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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Mar 14, 2009 07:00 PM Paradise in the Pacific
Can you see Lord Howe on your map? The Lord Howe Island is only 11 km long, with an airstrip and settlement in the middle. On the north there are little hills covered by lush tropical forest. East side offers high, picturesque cliffs and a beach where hordes of friendly fish long up to 1m (kingfish) are coming to be feeded from your hands. On the south There are two high, steep peaks - rising to 777 and 870 meters. OIn the west side there is beautiful lagoon with corals and color fish - you can go there to snorkel or to see this unique world from glass bottom boat.
I was climbing to one of the lowes peaks - Mt Eliza - 147 m for the great views. National Park covers most of the island and they have well-mainained trails so you can walk all day around assuming that you will have enough power in the tropical heat. Paradise. But very expensive for the backpacker - they charge 40 dollars per 2-hours boat tour!
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Mar 13, 2009 07:00 PM To Lord Howe Island...
This is little, lonely and rocky island in the Pacific some 500 km east of the Australian coast.
They have very short airstrip... Only little Dash 8 turbo-prop plane can land here.
Why I am heading there? It is one of very few islands on the UNESCO world heritage list. They put it there because of beauty of the landscape and the unspoiled nature..
After 2 hours flight I saw a rock rising from the blue ocean - really great view! We made a turn around the island, so I saw beautiful lagoon and we landed in the on the short and narrow runway between the geen hills.
The airfare is high, Dash 8 can take only 30 passengers - but now I know that is was worth - that's very special place!
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Mar 12, 2009 07:00 PM Day on the Great Barrier Reef
I stay in Cairns in Caravella Backpackers - they have easy booking via internet and they provide free transport from the airport.
Many competing companies offer day excursions for the snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. I took a catamaran departing at 8 am and retutning at 16.30.
They took me to two places on the reef... I did snorkel here years ago, but these were new sites and what you can see under the water is just wonderful.
They provide snorkeling gear, breakfast and lunch are also included. Snorkeling you have to protect your back from the strong sun... Great day.
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Mar 11, 2009 07:00 PM Micronesia to Australia...
Chuuk - Federated States of Micronesia. On the main island - Weno there is an old Japaneese lighthouse - not in use now but they say it is great view from there. I wanted to go and to see. Sorry - it is on ptrivate property and there are different owners of the access road - the do not agree let you go through! That's Micronesia!
On the hill nearby there is catholic St Francis Xawier High School - they welcome visitors. Nice Father Bill took me to the roof of the building for the great view. The lighthouse is also visible in a distance. Once it was Japaneese military communication center - it survived American bombings and now is is valuable peace institution.
In the afternoon it was the time to say goodbye to Chuuk. I took a flight via Guam to Cairns in Australia - quite ne w route!
It was 11 pm when I landed in Cairns. Customs are screening here in details for food, wood and shells - dont bring them to avoid the talk I had!
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Mar 10, 2009 07:00 PM Chuuk lagoon... Micronesia
They are selling taro, breadfruit and bananas (1 dollar per bunch) on the bumpy and dusty streets of the capital of Chuuk. Chuuk was German, then Japaneese and during the 2nd world war US forces took here the revenge for Pearl Harbour destroing 40 Japaneese ships sheltered in the lagoon. Today the lagoon full of wrecks is divers paradise.
But I do not dive - it was always to expensive for the backpacker like me. I snorkel - it is also great. I went by the speedboat to the island of Dublon where in the past was located German and Japaneese administration - there are still historic remains to see. The sail was bumpy (no benches in the boat so you sit just on the floor) but the place was interesting. On the way I saw other, little palm-covered islands. I have been to the primary school on Dublon - kids are great here - we took a lot of pictures. And I saw also how they make baskets - weaavings are very nice on Chuuk. Very hot and humid but great day on Micronesia. Do you know what is love stick - the Chuck is famous for the love sticks!
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Mar 09, 2009 07:00 PM Hopping via Micronesia
I know very well this flight. Years ago I started from Hawaii to Make a hop to Majuro then the next one to Kosrae, then another to Pahnpei and next to Guam. Then I changed flight to Yap, next hop to Paaplanu and onward to Manila - Philippines. It ia a great way to visit the islands of Micronesia.
