Day 50 (March 8, 2010)

A simple greeting will rouse you in the middle of your sleep to make sure you celebrate the day of your birth.

There wasn’t anything special that day, like any Monday of the month, there was chaos at work and there was so many things to do and to prepare for. It was an ordinary Monday that didn’t promise anything, except that it was the birth of my roommate – Jordan.

Of course, there was something planned for him. The gang busied themselves looking for a cake and drinks for our good friend. We managed to wake a handful of people who will greet our, then, lonely friend.

It was at the stroke of twelve when the cake was brought out of the ice box and the gang started singing that too familiar song. Were there tears of joys from his eyes? I didn’t think so, only a half smug face greeted us while we started taking pictures of this impromptu event.

Alas, our short celebration was not finished. We waited for one special person to greet our celebrant. An insomniac Chinky eyed pretty brunette, Myla. She was the one who brought pure happiness to our friend.

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When the impulse strikes, there is no other option but to give in, even if it means to go swimming in the rain.

A short cruise from the town of Kolonia would take you to a local beach resort called Awak Pah.

For life’s simple pleasures such as spending time with the family in the water, one of the solutions is to go to the beach and on a small island where water is simply all around, the solution is just a stone’s throw away.

For just $2.00/pax as an entrance fee, you could park your car and walk to the stony beach. Hey, it may not be as powdery white as Boracay, but the water is as clear. With your goggles on, you may be able to see some of the fishes lingering at your feet and the shellfish that are unbothered by the wake of your footprints.

A row of modest cottages align in a row between the coconut trees, these cost about $5.00/each for a day. Hammocks lazily stretch across the trunks of coconut trees, while the mangroves form as giant fences for the Awak Pah.

What else makes this beach appealing? It’s accessibility, just a straight drive from town or a few hundred meters from the Village Hotel and you’re there.

If ever you decide to go it is always wise to bring these necessary stuff:

1. Water
2. Snacks
3. Change of dry clothes
4. Sun block
5. Camera with fresh batteries
6. Goggles and fins
7. Pocket book
8. Plastic bag for wet clothes and garbage

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Learn something new everyday and try to meet new people along the way.

It is a simple rule: smile and say hi, someone will reply back, but if you stop and take the time to know the other person, you’ll gain a friend. Just imagine if you stop all the time to meet more people, there would be no more strangers, right?

I met a group of people this day, all from different parts of the USA mainland who share a common passion – hiking. I never tried to hike before, all I know is that I enjoy long walks and explore different and exotic places, then again I may be crossing the definition of the word “hike.”

The time was already 1 in the afternoon when we left Genesis. Jordan and Tin joined me to meet up with this group. Kit volunteered to drive us to the meeting place. Unfortunately, we were running late and as soon as we reached Rusty Anchor, the meeting place, the convoy had already left.

With the expert driving skills of Kit, we reached the convoy and was able to transfer from Kit’s car to theirs. At the time, Kit was already low on fuel and he had to go back and refuel.

We were introduced to Dennis and hitched a ride with him. Ten more minutes and we reached the drop off point at Seinwar, Kitti. As soon as we all got settled, we started the hike, but first we had to find our guide. Jerome, our local companion lived on a hill, so we went up to his place. After all, it was through his backyard that we needed to go through for our hike.

At first, I thought, what the heck, if this hike would be as simple as going to Jerome’s house on the hill, then it would be doable. Then, when we started our actual hike, I was almost out of breath while talking to Laura, the hike organizer. There was a total of sixteen familiar looking faces and new ones in the group.  Everyone greeted us, since we were the new comers, rather the noobies in the group, there were friendly smiles everywhere. We were welcomed and were given the simple instruction: try to catch up with the group.

The ascend up the steep mountain was laborious. Every rock, soil and root seemed to hinder each of my steps. Soon, I found out that I was not the only one having a hard time. Jordan and Tin were also tired from the initial climb. We were, so to speak, making the group rest more frequent than they planned. 

Looking from within the green mountains of Pohnpei, it felt like I was in “The Avatar” movie with the alien environment that peeled away from each step inside the mountain forest. Beyond the trails were glimpses of the outer islands that surround us. The captivating view that surrounded us was as refreshing as the water we brought with us, yet the site quenched out thirst for adventure.

