Wooaaahhh, I'm flying!

G'day!

I actually wanted to tell you about our trips to Palau recently. And from our visit there to the museum. There were really some exciting things we saw and learned.

Aaabut: I have to tell you something even more exciting!! Yesterday we flew from Palau to Yap in a small plane. Because it's so small, you can't take that much luggage with you (at least not for free). That's why we limited ourselves to the most important things for the 6 nights and traveled light. Well, my big ones - I don't need any luggage.

Everything is much smaller when checking in than usual at the airports:

And the way to the plane is also rather relaxed, just quickly through the hall. It looks a bit like a large garage, but when flying it is called a hangar.

Normally a maximum of 9 people fit on the plane.

But we were just 4 paying passengers - and me. I'm always there for free. Although not for free. The pilot, his name was Paul, said when boarding that you could sit anywhere you liked. And now it comes: also to the seat next to him! Where the person flying with the pilot usually sits. The person is then called the co-pilot. And my oldest and I actually sat there. In the co-pilot seat! Man, was I excited!

I've already flown a few times. But something like that...

And Paul allowed me to look at everything and sit anywhere. He even explained something about how everything works and what the displays mean.

But I couldn't remember everything. There are so many different things to know.

In any case, Paul knew everything really well. And that's why I felt completely safe up there. Because my oldest isn't really a co-pilot. She probably couldn't have flown the plane better than me. That's why I occasionally thought: "What if we actually needed a co-pilot now?!" But Paul apparently read my mind and explained to me that the plane has an autopilot function. That's why he's allowed to fly it alone.

Just so you understand correctly - I was confused at first. Not a car like a car (on the road), but a car like a car (by itself - that's Latin, you know. Or was it Greek? Dude, I forgot.)).

And nice Paul had four stripes on the top of his shoulder. I think that's a good thing about pilots.

Everything actually went well, even if it took us a little longer because of the headwind. I didn't think it was bad at all. This meant I could enjoy the amazing view for even longer.

By the way, Yap looks really nice from above.

By the way, Yap is part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). These include other island states, namely Chuuk, Kosrae and Pohnpei. Never heard? Me neither so far.

The airport is nice and clear and we immediately met the security chief chewing betel nuts at the entrance. He said he was off work now. This is the last flight today. And it was maybe 11 a.m. by then. Everything is very chilled here.

We drove to the hotel from the airport. Everything is set up like Manta. That's what Yap is known for among divers - the manta ray population that lives here all the time.

In the evening (after a check dive with my two older ones) we sat on the large discarded ship in front of the hotel at sunset. They built a bar and restaurant there. It was very quaint and we had a beautiful view of the island.

There is also some of Yap's famous Stone Money on the ship. This comes from Palau. But that's a story in itself and I'll tell you about it when I hopefully manage to tell you about our excursions and the museum on Palau.

Back to the evening view:

My older ones also went diving here today. But because of the weather, they couldn't take the boat north yet. That would be where the manta rays are.

They still hit some nice fish...

Let's see what pictures they bring back tomorrow. Maybe it will work with the manta rays.

For now, I wish you all the best and look forward to telling you again soon how things are going for us.

Warm greetings from Travis the Buddy Bear.