Photo Gallery - January 2005
Pictures can be clicked to see a large
version of the image.
Downtown
Kolonia, Pohnpei, the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
Another
view of the main street.
We
hiked to the top of Sokehs Rock, the Southern part of it anyway. At the top are
a pair of Japanese air defense guns. This photo, and the next, were taken as we
hiked up the path.
In
this one you can see the commercial port for Pohnpei. It is situated on an
island connected to the main island by a causway.
Kate
approaches the Japanese gun emplacements at the top of the mountain.
This
shelter perched on a platform at the top of the path provides a nice place for a
tired hiker to sit down and rest.
The
skipper rests.
The
first gun, from the side. The people of Pohnpei have apparently turned this area
into a little park with manicured grounds and lots of flowers.
The
business end. Although these guns were bombed by US forces during the war, the
island of Pohnpei was never invaded. The damage to the guns appears to be
minimal, though we have heard that there was enough damage to shut them down.
Kate
stands by the second gun emplacement. This one is in better condition then the
first. The emplacement consists of a cement ring sloping down into a 5ft deep
pit. Below the pit, and burrowed into the walls, appear to be ammunition storage
areas.
This
view shows the cement ring circling the emplacement.
Jonah
climbs down into the pit.
Jonah
rides the number 2 gun. Yahoo!
A
wide shot of the number 2 gun. The tree obviously grew long after the gun was in
service.
The
first of a series of photos taken on the way down the mountain. The outer reef
edge (barrier reef) can be seen clearly in this photo. The barrier reef circles
the island. Navigation can be had between the island and reef for much of the
coast, though you must leave the reef and re-enter to reach certain parts of the
island (like Matalinim Harbor - see December photos).
Another
shot, taken a bit lower down the slope. The causway leading to the commercial
port can be see on the right.
This
photo shows Kolonia, the main town on the island. The buildings are hidden
mostly by the dense foliage on the island.
Kate
carefully picks her way down the path among the loosely packed reddish rocks.
Jonah has already ran ahead and is waiting for us at a landing about 200 yards
down.
Kate
stops to pose.
The
anchorage seen from the path on the way down. Unfortunately I forgot to override
the automatic focus and the camera choose the foreground and not the boats in
the background. Still a cool photo.
The
view looking inland over the bay where the boats are anchored into the dense
forested interior of the island.
Lower
down still, the view flattens out and the commercial port appears small.
Kate
passes under an archway of foliage.
Just
about at the midpoint landing where Jonah awaits.
Jonah
and Kate pose with the commercial port, the lagoon and islands in the
background. A better day you just couldn't ask for!
A
climber picks betel nuts from a vine wrapped around this palm tree.
Dead
Tree.
Jonah
gets rowing lessons from his mom.
By
the end of the week Jonah is rowing back and forth to shore easily.
