HMAS Ararat alongside Pohnpei

24 March 2010

HMAS Ararat arrived alongside Pohnpei, Micronesia on Saturday, 20 Mar 10. After a welcome by the local RAN staff and re-fuelling we began to prepare for an evening of enjoyment. On Saturday night Ararat hosted a cocktail party onboard with local officials, maritime staff, international delegates and a few expats, as our guests for the evening. The climax of the event was the ceremonial sunset performed on the quarterdeck by a guard selected from the crew, led by PO Damien Keygan.

During the remainder of the visit, members of ship’s company took time to visit local bars and restaurants, wood carving and pearl merchants, and other local attractions such as the waterfalls and ‘Nan Madol’, the local ruins of unknown origin, built through a series of canals.

On Monday, the local police hosted the crew to a BBQ dinner under a thatched roof hut on the waters edge. Besides the rain and wind, we all had a great time socialising, swimming and eating; with pig, chicken, creamed bananas, rice and more in the spread.

This morning we departed Pohnpei and commenced heading south towards Papua New Guinea, where we will spend a few relaxing days in Rabaul before returning to Darwin and preparing for a border protection patrol.