new girl said:
hey 2020, post a picture of the owner please
lol - there's one bak there on Truk ... but since then I've had..
several shaves, and
about 200 haircuts lol.
code .. "there's been a bit of water under the bridge since then "
I can tell you a couple of stories about Micronesia though (Palau rather than Truk / Saipan / Yap etc)...
http://www.micronesia.com/
The Federated States of Micronesia is a group of self-governing islands within the geographical area of Micronesia. The four states--Kosrae, Pohnpei (formerly Ponape), Chuuk (formerly Truk), and Yap were formerly part of the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and will become an independent nation by the year 2000. The Marshall Islands will constitute another nation while the Marianas, which include Guam, Saipan and Tinian, will remain United States territories.
History ..Ferdinand Magellan landed on Guam in 1521, beginning two centuries of Spanish domination in Micronesia. Germany purchased the islands from Spain in 1898.
The Japanese occupied Micronesia in 1914 and in 1920 received the islands as a League of Nations mandate. U.S. forces captured the islands during World War II and, in 1947 they became part of the U.S. Trust Territory. In 1979 the islands became self-governing as the Federated States of Micronesia. In 1986 the
Micronesian islands assumed free-association status with the U.S. and will become independent nations by the year 2000
1. they used to be Spanish around 1521; then German 1898; then Japanese territory after WW1; but then became US after WW2 !! - talk about a confused territory, lol.
2. the USA really "won em over" by blowing up atomic bombs on Bikini Atoll (many years before the French did in Muraroa)
3. The locals in Micronesia don't seem to have quite forgiven them ( my feeling whilst there) When I was in Palau, the USA had bult a big hotel, but the locals refused to work there. - It lay idle for years!
and another story (Ripley's believe it or not lol)...
4. I used to come home late from a night's entertainment, boat was anchored about 100m off shore, I'd "divest myself" of clothes, wallet, watch etc - other than undies, - and swim out to the boat at eg 1am. - then I'd row ashore, get wallet, watch etc, return to boat, sleep. Was easier than waking up the rest of the crew
5. did this for a week or so. I think there was an abatoir nearby.
6. I flew out (they got a new crewmember). Lady beside me on plane was a marine biologist - said - "Oh there was a man taken by a salt water croc down near where your boat is" ... turns out that there are heaps of crocs. Glad I didnt keep it up for 2 weeks lol.
Canaussieuck lol - like I say - I'm old enough to be her dad
PS Some photos of Magellan's grave / cross - on Mactan Island - near Cebu, Philippines - Altough he's credited with first circumnavigation - he didn't personally make it - just (some of ) his crew.
also some bloke who's been playin around with hanggliders.
PS 1521 !! = almost 500 years ago - Capt Cook etc were such newboys on the block