We became more accustomed with the trek just like how our bodies assimilate a new environment, it was easier and our shared laughter were more obvious. Small talk spread from the front of the line to the back of our single file scale to an even higher altitude. Good thing there was not a single drop of rain from the sky. What was even better was the group’s eagerness to smile in front of the camera. Kodak moments were captured again and again.

The return trip was surprisingly fast. I thought it would take a longer time to go back, but it didn’t. Everyone was sharing news, current events, policies of the government, and even some personal information. That was probably the key to refrain from boredom in retracing our steps.

I knew sixteen more people that day, thanks to hiking.

Folklore and scary stories are part of the places we see. Bottom line, we should respect and honor the land where we walk upon.

We attempted to visit the twin falls before, but the folklore scared us away a few weeks back. So, we made the necessary arrangements for a safe trip.

The tale behind the falls

It was said that the twin falls prefer a placid environment. The more noise the tourists make, the more irritable it becomes. It was important to comply with its requirement.

Long ago there were a bunch of tourists who went to the Twin Falls. These were young adults who enjoyed the cool water and the serene environment. But they made too much commotion. Their shouts of enjoyment were not as welcome as they thought.

It was then, that a gush of water flowed from the mountain and fell on them. They were washed away and were never found.

Following the traditions of the Twin falls, we made the necessary precautions:

• First, ask permission in advance to any of the family members who owned the land around the waterfalls.
• Second, do not create too much noise. The noise seem to stir the sleeping guardians of the waterfalls, thus rousing them could cause deleterious events.
• Third, respect the environment like your own home.

After making the necessary safeguards, we were ready to set forth to the twin falls. The slippery trek down the base of the waterfalls was difficult, it was good that the weather had been dry a few days before.

There was a path of stairs, but was hidden by the undergrowth that made it almost invisible to the eye. The descent from the steep slope was already an hours worth of exercise, but the efforts were well paid.

The Liduhduniap Falls was a natural wonder in this picture perfect view. If only we had a spot to take a better shot of the two falls on top of the other. There was a dense foliage where the water came from and the huge stones on the bed of the stream protruded like spectators in the crowd, unaware of what was happening around them.

There was no one else who shared our view. Only our voices were heard plus the occasional chirping and cackling sounds behind the greenery of the forest. I realized why such myths enveloped the place. It was partly because of the nearness and the fragile balance in that spot of the island.

Good thing there was no hiccup from the mountain that would have thrown a wave of spasm in the girth of the waterfalls that day. I said to myself, we did it right.

It was still early when we left the Liduhduniap Falls and we thanked the landowners on our way back to the road.

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The calm weather betrayed the turmoil from beneath the sea.

It was already late in the afternoon when I got an invitation from some of the staff in the hospital about swimming.

“What the $%^#! Swimming after the tsunami alarm?” was what I breathed out in protest when I heard it the first time. I guess it really was safe to go out to swim in the restless sea.

There was already a group of people on by the docks of the abscon. Our gas tank was almost empty, but we made it.

The place was an abandoned dock that was probably still being used but not as frequent as before. I think it was because a new one for commercial trade has opened in some other part of the island. (That particular information is something I have yet to find out)

It was a cool place. Sokehs rock can be seen from the west and a tranquil sunset in the east. The clear blue water was so inviting that the guys couldn’t help but jump in the water. I followed too.

The first jump was nerve wrecking because it was approximately a twelve-foot high drop before you reach the warm salt water. There were some corals along the side of the platform conducive for snorkeling. The cheer and sneer of the people watching us dive was more than the applause that urged us to keep jumping. I only did three jumps and that was it. My thighs were sore from the last, so I just watched them on the dock.

It was almost seven in the evening when we decided to go back, but not without taking a closer look of Sokehs Rock at the industrial site along the main road.

(We found a gasoline station on our way back)

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Some news affects others more than you and there are some that were meant to be ignored.

The alarm went off. The pacific woke up early because of the news of an impending tsunami.

I got a phone call from a concerned friend about a tsunami in the Pacific. It was the product of the chain reaction from the earthquake at Chile. I heard before that there were no tsunamis at Pohnpei because of the natural protection from the coral reefs that surrounded the island. That was this island’s difference from the neighboring Pacific islands.

With the news on CNN this morning, the thought of the blockbuster movie 2012 played tricks on my mind. I imagined the waves coming in from the green mountains of my backyard.