But years ago I missed Chuuk Island, so today I fly Majuro to Chuuk. I did four hops - because the Continental 957 is landing also in American base on Kwajalein...
I landed on Chuuk. Can you imagine huge, blue lagoon surrounded by silwer barrier reef with a dozen or so high, green islands inside? That' s State of Chuuk - the member of Federated States of Micronesia. I landed on Weno island - it is colorful and lively. Speedboats zip back and forth from here to the other islands. Chuuk has also opinion to danderous after dark (Lonely Planet) so I stay in the evening in the hotel, but so far the people are nice to me...
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Mar 08, 2009 07:00 PM Island to island... Majuro Atoll
Pacific. Rebert Reimers Enterprise is very strong on Marshall Island - they have boatts, shops, boats, hotel. They also built a 3-rooms cottage on one of the island surrounding Majuro Lagoon. You can stay there far from the noise of the capital for just 20 USD per person (bargaining necessary). There are good snorkeling and kayaks for use.
To get there you have to take their motorboat. The boat goes along all these little, palm-covered motus - islets so it is by the way very picturesque excursion...
Well, it is the time to go onward from the Marshalls - tomorrow I plan to fly to Chuuk Island on Micronesia...
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Mar 07, 2009 07:00 PM Sunday mass on Marshall's
Sunday. International Women's Day - they do not celebrate it here - but best wishes to all ladies anyway...
It is worth to attend the church service in the remote location - they use their local language, the people dress nice coming to the church and - most important - they sing so nice their songs. I have been to the Catholic Assumption church - I liked the mass and the people, especially lovely barefoot kids...
No electric power on Arno. In Majuro people have all facilities but they are rather expensive. The last expensive internet (very slow) in the local telecom center cost me 8 cents per minute. So I have a choice: to have my Sunday beer in the evening (2.50 USD small bottle) or to send two messages to GS.
Here you are - but no beer this Sunday. That's backpackers life!
Thanks, my friends for your letters and best wishes - I am sorry I cannot response every one - thank you for your understanding...
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Mar 06, 2009 07:00 PM 5 hours on the truck...
Arno Atoll is one of 29 atolls of Marshall Islands. Beautiful lagoon is surrounded by small and some long and narrow green islands - motus covered by dense coconut palms and breadfruit forest. Di you try the baked breadfruit? - take your chance - it is important in local diet! I like it.
The longest motu on Arno is like 30 km long. I walked along the beach to the northern end. Then at the low tide you can cross the 200-m passage to the next motu, but take care - the high tide is coming fast - so you can be stranded there until the next low water!
To get to the other end of the long island I rented a little, open truck (there are only 3 of them on Arno). Yes, it must be a truck because there is no single kilometre of paved road - it is all 4WD, sand, rock and gravel...
We passed through many villages befere reaching Matolen on the eastern end of motu - round trip took me almost 5 hours. No shops on the way - if you are off the drinking water there are plenty of coconuts and friendly people offer them for free!
Enjoy!
In the late afternoon the boat arrived to take me back to Majuro -the sea was not so rough so I landed dry on the capital atoll...
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Mar 05, 2009 07:00 PM In the middle of the Pacific...
The bed was comfortable. But where is my paid breakfast? - It will come when public boat will come to the atoll. Maybe at 11 am Pacific Time... It means you have to survive on your food - if you have some...
Only 2400 people live on Arno Atoll. They have one little shop, there cars and one sandy road going end to end of the main island. There is more then hundered little island (motus) surrounding the beautiful lagoon. The color of the water is hard to describe: changing fron turquoise to the deep blue.
People live from fishing and harvesting copra - the white meat of coconuts. It is not huge income... But they are very nice and hospitable. They are returning smiles and ready to chat - but the knowledge of English is much worse than in Majuro - the capital island.
I was walking along the main island - from house to house, greeeting them in their language: Yokwe! Taking pictures on their tiny houses, their work and their faces. Especially kids are lovely and pretty here. Great place in the middle of Pacific!
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