[Password] Toucan 123
[Position] 20 55.476s 167 05.015e
[Heading] Anchored at Drueulu, Lifou
[Status] Our friend Robert Stead from the yacht Aurora visited the village of Drueulu on Lifou in 2012 and was fortunate enough to be invited to a local wedding. Nearly 4 years later we arrived in the village of Drueulu with the aim of delivering Rob's photos of that wedding to his host, Jean. We searched the village using Rob's Google Earth instructions and eventually, after struggling with a discussion in French mixed with local dialect we found his house with its traditional round house in the back. Sadly though it was all closed up with no one at home. We returned again that night with no better luck. With fears of failing in this important mission but with water tanks and pantry running low we up-anchored and moved to the larger village of Chepenehe on the opposite side of the bay to restock, intending to return on the weekend when we hoped Jean would be home.

On Friday night, four years to the day after Rob's visit we re-anchored at Drueulu, launched the dinghy and again walked up to Jean's house. After speaking to his sister in law Lizzie, his son Jacob and his nephew, we were introduced to Jean himself and received a very warm welcome. We were immediately asked to join them for their dinner of soup, chicken and rice cooked to perfection by the wonderful Lizzie. As it turned out, there was a wedding this weekend as well and although we weren't able to attend this one, it was exciting to see a village in wedding mode. The wedding was attended by 1000 guests in a village of only 500 residents yet it doesn't seem to have stretched the capacity of the village at all as every house also has its traditional round house which sleeps around 20 people on colourful mats. We've enjoyed this pretty village, crystal clear water and lovely sandy beach, but mostly we've felt welcome amongst the friendly villagers with their ready waves an
d happy
smiles.
[Weather] 0 knots
image: Geoff and Jean in the round house
image: Stylopora anchored in front of Jean's round house

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