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Each morning, rain or shine, this pier would require a visit to check in and make sure “life is good.” When a gem is this good, it’s best enjoyed on a daily basis. I might add it’s better than pinching yourself. Pohnpei is made up of one large volcanic island and six inhabited atolls, with most of its 133 square miles on Pohnpei island. Pohnpei State, with a population of 34,486 (est. 2000), is the national capital of the FSM and site of the Community College of Micronesia. I’ve applied for a teaching position: News @11.
Pohnpei is a lush, mountainous and fertile island with much local agriculture and a growing tourism industry. It is also gaining a reputation for its gourmet pepper.
Pohnpei is a 133.4 square area – with 117 on the island proper. Pohnpei is the largest of the FSM. Its climate is tropical and humid (what I love), with about 195″ of rain in Kolonia town alone. With temps hovering in the 80’s, this is a lovely place. You seem to be working out when you’re not working out. The great news: typhoons rarely hit Pohnpei. Just enjoy the photos and bask in the sunlight. Kaselehlia!
Somewhere the bulbs were flashing – telling the seasoned traveler to go west young man. Further, farther, go-west and keep going. Just a long damn way from Hawaii is Micronesia. Yay. Far out there. But not really.
I recommend that we travel to Pohnpei, the oldest and tallest (whatever) island in the Federated States of Micronesia.
This Gem is lush and beautiful. The waterfalls are numerous and range from pleasant to spectacular, creating a refreshing and breathtaking experience for those venturing to the base of the falls. There are even camping areas at some sites for those who want to hear the tumble of the water as they sleep under the tropical sky. The streams are great for cooling off after a hike in the hills.
Aerial views of the Seventy Islands, widely displayed on book covers, posters, and magazine illustrations than any other feature of this country, are symbolic of Palau.
Several things contribute to the beauty of the Palau island group: brilliant, transparent colors of the sky and water; the clarity of the lagoon waters; dazzling white sand beaches; and the quantity and form of the small islands.
The Rock Islands are limestone of coral origin. Obviously, they are remnants of a earlier array of barrier and patch reefs similar to the reefs of today at Palau — except the sea level then was some 250 to 300 feet higher. The sea level has been fairly constant for some time, so the easily dissolved limestone at all the Rock Islands are severely undercut at their waterline. From water level, many appear as great mushrooms. At many places, it is very difficult or impossible to get ashore to the islands. Most are uninhabited, and they are fine biologic remnants with native limestone forests and a complete array of native bird life. Hawksbill and green sea turtles haul in on the scattered sand beaches to nest. Ulong Island, where Captain Henry Wilson’s ship, the Antelope, went aground in 1700, is the site of many ancient rock paintings used to record important events.
Yet scenic beauty is the dominating character of these Rock Islands. They are unique and outstanding.
The porous, fractured, eroded nature of these islands clearly illustrates the kind of landscape the Japanese defenders used to fortify and barricade at Bloody Nose Ridge, for that place too is geologically like the Rock Islands.
North and east of Seventy Islands and between them and the capital, Oreor, are two prominent island groups, Mecherchar (Eil Malk) and Ngerukdabel (Urukthapel). Each of these has a much larger main island, though still entirely of karst topography limestone.
Somewhere out there, a few folks had a great day (yesterday – since it’s on the other side of the international dateline) at the Nikko. Located on the east coast of Malakal Island in Koror State, the doors of Palau Royal Resort opened to leisure travelers and eco-tourism enthusiasts on June 28, 2005. Palau Royal Resort is a five-star international resort hotel developed and owned by Royal Hotel Group and operated by Nikko Hotels International.
Palau Royal Resort is the first of its class in the Republic of Palau, famous for its diving and most amazing array of marine life. It boasts of top of the class amenities for the travelers looking for leisure and relaxation.
Palau Royal Resort is about 25 minutes drive from the Palau International Airport and few minutes to the city center of Koror. I suggest you bring a) lots of cash, b) a credit card with ample room for rooms, and c) SPF30. Should you need to learn more, here’s the link. Nikko-my-body.
Amnesia — that’s what you want when you visit the region. To forget the world behind you and start life on a new path with mostly sunny days, sandy white beaches and delicious meals every day. Vacations interrupt our lives with mostly “good” consequences and with very few “bad” consequences. The anticipation of vacation is good – and traveling to the destination is generally good if your flights are on-time and the luggage doesn’t detour to Idaho when you’re on an island in Oceania.
The region is so large that it’s “interpreted” around some of the edges (particularly in west Melanesia). Your view of the world is what you make it and if you’ve cross-referenced all points in the region and disputed the provisos, you might find yourself immersed in what millions of people call paradise. Even Hawai’i is part of the “Polynesian triangle” and thus a member of Oceania. Settled in the sixth century by Polynesian people who migrated from Tahiti, it’s peeps are within the triangle.
