By Christie Jones, September 19, 2008
It is 8:30 on Saturday morning and the countdown begins for our next migration. I’m sitting on the beach of this tropical paradise with Carl– not because it’s scenic, though it is – but because this is where our computers get the best reception to the island-wide wireless internet service. Carl has no trouble seeing his laptop screen in the broad daylight. I prefer to economize my battery and throw a towel over my head to make the screen seem brighter.
Christie blogging under her sun shade.
Our experience in Kosrae has been a great one. All on the expedition are feeling great because we have done just what we set out to do here. We found our palms and collected DNA samples, herbarium specimens and seeds for the garden.
Besides the excitement of studying such a little-known palm, there are two other things I particularly enjoyed here:
1. There are no snakes, so one can tromp and scramble through the thick vegetation with reckless abandon, without a thought of being bitten.
Carl blogging in paradise.
2. The locals have a particular fondness for country music – a people after my own heart (I’m from Tennessee).
We are heading out to Pohnpei this afternoon on a short one hour island hopping flight. We’ll settle in, take a day to drive the island and get oriented (the islanders are strict about not working on Sunday so there is no guide available tomorrow), then get started early Monday with the Conservation Society of Pohnpei.
Why are there no snakes there?
WOW!! GREAT SITE!