Yap – update at last!

Despite Andy’s previous postings there is more to Yap than canned pork products and vino by the gallon……it’s just that we have been so busy we haven’t had a chance to do much in our spare time except food shopping, cooking and eating. US trade restrictions mean that Yap can only buy meat from Guam, but to be affordable to the locals, the shops only really buy the cheaper cuts and factory-farmed tasteless chicken. Our parents have been sending us supplies of herbs and spices to make our dinners more interesting (and Marmite for Andy of course).

We have ordered our cable TV service so that we can watch the news - and trash - whilst eating but god knows when we'll actually get it…... if you think the Caribbean is laid back, come and see Micronesia! Luckily, the local DVD shop has a surprisingly good selection of British shows such as MI5 Spooks (as well the usual American teen-comedy & gangster bollocks that is steadily corrupting the youth of Yap).

Since we’ve spent most of our time on the resort, here are some photos of our new workplace. Our bar & restaurant is aboard “The Mnuw” (Yapese for Sea Hawk and pronounced Minoo) – a South-seas schooner that Bill bought in Indonesia and sailed back to Yap. The captain of the ship came too and continues to look after the ship that his family built.

Every afternoon at 4:30 Capt. fires the cannon to signal the start of Happy Hour. He grins from ear to ear as he fills the chamber with gas and ignites the fuse. The resulting boom makes the hotel windows vibrate and you can hear the shrieks from the people in town! The Yapese don’t like sudden or loud noises so it gets them every time!

Apparently, we have the only infinity pool in the Federated States of Micronesia and it is very popular with our Speedo-clad European guests!