Yap is an island in Micronesia known for Bridgestone money and topless women. Yelp you read that right! Divers come here to watch the manta rays… And when youarrive on a small plane you’re met by a group of topless women who place a lei around your neck.

We planned our trip for March, which is when they celebrateNational Yap days and the festivities are educational and fun. They dress in traditional costumes and have not only dance competitions, but also cooking, climbing of the betel nut tree, basket weaving, fire starting, and more. One thing that intrigues me here is that everyone has red teeth and gums … They chew the Betel nut .. One of the most commonly used addictive substances in the world affecting 10% of the world’s 7 billion population . It acts as a stimulant much like the tobacco leaf , giving a buzz and offsets hunger. It’s weird when they smile at you and their mouths are bright red!

Enjoyed the ballet today at 15 ft under ….a beautiful up close encounter with several manta rays on a cleaning station. There were two females with 12-15 ft wing spans who continued to circle within a foot of us for about an hour causing me to duck as they went over nearly touching my head several times.