raceday
While nations around the world face financial crisis, people flocked by the thousands to the Melbourne Cup Race in Australia. It is a day when the entire nation stops to celebrate the once a year-horse-race. No matter where Australians go in the world, they celebrate the first Tuesday in November and Aussies in the tropical island nation of Vanuatu, are no exception.
Just three and a half hours plane flight north east of Sydney Australia, Vanuatu has a population of around 3000 Australian expats. Women turn up for one of the major events of their social calendar - the Ladies Melbourne Cup Day Luncheon.
You could be excused for thinking you were in Australia, as the gorgeous ladies turn up dressed in their finery. You find it hard to believe you are several thousands of miles from 'home' amid coconut palms and exotic tropical flowers and plants.
The brightly coloured marquee at the golf club was set up with all the trimmings you would find at any fancy hotel in the world. The guests were greeted with a lethal looking fruit punch, quickly followed by buckets of iced champagne. The ladies were decked out in a wide range of exotic looking hats right down to extreme high heels.
Temperatures soared under the marquee, but the chatter and music increased as expensive bottles of champagne quickly disappeared. A variety of sweepstakes and raffles were run throughout the afternoon, including three 'beach boys' being auctioned off. The Melbourne Cup Horse Race was viewed on a large centre stage TV screen. This year's race being extraordinarily exciting with the winning horse going over the line by the mere breadth of a nose, in a photo finish.
The festivities continue to flow to well into the night, leaving one wondering just who's looking after the 'family' and how many of the ladies required to be chauffeured home.
All in all it was a lot of fun than trying to fight your way through 100,000 people to attend the real Melbourne Cup.
Our suggestion is that ladies circle the first Tuesday of November 2009 as a great day to visit the tropical island of Vanuatu. If you pack the most outrageous outfit you can find you will blend in beautifully with the local exotic colour.
