A Month in Micronesia

Hi, I'm Duncan, and I just joined this group. I'm a member of several
other forums, but some of them, like WetPixel, are pretty daunting for
an amateur. As soon as I saw a diver take a break and discuss the very
real danger of Black Helicopters (since I work that the factory which
makes them), I knew this'd be a fun place.

Anyway, the reason I'm posting is that my family (wife and 21-year-old
son) are going to Micronesia from 17 Dec 2006 to 12 Jan 2007. It's a
trip of a lifetime for us, and we want to do it right. We've already
bought plane tickets and will be staying 5 days in Palau, 9 days in
Truk, 4 days in Yap, and 3 in Majuro (the rest of the days involve
flying).

Interestingly enough, I lived there from age 5 to 16, but that was 45
years ago and everything's changed, I'm sure.

I need to talk to as many people as possible who have been there
recently to get some inside info on some of the hotels and any fun
things that you would recommend as 'not to miss'. My wife and I are
both Advanced OWD and my kid will be OWD next month. I like
photography, so I'd rather stay at around 30-40 feet; my wife likes
pelagics, so she likes to hang out at 100-120 ft. So we'll both have
to compormise! Obviously, with 9 diving days on Truk, we plan on a LOT
of wreck diving.

Anyway, if anyone out there has any insights or advice, I'd love to
hear from you.

<duncankunz@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1141572481.928471.229910@v46g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com...

> I need to talk to as many people as possible who have been there
> recently to get some inside info on some of the hotels and any fun
> things that you would recommend as 'not to miss'. My wife and I are
> both Advanced OWD and my kid will be OWD next month. I like
> photography, so I'd rather stay at around 30-40 feet; my wife likes
> pelagics, so she likes to hang out at 100-120 ft. So we'll both have
> to compormise! Obviously, with 9 diving days on Truk, we plan on a LOT
> of wreck diving.

There's really not much "fun" to be had in Micronesia, save for the
excellent diving. This ain't Hawaii or Cancun. I can't speak to Majuro,
but the only touristy things to do on Truk are covered in a several-hour
island tour that includes a cave with a long gun at the end and a tour of
the high school that used to be a Japanese administration building. On Yap,
you can attend a "cultural presentation" featuring native dancers, a
demonstration of basket weaving, and a taste of local fruit and betel nut.
Palau is a little better, offering attractions such as jellyfish lake and
kayaking in the rock islands. Other than that, Truk is sort of seedy, and
Yap, outside the town, is privately owned and you need permission to stray
anywhere (there is some hiking along the old stone paths, but they're very
slippery and it's pretty darn hot and humid to go tramping through the
jungle). Palau too is mainly privately owned. I recall one place where we
stopped for lunch where we were allowed to snorkle around in the shallows
but weren't allowed to trespass onto the beach.

If you want to maximize your diving, consider a liveaboard for Truk.
Otherwise, the Blue Lagoon hotel is nice enough and right on the water.
There are some other places in town, but then you're in town. Yap is more
rustic. There's the Manta Ray Bay Hotel, right on the water and complete
with its own dive op, that is my recommendation. Others prefer the Trader's
Ridge Hotel up the hill - they have a swimming pool and their restaurant is
classier. There's also a place in town that's really rustic, but I forget
the name.

Palau has plenty of options, from the upscale Palau Pacific Resort that has
beaches and a pool, to the native-style Carolines Resort where you stay in
hand-carved wooden cabins that are a long walk up the hill, to more
motel-like accomodations in town like the mini-chain of Desekel properties.
Don't miss diving Chandelier Cave and taking a snorkel trip to the
aforementioned Jellyfish Lake - both of these can be easily included in a
dive package.

Since you're there a while, you'll really want to get an updated copy of the
Lonely Planet's Micronesia guide. If you need a good Micronesia-savvy
travel agent, try Trip-N-Tour at www.trip-n-tour.com.

Mr. Mossman, thanks for your reply; you have brought up several
interesting memories.