Captain Cook had no idea that his presence in the 18th century would alter the official position of Hawaii within Oceania but it did. Many historians will agree that Captain Cook and his men’s presence there would later impact the world’s view of Hawaii and thus its “position” within Oceania. I suspect a thesis is hiding somewhere on a bookshelf about this very topic. (Great beach fodder!)
My trip to the region (later this year) will be full of beach fodder. I anticipate ample time to study, photograph and learn more about the region. And specifically Hawai’i. Aloha.
Nestled between several nutrient-rich ocean currents, Micronesia houses an abundance of colorful marine life below the surface. This region is luscious and to the eye, it’s emerald green. The islands are grouped within a turquoise lagoon and bordered by a protective barrier reef, which keeps out the roaring, churning breaks of the Pacific Ocean. To the avid traveler, the trip, a lengthy three-stopover journey away. If you want to camp – bring it. If you love gazing at stars – ready yourself to “look it.” If you seek remote beaches, then just beach it. With calm waters, you can kayak through historical army relics left over from World War II or scuba diving at Blue Corner, arguably one of the world’s greatest sites. Overall, Micronesia scores high in the books of any adventurous spirit.
With more than 2,000 islands scattered across the Western Pacific, Micronesia’s possibilities for diving adventures, beach going experiences, water adventure and just relaxation without a population to bump up against are … well … limitless. From mysterious wrecks and rainbow-hued reefs to fascinating marine life encounters ancient ancestral traditions and seductive tropical beaches … if you’ve got the time, Micronesia has an answer. My plane departs at 8AM.
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a grouping of 607 small islands in the Western Pacific about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, lying just above the Equator. Generally speaking, FSM comprises what is known as the Eastern and Western Caroline Islands. While the country’s total land area amounts to only 270.8 square miles, it occupies more than one million square miles of the Pacific Ocean, and ranges 1,700 miles from East (Kosrae) to West (Yap). Each of the four States centers around one or more “high islands,” and all but Kosrae include numerous atolls. Link over to the site: Federated States of Micronesia to learn more.
Jacques Cousteau, guru of the underworld, hailed this tiny country in Micronesia as having some of the best diving in the world. I don’t dive, but fortunately, I didn’t need to–there are 1,400 species of shallow-water fish. Hawaii boasts 570.
Palau is a water destination and more. Travelers can kayak to WWII sites and secluded beaches, hike through jungles and waterfalls and swim with dolphins at the Dolphins Pacific center. And if you do scuba, there are 70 official dive sites.
Made up of 300 islands, Palau has 20,000 residents, and in terms of population and land mass, is one of the smallest countries in the world. Yet this epicenter of biodiversity has attracted divers since the 1980s. Tourism, however, is slow and steady, which suits Palauans just fine. New hotels, roads, bridges and hordes of travelers can be harmful to the coral and sea life, so there’s a concerted effort to grow at an environmentally sustainable pace. This unique combination makes it a must-visit location and one that will surely allow for true relaxation. Until you have to leave.
This little gem is located deep in the south Pacific – way deep. Calalin Island is far away from anything we can imagine but mentally close because of its picturesque beauty. “I’ll take two helpings please.” I have a reason for such a statement: Calalin Island (specifically the Calalin Channel) is dubbed shark alley. I have a couple of colleagues that need to visit this location and carry some bleeding fish on their “persons.”
Seriously, the area has some of the prettiest white sand beaches on the planet and no matter what time of year they are not crowded. Divers who are “in the know” recognize that the warm water temperatures, and cloudless days make for wetsuit-free diving and relaxing evenings. The most complex angle to the the Marshall Islands is the fact that the majority of people who visit the Islands – have to return to their homes after visiting. This thought creates a lot of angst within my body. I believe I’ll stick with Hawaii for now. Unless of course the PowerBall numbers tumble my way this Saturday. More later.
The show “Survivor” is unfolding on the island of Palau – near the Federated States of Micronesia. I’ve been fascinated with Oceania and the region of Micronesia for a few years – and the fascination did NOT originate with Survivor. A flight instructor that I flew with (on Oahu) told me he married a lady from Micronesia … and his experiences from the Micronesia region sounded unique. “Steve” told me that if I ever had the opportunity to visit Micronesia it might yield something I didn’t expect – a yearning to stay.
Palau, and specifically Malakal is part of the Caroline Islands, near Indonesia just south of the Tropic of Cancer and east of the Philippines. Should you need more information, refer to the your 8th Edition of the World Atlas by National Geographic and you can view MEGA-details. Based on the map, Survivor shot the show in a remote area – and area that has no cable-TV, cellular service is limited, contestants cannot stay at the Nikko and FedEx will not deliver packages to them. I also might add that asparagus isn’t available — best get on with fishing.
When I eventually visit I’m going to the Rock Islands, south of Malakal, an off shoot of Koror, which is even more remote. Snorkeling is plentiful with large reefs surrounded by the contrasting mushroom shaped Rock Islands.
Best get the gear packed.
