Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands was my next stop aboard United Airlines’ famous Island Hopper, a route that links some of the Pacific’s most remote island nations with a series of short flights across the ocean. Of all the Pacific islands I visited, the Marshall Islands was one of my least favorite. Life moved at an incredibly slow pace, and while I appreciated the chance to experience it, I generally enjoy destinations with a bit more activity.

That said, one of my favorite memories from the Pacific came in the Marshall Islands. I took a bus to the quieter end of Majuro Atoll, and after hearing about one of the country’s coconut processing facilities, I wandered over to see if I could have a look around. Instead, the manager introduced me to Mark, a chemist from the Philippines who had been brought to the Marshall Islands to help oversee operations. Mark generously showed me not only that factory, but a larger one the following day as well. Wearing a hard hat, I got a behind-the-scenes look at one of the country’s biggest industries. We quickly bonded over our shared love of travel and stayed in touch through Instagram in the years that followed. It might sound strange to most people, but by that point in my journey, it somehow felt perfectly normal to make a new friend in a coconut processing facility in one of the world’s most remote countries.