Cooking Lap-Lap in Vanuatu

The evening started off landing in the south of Santo Island, with a vague plan to go up north. After hitchhiking into the main town, we stuck out our thumbs and were picked up quickly by a Ute with around a dozen wonderful adults and kids already in it. They welcomed us into the back, and one cigarette and one beer later we decided to stay with them at their house for the night.

Diana made an incredible lap-lap to celebrate Kipsen's return home, and we were so grateful to get to help (and at times hinder) the 6 hour process of grating the yams, dehusking, shredding, and milking the coconuts, readying the fire and rocks, peeling the nacional leaves, killing and prepping the chicken, finding the bush cabbage, laying everything out and wrapping it up, and of course, the best part, enjoying the incredible food.

To Diana and Kipsen, we love and appreciate you and were so glad to meet you. We look forward to seeing you again, either in Australia or back in Santo!