Pohnpei, the capital island of Micronesia

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Welcome to the capital of Micronesia. Little geography lesson to start with. Micronesia is made of 4 main islands. I visited the island of Chuuk to dive the multiple wrecks back in 2018. If you are a diver, do dive Chuuk before it's too late...corrosion is happening after so many years! Pohnpei is the capital, there is also Yap if you want to dive with mantas, and finally the island of Kosrea.



Micronesia has a total population of 113,000 people, with 36,000 of them living on Pohnpei. You can get here with the weekly air shuttle doing Brisbane-Nauru-Tarawa-Majuro-Pohnpei, or with the other air shuttle, offered by United doing Guam-Chuuk-Pohnpei-Kosrea-Kwajalein-Majuro. That shuttle is something like 2 or 3 times per week. It doesn't always stop at Kosrea neither Kwajalein. The later is in the Marshall Island and is a US Navy base. If you land in Kwajalein, it is strictly forbidden to take out your camera/phone to take pictures while seating in your plane!



This being summer month, they are adding few flights. My luck as this flight is doing Guam-Pohnpei-Chuuk-Guam. It does therefore allow me an extra stop without the crazy charges operated by United. Little example...the Guam to Honolulu shuttle can be bought one way for around 800usd. This one doesn't allow you to stop anywhere. If you want a stop, each leg will cost you between 500 to 800usd, rendering this little multi-stop trip ridiculously expensive!

On this ticket, I'm on miles. I've bought a Palau-Guam-Pohnpei-Majuro one way ticket for 30usd plus 40,000miles. Trust me, this is a solid bargain! If you read this, you already know that I've done a 14 hours lay-over touring Guam. The two hours from Guam to Pohnpei was pretty full. I've landed at 23.55pm. Super nice immigration process in a very small airport. I'm glad that the people from the hotel are here to pick me up. There is nothing to book here over internet. You may send emails, but don't expect a reply. The only true way is to book by phone and hope they won't forget you on the day you arrive. Glad I'm in my room at the 7 Stars Inn by 1am! You couldn't make up the name of this little mini-hotel. Room is old, but it's clean, and they even have a decent internet. Best part, I can finally have a shower and a good sleep in a bed for few hours!



You can drive around the island in 2 or 3 hours, but it seems it's mainly a deep jungle experience once you leave the little city of Kolonia. So I didn't bother and started to explore on foot in the morning. Enjoy the pictures, I'm now deeply into the "end of the world" part of my trip. I've experienced this in places like Antarctica, Greenland or even Easter Island. The difference here is that tourists do not come this far, rendering the welcome of the local way warmer!



We are on a Sunday morning and I'm lucky this is not Tonga. People here do go to church, but everything remains open on Sunday! I made it to the crowded lunch place of the little city, namely call "Town's dinner". Look at the picture, I'm having the local staple, it's the sashimi set with rice and salad! Trust me you don't want to be a vegetarian here...the tuna was delicious...and yes, the salad were warm frozen peas!



1pm came pretty fast, back to the airport for my next flight, 2 hours East from Pohnpei...and next, I'll give you the first ever blog about this country on Travelblog. TB being around 20 years old, it is a privilege and the true feeling to have reach that solid end of the world!



PS....Forget about buying magnets for your fridge here...there are not a single outlet for tourists around here!! Next interesting point, the last blog about Micronesia here was actually mine about Chuuk 5 years ago!

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Comments

[Home and Away]

Stopovers with United...
A few years ago I flew from the States to Bangkok via Tokyo on United using frequent flyer miles. I was able to stay 24 hours, catching the same flight the next day, without this being a stop which would have required more miles. Is that still the case, and would you have been able to see Micronesia with several 24 hour stopovers?

[Maisondubonheur]

You are correct!
The regular United shuttle is doing Guam-Chuuk-Pohnpei-(Korea) -(Kwajalein) -Majuro-Honolulu... With my ticket originating Koror in Palau, I used the 24 hours rule for Guam... And was lucky that due to holidays they have some extra flights to Micronesia... therefore using it one more time for Pohnpei. Never made it to Kosrea and Kwajalein!