lap is made. First take a load of water tarrow, peeled and chopped. Looks similar to parsnips at this stage. Boil it until soft. Take it and place on a wooden curved board and start pounding it with a coconut. As you pound it, start adding the coconut milk. Slowly all the starch starts coming out and the mixture becomes dough like. This process takes a good hour of graft. The whole family watches expectantly as Joseph goes about his business, working the lap lap with the heavy cocconut and mixing liberal amounts of the milk into the dough.

After about 2 hours of hard work the the lap lap is rolled out like a blanket about 2cm thick and covered in freshly squeezed coconut milk. At this point I have to say I was fairly panting like a dog. This stuff has to taste great, right! Wrong, in fact it's actually a cloying mass with the consistency of soft blue tac. I take my first slab of lap lap and shovel it into my mouth expecting the sweet taste of coconut and bounty bars.

I bite down and start chomping, christ whats happening, I swallow hard pushing the lap lap down. Everyone around us is tucking in like its the best bit of muffin ever cooked. Well each to their own I guess. Man it would be rude to stop now, they made this for us, a real honour, and belive me I'm honoured. I get my hand under another dripping wedge of lap lap and put it into my mouth. Just keep chewing buddy, beads of sweat roll down my face, bloody hell, a few pulls on the water bottle and the lap lap slides down, I get up and take my leave, wandering onto the beach, pheww. I go back 10 minutes later and sit down. Joseph informs us that there should be enough left for tea :)

Joking apart staying with Joseph and his family was probably one of the nicest stays we've had. Wandering around whilst he showed us his water gardens and yes, watching them all cooking lap lap, the women, kids and the lads all getting stuck in. Everyone laughing and joking all day. The Vanuatans really are the happiest people you could ever wish to meet .