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Since the independece in 1980, Vanuatu has been a republic but the link with the British Crown remains important because Vanuatu is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations - an international organisation, headed by King Charles III. During his visit in 2018 to Vanuatu, King (then Prince) Charles III was greeted by one of the most lavish displays of kastom seen on these shores, arguably since his mother Queen Elizabeth visited on the royal yacht in 1974. Hundreds turned out to see the King as he arrived at the Chiefs’ Nakamal in Port Vila. Accompanied by Malvatumauri president Chief Seni Mau Tirsupe and welcomed by dozens of high ranking chiefs, the King walked on red mats laid the length of the roadway from the gate to the entrance of the nakamal itself. On arriving outside the Nakamal, King Charles presented the president of the Malvatumaturi with gifts. The gifts given in return by the chiefs of Vanuatu were quite literally priceless. Chiefly titles are not bestowed lightly, and carry obligation as well as honour. To bestow a title on even a royal prince is something to be done with care and consideration. Charles was dressed in chiefly regalia before the ceremony could begin. Pentecost Chief Viraleo, leader of the Turaga kastom movement, bedecked the Prince with ornately woven kastom clothes. Although these clothes are normally worn over bare skin, the Prince was allowed to retain his suit and tie. A leaf of the local Namele palm was placed in the back of the Prince’s attire. The Namele leaf is accompanied by extremely strong tabu. It is a sign of chiefly authority, and is present on Vanuatu’s coat of arms and in various other official insignia. The mere presence of a namele leaf in a doorway or gate, for example, is enough to bar anyone from passing unless they have chiefly authorisation. (Text continues in comments) #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #vanuatumoments #kingcharles #coronation #princecharles

The Millenium Cave is a popular excursion on Espiritu Santo, but getting there can be somewhat of a challenge. The Water Cave is a good alternative since it is easier to reach. You start at Nembel village and the follow this river bed to the Water Cave where you can see birds and bats. Heading back, you can enjoy the scenery from a coconut plantation. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #espiritusanto #watercave #canyoning #plantation #coconuts #discoversanto 📸: @gaellia and @matevululodge

BREAKING NEWS Never a dull moment in Vanuatu. Yesterday, a volcano on the island Ambae suddenly erupted. These pictures were taken by @tatumjose on Espiritu Santo island, about 65 kilometers from Ambae. The last picture is made the morning after the eruption. People living on the North and East coast of Ambae are ok, it was confirmed by local chief Paul from Ambanga, a village near the Manaro volcano.  He said everyone enjoyed kava while they watched the eruption; the volcano is part of their life.  There have been no reports of ash falls.  There's been no feedback from the people on South Ambae. Let's hope they are ok as well.  #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #espiritusanto #ambae #volcano #eruption #lava #magma 📸: @tatumjose

Australia, New Zealand and France are working closely together to support the Government of Vanuatu's response to tropical cyclones Judy and Kevin and the earthquake that hit the island nation in the same days. Over 150.000 people (roughly half the population) have been affected. On board the HMAS Canberra, Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau and Ministers - including Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu - met the ship's crew. The ship's capabilities and the Australian Defence Force personnel on board are being deployed in accordance with National Disaster Management Office priorities, as part of an effective response that supports communities and sectors in need of assistance. The World Bank has disbursed a US $9.5 million grant to help out. “We stand with Vanuatu as it confronts the impacts of the tragic convergence of disasters,” said Stephen Ndegwa, World Bank Country Director for the Pacific and Papua New Guinea. “While these are still early days in Vanuatu’s response, these funds can play an important part in assisting the most vulnerable, supporting damage assessments to better direct responses, and alleviating the impact on families and communities across Vanuatu.” #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #france #australia #newzealand #worldbank #cyclonejudy #cyclone #hmas

Happy International Women's Day to all women in Vanuatu! #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #peopleofvanuatu #nivan #peopleinvanuatu #womenofvanuatu #girlpower #internationalwomensday 📸: @imkonru @bedfordbrunet @yseebedford @happy_kwannie @thewovenclubvanuatu @eriiicaaa.vu @mzle_le @groovybananaphotography @finding_adventures_vu @gosssy_anna_ @jayzee_quinto @flyingseangel @jrasta_19 @ju_lee0520

