21 April - Waterfall

Being the second wettest country means there is heaps of running water. Combine this with mostly mountainous terrain and you get plenty of waterfalls.

 Nic and the kids teamed up with Jamie and her two younglings for a visit to this one. About a forty minute drive from home and a short easy work in makes it very accessable (not like some of the ones we have visited previously)

 The kids love swimming whether it's in the pool, ocean or at the waterfalls.

 Very scenic, something we will miss when we come home.

 What is it with kids and sticks..... Magic wands this time I think.

Jaxon and Indi are getting the 'smart arse' stage now and love 'posing' for photos.

Yep, Indi's going to be a handfull (just like Mum).

Just another great day in Pohnpei.

Governor General visits Pohnpei

Australia's Governor General Quentin Bryce visited Pohnpei recently. It was the first Head of State visit by any of the FSMs development partner nations since the FSM was formed as an independent country. It was a historic occasion and great to witness it.

 The GG was met by the Vice President Alik Alik at the airport after arriving on her Australian Airforce jet. Richard Marles (Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs (and Foreign Affairs)) and many others also accompanied her on the visit.

 Not a bad photo with Sokez Rock in the background.

 The GG was only on the ground in the FSM for about 18hrs but she crammed a lot in. After what must have been a very quick freshen up at her hotel there was a welcoming dinner. We were lucky enough to get invites to this. The members of the GGs delegation were only to happy to sit down to a great meal after a busy day. The FSM traditions were out on display. Above are some of the sakau makers in traditional dress.

 The GG and the FSM President attempt to discuss some issues, must have been a little difficult though with so much going on around them.

 The traditional sakau ceremony to welcome the honoured guests.

 Sakau being ground and filtered.

 The next morning the GG had a formal visit out at the FSM President's office.

 Planting trees. Brand new shovels (stickers still on).

 Next stop was a visit to the 'Pohnpei Island Food Community'

 Obesity and diabetes are major concerns across the FSM, but PIFC is definitely taking the bull by the horns and have great plans in place in an attempt to get back to having the local Micronesians eating more traditional foods.

Last stop in what was a very busy morning was visit to the Maritime Wing. We all briefly met the GG which was great. A quick presentation by the MSA followed by an even quicker Patrol Boat visit and then it was off to the airport and the next country.

The Governor General is a remarkable lady. She is certainly switched on to the local issues in each country which was great to see. It was certainly something special to meet her and listen to her.

15 April - Family Boat Day

After church it was into the boat quick smart to get to Manta Road for low tide.

As soon as we got there it was straight into the water and guess what we see. They were deep today so the photos aren't the best.

Indi and Jaxon both snorkelled today and loved seeing all the brightly coloured fish.

Indi going solo over the reef. She saw her first manta today and is still talking about it.

The Pohnpei Surf Club boats.

A better shot. Unfortunately clearer photos come from the tidal flow increasing, which makes it hard work to keep up with them for a photo.

They're good kids. Indi racked out on a life jacket and Jaxon read his books.

We moved to a different spot for a dive and Jaxon and I fished for about half an hour while we waited for lunch to go down. Our first one definately wasn't a monster.

A double header than I got Jaxon to wind in.

After this Nic, Brenda and I went for a dive. I didn't take the deep-water camera but you'll have to believe me when I say it was a pretty cool dive. Huge fan corals, a school of barracuda, soft corals and nemos - yep it was good enough to do again sometime with the camera.

13 Apr - Sunset Cruise

After catching a marlin it was time to unwind. Baby sitter organised and we headed out for a sunset cruise. Sokez Island with about half an hour of light left.

Looking very happy and relaxed (read sore) after catching his marlin.

There it goes....

Nothing like a swim and a few beers at sunset to unwind from a short but busy week.

Allios keeping a good on the GPS to get us safely through the unchartered, unmarked inshore reefs.

Just another great week in Pohnpei. A quiet Saturday at home and then snorkeling with the mantas and a dive on an inshore reef on Sunday. Love it.

13 Apr - Pohnpei Marlin

Friday the 13th now has a whole new meaning and it's definately not a bad thing. I headed out with Brenda and Jerry once again chasing what has been the elusive Pohnpei marlin. Nothing but marlin lures were out, I wanted no other species this day. As luck would have it 40 minutes after we had lines in the water one of the reels starting screaming. I looked out the back and saw a marlin jumping, it was hooked solidly. You beauty. Brenda cleared the other lines, Jerry drove the boat where I wanted it to be and I put on the belt and we settled in for the fight.

32 nervous minutes later I had my first Pohnpei marlin boat side. I have hooked about seven or eight and lost them all before today, but I've learnt from every one. I had never really trolled lures before coming here so I'm happy to have reached the pinacle for the pacific, the pacific blue marlin on stand-up gear.

Not a monster but it was a thing of beauty, you'll have to believe me.

Jerry and I with our catch of the day.

Brenda and I have been waiting for this moment for about six months now.

Nothing like a 'Rex Hunt' for my first marlin in Pohnpei.

The scales, however old, don't lie. 160lbs of pacific blue marlin. Caught on 50lb line = very happy.

I'm not a fan of kill shots but for the first one I had to have it done.

It was obviously hungry. It still had a whole skipjack tuna in it's stomach when it hit my lure.

So it's done, a marlin in Pohnpei. Now I can sleep at night. I just have to catch one next Saturday during the monthly tournament.......

Easter Monday

We took the boat out on Easter Monday afternoon for some snorkelling and playing on a local inshore island. On the way we passed some local ladies net-fishing from a couple of rafts. You see some pretty cool things here.

The crew all geared up and ready to swim on arrival.

At Nah Island I finally caught a good sized coconut crab. Not massive by coconut crab standards but it's the biggest one I've seen on Pohnpei so I was happy with that. And he tasted good as well.

Powerful claws that bust open coconuts. Being very careful at this point.

The kids found a place to relax in between spots.

On of our favourite spots on island - The Village. This is where Nic and I stayed for Nic's birthday a couple of weeks back.

The old and the new.

As always the snorkelling was fantastic with the colours of the fish simply amazing.

No trip would be complete without seeing Nemo.

Or Mummy's favourite, the blue starfish.

There isn't as many clams on the inshore reefs as there are on the atolls. Dirtier water (rain run-off) and the locals keep the numbers down.

A pretty cool spot to stop for a swim.

No need to take depth soundings when you have four very loud kids telling you how deep it is.

Just another day in paradise.