Google Earth

Spent some time last night finding my favorite islands on Google Earth. If you want to see how small and isolated your favorite islands really are- it is amazing. Not to mention discovering what they really look like in terms of shape, etc.

I have always thought the togetherness and roundness of Tahiti and Tahiti iti could be construed as almost obscene from space. ;)

And Rimitara looks like Africa...

I found the building I stayed in on Vava'u-all of downtown Neiafu shows up quite clearly.

I searched out Kapingamarangi and Nukoro- lordy these are tiny places a long way from anyplace! And they both seem to have lagoons in the middle of them- something I never would have guessed. And I found our house in Palau and also in Pohnpei. Not to mention the playground in Connecticut where I fell off the swing when I was 4- nearly 60 years ago. Every so often I remember GE and go nuts for a few days.

5--Funny, I read your first post earlier today, and now was just about to look for Kapingamarangi, but thought I'd check the TT for other things! My friends father was there in the Peace Corps in the 1970's or so.

And, now I will also look for the swing in Queens NY where I fell off when I was 5! (my parents got about $500 from the city, put it in a savings account, I got it when I was 21---$1500 by then, bought an MG! My favorite swing, in hindsight!)

He was in Kapinga? Wow- even in 1995 or whenever it was remote and isolated. Cannot imagine what it was like in the 70's. Well, actually, I can. No different. An amazing trip. Would love to chat with your friend's father. He is probably the only other person who has ever been there, and one of few who have ever heard of the place. I met the mother of a peace corp'er who was in Sativan and other areas just south of Chuuk- she HATED her time there. But I read her manuscript and realized I had been there too. Great fun these tiny island. Went to a wedding on Kapinga- don't know if I have shared this story. I was "The Doctor" and had come on the field ship to see some patients. Had been swimming with my kids (in our clothes of course) while waiting for the ship to set sail. Wandered into "town" (and as a quote freak- "town" was simply the center of activity) to see what was up. As I hid in the corners with my kids, I was spotted. I was all but dragged into the festivities and sat down at the head table as an honored guest. Soaking wet, hair dripping, and there I sat in a place of honor across from the brides and grooms (double wedding). Perhaps the most embarrassing moment of my life. But lots of fun. Two couples a million miles from anyplace, barefooted, in tuxs and white fluffy wedding dresses. None of them fit- I think they had two sets, and it was catch as catch can as to what you wore. But it was a wonderful time. I was just sad that I was somehow not showing a great deal more respect for their wonderful celebration. And had nothing to give them as gifts.

Go find those swings- I got nothing for my pain but a mouthful of sand. We even had a see-saw= now recognized as entirely too dangerous for today's wimpy kids!

Great story about Kapinga! Two tuxes on a remote island like that?? Amazing! Unfortunately my friend's dad passed away several years ago. He was in the PC when he was in his 50's I think, not as a relative youngster.
Tried to find my swing set on GE, did find my old apt., but couldn't see the tiny playground. Maybe they shut it down after they paid me off!
Yes, visitors on remote islands are often treated like royalty! A friend and I ended up as the first "official" tourists on Atiu in 1976, and we spent all 9 meals in 3 days, plus a late night meal each day, with 12 different families. All had to show us off to everyone else!

You demonostrated to them that playgrounds could be dangerous! Now your folks would have gone for $500 mill- after all- the trauma to our little Raro! 'Twil drive him to remote corners of the earth to escape the horror!

This friend the son of the dad who was in Kapinga? Were his adventures somehow influential in leading you to the islands?

I can imagine the 12 families- WE know the visitors! THEY are our great friends. Sure beats the New England you are a stranger and outsiders so we won't talk to you despite the fact that you have spent every summer hear for the past 25 years approach.

Yes, the trauma of that broken arm. Ruined my major-league baseball prospects. I'm sure I could've pitched half as well as Barry Zito, and since he is getting something like $18 million a yr on the Giants, so let's see, $9 million x 10 yrs or so...I'll take it!

I met the Kapinga guy long after I had visited the SP. They lived across the street from me in Berkeley. He really didn't have too many tales about it, come to think of it.

Yes, on Atiu we were "claimed" by the shop owner who picked us up walking in from the harbour to the village, and we stayed at his house. He kind of screened which families we could be "loaned out" to, as we had a lot of invitations. As he owned one of the two stores on the island, he was a VIP already, so everyone pretty much listened to him anyway!

Problems in New England?? Cabot Cove, Maine, residents look so friendly on Murder She Wrote! [but then again, Cabot Cove IS the murder capital of the US!]

5walto, i see you have been to my tiny islands. Maybe i know you or my dad should know you because all PCV to kapinga know him.
I hope you enjoyed your time there.

Reading about kapinga is just one of the best thing i like to do.

Will come back for more later on.

Tauahine- I was a doc working for the FSM when I visited, now about 11 years ago. But not PCV. Came down on the field ship with my 3 children- all adopted. You have a beautiful island and I wish I had been able to spend more time there. And the people were all wonderful. Worked with Josh P and Mideon in Pohnpei.