Airplanes and helicopters are very important for an island nation like Vanuatu. They assure not only spectacular views of the 83 islands in the Vanuatu archipelago, but also a faster connection between the islands than boats can provide. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #helicopters #airtaxi #airtransport 📸: @airvanuatu @flyairvanuatu @airtaxivanuatu @unity_airlines_vanuatu @vanuatuhelicopters 📸 and 📽: @blinnx

BREAKING NEWS Cyclone Judy is hitting Vanuatu with heavy rain and destructive winds of 150 kilometres per hour, gusting to 200km/h! The cyclone first hit the island of Pentecost, in the country's north-east, on Tuesday night and has reached the capital, Port Vila, on Wednesday, being upgraded from a category 3 to a category 4 cyclone. Schools and businesses are closed and Air Vanuatu has cancelled all domestic and international flights, with flights expected to resume on Thursday. On Tuesday night, Vanuatu Meteorology department manager Fred Jockley said the cyclone was slow-moving and almost "stationary". "It will take probably until March 2nd to move away from the country completely," he said. Carol Rovo, the provincial emergency coordinator for Sanma Province, said people in some areas were evacuated to higher ground. Many people living in remote areas did not have access to cyclone warnings via radio or other communications, so her team visited those areas on Tuesday to make sure families were prepared. "We are still in red alert. Some of our schools are still closed," Ms Rovo said, but she added the cyclone had begun to move away from the area, towards the southern provinces. Dickinson Tevi, secretary-general of the Vanuatu Red Cross Society, said strong winds hit the organisation's office in Port Vila early this morning. "It's currently quiet at the moment," he said. "We don't know whether we are right in the eye of the cyclone. "Are still more winds expected or has it gone past us? But there's a lot of people saying … probably we're in the eye of the storm." Power outages have been reported in several parts of the capital. Red Cross emergency response teams in all provinces have been put on high alert and have been preparing an emergency plan of action. As soon as the cyclone passes, this emergency plan will be put in place, but so far only minor damages are expected. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #islandlife #vanuatuislands #remoteplaces #cyclone #cyclonejudy #offgrid #pentecost #tcjudy #vanuaturedcross #tropicalstorm #portvila 📽: @estemarcel 📸: @abcnews_au0

Vanuatu Prime Minister Hon. Ishmael Kalsakau arrived at the Nadi International airport yesterday evening for the Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Retreat. PM Kalsakau was accorded a guard of honor and received by the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Lynda Tabuya. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #peoplescoalition #famouspeopleinvanuatu #peoplefromvanuatu #peopleinvanuatu #nivan #FijiGovernment #FijiNews 📸: Fiji Gouvernment

Yesterday, 25/01/2023, Vanuatu suffered collateral damage in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The Tuzla, a Vanuatu flagged and 1980-built general cargo ship, was hit in a Russian missile attack on the port of Kherson in Ukraine. Kherson is not one of the ports covered by the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The Tuzla may be Vanuatu flagged, but it is owned by Istanbul-based Cayeli Shipping Ltd and, according to Turkish TV, is one of two Turkish-owned merchant ships hit in the Russian attack. The second ship is the 1995-built Ferahnaz, which is also Vanuatu-flagged and was damaged by shrapnel in the same attack. The Ferahnaz is reported to be less damaged, though. Shortly after the attack and after being hit by shrapnel, the Tuzla caught fire. Video images show flames racing through the superstructure of the ship. The two ships had become stranded at the port since February 2022 just as the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Cakiroglu Shipping Company, the managers of Ferahnaz, told Turkish media that only the captain remained on board the vessel and that he was not injured. No details have been provided on whether any crew were still on board Tuzla when the port was attacked. According to regional officials, the Russian army shelled Kherson 12 times yesterday, hitting the maternity hospital, school, polyclinic, seaport and residential buildings.

