Fr. Bucko's Mighty Journey Page

The Road Report Yap: Around the Island March 15, 1999
I'm here in Yap primarily to visit a classmate of mine from theology-- Apollo Thall, S.J. I had not seen him in 16 years-- after all, Yap is not in the greater Syracuse area and this is the fist time I've been in Micronesia since 1980 and I did know him then. Apollo gave me a grand tour, we met people and drove through villages. These pictures are of Apollo's villages-- he was born on Yap.
Here is my tour guide, Apollo.	And me standing next to Yapese stone "money" -- used in symbolic exchange. Each piece is owned and known even though it is seemingly scattered here and there.
One end of a men's house (there are also women's houses). Note the stone money in front.	The other end of the same meeting house-- note the raised stone platform.
The beach behind the men's house.	Another view of the same beach.... most of the shore is covered by mangrove swamps-- very important for ecology of the island.
The interior of the roof of the men's house.	A detailed shot of the supports. If you look fast you'll think this photo is upside down-- but look carefully at the photo to the left and you'll see how cleverly the roof is supported!
Stone money.....	More stone money. This one had interesting erosion patterns. Apollo announced that I was more anthropologist than priest because I kept photographing the stone money and not the chapels!
The road past the Church... note the raised platform.	More stone money along the roadside.
Pretty soon I was thinking everything was stone money. This actually is a backrest!	The entrance to the Church. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the Church itself!
A second men's house under repair.	Interior of the men's house.
More you know what.....	Paving stones-- the men's house is also the location for feasting and dancing.
A long view of the men's house.	Oh, did I tell you I also saw a lot of.... stone money.
General Index of Travel Photographs

This page is managed by
Rev. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J.
of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
at Creighton University.

E-Mail: bucko@creighton.edu

Page Last Updated: July 3, 2002