As one the most traditional of all the Federated States of Micronesia, Yap retains a lot of the customs that have started to fade out in other places.

One of the most immediately visible of these are the faluw, or Men’s Houses, that showed up in every village I visited. Traditionally a meeting place for the men of the clan, this is where important decisions would be made or important events held.

Common custom dictates that every visitor should, immediately on arrival to a strange village, report directly to the local faluw to report his presence and declare his motives.

Though this rule isn’t so strongly enforced now (at least for clueless tourists!) I did make once important visit, camping just across a stretch of grass from the one in the picture above for a few nights. With the sun setting in dramatic colors over the horizon just behind the building, it was an amazing place to spend the end of the day!

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Headed to Yap and unsure where to stay in Colonia? The best dive resort/hotel combo seemed to be Yap Pacific Resort, but spend some time searching and you can find other options as well.