"...the only touristy things to do on Truk are covered in a
several-hour island tour that includes a cave with a long gun at the
end and a tour of the high school that used to be a Japanese
administration building."

The cave with the British 6" gun (taken from Singapore and mounted in
the cave in late 1942) was about 200 yards from where I used to live; I
have been there many times. The high school you mention (the building
was also the Communications Center) is Francis Xavier High School; I
boarded there in ninth grade (1959-1960). Both of those places, as
well as some other interesting locations on Moen (called "Weno" now)
are not touristy for most, but you know how old guys returning to the
scenes of their youth are LOL!

"On Yap, you can attend a "cultural presentation" featuring native
dancers, a demonstration of basket weaving, and a taste of local fruit
and betel nut"

I know the Yapese are still the most conservative of the Micronesians,
as they were when I was a punk kid. I'm looking forward to the Yapese
dances, and showing my wife and kid the stone money. My bride is all
a-twitter about Yap, since she heard that's one of the best places to
see mantas. I cannot abide betel-nut, although my wife and son will
doubtless try it. The lime is just too nasty for me.

"Palau is a little better, offering attractions such as jellyfish lake
and kayaking in the rock islands."

I definitely want to do the jellyfish lake; if nothing else it's a
fantastic example of forced evolution, sort of like blind fish in deep
caves.

"Other than that, Truk is sort of seedy..."

Not to sound too bigoted, Truk had that reputation already when I left
45 years ago, when it was still the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands. Outside of visiting some places where I played as a kid, the
hidden waterfall, and the caves (actually, there're a lot of them) I
hope to spend most of my time in the water.

"Yap, outside the town, is privately owned and you need permission to
stray anywhere (there is some hiking along the old stone paths, but
they're very slippery and it's pretty darn hot and humid to go tramping
through the jungle). Palau too is mainly privately owned. I recall
one place where we stopped for lunch where we were allowed to snorkle
around in the shallows but weren't allowed to trespass onto the beach."

Good points to remember; I have spent a total of one day in both Palau
and Yap, and don't remember a blessed thing about them.

"If you want to maximize your diving, consider a liveaboard for Truk.
Otherwise, the Blue Lagoon hotel is nice enough and right on the water.
There are some other places in town, but then you're in town."

I'd love a liveaboard, but we've budgeted $18 k for the entire trip and
we've already dropped $7400 just for the air tickets. We figure daily
boat dives'd be cheaper; and if the Blue Lagoon is at what used to be
called South Field, (on the side opposite the airfield and facing
Tonoas) I seem to remember some pretty good beaches there for shore
dives. We have all our gear so we'd only have to rent tanks. But if
we could do a three-day liveaboard, that'd be phenomenal.

"Yap is more rustic. There's the Manta Ray Bay Hotel, right on the
water and complete with its own dive op, that is my recommendation.
Others prefer the Trader's Ridge Hotel up the hill - they have a
swimming pool and their restaurant is classier. There's also a place
in town that's really rustic, but I forget the name."

Good. I'll contact the Manta Ray Bay Hotel.

"Palau has plenty of options, from the upscale Palau Pacific Resort
that has beaches and a pool, to the native-style Carolines Resort where
you stay in hand-carved wooden cabins that are a long walk up the hill,
to more motel-like accomodations in town like the mini-chain of Desekel
properties. Don't miss diving Chandelier Cave and taking a snorkel trip
to the aforementioned Jellyfish Lake - both of these can be easily
included in a dive package"

This is exactly the kind of information I need.

"Since you're there a while, you'll really want to get an updated copy
of the Lonely Planet's Micronesia guide. If you need a good
Micronesia-savvy travel agent, try Trip-N-Tour at www.trip-n-tour.com."

I've already got my plane tickets, but I will contact Trip-n-Tour, and
will get the Lonely Planet book this week.

Mr Mossman, you are a man among men! Many thanks for your great
information!

