Travel To The Home Of The Stone Money- Yap Island
Yap is extremely traditional. Women (including tourists) are not allowed to show their thighs, but boobs are just fine.
Yap Island,
Monday, February 24, 2014
Where else in the world can you find people keeping their money outside of their homes? And where else can you find a tourist information counter manned by beautiful topless ladies?
The answer is Yap Island. It is the only place in the world where people still use the traditional stone money, even if the official currency is the US dollar.
“All of our stone money came from Palau Island where there is a quarry and they were transported using the traditional canoes. Some of the stone money took years to complete and a few people from Yap island would stay in Palau island to oversee the production of the stone money,” our guide Al Ganang explained.
“A few years ago, people started chipping the actual stone money and started making small souvenirs. Our government put a stop to that,” he added.
“Oh my, how do you balance the budget if the stone money was chipped, “ we asked.
“Do you still use it?” “Yes, we do, for instance if my son committed an offence,” Al continued.
“Do you bang him on the head with the biggest piece of stone money you have in your yard?”
Al laughed at my question and he proceeded to explain that they used the stone money to appease the family that was offended. In matters of tradition, the stone money still counts and it weighs more, both physically, and traditionally. Al Ganang owns the Village View Resort at Maap island which is connected by a small causeway from mainland Yap. Passing over tropical noni trees, guavas, sour sop and palm trees, we obtained an excellent view of the wonders of the Yap Island. We were so eager that we jumped out of the van, when we got to the bank where some of the stone money of assorted sizes, was simply laying on the ground. Some were so big, that we wondered how they were even transported in the beginning, and what is the value of such! Moreover, how can one give a change? And how to collect the debt?
At the Stone Money Coin Bank, I leaned over an immense heavy stone and asked Bert to take my picture. It was one of the biggest pieces of stone money in the bank. In the distance, we heard screaming. It was Jack (should be Ass), whom everybody calls Mr. Wonderful. Bert and I turned around. He was wearing a Yapese grass skirt. Where did it came from? Is he mad? No, he marched up to the line of stone money and posed.
“Marcia, take my picture!” he commanded.
She gave him a frown. I heard Bert and other people laughing. “I'll take it, “ I volunteered.
I had hardly finished taking Jack's picture when another man grabbed the grassskirt and ran to the beach. Jack, screamed and gave him a chase. In the background, Jack's wife, Marcia was screaming, “ Jack! Don't let the grass skirt get wet! Please, don't let it get wet!” she screamed.
The two men took turns wearing the grass skirts and posing on the bambo raft. I followed them to the beach and took their pictures. They were goofy, ( for wearing a grass skirt) and looked ludicrous, and maybe even desperate. This was one of the funniest occasions of our tour.
Our next stop was at the Village. We were rewarded by the sight of men building traditional canoes, and topless women weaving palm baskets, wearing only colorful grass skirts. These women dressed in only colorful grass skirts, stood out boldly under the tall coconut trees, bathed in sunlight filtered through the palm leaves.
Meanwhile the beach was just a few feet away and was so inviting with the sound of the lapping waves. Local children were playing, and a few men were busy hoisting a canoe into the water. A light breeze blew from time to time. It was a perfect scene, and it was so hard to leave this peaceful and restful scenery.
Al showed us some other parts of the island, then we went back to the town center, and spent some time at the museum where we saw some more of the stone money. The village people also performed their traditional dances wearing their traditional costume,(minus clothes), prior to our departure.
After we left, I thought about Yap Island being traditional and underdeveloped as it was, but in many
ways, it is a good thing! There are always winners and losers in every development. I hope Yap stays the same--- for a long, long
while!
P.S.
To book a room at the Village View you
may email :
Al Ganang at : villageview@mail.fm
Comments
Wow, no worry about what to wear in the morning. Thanks for another intriguing island and its culture.From Kim L., on Mar 14, 2014 at 05:50PM