Monday, January 31, 2011

Fishing in Truk

Remember the post about preparing the fishing lines? Here's the sequel:

FISHING.



The bait, packaged squid. The little black fish is grooper, a very young, baby grooper. It was caught using the squid, that opaque looking blob to the right of it, and eventually used as bait as well.

 





Hand held fishing lines.




I forgot to mention that it is typhoon season. This is a perilous season for seafarers, be it fishermen or voyagers alike. Because without any warning, the sky unleashes torrential squalls with gusts strong enough to ruin an entire morning's worth of hairstyling.
 




All activity comes to a halt, and if you're Bisdak you'll seek shelter from the rain because any splash of it can bring you down with pasmo. Literally translated into English: "windy stomach".  My science training cannot explain how the gale-force winds end up in one's belly.





Suffice it to say that if you're Bisdak, rain will melt you, so you might as well avoid it at all costs from the get go.




Just like tulips in spring, the fisherwomen emerge from their dry shelters.




And fishing carries on as if the squall never was.







In his haste to seek shelter from the melting rain, Miko left his fishing line on the picnic bench.



"Um... Tita N, could you help me with this?..."
  

*Silence.*
"Um... Tita N, I really need your help here..."

*Silence still.*




"Seriously, Tita N! I could really use a hand. You think you can put that camera down for a second?!"


*Snickering to myself... I'm so mean.*



"Thanks for your help, Papa. Why is Tita N so mean?"


Because she loves you.


*Awww!*





In the end, Miko's Dad ended up cutting the line to save the hooks.




And gave Miko his own fishing line.


*Awwww. Gulp. Sob.*
And lo! Miko caught a crab!





"Tita N, um, how do you put it again, do you know why it's called a violin crab?"

*Silence. Yup, me so mean!*
As for Yours Truly's fishing skills... 

Seaweeds!


That's how I know it's time to go home.

That and the fact that the sun is going to bed.


Ah, I love fishing!









Miko






Miko and I taste test food products that Isami San brings for samples. (Miko's Mom is the head honcho at Bernie's Store in Truk.)





 Miko reads a lot. He makes a lot of anchang too. Angchang is Trukese for "imagination".





Miko snacks. A. Lot. Which means Miko AND I snack. A. Lot. (So much for my seefood -  I mean seAfood -  diet.)





Because Miko and I hang out. A. Lot.



What am I going to do without Miko?


Sunday, January 30, 2011

My Cousin Miko's Mom

This pretty little thing is my cousin, Miko's Mom.





She may be tiny, but she runs a business like the captain of a Navy carrier.





 She's also a budding photographer. Like a whole bunch of us crazy relatives...




Miko's Mom and I go way back. Our birthdays are less than eight months apart. We share a common interest in life science. We share a grandmother. We share a lastname, but that's not why we're related. We share a bunch of relatives that make us scratch our heads. =P

I bet I make her scratch her head all the time. Hah!!!

Prepare the Fishing Lines


 Fishing was one of my favorite pasttimes as a kid. I went fishing with my cousins at the end of the runway, and eventually joined the Big Fisherman on boat in deeper waters. Fishing is a ritual that begins with preparing the lines.





Sinkers and swivels.





It takes patience to get your gear together.





Ah, what a tangled line we string.





By the way, notice the classy taste in fashion.




I learned from the best.





An hour later...





Papa B prepared four lines. Quite a practical set-up. The bottle holds your line, and serves as a water bottle at the same time! 



Fishing anyone?




Saturday, January 29, 2011

A Third January Birthday Yet

A quick history lesson: this is the Seventh Day Adentist School in Neauo, Truk Island. I attended school here from the fifth grade through seventh. I even remember my teachers' names: Miss Hellen from Washington, Mr. Dean from California, and Mr. Cove from Canada. That was eons ago, thus "history". (Yes, I'm that old, and needless to say month added another year to the log.)






My cousin, MJ's, Kyle's, and Lana's Mom goes to church here. This is her extended family. And so I was invited to celebrate yet another January birthday celebration. It was Miss Joy's birthday.





As "required", pancit.





And, spaghetti.



 And the rest is simple "filler".



Comfort food filler.




Crispy chick'n.




 Healthy tofu stirfry.




Simple carbs. =P





Hearty soup.

By the way, at first it baffled me how one can eat a piping hot bowl of soup in this hot humid environment. Then then I had a sip. Then a gulp. And the next thing you know, I'm eating it like it was January in Maine.




















 That's my cousin, MJ's Mom, with her trusty Canon.





And that's Mr. Jace with his trusty PS. (Point and shoot.)














The kids had a great time.








Even the big kids.





Especially this big kid. (He is the School Principal's little brother.)





No wonder MJ's Mom loves it here!




I'll close with another history lesson: MJ's Mom was one of the first students of the SDA Mission School in Truk.

*Yes, cousin. Monkeys grow old too.*
(Inside joke.)