Time flew by me so quickly I didn’t realize the clock was ticking … I looked up and it was sweeping round and round. I did think about the islands again – not so much because it would have been more fun to be there rather than “here.” Actually I did so because there is so much to “ooo and ahhh” over – so let’s just enjoy a fish-eye view of the landed world.
You got to love it – it’s far, far, far away in a galaxy unknown to most of the world as we know it. Those who are in the know, divers that is, favor the region because days are generally “blue” and the sun shines like it’s stuck on SPF50. Divers favor Chuuk Lagoon for its array of colorful maritime species and its large proliferation of shipwrecks. The lagoon is littered with Japanese vessels that were sunk during fighting in World War II.
Now the blah-dity-blah-blah … Micronesia consists of the Caroline Islands Archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean. In 1899 Spain sold the islands to Germany. Japan later occupied the region and fortified the islands just before World War II. In 1986 these 600 islands and atolls, formerly part of the U.S.-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, became self-governing in free association with the United States. American aid is crucial to the islands’ economy. Enough of the history lesson. Let’s see some good visuals.
Ahhhhh.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands was first settled in about 1,000 BC by people of Mayo/Polynesian stock. It was visited by Spanish navigators in the 16th century seeking a westerly route to the Spice Islands. In the span of – let’s say more than a 1,000 years – the people of the Marshall Islands voted to keep their secret quiet. The secret – it’s a damn lovely place to live and the rest ‘o the world had best find another square inch to reside.
In 1788, British sea Captain John William Marshall sailed through these atolls and proclaimed them Marshall Islands, while en route from Australia to China. (Ergo the name.) In the 1800s German traders, Missionaries from Hawaii and British and American whalers visited the islands. Many didn’t leave because the secret of her beauty would be shared.
In a back and forth table tennis volley between Germany and Japan from the late 1880’s through the late 1930’s, the Marshall Islands landed within the “Pacific Islands Trust Territory.” Today the Marshall Islands became a republic in free association with the U.S. What a place: Storied history, beautiful waters, blue skies, and warm weather. The right mix for a killa’ vacation. When do we leave?
I think therefore I can imagine – and without having visited (yet) Palau, the 343 islands that make up this “Eden” are highly attractive. Little did I know that the TV program, “Survivor” was
once there – oh boy. Whatever – I’m assuming the producer selected an outer island – possibly #342. Let’s hope so.
The more I research this destination, the more I realize it’s got my name on its list. Hell, it’s way-far from what we know and it’s even further than the weather-man can talk about – even with weekend updates (LOL). I say – “sunny, warm, and full of blue-bird days.” Best not get sick – you’ll have to travel to Guam or Honolulu to find assistance. Right on.
So when I go there, I’ll likely stay at the Palau Plantation Resort. The property is tight – right – and very pri-vite. Can you say, “my new home.” Let’s mentally go to the place we fashion as mecca each day. Why? It’s healthy – it’s also the quickest method of realizing a dream. According to Dr. Mitchell Perry, author of In the Zone, visualizing your future gives the mind control over the body and ultimately over the future.
Can I have a eatable version of “In the Zone?”
The visuals are killa – and worthy of visualization. Right on.
Another beauty for the eyes. Yes, it’s WAY out there in the western part of the Pacific. That pearl is called Palau. I would have loved to be there today – sunning and relaxing (not sure if I could relax but I’d try). With a tropical paradise surrounding you, what else is there to do? It’s an awesome natural environment to snorkel, scuba, hike or just watch the sting-less jelly fish. Yes, there is such a thing.
Take a look-see at the photo gallery (since I’m all about photos you’ll find these exceptional and worth viewing), and you’ll discover several visual reasons for at least a mental visit. I suggest the mental visit first – as it’s 4,609 miles from Honolulu (like flying from Atlanta to LA) and most folks fly to Hawaii then to Guam then to Palau. Did I hear two weeks of vacation required??? Rock on.
Is that a ‘micro’ sized version of “nesia?” Think not. It’s a real place that’s some 3,800 west of Hawai’i. Some travel. With jet travel by Continental Airlines (only), Micronesia is 4 or 5 hours from Hawai’i. Umm, so that’s a real haul from little ‘ol Tennessee. Attached is a photo that I uncovered from my searches of – specifically – the Marshall Islands. WOW. Can you soak that up or what. Robert Louis Stevenson called it the “Pearl of the Pacific.” More wow. I’ve thought about this photo most of the day (during free thinking moments), and there were so few that I’m now thinking about it again and WOW. I’m going there. Period.
I learned about Micronesia from a flight instructor I met while on the island of Oahu. His wife, from Micronesia, was lovely and they were a neat couple. They spoke so lovingly of Micronesia that – it was better than any brochure or website. It was – WOW. So – if and when the work-gods allow me to take a break, I’m haulin my happy ass to … Micronesia. I may stay there for a year or two or forever. Yeah.
Iokwe – translation – Welcome.