When the hour of the tsunami was about to hit this part of the Pacific came and no towering waves blasted through the trees, I was relieved. Thank goodness to the natural walls that kept this island dry from ocean borne onslaughts.

I thought that maybe, this Sunday was better spent free from stress and from the news.

There are things that you know about yourself, but you will find out more about yourself from others.

Such was the realization that I got when I woke up this morning with my roommate telling me that I talk in my sleep. It was gibberish of course, but I rationalized that it was just because I was tired and slept late last night.

I am thankful for two things, the fact that the words were gibberish and now I know better than to sleep really late and tired. That was something that I never knew I did, on second thought, my mom did tell me that I used to sing in my sleep when I was in preschool. We didn’t have a voice recorder back then, so my mom doesn’t have any evidence that it took place.

Nowadays, at a click of a button, you could easily record an event and broadcast it to the world wide web. Information is shareable and viewable from anywhere. We are so connected that we hear about the latest news in a flash.

By the way, revelations come both ways, I have been awaken from my sleep several times because of the humming of a machine like noise from the depths of the voice box of my roommate.  Peace bro!

It was my first night in Pohnpei, known as the garden island, when I heard them. At first, I thought that I was just jet lagged and my brain played tricks on me. It was in the middle of the night in my new home for the next couple of years when I heard a knock from my window.

No kidding, I did hear a knock and not just any ordinary knock, it was a succession of knocks, then a pause.

I opened my eyes and it was still dark. So, I checked the time and it was around two in the morning. I heard a scratching noise from the wall outside the air conditioning unit. I asked myself, “Could it be?”

Then all of a sudden I pictured the shadows from behind my blinds coming alive, moving to and fro under the brilliant moonlit night.  There was an echo somewhere in that moment that only the wild imagination of my mind set forth and acknowledged.

I got up and opened the blinds just in time when I heard a knock once again.

Nothing.

There were only branches and leaves and twigs and shadows that danced unmindful of my candid inquiry. The jungle in my window came alive that night. It greeted as if to welcome me in my transient home.

I curled up under my blanket with the lullaby of the swooshing melody of the wind and the gentle rhythm of the knocking of the branches on the other side of my window.

Here in Pohnpei, the people use automated washing machines for their laundry. I am used to laundry shops in the Philippines, where you leave your clothes then come back to pick them up neatly folded and pressed in a plastic bag. So using a machine like this is new to me.

There are two advantages in using these washing machines. First of all, they are easy to use and second, you could make use of your time doing other things while waiting for the machines to finish.

Our usual laundry shop is called 4TY Yamaguchi Store and Laundry. Located at the corner of Pohnumwpwamwpw and Elenieng streets, it opens from 9 am until 12 midnight.

For only $1.50 to wash and $1.75 to dry each load, you can easily get your hamper full of clean clothes ready.

Here are the steps to easily accomplish this task:

1. Separate your colored from the white clothes. You may need to use more than one machine. This is the usual case, since you don’t want your whites to get a dark hue.
   
2. Insert coins to the washers.
3. Wait for about twenty-five minutes for the washer to get done.
4. Come back and place the clothes to the dryer.
   Others stop at this point and hang their clothes in the houses. Since we are housed in a dorm, it is more practical to proceed to the next step.
5. Place your clothes to the dryers. Note: you may want to separate the light colored from the dark colored clothes.
   
6. Insert the coins then turn the machines on.
7. Wait for about thirty-five minutes for the machines to finish.
8. Once done, remove the clothes and fold them before placing them in the hamper.

With almost an hour of free time waiting for the machines to finish, you could spend the time doing the grocery or to pick up your kids from school. Maybe, just sit down and chill.

The scent, taste, and feel of home can be wrapped in a box.

Everyone waited for this day. There was a silent announcement and it eventually came. The long wait was over and the container filled with boxes from home finally reached the shores of Pohnpei and the gates of Genesis Hospital.

I knew at least two people personally who waited for this: my new roommate Jordan and our good friend Jane.

A pair of shoes and a new set of speakers for Jordan not to mention his original Windows installer are just some of the few items in his box. Jane on the other hand had a lot of things to sort out because of the assorted pieces of the comforts of home.

It felt like witnessing kids opening their presents on their birthdays. The simple splendor of owning the memories of how it was like to be at home in a place away from home.

Alas, another hint of a lonely memory surfaced while those boxes were opened. Her dear belongings finally came, but she has long been home, living in comfort of her family.

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