Compound Coconuts

I read it somewhere that around the world more people are killed by falling coconuts than by sharks. As Nic and I are both divers that was very encouraging. That is until we came to Pohnpei and about one in five trees is a coconut tree. In the compound there are many coconut trees which is great because there is an endless supply of fresh coconuts. Jaxon and Indi love them. The only problem is our gardeners have to regularly risk life and limb climbing the trees to cut the coconuts down before they fall down on any of us or our guests.

Brandon is easily thirty feet up a coconut tree.

I guess they've being doing it for most of their lives; still it doesn't stop you holding your breath each time they climb up there.

Notice the divot in the foreground. You certainly wouldn't be telling anyone about it if one landed on your nogen.

Anyone for fresh coconuts.

Brandon you little champion. Freshly husked coconuts for the fridge. Indi and Jaxon were very pleased.

31 Oct - Halloween

Sunday was Halloween and believe me when I say it is massive here. Huge in the US of A and huge here on our little island of Pohnpei. Our friends Steve and Uta hosted a Halloween party with a great feed of chilli. After a quick feed it was off with the kids 'Trick or Treating' around the local neighbourhood.

Who could resist filling Indi's bag up with lollys.

Of course the bags look heaps better as hats though.

Dad was loaded up with an esky of beer, he was good for the afternoon.

The compound kids. Zara, Indi, Jaxon, Jonah and Joshy.

The kids turned up to Steve and Uta's looking for 'candy' by the car load. Indi was the first to greet everyone.

Steve, the host, feeling about the same as Scott after Friday and Saturday I'm sure.

Steve and Uta's daughter Maggi the beautiful lady bird.

Yep it was a little strange at times.

Jaxon and Indi loved the whole 'walk around and get lollys' thing.

Traffic in this little neighbourhood ended up being pretty crowded.

Even the Australian Ambassador turned up; must have been the place to be. How could it not be with these two little cuties holding the fort?

30 Oct - Halloween

Saturday started at 0500 when Scott got up for the monthly fishing tournament. The weather has fortunately continued to hold out with less than 10 knots of wind all day and about a metre of swell. The boys headed over to Pakin to try and repeat the efforts of their last trip. Unfortunately the wahoo weren't playing the game but they came home with more than a feed anyway. Some fish were donated to the state hospital and the rest was divided up. Some are in our freezer to give to our local staff. A great start to the weekend.

The bounty from the sea.

Saturday night saw us heading to the Rusty Anchor for the annual Halloween party. We couldn't believe how much effort people go to, especially our American friends, with the costumes. It really was pretty cool to be a part of. Sam and Ecky from the Australian Embassy enjoying the festivities.

Scott's boss Paul made a pretty scary clown with one of the better costumes on the night.

Uta and Conrad are good entertainment, even without a drink in their hands so they made our Halloween night a good one.

After the early rise, not the mention too many beers at the surf club the night before, Scott was a less than enthusiastic competitor in the drinking stakes.

David and his wife Win (not sure if this spelt right) from the US Embassy.

Kevin and Frankie. Frankie looked pretty hot and in the famous words of Borat 'Kevin not so much'

Stephen and Lori from the US Embassy. Stephen had been fishing with Scott on the boat all day and was happy to watch the games from the sidelines as well.

Alois and Witney. Alois makes for a good monkey.

Luigi and Mario win a prize for effort. As with most of the Pacific islands 'World Teach' plays a big part in the school system with volunteers, mostly from the US, visiting the islands for a year or two to help out. This certainly props up the 'white' numbers within the community and what better occasion than Halloween to bring them all out together.

Apparently if you google FSM which I thought stood for Federated States of Micronesia you also get the Flying Spagetti Monster. I'm yet to do this; Kevin you have way too much time on your hands. A top effort and our favourite costume of the night.

Nic and Majella (Kevin's wife). Majella works with AusAid up at the Australian Embassy.

Scott and Steve stayed drinking at the surf club the night before way past their bedtimes so two nights in a row, after a day out fishing, took some effort. I think Scott was asleep behind his mask for a little while.

26-28 Oct - US Coast Guard Visit

Tues - Thurs this week we were lucky enough to have the US Coastguard Cutter 'Rush' visit Pohnpei. The crew were glad to get ashore after a little while at sea, and the economy of Pohnpei certainly benefitted with many tours undertaken, surfing and diving, fine dining and the occasional beer or three. Scott assisted where he could by helping with the 'dos and don'ts briefing' on arrival and provided names of some of the more popular places to visit. The crew were great to Scott with the CO giving him a Ship's Coin, one of the Chiefs giving him a Chief's Coin and he also now is the proud owner of a 'Rush' T-shirt (which has worn constantly since they left).

