The official currency in Yap is the US Dollar. Yap is famous for its Stone Money which is still in use for traditional exchanges such as the purchase of land or in village ceremonies.
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Yap – Language
There are four indigenous languages in Yap: Yapese, Ulithian, Woleian, and Satawalese. English is the common language of the FSM and is commonly spoken and understood. Many elderly Yapese are fluent in Japanese.
Yap – Location and Geographic Description
Yap is located in the Western Pacific, stretching from 6 to 10 degrees North Latitude and 137 to 148 degrees East Longitude in the Western Caroline Islands. Yap is one of the four States that make up the Federated States of Micronesia and is some 450 miles southwest of Guam, and 360 miles northeast of Palau.
Yap – State / Population
Yap State consists of 134 islands and atolls of which 22 are populated, stretching across more than 100,000 square miles of total area. The main island of Yap is made up of four high volcanic islands and accounts for 38.7 of Yap’s total 49.7 square miles of land area.
Yap – Time Zone
(GMT + 10) – Yap is on the same time zone as Sydney, Australia, and one hour earlier than Tokyo, Japan. Yap is on the other side of the international date line from the United States, and on the same time zone as Guam, where “America’s Day Begins.”
Yap Sights – Micronesia
Wanyan
This is home to one of the most accessible beaches in Yap, which is the Wanyan beach. It is a great place to hold picnics and also for swimming. Kayaks too can be rented out to tourists who are looking for more of an adventure at the beach.
Villages
Yap has two villages that might be worth a visit. They are the Balabat Villager and the Okau Village. The villages of Yap are still used as meeting house by the elders to discuss community matters.
Bechiyal
Bechiyal is another friendly beach-side but it was destroyed during the typhoon in 2004. Visitors are still welcomed to the beach and also allowed to camp out here for about US$5 a night.
Outer Islands
There are many atolls to visit near Yap. Some of them include Ulithi atoll which is said to be the most modern and largest amongst the outer islands, Woleai atoll which would make a good diving spot thanks to its Japanese wrecks surrounding the island and last but not least is Fais.
YAP, a host to a friendly, hospitable people!
Article by: Kate Mulalap ( first published on year 2000 ).
Yap is a wonderful tropical island. It is surrounded by lucious, green coconut trees and sandy beaches. The beaches are privately owned, and you may rent one for a low price. These beaches are exclusive and perfect for birthday parties (this from past experience) or any other parties.
Yap’s capital is Colonia, where all the teenagers go to hang out after school. During summer, you will find the place flooded with teenagers and sometimes an elderly couple going to and fro in their journey to buy canned food. There is a small “mall” called YCA (short for Yap Cooperative Association) which attracts people from all over the island, like bees are to honey.
There are ten major municpalities on Yap. In these, ten municpalities throughout the island, you may find well tended gardens as well as taro patches and clean roads throughout the island. Sometimes bikers are a common site, which would usually be teenagers who view their bikes as a way to get away from it all.
Yap is a host to a friendly, hospitable people. There will be smiles all around and the view from any high spot is breathtaking. The ocean water is just the right temperature and many children find that they like to romp with the waves of a passing motorboat. All in all, Yap is a great place for a vacation or a permanent home and you will always feel welcomed.
POHNPEI
Article by: Kate Mulalap ( first published on year 2002 ).
Pohnpei…so beautiful and distinguished. I know that most of my descriptions center somewhere around beautiful, but that’s just the truth the way a seventeen-year old sees it. Pohnpei is the proud owner of one of the most beautiful habitats to an assortment of wildlife. Pohnpei is the biggest island in the Federated States of Micronesia and has breathtaking waterfalls. It also has mountain streams to shame Colorado, hidden pools and an assortment of flora to shame Hawaii.
There are eleven political municipalities, six of which are Sokehs, Nett, Kitti, Madolenihmw, U, and Kolonia. Kolonia is the capital of Pohnpei. Pohnpei has been referred to as “The Garden Island,” and to no surprise. Lush vegetation covers the whole island as well as tropical forests as well as the springs and waterfalls previously mentioned.