Kindest regards,

Duncan Kunz

duncankunz@cox.net
duncan.z.kunz@boeing.com
Mesa Arizona USA

duncankunz@cox.net wrote:

> Hi, I'm Duncan, and I just joined this group. I'm a member of several
> other forums, but some of them, like WetPixel, are pretty daunting for
> an amateur. As soon as I saw a diver take a break and discuss the very
> real danger of Black Helicopters (since I work that the factory which
> makes them), I knew this'd be a fun place.
>
> Anyway, the reason I'm posting is that my family (wife and 21-year-old
> son) are going to Micronesia from 17 Dec 2006 to 12 Jan 2007. It's a
> trip of a lifetime for us, and we want to do it right. We've already
> bought plane tickets and will be staying 5 days in Palau, 9 days in
> Truk, 4 days in Yap, and 3 in Majuro (the rest of the days involve
> flying).
>
> Interestingly enough, I lived there from age 5 to 16, but that was 45
> years ago and everything's changed, I'm sure.
>
> I need to talk to as many people as possible who have been there
> recently to get some inside info on some of the hotels and any fun
> things that you would recommend as 'not to miss'. My wife and I are
> both Advanced OWD and my kid will be OWD next month. I like
> photography, so I'd rather stay at around 30-40 feet; my wife likes
> pelagics, so she likes to hang out at 100-120 ft. So we'll both have
> to compormise! Obviously, with 9 diving days on Truk, we plan on a LOT
> of wreck diving.
>
> Anyway, if anyone out there has any insights or advice, I'd love to
> hear from you.
>
Wish I could go - maybe someday - have a great trip there are plenty
here who have experience in the area

<duncankunz@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1141578056.906081.185950@t39g2000cwt.googlegr oups.com...
> Mr. Mossman, thanks for your reply; you have brought up several
> interesting memories.

> The cave with the British 6" gun (taken from Singapore and mounted in
> the cave in late 1942) was about 200 yards from where I used to live; I
> have been there many times. The high school you mention (the building
> was also the Communications Center) is Francis Xavier High School; I
> boarded there in ninth grade (1959-1960). Both of those places, as
> well as some other interesting locations on Moen (called "Weno" now)
> are not touristy for most, but you know how old guys returning to the
> scenes of their youth are LOL!

IIRC, we hiked up the hill to the gun after parking near the Chuuk
governor's and the FSM president's houses. I remember the clothesline out
in front, with the presidential garbs (T-shirts and jeans) hanging from it.
The presidential "limo" was an F-150 pickup. (On a later trip I actually
did get to meet the President of Palau, but that's a different story)

> I know the Yapese are still the most conservative of the Micronesians,
> as they were when I was a punk kid. I'm looking forward to the Yapese
> dances, and showing my wife and kid the stone money. My bride is all
> a-twitter about Yap, since she heard that's one of the best places to
> see mantas. I cannot abide betel-nut, although my wife and son will
> doubtless try it. The lime is just too nasty for me.

Cultural dances aren't exactly my favorite pastime, but I definitely prefer
the fire eating and coconut-clad hula girls you get at "authentic" Hawaiian
luaus to the rather monotonous chant & step dancing of the Yapese. I liked
the old lady doing the chant-singing, though. She could be transplanted to
a Navajo teepee and you wouldn't know the difference, except that the
natives would be smoking peace pipes instead of chewing betel.

Stone money is fine and dandy, but I really expected that they'd be using it
as currency, not just having it sit in front of their homes as a relic of
the past, useful today only for ceremonial dowries. So much for my idea of
tossing the DM a few for his tip.

> I definitely want to do the jellyfish lake; if nothing else it's a
> fantastic example of forced evolution, sort of like blind fish in deep
> caves.

All evolution is forced to one extent or another. I don't believe that they
were forced to give up their nematocytes; more like our appendices, they
atrophied from continual disuse as other characteristics evolved that were
more important for their survival: the toughness needed to withstand the
kicks of too many snorkelers, for example.

> "Other than that, Truk is sort of seedy..."

> Not to sound too bigoted, Truk had that reputation already when I left
> 45 years ago, when it was still the Trust Territory of the Pacific
> Islands. Outside of visiting some places where I played as a kid, the
> hidden waterfall, and the caves (actually, there're a lot of them) I
> hope to spend most of my time in the water.

