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Yap

Yap

Bec
2004-09-17 14:09:14

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Yap
The three islands that make up Yap proper are ringed by a coral reef that forms a protected lagoon full of fish and provides a number of excellent scuba diving sites.

Yap State also include some 15 outer islands of which the most important are Ulithi, Woleai, Fais, Ifalik, Elato, Lamotrek, Sorol and Ngulu.

Airport
Since W W II, the islands north of the equator (Palau, Marianas, Micronesian Federation, Marshall), have been subjected to an intense American influence which has strongly altered the traditional values of the Islanders.

The Yapese have somehow managed to remain proud of their distinctive culture without turning their backs on modern amenities. To be greeted with crowns of flowers at the airport by these young men in their traditional "thuus" was definitely different from the businesslike approach of the security guards in Guam and Saipan.

Colonia
What remains of an ancient culture and world class scuba diving sites make Yap a choice tourist destination. The Trader Ridge Resort shown here is one of four or five luxury hotels where prices start at 200 $ a night.

I spent my first night at the more modest Ocean View Hotel in Colonia before moving to a Yapese village. The hotel was rather plain but it had this interesting bar-restaurant that was unfortunately closed when I was there. (That's a piece of Yap stone money in front.)

At 40 $US a night, the Ocean View was nothing to write home about but the two betel nut chewing receptionists were friendly and interesting. The Yapese are addicted to betel nut like Yemenis to qat and the Irish to Guiness stout. They told me all about it and loved to joke, so I took the picture on the left to remind me of how nice Gloria Finpin and Hilda Giltinan were. On the right, a young Yapese strolling by in his pink thuu.

Not far from the Ocean View ...