A popular spectacle would be the Nan Madol. It was constructed around five hundred A.D. and some of the buildings have been dated back as recently as 1,500 A.D. The best way to access Nan Madol would be by boat, because it is difficult to see all of it from one point. Many trips are also advisable, for Nan Madol is gigantic! This would be well worth it for I have never met someone who regretted his or her decision to go visit this ancient ruin.
If it’s beaches you want, you should visit the atolls! Magnificent beaches they are. Mangrove swamps cover most of Pohnpei’s shoreline, but a few artificial beaches have been created. If you have an exotic taste in foods, visit Pohnpei, for the pepper is regarded as the finest in the world. Pohnpei is well worth the visit, so I encourage you to visit, if not only for a few days. It will be well worth the effort!
CHUUK
Article by: Kate Mulalap ( first published on year 2002 ).
Chuuk is a very beautiful, friendly place, and I know this from past experience. I have a family member who went there to school. Like Yap, Chuuk is a diver’s paradise. It’s pristine and unique waters are a treat to anyone who dives for a profession or for someone who just likes to swim and snorkel and play in the waters. Chuuk has a big lagoon surrounding its many islands and atolls. Even up to today, it is called “Truk Lagoon.” It is within this lagoon that ruins or a hundred or more WWII Japanese vessels and planes can be found.
On Weno, the main island, there used to be a Japanese lighthouse and a Japanese communications center. The Japanese communications center is now known as Xavier High School. A school of high prestige, Xavier High School is one of the schools in Micronesia that many favor. Teenagers come from all over Micronesia just to attend school there, from as far away as the Marshall Islands, to as close as Chuuk’s own inhabitants, which is to be expected. I myself regret that I have not attended that school, for everyone is closely united, and everyone knows almost everything about the other, something that might at times become inconvenient.
Chuuk has many little islands here and there and they are all perfect for boating or swimming. There are even these little islands, just tiny little ones, made up of only sand and are not even a mile across. Most of these the common tourist would find fascinating. Just coming in, the plane will dare a landing, that is, the landing strip is just beside the ocean and gives you the impression that you are going to land in the ocean. But in my opinion, better in the ocean than on land. A weak joke there perhaps. Chuukese people are very friendly, and very curious I might add. Chuuk is definitely one of the homier places I have visited.
KOSRAE
Article by: Kate Mulalap ( first published on year 2002 ).
Like most Micronesian islands, and I hope I am not being too immodest, Kosrae is very beautiful. Kosrae’s reef flats that surround the island are said to be the most pristine in the whole world. I myself have not been to Kosrae, but many that have been there tell me that their experience was worth everything they invested in it. There are several sandy beaches among the mangrove trees and these are exquisite.
Kosrae is made up of seventy percent of mountains. This means that most of the population lives in coastal villages, and indeed there are five of such villages. Hoping that I am not mistaken, these five villages are: Tafunsak, Walung, Utwe, Malem, and Tofol. There is also a little island right beside the big main one and the largest village is on this one, named Lelu (the island is the one named Lelu). There are ruins there, the Lelu Ruins. This island is connected to the main one by a seven hundred thirty-meter long causeway.
This taken from another source “the surrounding reef boasts some of the most amazing marine life and barracuda diving in the world.” If this is anything close to what the real thing, you can expect to see me on the first plane to Kosrae. There are snorkeling and diving tours available and like Chuuk, there are several Japanese ships as well as several American planes lying about in Lelu harbor. Also, it is believed that there is buried treasure somewhere in Utwe harbor. They say that the best advice is to hire a car, drive to different villages, and stop at some of the seriously enticing beaches for a swim. The villagers are very friendly and very hospitable, but a warning, be sure you ask around before you go swimming, you wouldn’t want to offend anyone!
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