More tropical living and sea safety

Hello All

Last weekend we took the opportunity to visit Manta Road and Langer Island again.

Zara decided she would rather hang with her friends and go on a 3 hour hike. Suffice to say she slept well that night.

We took the boat with Jonah and Joshua along with Janet and Eddie from the Embassy.

We got to Manta Road and the current was moving through pretty quickly so attaching the boat to the buoy was a challenge in itself that resulted in me diving over the side rope in hand to tie us off.

We let out approx. 80 metres of line with two floats attached so we would have something to hang onto with the current moving through.

After ten minutes of snorkelling we saw our first Mantas. They were about 15 metres deep and directly below us int he water just cruising amongst the reef below. Jonah, upon seeing them swam really fast back to the boat. They werent small. 

After about ten minutes and seeing me stay in the water he begged to get back in.

I snorkelled with him and the Mantas for the next 30 mins hew as pointing and laughing and really enjoyed the experience. At one stage a small reef shark swam through and he wasnt scared at all just kept pointing and saying that there was a shark, he still didnt want to get out.

He eventually went back to the boat telling everyone how he swam with the Mantas and a shark.

The coral was really in flower and lots of fish of all colours were everywhere.

We left around lunch time and went to Langer Island for lunch. We had the place to ourselves for the first 30 mins and Jonah went fishing with Beru again. He now knows how to cast. Beru is so patient and Jonah is going to continue the fishing tradition.

Two boats (pohnpeians)  joined us at Langer for a BBQ for one of their kids. The second boat that arrived had so many people on it!!!!!!!!!!!Safety isnt really a consideration.

After talking to Beru the locals realised I was "the" Navy Commander and so plates of food were shoved into our hands. They are such a friendly people.

We had a great day and the boys hit the hay early as well.

Paul

Hanging with the Pro surfers

Hello All

Pohnpei is famous for a few things and one of them is Surfing. From previous posts you would have seen the quality of the reef break and read about pro surfers visiting at short notice.

Reef decided to send some their up and coming pro surfers to the island as they heard a few swells were forming. They send photographers and video guys with them to capture these guys in action for their adverising campaigns.

We were invited down to PCR restaurant for dinner by Allois and the kids took the opportunity to meet and hang with the surfers. They were really nice guys.

Paul

Easter in Pohnpei

Hello All 

Well it been a few weeks since I updated the blog, so today I will do a few updates.

Easter in Pohnpei is a fun time for the kids. Not only is it the start of Spring Break (yes, it seems like they are never at school). They have a week and a bit off school leading into the easter weekend.

All the plans for Spring break went by the wayside due to the weather.................yes it rained for the whole week. So plans to go out to some of the islands and do some exploring meant the kids were limited to the compound, movies and other inside activities.

In the lead up to Easter, Bett an Jeff organised for all the kids to decorate real eggs to be hidden for an Easter Egg hunt. The kids spent an afternoon painting and decorating eggs. 

Chocolate eggs arent really available here so thanks to our wonderful neighbours , the kids still woke on Easter morning having been visited by the Easter Bunny (with Australian Easter Eggs). The bunny even remembered that Zara doesnt really eat Brown chocolate.

In the afternoon a Easter Egg hunt was arranged at Steve and Uta's house followed by a "big" pot luck. They have been doing this for years and go to alot of effort to ensure the kids have a good time.

They hide the real painted eggs all around their garden and the big kids actually have to follow a treasure hunt with clues till they find the treasure.

It was a great day for all involved with eggs traded for "candy" on completion. Suffice to say Joshua had alot of sugar this day.

Paul 

A Tropical Brunch

Hello All

When living on the Island of Pohnpei one of the compulsory events is Brunch at the Village Restaurant. The Village is about 10 Mins drive away and sits perched atop a hill with views out over the reefs and islands. The food is pretty good as well. Kids ate pancakes whilst Louise and I opted for the Eggs Benedict.

Paul

Hunter Gatherer

Hello All

Well life on a tropical Island has its up and downs. One of the downs is that I have to hunt, catch and kill food for the family. One of the highs is the fact that hunting and gathering involves the fact that I can fish is pristine waters that are teaming with all sorts of Deep Sea and Reef fish.

Today I took a friend (and Beru the Boat driver of course) fishing. Here are some photos of what we caught including the biggest Wahoo that Biru has seen in 40 years fishing here.

Hope this finds you all well

Paul