Jungle food, Friendly Spiders and Banyan Trees

On the way to the Banyan tree, Silas and the boys harvested manioc.

Joel found a pawpaw and whipped out his trusty bushknife to prepare it.

Young manioc plants in the forground, elephant grass, older manioc and bananas can be seen in the background.

Joel's 'garden' tours are wonderful, you just eat your way around the jungle. Depending on the time of year, you'll find bananas, pawpaw, mangoes, avocados, sugar cane, lychees, soursop which are like huge bubblegum flavoured custard apples, pineapple, melons, pamplemus - massive sweet pink or yellow grapefruit, mandarines, oranges, limes and limon, rollinias, rose apples, coconuts in all their different stages and a variety of nuts from nangae to namambe which are giant chestnuts.

Joel also demonstrates and describes the arts of bush medicine. There are plants to ease headache, toothache, all types of ailments. Broken bones could be treated and healed.

There are people in Vanuatu who are said to be able to reach into a persons limb and manipulate bones to heal multiple breaks. I talked with a man who had dodged amputation of his leg following a car accident. He decided to go to Tanna to seek treatment. I met this man not long after he returned from Tanna. His leg was healed, strong but visibly scarred and discoloured.

If someone fell out of a tree and hurt themselves internally, Joel said that the traditional practice for his ancestors was to dig a hole, line it with particular leaves, place the injured person into the hole, cover them with leaves and wait. I guess that covered the two possible outcomes but it's sensible first aid for a person with internal injuries when there is no medical assistance. Don't move the patient and keep them warm and quiet. The particular type of leaves would have been chosen for a reason.

Joel saw a 'friendly spider' in the bush and scooped it up to let everyone pet it.

Most of the group ran away screaming, some faster and further than others. Any self-respecting Aussie with a strong streak of self-preservation would do the same.

Ni-Van think this is hilarious. Joel probably does it on purpose now that I think about it.

Unlike Australia, there are no poisonous spiders in Vanautu. No poisonous snakes either.

Brian stepped up to the challenge. Goodonya Brian!

Further on, we came to the Banyan tree.

Menindee up a Banyan tree!

Heading back to cook manioc for lunch.

#Lifes_a_jungle_ekipe #Everydayvanuatu #Vanuatu #Ekipe #Bethel #jungle #travel #offthegrid #southpacificlife #southpacific #islandlife #islands #Efate #Bethegardenrestaurantandbungalows #villages #adventureholidays #junglestays #villagestays #villageaccommodation #tourismvanuatu #vanuatutourism #ruralvanuatu #custom #customsinVanuatu #southpacificcustoms #organic #organicfoods #foodsfromthejungle #junglefood #manioc #banyantree #friendlyspider #bushmedicine #junglewalk #awalkinthejungle #tastingorganicfood #traditionalmedicine #traditionalmedicalpractices #traditionalmedicineinvanuatu #islandmedicine #WorldStrides #Menindee #MenindeeCentralSchool #overseasexcursions #ecotourism #ecotour #ecostays #nature #kastom #customs #livinginthewild #selfsustainableliving #backpackers #cyclonepamrecovery #bungalowaccommodation #lovingnature #healthylife #health #thegoodlife