Today we were going to travel from Majuro to Guam with a long layover in Pohnpei and officially visit the Federated States of Micronesia. We got packed and ready in the morning and took a taxi to Amata Kabua International Airport.
The airport was very small, as we had seen when we arrived. There weren’t too many people, and we were able to check in quickly; our bags were tagged all the way to Saipan. There was a Departure & Security Fee of USD 25 per person to be paid, which was not included in the original ticket price. After the check-in process was completed at the counter, the agent handed the boarding pass to the fee collection officer, who gave the boarding passes to the passengers after payment.
We got our passports stamped and the officer collected the card we had been given on arrival. We reached the boarding area for the flight, which was small but sufficient considering that only narrow-body aircraft serve this airport.
Soon it was time to leave the Marshall Islands and we boarded our flight, United Airlines 154, to Pohnpei via Kosrae. We got a nice view of Rongrong and the neighboring islands as we climbed out of the Majuro Atoll.
The flight was smooth and we landed in Kosrae International Airport on time. The crew gave continuing passengers the option to wait on board or deplane and re-board with the passengers starting from here. We chose to deplane and spend time on the ground in the waiting room.
The next segment was quick with a beverage service onboard. We got nice views of Mokil Atoll on approach to Pohnpei. After landing in Pohnpei, we also saw Sokehs Rock—a massive basalt cliff and one of the most iconic natural landmarks in the Federated States of Micronesia.
We landed at Pohnpei International Airport, and the United Airlines ground staff was kind enough to hold our bags for this long layover so we didn’t have to carry them with us.
We took a taxi into town to get some lunch. The first place we wanted to visit was closed, so the driver dropped us off at Town’s Diner. They didn’t have WiFi for customers as advertised.
We ordered the Town’s Diner Combo (breaded fried fish, fried chicken, sashimi, salad, and soup) and a Mongolian Chicken served with rice and salad.
After lunch, we started exploring Kolonia. We first saw the Kolonia Post Office. There was a nice board here showing the distances to various cities around the world.
Walking further, we saw the United Nations Multi-Country Office in Micronesia and the building of the FSM Telecommunications Corporation.
Then we reached the Historic Spanish Wall, a prominent archaeological landmark located in the heart of Kolonia, Pohnpei. It represents the earliest period of European colonial administration on the island.
We also saw the Town Gymnasium and the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission as we walked further.
We stopped to see the Cathedral of Ponape Belltower, the most iconic historical landmark in Kolonia, Pohnpei. Also known as the German Belltower, it is the largest remaining structure from the German colonial period on the island.
We started to walk towards the Japanese WW2 Tank Graveyard and saw the Australian Embassy, the Protestant Church, and Pohnpei Cinemas on the way.
The Japanese WW2 Tank Graveyard is a unique, outdoor collection of World War II relics located just outside the main town of Kolonia. It was interesting to see them lined up and resting here after all the action they must have seen.
It was getting dark, so we decided to head back toward the airport. We still had time until our flight departure, so we stopped at One World Plaza Cafe & Restaurant for some coffee and relaxation.
The walk to the airport was nice, except for a few dogs that started barking and chasing us for about half a minute before we got onto the Dekehtik Causeway.
The airport was completely empty when we reached—a rare sight. But soon enough, the United Airlines staff and then the passengers arrived. The United Airlines ground staff loaded our bags for this flight, which they had stored for us earlier in the day.
We cleared the security check and reached the boarding area, which had two gates. We waited there for some time and then boarded our flight to Guam via Chuuk, which was scheduled to leave a little after midnight.
🍽️ Town’s Diner & Coffee Shop
☕ One World Plaza Cafe & Restaurant