Seeking Beauty on Roads Less Traveled

It's Canoe Festival Weekend in Yap. Who knew? Mom and I decide we definitely have to check out the festivities because all roads seems to lead to the festivities...actually, there is only one road in Yap so let me rephrase that prior statement.   One road leads to the festivities. “Everyone seems to really be enjoying this.   Everybody is so…happy.”   Even with a light midst of rain in the air, it does not dampen the collective spirit of everyone in attendance.   Old people, youngsters, everyone in between are out in full force cheering for their teams that are running canoe relay races and obstacle course racing…I can see that there are two distinct teams…ones wearing red shirts, the other wearing blue…I think one is called Tamil but please do not quote me.   I notice a lot of cheering for both teams so the team loyalty seems to extend to everyone who is canoeing. “Hello.   Welcome.   How are you?”, a local gentlemen says to Mom and I. ...

It is well after midnight, closer to 1a.m., as our plane is on its final approach to land at Yap International Airport. I can not remember the last time I landed some place where everything I see out of the window is pitch-black...no exaggeration... no lights in the distance, no full moon showing glistening sea below us...nothing...just darkness. Finally, some airport employee must have remembered to trip a switch and at the very least, there are now runway lights. Everyone did not go home after all. “Welcome to Yap”, a lovely bare breasted woman with gorgeous hand-woven leis draped over her shoulders and breasts wearing a beautiful tiara of flowers on her head and a multi-colored grass skirt said to me as she places one of the hand-woven floral and palm leaf leis around me.... “Oh, wow..thank you. This is beautiful. You are beautiful. Thank you”...I guess everyone did not go home. It feels like the entire town of Colonia (the main town in Yap) has turned out for this flight...