The first night in port the CO, Officers and Chiefs hosted a cocktail party. It was a great experience for all that attended. The 'Rush' is more than likely the largest 'warship' to visit Pohnpei and was certainly a talking point around town. This ice statue was a beauty but was on the way out after the three hour cocktail party.

The Close In Weapons System on the bow.

The ship was originally commissioned in 1969 and she is still in great shape. Being a sailor Scott will attest to how much work goes into keeping a ship looking this good at this age.

Peter and Chris came along with us to the cocktail party and really enjoyed it. It is something that they would very rarely, if ever, get to do in Australia.

Not a bad picture with the CIWS and US Flag and Sokez Rock in the back ground.

Peter and Scott went for a quick tour of the ship. The Patrol Boats that Scott works with are over Peter's left shoulder and are quite small in comparison.

The standard visitor's photo.

CO and XO on the bridgewing for departure.

Another good pic with Rush and Sokez.

USCGC Rush making for Lighthouse Pass and the open ocean. The crew were great and Pohnpei enjoyed having them. Come back anytime.

24 Oct - Pool Fun

Having the pool in the compound has proven to be a huge hit; as it would in a place that rarely gets below 25 degrees. Jaxon and Indi are really improving, with both of them jumping in from the side on their own.

Fish boy Jaxon loves it. He is wearing a snorkel every now and again. Soon we will have him out on the boat looking at the fish with us. Not bad for a lad who isn't even four yet.

Indi has improved out of sight in the last couple of weeks. Kicking her legs and swimming independantly from Mum to Dad.

There is always time for play though. Indi loves being thrown high and then crashing down into the water.

Granddad watches as Jaxon disappears into the water.

Nana relaxing without any kids in sight.

The family that plays together........

The trip home from Ant Atoll

Everytime the boat leave the compound and Scott is onboard some form of fishing gear is onboard. After our snorkel and lunch at Ant Atoll we slowly made our way back to the mainland. We trolled the outer edge of Ant on the way past for a couple of nice eating fish.

Scott with a nice little Dogtooth Tuna. Definately the smallest one Scott has caught here but extremely tastey all the same. Sashimi is a big hit in the Campbell household, with even the kids feasting on raw fish.

About three minutes after the dogtooth came in one of the reels screamed off again. This time Peter was on wind-in duty with a nice little wahoo the result.

23 Oct - Saturday at Ant Atoll

Luckily for us, and Peter and Chris, the weather has remained unseasonally calm. This allowed us to head over to Ant Atoll for the day on Saturday. The sea was calm even if it was a little overcast for the majority of the day. The trip over was pretty easy and the sun managed to stick it's head out once we hit the sand on the 'vistors island'.

Peter and Chris enjoying some Grandkid free time.

The day after the wedding anniversary was a little seedy but worth the trip over.

1100 in Pohnpei must be four in the arvo somewhere. 27 degree water makes for a perfect seat while enjoying the first beer of the day.

After a quick drink it was off to show Peter and Chris was Ant looks like under the water.

Within five metres of the beach, in only two foot of water, you come across the first pieces of coral and beautiful fish.

Peter enjoying the peace and quiet of the ocean.

We saw heaps of these critters. Looks kind of like a flower until you get close to it and then it suddenly shoots back into a tube wedged into the coral.

Heaps of these trigger fish as well. Fantastic colours.

These guys always seem to be in pairs.

There are loads of beautifully coloured clams on Ant.

These guys seem to be fighting over the same bit of turf. It would be interesting to see this spot in ten years time.

Pink coral and blue clams make for a great photo.

This is about as murky as the water gets. Because there is quite a bit of sand on the atoll the visability is cut down to a measily 20 metres or so.

Yet another pair of these guys.

Not sure what sort of coral this is but when the sunlight hits it, it is quite beautiful under the water.

Scott took about half an hour chasing this fish (and others that looked like it) to get a decent photo. Lucky we have a 4gb memory card.

We didn't manage the perfect photo but these two started to get close.

A massive anemone with clown fish everywhere.

Trying to get a little arty with the pictures.

Nemo is it?

Back on dry land for a coffee before heading home.