Our Pohnpei Adventure

regardless of the cost.

Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 453gms = $19.95 Australian

Dorito’s, normal size pack = $8.50 Australian

I also paid $26.95 australian for a tub of sour cream about the same size as the Phili Cream Cheese tub.

Today is Pohnpei Cultural Day and as per last year I thought I would take the kids and myself down to watch some of the traditional dancing which is pretty cool.  Just some pictures of the day.

After we left Langer Island we went to check out the surfers at Palikir Pass.  It was pretty spectacular watching the surfers try to catch the waves.  Earlier this year Kelly Slater and Andy Irons both came to Pohnpei to surf the waves at Palikir Pass. 

Today we packed up the kids and went with our neighbours plus their kids on the boat for the day.  We had decided to go to Manta Road and Langer Island.  It was a perfect day in Pohnpei, sun shining (and quite warm), no wind and just glorious. 

We weren’t lucky enough to see Manta’s this time but boy the snorkelling was good at Manta Road.  The water was so clear that you could see the bottom from the boat perfectly.  The fish were out and it is amazing no matter how many times I see Nemo (clown fish) I can’t help but be excited. 

Also I think I saw a merman

Oh no it was just Steve snorkelling

On the way home we went to check the surfers out at Palikkers Pass, I will post the pictures after this.

We are very fortunate to live on our small slice of paradise here in Pohnpei.  Our compound recently got a new playground, much to the kids delight.  They are so spoilt, seriously who has a playground like this in their back yard that is only shared between six kids.  Gee my kids are going to have a tough time when we go back to reality.

It seems if your car works you can drive it regardless of it’s condition.  I need to take more pictures of some of the beauties you see here.

I know Pohnpei is generally rated as the second wettest place on earth, although I think in the past it was Number 1 for a while.  Today the Utilities company turned off the water to conserve it.  It hasn’t rained in 11 days (I am sure that this must be a record) and someone noticed the town tanks were in dire straights and nearly empty.  So the ‘higher powers’ turned off the water.  We are lucky that we have treated water tanks that supply our house with water so we aren’t reliant on ‘town water’.  

Restaurants were closed (we were playing Mahjong at the Cliff Rainbow when we had to leave because of the no water situation), and people started hording water.  School was called off for elementary schools and high schools in Pohnpei (which caused much joy for alot of students and probably teachers too).  Kid1 called me on Wednesday afternoon to come and pick them up as SDA was being shut down as they had no water either, much to her and her brothers delight.

There is also a hepatitis A outbreak right now on Pohnpei which is a bit of a concern as that can be spread by contaminated water so the speculation of why the water was turned off was buzzing through the coconut express.  Was it only turned off because of the drought or more sinister reasons.

edited to add:  Most schools didn’t return back this whole week because of the water issues, the kids school had Wednesday afternoon off and had to return on Thursday. 

Just as I went to take the picture the little boy with the red bandanna kicked the dog (poor thing).

Steve and J, J and P (our neighbours) all headed out to try and win this month’s fishing competition (first prize was $800US).  Their goal was to catch a Marlin.  Unfortunately they failed in their quest but another boat did catch one.  I always feel sorry for these magnificent creatures of the sea when they are caught, it is amazing to see them but so sad at the same time.

Cwislyn Walter a 19 year old girl lost her life in Iraq whilst she was serving with the American National Guard.  An American Air force plane brought her body back to Pohnpei and she received a full military funeral.  It was pretty amazing to see the air force jet land in the Pohnpei airport (the landing strip is really not very long) even for such a sad occasion.

Bless you Cwislyn Walter.