Stunning drone photography, capturing an idyllic coastline on one of the 83 Vanuatu islands. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #dronephotography #dronestagram #turquoise #coastline 📸: @anaellechretienoff

Happy new year, may 2023 be filled with new adventures and good fortunes! #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #sintidesbald #koksijde #flanders #honoraryconsul #vlaanderen #kingdomofbelgium #belgium #belgie #barbour #barbourjacket #kust 📸: @meertv

Ambrym (aka Ambrin) is a volcanic island in Vanuatu and was allegedly named by Captain Cook, who is said to have anchored off there in 1774. Volcanic activity on the island includes several lava lakes in calderae. Ambrym is roughly triangular in shape, about 50 km wide and the fifth largest island in Vanuatu. The summit at the centre of the island is dominated by a desert-like caldera, which covers an area of 100 square kilometres. With the exception of human settlements, the rest of the island is covered by a dense jungle. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #volcano #caldera #lava #magma 📸: @viaggievulcani and @bastihofmannfilm 📽: @gaspliu

Ocean child! #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #billabong #oceangirl #oceanchild 📸: @billabongvanuatu

A great shot from the beach at Aneityum island, aka Mystery island! Would you prefer spending a day here or are you more a pool person? #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #mysteryisland #aneityum 📸: @seeking_wanderlust

Pele Island is located just 7 kilometres off the north coast of Vanuatu’s main island, Efate. Villages will welcome you with a flower necklace and drink of freshly opened coconuts and give you the chance to see how this modern village operates whilst still maintaining the lifestyle and culture of Vanuatu. The small island has fringed reefs and is an experience on its own whilst you can still make an occasional day trip to the capital city, Port Vila. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #peleisland #turquoise 📸: @sophie_leong

World War 2 in Vanuatu - or the New Hebrides as the archipelago was known then: Group of No. 31 Servicing Unit personnel is working under a canvas shelter. Men at left are working with hot steel on an anvil. Espiritu Santo, 1944 A Corsair NZ5361 can be seen in the background. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #historyofvanuatu #ww2 #newhebrides #rnzaf #corsair #espiritusanto 📸: RNZAF photo via the Air Force Museum Of New Zealand and Rarity Color

It can be difficult to process the blueness of the blue holes on Espiritu Santo island, in Vanuatu, so you should best just sit and stare for a while. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #espiritusanto #bluehole #nandabluehole 📸: @janameerman

You "wood" not believe your eyes, waking up in a place like this. I bet you would never want to "leaf" this stunning treahouse bungalow! 😎🤩 📍Hideaway Paradise Beach Bungalows, near Port Orly on Espiritu Santo island #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #treehouse #espiritusanto #portorly 📸: Vanuatu Tourism Office

Vanuatu is a small nation but showed it's support to other countries participating in @go.qatar.2022 People in the capital, Port Vila, have shown the world how they love football with beautiful smiles and flags to support they favorite team play in the world cup. It seems the Belgian team has quite some supporters at the other side of the world 👍 #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #soccer #football #qatar2022 #reddevils #worldcup

P&O Cruises and Brisbane-based Pacific Encounter today became the first cruise ship to visit Vanuatu calling at the national capital Port Vila reviving a seven-night South Pacific cruise itinerary that has been a mainstay of Australian cruising for decades. The Honourable James Bule, Caretaker Minister for Tourism, Trade, Industry, Commerce & Ni-Vanuatu Business stated “We are thrilled to see our first international cruise ships returning to our shores, as it represents a lot for our communities and domestic tourism business sector, which rely heavily on the cruise supply chain. Our taxi, buses, tour operators, transfer companies, handicraft, Vanuatu made items shops, tour activities and many more benefit from the cruise market and this return of the cruise industry is injecting money directly into the pockets of these businesses to recover. The Government welcomes the first trial commencing on 09th November for a month leading onto the official resumption of cruise tourism on 01st December, 2022” #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #cruiseship #pandocruises #portvila #cruiseterminal 📸: @plantationlifestyle

Discovering the "village square" of the Yakel tribe on Tanna. Visiting this tribe, meeting the amazing people and learning about their life style, was an amazing experience that I can recommend everyone who wants to get to know Kastom Life in Vanuatu. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #vanuatu #discovervanuatu #southpacific #melanesia #instatravel #travelgram #beachlife #islandlife #vanuatutourism #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #pacificparadise #flyairvanuatu #answerthecallofvanuatu #remoteplaces #traveldestinations #adventuretravel #wanderlust #offgrid #vanuatumoments #tanna #yakel #kastom 📸: @peternrg

The foggy garden of the consulate in the morning - the beauty of an early autumn. #vanuatuconsulateinbelgium #autumn #consulate #honoraryconsul #diplomacy #vanuatumission #catalpa #pond #fishpond #taxus #hekelgem #affligem #instaffligem #belgium #flanders #fog 📸: @meertv