Tuvalu's only hotel, situated a stroll from the International Air Terminal, and across from the Police and Radio Station. Sitting on the shore of picturesque Funafuti Lagoon the Vaiku Lagi has a large dining room, well stocked bar and magic outdoor palm leaf covered areas.

The staff really try hard to please, it's friendly service everywhere you turn, at reception, in the dining room, the bar and the domestics, always with a smile.

Hotel reception desk.

...Breakfast, choice of juice, cereals, toast, bacon & eggs and sausages.

Australian Navy Patrol building, across from the hotel.

Lots of these around, but its strange nobody offered me one.

Lunch at 'Jimmys', attached to the Filomena Lodge, is popular with locals and foreigners alike, for food with an Asian flavour.

..and the meals are good 'chicken'

..and 'lamb'

Just a few months ago they sealed the road

Couple of hoons on a step-through

International terminal, and the baggage truck

This extra flight arrived on a Friday.

..and it brought the kids out.

The plane crosses a public road to
offload its cargo.

Here the plane is parked next to the road.

Its a real social gathering whenever a flight comes in.

People come from everywhere, step throughs
everywhere.

Front entrance, international airport.

Bob Girdo with the local kids
Photo by Peter King

If you weren't advised by locals, you would never know that hidden behind that door is a 2 booth internet cafe and the headquarters of tuvalu.tv, the country's only ISP.

I must admit, if it wasn't for tuvalu.tv these pictures wouldn't have been posted to the net at the end of each day. What a bargain $au20/5 hours.

Kerrie and Bob with James and Talia, Broadcast Engineers from the Tuvalu Media Corporation. Here under the palm leaf shelter of the Vaiaku Lagi Hotel Yes VB (Australian Victoria Bitter) beer was consumed @ $2/can.. we would pay more at many Sydney venues.
photo - Peter King