Micronesia: Meeting a King and a Former President

If you are looking for advice on how to go to Micronesia, visa requirements, where to stay, what to eat, and the rest of the travel tips, I'll share it in the next blog post.

I finished eating my tuna poke and went to pay, when the waitress told me that someone had already paid for me. While I was standing there confused, two local people started chatting with me, asking what I was doing in Micronesia, where I was from, and how I found their country. It turned out I was talking to the former president of the country, David W. Panuelo, and his wife Patricia. What was supposed to be an ordinary day turned into something very unusual. Mr. David and Ms. Patricia shared information about local culture, traditions, future projects, and their lives, and I shared some things about mine. They invited me for a car ride and to their house to see the local way of cooking and traditional fruits.

The traditional cooking method involves heating stones over a fire until they are extremely hot. Then food (pork, fish, taro, breadfruit, etc.) is wrapped in leaves and placed on or between the stones. I tried breadfruit, not my favorite, but it has been a core part of the diet in Pohnpei long before imported food. It’s high in carbs and fiber, low in fat, and contains some vitamins.

I had a very pleasant day - it’s not every day you get to meet a former president so randomly! Ms. Patricia helped me arrange a taxi for a full island tour the next day. I was also grateful that the former president organized a public hospital tour for me, where I could learn how the system works. If you don’t know it by now, in almost every country I visit, I go to health institutions to learn about the healthcare system and the work of nurses and doctors... I’ve probably been to over a hundred. In Micronesia, one downside is that mental health services are still underdeveloped, and there is a stigma around them.

The next day, the taxi driver came to pick me up. We agreed on a $50 island tour. I thought the highlight would be waterfalls and Nan Madol, but it turned out to be even crazier. Nan Madol is one of the most mysterious archaeological sites in the Pacific. Often called the “Venice of the Pacific,” it is a vast network of over 100 artificial islets built on a lagoon off Temwen Island. Between roughly 1200 and 1500 CE, massive basalt columns were transported and stacked without modern tools or mortar to create a ceremonial city. Today, the ruins are partly submerged in mangroves and tidal waters, creating an almost surreal, lost-world atmosphere.

While we were near Nan Madol, the taxi driver told me about the current king. I didn’t even know there was a “king,” since there’s very little information about it online but there really is, and locals know about it well. He told me the king lives in that area. I asked if he knew where exactly, and he pointed to a house and said the king might be there. The taxi driver didn’t know that five minutes later, I would be knocking on that door.

Someone opened.

“Hi, my name is Anica, I’m from Croatia, and I would like to meet the King, if possible.”

A slightly confused look but a response:

“He is not here right now.”

“Do you maybe know where he is and how I could find him?”

The person explained something to my taxi driver, both of them smiling slightly.

I asked the taxi driver to take me there. He agreed, clearly in disbelief. When we arrived, he went to the gate, and coincidentally, the King and his wife were right there. He asked if I could meet them. They said yes.

And just like that: I met the King.

You might expect something glamorous, but it wasn’t like that. Except for the fact that meeting a king is already glamorous. We sat in a circle on chairs, while the taxi driver, still shocked, sat on the grass because he felt it wasn’t appropriate to sit at the same level as the King. We were served fresh coconuts and talked for a while. I learned a lot about his private life, but out of respect, I’ll keep that to myself. One thing I can share is that when the King dies, he will be buried near other royals, while his wife, who is not of royal origin, will be buried in her own place of origin.

Then something even more unexpected happened. The King told me he wanted to give me a special gift - a title. I don’t even know how to write it yet (I recorded the pronunciation and will share it one day on YouTube), but apparently it’s one of the highest titles someone can receive. I was shocked, grateful, and honestly overwhelmed. It’s the most unique gift I’ve ever received. He gave me a “crown” and a beautiful shell necklace. When I am not alive anymore, the crown should be returned to Micronesia. He even posted about it on his social media.

Shortly after, unrelated to my ceremony, local people began arriving with offerings for the King - food and small gifts as a sign of respect. In the Federated States of Micronesia, especially in places like Pohnpei, this is part of a deep cultural tradition. These offerings appear during important gatherings, ceremonies, or moments involving traditional leaders. Watching this felt incredibly authentic, a quiet but powerful reminder of how tradition still shapes everyday life.

Before leaving, the King and his wife said they would like to welcome my husband Luis and me in the future. I also mentioned I would love to come back and volunteer in the hospital one day. I genuinely enjoy contributing where my knowledge can help. I invited them to visit us in Chile or Croatia, it would be an honor.

After we left, the taxi driver couldn’t stop repeating that this was the best day of his life. He was in shock that he had met the King, and I was just happy to share that moment with him. He told me that getting a title like this is extremely rare. Supposedly, people usually have to ask, there’s no guarantee, and it can cost 5000, 10.000 or more dollars. I don’t know what made me happier - the experience itself, or seeing how much it meant to him. Either way, it’s something I will never forget.