Hello, Goodbye Beautiful Pohnpei – and a Terrible Accident

Posted by Keith on June 9, 2007 at 1:41 am  

The drop-dead beauty of Pohnpei and its people, the island capital of Micronesia, has attracted mariners for centuries. It’s a place that absolutely positively makes sailing across the Pacific worthwhile.

The eco-tourism opportunities, deep sea diving, or fishing, and the friendliness of the people is supplemented by colorful places such as the Tattooed Irishman Bar at the thatched-hut Village Hotel, or the Rusty Anchor Lounge, frequented by ex—pats from around the globe.


People here drink something called sokhou. And they eat beetle nuts. Both are mildly narcotic and wildly popular.

I flew in from my family vacation in Chagrin Falls Ohio with just enough time to tour the island and to prepare a few dispatches for the website. We must leave tomorrow so that we can secure the boat in Cebu, The Philippines, before the end of the month when I’ll fly to Hong Kong to tour China.

Our next stop is Palau. I’m told it is even more spectacular than Pohnpei.

I will not be able to update my dispatches for about a week, but I’ll have a more complete description of Pohnpei then.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy the many photos of Chagrin and of Pohnpei on the site, our most recent radio shows, including this coming Sunday’s show where I will discuss Pohnpei in depth, and the video of Pohnpei I just posted here as well.

A Ship Sinking

However, I must mention that yesterday the beautiful ship, Thorfin, sunk on the reef near the entrance to the harbor here at Kolonia. She was a proud, well-maintained 1950s metal steam ship, about 150-feet long. She burnt used oil for power.

It was a terrible loss. No one was injured, but the vessel is gone. The authorities are working day and night now to pump as much oil from her as possible. She had just refueled and was on her way out to sea. Photos are posted in the Pohnpei album.

–Keith


Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. fremont w. harlow on June 13, 2007 9:54 am

    listen to your show every weekend,and enjoy it.
    have a safe trip.
    f.w.h.
    mesa,az.


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