eWire
September 10, 2002
Micronesia
Thomas H. Booth
From Thomas H. Booth
5315 Donald St.
Eugene, OR 97405
541-345-9206
bettyandtom@earthlink.net
Subject - Micronesia.
The simplest reference I can make about the islands of Micronesia is that they lie in the tropical North Pacific, beyond the Dateline, roughly between Hawaii and the Philippines. These islands,
2,147 of them occupy an immense patch of the sea - an area about the size of the continental U.S.A.
These "tiny islands," as the name Micronesia implies, have a total land area of 717 square miles - about the size of Rhode Island - and isn't much dry land in such an expanse of wet ocean. As to population, some 350,000 varied but handsome brown people live on 125 of these islands. Physically, the first thing that comes to mind about these little known bits of land is beauty, a tropically profound beauty associated with palm clad islands, white sandy beaches, multi-hued lagoons, and sometimes abrupt green mountains laced with waterfalls.
Getting there –
One of the most entertaining flights in the Pacific is the "island hopper" flight that leaves Hawaii and makes a run through Micronesia that includes-- Johnston atoll, Majuro atoll, Kwajelein atoll, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Guam, Saipan, Yap and Palau. Both Continental and Hawaiian Airlines make this flight. All these islands (except Johnston and Kwajelein, which for military reasons are off limits) are well worth seeing. None of them pose any health problems, people are friendly, English is spoken, American currency is used, and accommodations are good. Then for folks who require more adventure there's the possibility of putting out to sea on one of the Government Gield Service vessels that serve some of the most "back of beyond" islands in the world.
I have traveled this area many times, have written a "guide book" about these islands, and can provide "how to" or destianation stories on any of this area. I have photos that are appropriate to all of the above.
Many thanks,
Tom Booth