"Sort of seedy" was definitely the polite way of putting it. If all the
rusted beer cans I saw on the side of the road during my 2-hour van tour
were stacked on end, they'd reach to the moon.

I spent most of my time in Truk on the Odyssey, so the town was only a
necessary eyesore for the day preceding our 3 a.m. flight off the island.
The high-school was interesting, with the gym roof repaired after taking a
direct shelling, and foot-thick doors to keep the unruly students in their
places.

> Good points to remember; I have spent a total of one day in both Palau
> and Yap, and don't remember a blessed thing about them.

I understand your wanting to spend time on Truk to revisit your childhood,
but otherwise I believe you'd be better off spending the longer portion of
your trip in Palau. Sure, Truk has the wrecks, but you'll be limited in
what you can dive by diving a land-based dive op, not to mention limited the
number of dives. Many of the wrecks require multiple dives since they're so
vast and also rather deep. Palau has long boat rides to get outside the
reef, but you're at least traveling through the rock islands on the way, not
exactly an eyesore. Yap is small enough that everything is close by the
dock, especially since the Germans were helpful enough to dredge several
channels through the islands.

One of the highlights of my Truk liveaboard was a midweek surface interval
where we toured one of the islands in the lagoon that had been converted to
a Japanese airbase during WWII. Unlike the Xavier High, the admin building
on this island (forgive me for forgetting the name, but my Truk coffee table
book is at my real office and I'm at my home office right now) was really
badly damaged, and covered with Chuukese graffiti by many generations of
resentful locals. What used to be paved airstrip has grown into jungle in
the 60 intervening years. I'm not sure how accessible the lagoon islets are
from Weno if you're not already on a liveaboard.

> I'd love a liveaboard, but we've budgeted $18 k for the entire trip and
> we've already dropped $7400 just for the air tickets. We figure daily
> boat dives'd be cheaper; and if the Blue Lagoon is at what used to be
> called South Field, (on the side opposite the airfield and facing
> Tonoas) I seem to remember some pretty good beaches there for shore
> dives. We have all our gear so we'd only have to rent tanks. But if
> we could do a three-day liveaboard, that'd be phenomenal.




> "Yap is more rustic. There's the Manta Ray Bay Hotel, right on the
> water and complete with its own dive op, that is my recommendation.
> Others prefer the Trader's Ridge Hotel up the hill - they have a
> swimming pool and their restaurant is classier. There's also a place
> in town that's really rustic, but I forget the name."
>
> Good. I'll contact the Manta Ray Bay Hotel.
>
> "Palau has plenty of options, from the upscale Palau Pacific Resort
> that has beaches and a pool, to the native-style Carolines Resort where
> you stay in hand-carved wooden cabins that are a long walk up the hill,
> to more motel-like accomodations in town like the mini-chain of Desekel
> properties. Don't miss diving Chandelier Cave and taking a snorkel trip
> to the aforementioned Jellyfish Lake - both of these can be easily
> included in a dive package"
>
> This is exactly the kind of information I need.

> "Since you're there a while, you'll really want to get an updated copy
> of the Lonely Planet's Micronesia guide. If you need a good
> Micronesia-savvy travel agent, try Trip-N-Tour at www.trip-n-tour.com."
>
> I've already got my plane tickets, but I will contact Trip-n-Tour, and
> will get the Lonely Planet book this week.

Assuming you're flying Continental, which is a good assumption since that's
all there is, you might have been better off trying to do the whole thing as
a package. When you call Continental Micronesia tours, you get connected to
Trip-n-Tour - they're able to work deals that you just can't find on your
own. My first trip to Micronesia was a week in Yap, including air from LAX,
seven nights at the Manta Ray Bay Hotel, five two-tank dive days, airport
transfers, and even hotel rooms and transfers for the necessary overnights
in Guam in each direction, all for $2,100 each. As you've seen, that's
about the cost of the airfare alone.

