Day 10 • 5 July 2016 • Majuro to Pohnpei

Most team members needed to sleep off the effects of four days on Arno, so on this sunny morning we gathered only right at 0815 h, when the vans for the airport were departing. Our main experience for the day was to island-hop to Pohnpei, the capital island of the Federated States of Micronesia. United Airlines is providing a tremendous service on what most likely is a non-profitable route, by connecting a series of islands in Micronesia. Upon departure from Majuro, we first flew for about 45 min to the northwest, landing on a very rainy Kwajalein Atoll. Kwaj is home to the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll military installation, which heads up the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site. It might be confusing to some to have an Army base surrounded by the blue ocean and occupying a significant number of islands—as opposed to having an arm of the military otherwise associated with water (i.e., the Navy or the Marines) be in charge. But such is the structure of our country’s defenses. Passengers continuing on are not allowed off the plane during the brief stop, but during the downpour this would not have been desirable regardless.

The second stop on today’s journey was Kosrae, the smallest state in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). We all got off the plane to have “feet on the ground” in Kosrae, and to take a couple of photos of the surroundings, but after a short time in the small departure lounge, we were herded back onto the plane. Seated at windows for these flights, the team members took lots of footage of islands, ocean, airplane wings, and even video of takeoff and landing. On this segment, one additional task needed to be accomplished, which is the completion of the immigration and customs forms. Since we will have to complete these again as we enter other countries or territories, as well as when returning to the U.S., this was good practice for everyone—since these forms are not always self-explanatory. For example, traveling as a member of a college course, are you entering as a “student,” or for “education,” or as a “tourist,” or as a “visitor”? If you leave again in a couple of days, do you really have to list everything you bring into the country/territory on the customs form? This aspect of travel is an education all in and of itself!

In Pohnpei, we transferred to the Seabreeze Hotel and, over dinner, planned for the next day. We had initially thought to combine a morning rainforest walk with an afternoon visit to an outlying island for a snorkeling activity, but this combination in sequence was considered to take too long and would have been too expensive. When I learned of the Seabreeze owners’ initiative to create a water activity center on a small islet called Seabreeze Island, I offered to shoot some footage using Marlin the Drone in exchange for helping us create an affordable tour. After a brief negotiation, we would get the rainforest, the famous ruins at Nan Madol, a spectacular waterfall, and Seabreeze Island in one affordable tour!

We started our island hopping in Majuro on the far right and proceeded to Kwajalein, Kosrae, and, finally, Pohnpei. Even though each hop takes about an hour, the entire trip takes over five because of the ground time. This is one of the iconic trips to take when it comes to traveling the world!

The interesting fast food offering at the kiosk in the Majuro Airport departure lounge. On the left are breadfruit and banana chips, followed by bags with tuna jerky. On the right, there are some sandwiches at the top, followed by Spam Musubi packets (large, sushi-like rice dollops with spam on top), and two different types of breakfast boxes, each with a couple of different preparations of spam. I am not sure where else in the world one could find this assortment.

Once again, United's Boeing 737-800 island hopper is ready at our service. Here it is at Majuro International Airport.

Given that Kwajalein is a military installation, we refrained from a lot of photography. However, I thought that documenting the official welcome sign should be permissible—and serve as proof that we were really there!

Across the pouring rain, a couple of features of Kwaj are apparent. There is really no passenger service to speak of (i.e., ramps, cones, trolleys, airline support staff). You go here because you know why and where to go, no need for any accoutrements. Secondly, this is a civilian airliner landing on a military base. Where else does THAT happen these days? So, even while we were cooped up inside the aircraft, there are things to contemplate in terms of the experience!

Fortunately for me, the aircraft turned 180° so that I could get a glimpse of the fishhook that makes up this corner of Kwajalein Atoll. The runway is visible, and it just fits on the island, with little room for error. While taking photos out of airplane windows is not a terribly exciting proposition for photographers, I like this shot that has the island framed by the aircraft's wing and engine.

It is a ritual for me on this island-hopping trip, to at least touch the ground and get a shot of the welcome sign at the airport. Kosrae is a small island and the easternmost state in the FSM, and I don't know if I will ever return. So, for the seasoned traveler, a memento or two become a necessity.

Upon departure from Kosrae Airport, one is treated with a nice view of verdant volcanic slopes and the adjoining fringing reefs. This should be a divers' and marine biologists' paradise!

The final airport for the day, Pohnpei. We breezed through immigration and customs, having learned to complete all our documents correctly on the plane, and headed for our hotel.