Back in 2006, I spent a month island hopping in the tiny island nation of Vanuatu. In search of the south Pacific's best kava and to strengthen bonds with Nakava's distant kava suppliers, I enjoyed one of the most memorable and exciting adventures of my life. The lush jungles, warm and inviting sun, cool ocean breezes, and kind, island hospitality left a deep imprint upon me. Even before I set foot on those islands, somehow I felt a kinship.

During my second week in Vanuatu, I traveled with kava guru and owner of Nakava, Jeffrey Bowman, to the outer island of Pentecost. Pentecost Island is the farthest I could have ever imagined myself to be away from modern day western civilization. The airport runway was nothing but a grass landing strip between rocky black sand beaches and sharp peaks that dramatically rose from the depths of the ocean.

At that time I had just begun my obsession with Lost. Lost was not only captivating TV, but it is one of only a few TV series that has consumed my attention. I have always had this deep affinity with the island-life and a lifelong desire to retire on a tropical island, and Lost played to that to the tee. Hiking for hours through the thick jungles of Pentecost brought me closer to a real Lost episode. Lost in a far away jungle with next-to-no supplies. I felt such a disconnect from my everyday comfort zone, but strangely I felt at home. For nearly the whole trip I rambled on to Jeffrey about how I felt like I was in an episode of Lost. He didn't know what I was talking about because he had never seen the series up to then. He understands now - the south Pacific is a world upon itself.

As Lost season 4, closes, our off-island crash survivors, the Oceanic 6, struggle with the idea of returning to the Island. (No - I am not gonna get into detailed specifics about the show, but I will mention some show tidbits.) This season of Lost has some parallels to my life and my desire to go back to the Island (south Pacific).

Should I go or should I stay?

This crucial question is faced by all of the Oceanic 6, as well as those survivors left on the Island at the end of season 4. My dilemma does not require any amount of heroics, but sheds insight into one's character. Should I just drop everything, sell all my belongings away, and disappear off the face of the world?

Lost Characters as Manifestations of My Desire to Return to Vanuatu

Jack

At season 4's finale, Jack's unkempt appearance and his clear nervousness are outward manifestations of the internal battle between his desire to go back and the commitments made after leaving the island. While my heart yearns for the embracing tropical breezes of the south Pacific, like most, I have responsibilities and commitments to career and family that simply inhibit my desire to pick up and leave.

Kate

Kate's defiant reluctance to appease Jack and agree to go back plays to my own admission that no matter how strong the desire to go back, I have many important reasons why I need to stay. For Kate, maybe it was the vision of Claire telling her not to bring back Aaron. For me, I have the societal expectations of a lifelong career and having family.

Ben

Revealed as a master of manipulation, Ben's drive for self-perseverance can be likened to that of a world class chess player thinking 10 to 15 moves in advance. Ben represents the selfishness in me: how far I will go to walk away from this lifestyle without concern for the ramifications even if I wanted to come back?

While the Oceanic 6 and most other crash survivors wanted to return to their "normal" pre-crash life, I never wanted to leave those beautiful islands in the first place. Jeffrey, on a couple of inter-island flights decided he needed to walk behind me, making sure I didn't jump ship and run off into the jungle. It's a plausible scenario, the jungle or ocean is every direction. Since I have been away for almost 2 years, I feel the longing steadily becoming heavier. I am not all bent out of shape about it like Jack is portrayed in the flash forwards in the season finale, but there is part of me that needs that fulfillment. Vanuatu is magnetic: quiet, beautiful, and slow. It's calling me, really.

Maybe all this means I need a vacation (or that I have watched too much Lost). And since I have decided that my next vacation will involve island hopping, the Philippines, the south Pacific, and Australia, I plan to wait till I have time to spare. In the meantime, I can always kick back, watch some Lost on DVR, wait for next season, and have a shell of kava.

Bula!

First published at my blog at dee.p

http://red.dragon-project.com/blender/my-words/kava-the-south-pacific-and-lost.html