Looking for some small scale adventure in an out of the way place? Yap, Micronesia might be just the place. This barely-inhabited island country in the middle of the North Pacific is ripe for exploration, and best of all it can be done with little planning and even less knowledge. All you need, really, is a car and a tent and a solid library to keep you busy.
Here, then, are 10 Steps to Camping in Yap, Micronesia:
1. Rent car, or procure alternative transportation. Relying on hitchhiking is not necessarily recommended, as traffic grows thin outside of cities.2. Stock up on food. Better too much than not enough!3. Find sandy beach. This may be more difficult than expected, but persevere and ask every single stranger you meet until somebody proves helpful.4. Pitch tent (above high tide line!). Lay on grass to be sure it hits the desired level of softness. Roll through several different reading positions, just to be sure.5. If possible, put tent near historic and traditional buildings. There was, after all, a reason builders chose just this spot.6. Return to car to transport food to tent site, only to find evidence of infestation.7. Take special care with local wildlife.8. Protect gear at all costs!9. Snorkel/read/bask until sunset, at which point all else should be put on hold until sun is fully down.10. Next morning, after a wake-up round of snorkeling, pack up gear and repeat process on new beach.
_____
Always make sure to ask permission before camping on village property. In the rural areas of the island it should be no problem, but back in Colonia stick with hotels. The best dive resort/hotel combo seemed to be Yap Pacific Resort, but spend some time searching and you can find other options as well.
Beautiful place!! I know for a fact that this is not Cypress Lake or Lake of the Pines. Enjoy!! You really do have to watch out for the wild life. Chickens can be dangerous.
Thanks! The chicken was pretty amusing at the time, as well, especially because there were a couple of Yapese sitting in a restaurant nearby laughing at me as I tried to get it away from my food and bags!
Beautiful place!! I know for a fact that this is not Cypress Lake or Lake of the Pines. Enjoy!! You really do have to watch out for the wild life. Chickens can be dangerous.
Think you can teach me how to wring one’s neck in case it ever becomes an issue again?
Loved this. The pics are great-but I love your comments. Very creative! The chicken bit is
so funny. I spent my childhood in chicken houses:)
Thanks! The chicken was pretty amusing at the time, as well, especially because there were a couple of Yapese sitting in a restaurant nearby laughing at me as I tried to get it away from my food and bags!