Things to do in Federated States Of Micronesia
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Nan Madol
For many travellers, Nan Madol is the highlight of their Micronesian odyssey. An important political, social and religious centre built during the Saudeleur dynasty, Nan Madol was a place for ritual activity and the homes of royalty and servants. Comprising 92 artificial islets it's built on the tidal flats and reef off the southeastern side of Pohnpei.
Wide basalt pillars, up to 7.5m (26ft) long, formed naturally into hexagonal columns. They were quarried on Pohnpei Island and hauled to the site by raft, then stacked horizontally around the islets as retaining walls; the resultant twisting canals are known as the 'Venice of Micronesia'. On the level surfaces were…
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Yap Island
Yap Proper's main island, Yap Island features the tiny capital, Colonia, which wraps around Chamorro Bay, offering sea views most everywhere. Walk to the stone-money bank in the nearby village of Balabat, or visit the Ethnic Art Village, which does a great job of celebrating and preserving indigenous art.
Not far west of the airport is the old German Cable Station, built in 1905, that linked Shanghai through Guam and the Philippines; nearby are two Japanese Zeroes, their wings surprisingly intact. Up north, Bechiyal is a friendly beachside village with Yap's oldest faluw (men's house).
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Lelu Ruins
Lelu Island, connected to the larger island of Kosrae by a causeway, is where a massive walled city was built between the 13th and 14th centuries for Kosraean royalty. Lelu's ruins, including burial mounds and dwellings, are hidden behind thick tropical vegetation, in the kind of isolated setting you might imagine trekking hours through dense jungle to find.
You can still see the dwelling compounds of the high chiefs, two royal burial mounds, a few sacred compounds and numerous large walls, built from huge hexagonal basalt logs stacked like a log cabin. On-site signs tell the full story.
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Ethnic Art Village
Yap's capital Colonia does a great job of celebrating and preserving indigenous art. Here, village elders have been invited to teach their craftsmanship and techniques to younger artists; research is conducted to determine the exact form of original idols and to uncover what natural pigments were used before Western contact.
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Balabat Village
The walk to Balabat is lined with traditional men's houses and rai (stone money). You'll pass Madrich, once a Spanish trading station, and continue to the Rull municipal office, where the road is lined with rai. Eventually you will come upon a seaside faluw (meeting house).
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Peppermill
This is Pohnpei's newest restaurant, and it's a bit more upmarket than most. The macadamia-nut chicken with papaya and pineapple is indicative of its fresh approach. The décor tries hard, too, with prints on the walls depicting scenes of island life.
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B
Sei Restaurant
With its wood-panelled floors and ceiling, this barnlike space is certainly arresting. It's a popular meeting place and social space, not least for its all-you-can-eat, serve-your-own buffet, stuffed with seafood, fried goods and all kinds of BBQ meats.
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Jungle Bar
You can get booze here if you wish, but at night you might feel left out; that's when sakau rules. Mellow music, peaceful staff and a huge, open-air seating area ensure everyone's grooving on the pepper-root tip.
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Yap Art Studio & Gallery
This is a terrific little art gallery that showcases the work of local artists. In essence, it's an art cooperative, where you can view and buy watercolours, carvings and weavings direct from the source.
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D
Joy Restaurant
This place is a lunch specialist and a perennial favourite at that, forever dishing up a menu of excellent Japanese food. Fresh fish is the speciality, though there are beef and chicken dishes, too.
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South Park Restaurant
Another place that packs 'em in (such as can be done on Pohnpei), with a varied menu and a nice view of Sokehs Rock through glass-louvred windows. It showcases Pohnpeian dancing on Saturday nights.
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