Yesterday I had the opportunity to join the Pohnpei group as they trekked around the island exploring the ancient ruins of Nan Madol, swimming in a waterfall, and getting a quick peek at their future schools/homes. From the Peace Corps office, the Nan Madol ruins are only 23 miles away. However, when you factor in the winding, crumbling roads as well as the cautious Pohnpeian drivers, you’re now looking at a trip that will take an hour and a half. It was a nice trip though, as I sat shotgun (in a van with air conditioning!) and listened to our Safety & Security staff share stories of Nan Madol.
As we got close, we paid 3 separate entrance fees (first to the land owners of the road to GET there, second to the land owners of the compound you have to walk through, and finally to the land owners of the actual ruins.. or at least that’s how I interpreted the exchanges) and made our way to the “trailhead”. We crossed a couple of sketchy bridges, stopped multiple times to take photos of all the beautiful flora, carefully dodged slippery rocks as we waded through water, and we finally got to the ruins.
As we got close, we paid 3 separate entrance fees (first to the land owners of the road to GET there, second to the land owners of the compound you have to walk through, and finally to the land owners of the actual ruins.. or at least that’s how I interpreted the exchanges) and made our way to the “trailhead”. We crossed a couple of sketchy bridges, stopped multiple times to take photos of all the beautiful flora, carefully dodged slippery rocks as we waded through water, and we finally got to the ruins.
Dripping with sweat we all trudged back up the trail to our gleaming beacon of air-conditioned bliss. Drinking coconuts were passed around as we got ready to leave, and I quickly downed somewhere near 32 oz. of sugar water. The next stop was the waterfall, which we were all eager to check out after seeing photos from the first group’s trip.
Of course, it was beautiful and our anticipation had been warranted. As we swam around a while, taking pictures and enjoying the “cold” water, some locals joined us and started catching fish! Not with spears or technical equipment, but with Cheetos. They’d carefully place a Cheeto in the water close to their body, wait for the fish to come snatch it, and pull their shirt underneath and up, trapping it inside. Our staff chaperone skillfully skewered them all together and I’m sure ate well last night.
Of course, it was beautiful and our anticipation had been warranted. As we swam around a while, taking pictures and enjoying the “cold” water, some locals joined us and started catching fish! Not with spears or technical equipment, but with Cheetos. They’d carefully place a Cheeto in the water close to their body, wait for the fish to come snatch it, and pull their shirt underneath and up, trapping it inside. Our staff chaperone skillfully skewered them all together and I’m sure ate well last night.
Photos take longer to upload here, so make sure you check out my Picasa page for the rest of them:
https://picasaweb.google.com/113826034202017194340/MicronesiaPeaceCorps?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP3q6JLr2tKUBg&feat=directlink
Also, just a head's up, I'm leaving for Kosrae soon so my mailing address has changed. Make sure you send anything to
Heather Bright, Peace Corps Trainee
Peace Corps Micronesia
PO Box 98
Tofol, Kosrae
FSM 96944
from here on out. No worries if you've sent something to Pohnpei recently, I should still get it in time.
https://picasaweb.google.com/113826034202017194340/MicronesiaPeaceCorps?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP3q6JLr2tKUBg&feat=directlink
Also, just a head's up, I'm leaving for Kosrae soon so my mailing address has changed. Make sure you send anything to
Heather Bright, Peace Corps Trainee
Peace Corps Micronesia
PO Box 98
Tofol, Kosrae
FSM 96944
from here on out. No worries if you've sent something to Pohnpei recently, I should still get it in time.