The island is famous for its traditional stone money called Raay. Back

in the day these huge, heavy limestone discs were brought from Palau to Yap via outrigger canoe (281 miles) where they were used for things like buying property. Most homes have a Raay sitting outside the door.

These homes in the villages are traditional houses and the one closest to the water is usually the “men’s house.”  A men’s house is a male only meeting place. While in Yap my Dive Master took the day off to help rebuild this one in his village

which we later stopped by on a kayak trip to see it.

One does not have to enter the men’s house to know that inside, they are all chewing betel nut. It’s not only the men who engage in this habit of taking the nut – that they season with lime, add nicotine and wrap in a leaf – both sexes from age 8 to 80 partake. Everywhere. The giveaway, absent the wad in their mouth, is their red teeth. The lime turns the spit to a blood red color staining their gums and teeth.

Although most Yapese don’t smoke cigarettes they do use them to prepare their chew, so smokers be aware the only cigarettes you can buy on the island are the type they use to prepare the betel nut, menthol.

The red teeth may not be attractive to some but the fresh flower leis

and headdress are very pretty and Yapese often wear them as a part of their daily dress. If you compliment a local’s flowers the odds are very high that they will insist on gifting them to you. This is just one example of the generosity and kindness of the Yapese toward the tourists.

You will never be asked for money or anything in return. Unlike most tourist areas, it’s a place where you can truly feel safe and relax without being hassled.