Raan anim!

I wanted to write about the rest of my day before leaving for Chuuk tomorrow and having next to know internet capabilities. Greg arrived around 1:30 or so. He hired us a rental car and the aussies and I took off for Nan Madol. It was absolutely gorgeous - a really great intro to Micronesia. Nan Madol is comprised of ruins (we walked into a stone jail site) from a dynasty dating back to the 1500s. It's a really huge piece of Pohnpeian tradition, and we had to obtain permission, and pay a few, to the nan marquis (chief) and to the family who currently reside on and own the land.

The water in Nan Madol feels like warm bath water. Even at the mouth of the Pacific, the waves are very warm and very clear. Our shoes got swept away by the tide and we had to hunt them down among the reeds and quicksand.

On our way back, we stopped at a small carving store where I bought a necklace for $4. We momentarily got stuck in a torrential rain which I was afraid would last the rest of the night, but it ended abruptly, like someone had just turned off a faucet. I had a drink with the jesuits, and then went out to the Village with Greg for dinner. the Village is a restaurant and hotel, very fancy by Micronesian standards. There was no air conditioning, and like everywhere else, cats and dogs walked around freely, but the food was amazing. Apparently there's not much to eat in Chuuk, so I'm trying to get it in while I can.

There's much more to say, but I'm exhausted. I will try to write again asap... hopefully the internet is working at Xavier.

- L