/countries/show/vanuatu/1.rss en-us When the month of April arrives in The Republic of Vanuatu, it brings with it a tradition people have begun to recognize the world over—albeit in a different form. New Zealander A.J. Hacket has done an amazing job popularizing what we now know as bungee jumping. However, on the island of Pentecost in Vanuatu it is still known as land diving or Naghol. As the rainy season draws to a close, villages far and wide come together for the yearly tradition of Naghol, so that they may give thanks and guarantee a bountiful harvest. Local materials of logs and vines are gathered from the bush and brought together to construct the towers that the land divers will jump from, looming an astonishing 25 meters high. Vines are intricately woven together and later tied to participants ankles to break their fall. Beneath the Naghol towers, villagers dress in traditional attire and sing and dance in choreographed patterns to encourage the land divers. The vines are spliced at the tips and tied securely to the ankles of the jumper, who climbs until standing atop the rickety tower. One-by-one, as the singing continues and the final arrangements are completed, the jumper gives his call for readiness, and with a loud whoop leaps from the platform toward the softened ground below. As the excess vine lengthens and becomes taut, slack is extinguished followed by a loud cracking of the support above. When done correctly, vines swing the Naghol jumpers so close to the ground that their hair sweeps across the soil, which is said to fertilize it. Naghol customs vary from village to village, and certain practices may be utilized in more traditional villages such as the prohibition of women touching or even looking at the towers during construction. Entire villages are known to abstain from daily ablutions to ensure the bountiful yam harvest. Throughout the world, this activity of land diving has evolved into a more modern version of what we now know today as bungee humping. However, on the island of Pentecost in The Republic of Vanuatu, the custom of Naghol is still observed in the traditional way of old. Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:43:37 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/naghol http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/naghol There is a place in the South Pacific where beauty meets mystery, and tradition shakes hands with modern times in a way no other place on earth can match. Located on the Ambae Island in The Republic of Vanuatu, the lakes which crown Mount Manaro are sacred to the people in ways we can only try to understand. The splendor of going to Mount Manaro isn’t just limited to swimming in one of the highest crater lakes in the South Pacific, or observing a smoking mound of sulphur among breathtaking waters. It's taking the time to learn about and participate in such a rare culture. Mount Manaro is made up of two main crater lakes named Vui and Gesa. Vui Lake is active, has a large sulphur bed sitting in the centre, and gorgeous electric green waters filling its crater. The last major disturbance took place in 2005, yet at present it is fairly stable. Gesa Lake is a dormant volcano lying in a crater abutting Vui Lake and holding darker bluish-coloured water suitable for leisurely swimming. Together they make up Manaro, what Ni-Vanuatu (native citizens) consider to be the sacred ground where the spirit goes upon death. People have only recently (the past forty years or so) begun to explore the uppermost reaches of Ambae Island. Custom dictates that upon death the spirit goes to the top of the volcano, Manaro, in order to live in the afterlife. Even to this day, when a person dies the body is buried with coconuts for food, along with natangora leaves and bamboo so the spirit may build a shelter. People go to the top of Mount Manaro to speak with deceased relatives, talk with spirits about important decisions, or for spiritual guidance in life. We followed a ridgeline to the top, stretching to the northern corner of the crater where we slowly entered, catching glimpses of the lakes until almost suddenly they were upon us. Gesa Lake is cold due to the elevation, and its waters made for a refreshing dip after the effort endured to reach it. There is no life in Gesa Lake other than small tadpoles and a type of grass that lines the bottom, creating an eerie silence that seeps in as you survey the glossy surface of the water. In the far bank can be seen the yellow sulphur pile where in the past lava flowed freely throughout the crater. Clouds roll in and out obstructing views, and then drift off just as fast, helping you to understand why some people say there is a spiritual presence constantly watching over Mount Manaro. The result is culminated in the belief that the ground is haunted. Vui Lake is not as visitor friendly because the waters are warm and the smell of sulphur permeates the air, creating that rotten egg smell which accompanies volcanic activity. There is no swimming in Vui Lake (unless you don’t want to leave), yet it is incredibly peaceful to sit and look out over the waters, appreciating the power and energy still actively warming the mass before you. A river of black sulphur can be seen flowing freely from the mound, impressing upon you how the volcano is still very much alive and well. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:44:11 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/mount-manaro http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/mount-manaro