Still, it's worth calling them to see what sort of dive/hotel packages you
can work out, and they're definitely a font of up-to-date info. All my
helpful hints are at least a few years old. If you talk to Mike or Vicki at
Trip-n-Tour, tell 'em I said hi.

> Mr Mossman, you are a man among men! Many thanks for your great
> information!

Sorry I'm not more helpful about Truk, but we spent all that week on the
liveaboard and it sounds like you already know the place well. I do recall
the Blue Lagoon (used to be the Continental hotel) having a very nice beach,
but I'm not sure how it would fare as a shore dive. There's a Japanese
restaurant right outside the gates, plus a decent restaurant in the hotel
complex. Both have the typically horrible Micronesian service - allow at
least two hours for even the most simple meal, heck you're lucky if you get
your drinks in two hours.

But I do know a bit more about Yap and Palau. If you have any specific
questions, let me know.

In article <1141572481.928471.229910@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups .com>,
duncankunz@cox.net () wrote:

> Anyway, if anyone out there has any insights or advice, I'd love to
> hear from you.

Before i start rambling on about this and that......take a look at our
stay on Yap and our time diving Chuuk......

http://www.seatreker.com/Yap.htm

http://www.seatreker.com/Chuuk%20Lagoon.htm

If there is anything specific i can help with, just ask........

www.seatreker.com
Dave Morgan @ Work in the UK

<duncankunz@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1141572481.928471.229910@v46g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com...
> Hi, I'm Duncan, and I just joined this group. I'm a member of several
> other forums, but some of them, like WetPixel, are pretty daunting for
> an amateur. As soon as I saw a diver take a break and discuss the very
> real danger of Black Helicopters (since I work that the factory which
> makes them), I knew this'd be a fun place.
>
> Anyway, the reason I'm posting is that my family (wife and 21-year-old
> son) are going to Micronesia from 17 Dec 2006 to 12 Jan 2007. It's a
> trip of a lifetime for us, and we want to do it right. We've already
> bought plane tickets and will be staying 5 days in Palau, 9 days in
> Truk, 4 days in Yap, and 3 in Majuro (the rest of the days involve
> flying).
>
> Interestingly enough, I lived there from age 5 to 16, but that was 45
> years ago and everything's changed, I'm sure.
>
> I need to talk to as many people as possible who have been there
> recently to get some inside info on some of the hotels and any fun
> things that you would recommend as 'not to miss'. My wife and I are
> both Advanced OWD and my kid will be OWD next month. I like
> photography, so I'd rather stay at around 30-40 feet; my wife likes
> pelagics, so she likes to hang out at 100-120 ft. So we'll both have
> to compormise! Obviously, with 9 diving days on Truk, we plan on a LOT
> of wreck diving.
>
> Anyway, if anyone out there has any insights or advice, I'd love to
> hear from you.
>

Cancel your trip pronto and head to the rain soaked paradise of the PNW.
There is an aquarium in Seattle where a octopus eats sharks. Thrills for the
whole family!!!!! Micronesia or PNW..........the choice is obvious.

duncankunz@cox.net wrote:
> Anyway, the reason I'm posting is that my family (wife and 21-year-old
> son) are going to Micronesia from 17 Dec 2006 to 12 Jan 2007.

Would you & your wife considering adopting me? I could be your 43 year old
son that you never wanted. Come on, please?

A couple of my 'ol buddies and I have discussed the idea of doing a shark
dive in California.

Two of us are fairly strong and/or competant in the open water skills, and
two have limited experience.

Suggestions? Comments? Insights?

Thanks!

Whoops!

Sorry about that...my bad.

Meant to start a new thread! I'll do that right now!!!!!






"jbeck" <jNOSPAMbeck@zianet.com> wrote in message
news:440cd624@nntp.zianet.com...
>A couple of my 'ol buddies and I have discussed the idea of doing a shark
>dive in California.
>
> Two of us are fairly strong and/or competant in the open water skills, and
> two have limited experience.
>
> Suggestions? Comments? Insights?
>
> Thanks!
>