Micronesia Blog. We intent to bring you updates on the islands of Micronesia with travel offers provided by various travel partners around the world.
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[Tabuaeran Hotels ]
The Fanning Island Lodge guesthouse, is rustic. There is no running water or electricity. The facilities are shared. There are 5 private local type of houses known as Kia kias, one lodge and 2 shared bathrooms.
Cuisine is inspired by locally available fish and vegetables.
[Seaweed farming]
It was only in 1994 seaweed farming was introduced to the islands of Kiritimati (Christmas Is.) and Tabuaeran (Fanning Is.). The seaweed aquaculture from these two islands now comes to about 1000 MT per annum. Seaweed farming now returns over AUS $ 380,000 per annum in farmer payments. By 1997 over 420 people were receiving income from seaweed farming.
On Tabuaeran seaweed has now replaced copra as the main source of income for over 70% of all households. The new seaweed-based economy has also ensured the success of the resettlement policy of the Kiribati Government. This is a good model for aquaculture of seaweed in other atolls in the Pacific region.
[ Christmas Island]
English is the primary language taught in school. It is mandatory for children of ages between 6 and 15 to attend school. Home schooling is still prevalent but parents must apply for permission. The Christmas Island High School provides education up to tenth grade only; students must transfer to the mainland or elsewhere to complete the last two years of high school or university. Australian curriculum is adopted.
[Kiritimati accommodation ]
A small amount of anglers interested in lagoon fishing (for bone fish in particular) or offshore fishing visit the island. Some surfers visit the island in winter. There is some tourism-related infrastructure, such as a small hotel, rental facilities, and food services but not up to the international standards.
[Marshal Islands map ]
The Marshall Islands are between Hawaii and the Philippines. It is an independent island country, with a population of 58,413 people. Marshallese and English are spoken in the island nation. Ninety-seven percent of the people are Christians.
The Marshall Islands is a democratic republic with an executive presidency in free association with the United States. The U.S. provides defense, subsidies, and access to U.S.-based agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission and the United States Postal Service.
In October 2011, the government declared that an area of nearly 2,000,000 square kilometers (772,000 sq mi) of the ocean shall be reserved as a shark sanctuary. This is the world’s largest shark sanctuary.
The Marshall Islands serve the international shipping industry as a flag of convenience for commercial vessels. The Marshallese registry started operations in 1990. The registry is managed through a joint venture with International Registries, Inc., a US-based corporation that has offices in major shipping centers worldwide. As of 2017, the Marshall Islands ship registry was the second largest in the world, after that of Panama.
Majuro is the capital and largest city of the Marshall Islands. Majuro port is the world’s busiest tuna transshipment port in the world, with 704 transshipment totaling 444,393 tons in 2015. Majuro has an international airport with scheduled flights to Hawaii, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Guam, and Nauru, and flights to domestic destinations around the country.
[Fanning Island ]
Tabuaeran is an atoll that is part of the Line Islands and part of Kiribati. It had a population of 2,315 in 2015. The atoll is famous for its white-sand beaches, blue-green waters, and friendly residents. It is a heaven for snorkeling, and surfing. The closest airport is Kiribati International airport. From there one has to take a boat to this atoll. Pegasus Lodges provides private air charters from Christmas Island (on a three-hour flight from Hawaii).
Copra and seaweed are produced for export. The island has no telephones, no running water, and no electricity.
The atoll has become a port of call for yachts and cruise ships sailing from Hawaii.
The Fanning Island Lodge guesthouse is rustic accommodation on the island. It has only very basic shared amenities.
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!