tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64134576708554465312024-03-21T17:19:33.788-07:00Coconuts and Monkey ButlersHello! My name is Adam. My wife (Rachelle) and I recently decided to leave our native shores of California and move to the tropical island of Saipan. We came with dreams of palm trees, coconuts and monkey butlers. This is what we found...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-54369003787881048082008-12-05T21:06:00.000-08:002008-12-05T21:42:46.359-08:00Tinian Trip - Part ThreeThese pictures are of the North Field air base.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jS4WPNpbOXqn_W1d5vTvn9vgRjRSaesIysdNNM6jLV9G4pej6MYd7nZFCfjNonWJ61uET7znPXM_BYDa2c772A2aYQZTJOI96izDz7uNX4hGFcyYU-eX51Zn0E8tRYLTf9dnYANiNY8k/s1600-h/DSC_0245.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jS4WPNpbOXqn_W1d5vTvn9vgRjRSaesIysdNNM6jLV9G4pej6MYd7nZFCfjNonWJ61uET7znPXM_BYDa2c772A2aYQZTJOI96izDz7uNX4hGFcyYU-eX51Zn0E8tRYLTf9dnYANiNY8k/s400/DSC_0245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540724408894466" /></a><br />The main runway on North Field<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqi93GdNp0aPZgXCqpu6Od9M2i55EvLqp_Rf7ZQX5G_u7Jw2PEec9mxqD68vDFIgBH-FtjQYZMxKtF46RsNv1Ps3U8-vBJYseYJOIkWqhX4nEywyH00hrGQZDu6Q09ww7wmQz4Jf1_hsw/s1600-h/DSC_0265.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqi93GdNp0aPZgXCqpu6Od9M2i55EvLqp_Rf7ZQX5G_u7Jw2PEec9mxqD68vDFIgBH-FtjQYZMxKtF46RsNv1Ps3U8-vBJYseYJOIkWqhX4nEywyH00hrGQZDu6Q09ww7wmQz4Jf1_hsw/s400/DSC_0265.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540397249115938" /></a><br />This building was used by the Japanese as their command center on the island. It was damaged during the US invasion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0i82e0N66p0P2Ylq2Rps8xLr-cK7HPSPsj9LOQzoLkQEko85NiCf-0hkNkdpEGrWhT_7EL-aeot7gSK7DeLz0TeLrE2aDut3QsxOijuHS7QGpxTq3c4QXX4C8Gb_orbgRhNTSQBQl0MZ/s1600-h/DSC_0287.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0i82e0N66p0P2Ylq2Rps8xLr-cK7HPSPsj9LOQzoLkQEko85NiCf-0hkNkdpEGrWhT_7EL-aeot7gSK7DeLz0TeLrE2aDut3QsxOijuHS7QGpxTq3c4QXX4C8Gb_orbgRhNTSQBQl0MZ/s400/DSC_0287.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540125403994994" /></a><br />Another side of the Japanese command center.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABKQkvfho02x4rUKHaha9A9hVAFvWJbYw8JvLhkH8T42DN3hPHiagnbY2pTlB8gopbgBm_LX_nI8zbBt-osDoMhHsmhOf_UV67Kdc0Zg1I4AWQqVGrdYfGaNkip41r0l0jI4FX9aLHXm7/s1600-h/DSC_0248.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABKQkvfho02x4rUKHaha9A9hVAFvWJbYw8JvLhkH8T42DN3hPHiagnbY2pTlB8gopbgBm_LX_nI8zbBt-osDoMhHsmhOf_UV67Kdc0Zg1I4AWQqVGrdYfGaNkip41r0l0jI4FX9aLHXm7/s400/DSC_0248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540726796781202" /></a><br />This is one of the bunker that line the airfield.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIarRhT-zi9D5keoCVCp2on3lPrDssoH7i04AOZVrED6alLm6JL-1aHNKi1J5DXKNQD0AfM1K_SQueM5oEhMidraAT_lmvUXYZwEo-zi-AjvJndh1Njbk-vhsnnPzgeFHubaRFop3J0s9/s1600-h/DSC_0251.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIarRhT-zi9D5keoCVCp2on3lPrDssoH7i04AOZVrED6alLm6JL-1aHNKi1J5DXKNQD0AfM1K_SQueM5oEhMidraAT_lmvUXYZwEo-zi-AjvJndh1Njbk-vhsnnPzgeFHubaRFop3J0s9/s400/DSC_0251.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540392978739858" /></a><br />Rach leads the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6OH0wWcfUJE725RnnmFepPdnmKLsNpnNwl1BSwlKmwY1Vf3vbiyjskPqGf4253sTifMdJvGk1gTiEQCefvCpFGPvyPGcu8xshKmaMRBvOlUv9sg92mBHznmUyGbWq_kiUTbsw-eMdfpb/s1600-h/DSC_0252.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6OH0wWcfUJE725RnnmFepPdnmKLsNpnNwl1BSwlKmwY1Vf3vbiyjskPqGf4253sTifMdJvGk1gTiEQCefvCpFGPvyPGcu8xshKmaMRBvOlUv9sg92mBHznmUyGbWq_kiUTbsw-eMdfpb/s400/DSC_0252.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540390371466578" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9p9A9UCmeK2X3T8Uh9abKkDJRryc-SC-pEEC-AE4JPInwTCpbfj40eUkSio4uH_pQskhvLFQhbwqu7KklaqjTm3ta2TyuaggkZlmunIAsqATdW6gNOADO7AOtI_zC3UGKjWQ5wIbvXYa6/s1600-h/DSC_0253.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9p9A9UCmeK2X3T8Uh9abKkDJRryc-SC-pEEC-AE4JPInwTCpbfj40eUkSio4uH_pQskhvLFQhbwqu7KklaqjTm3ta2TyuaggkZlmunIAsqATdW6gNOADO7AOtI_zC3UGKjWQ5wIbvXYa6/s400/DSC_0253.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540392837641234" /></a><br />View of the bomb blast door.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQbCPIo9lkZgVr52hfQ-oR20O_1F1ddYmeXaKWpkO_LAVx6zmRUfgdPrja49Hva4cGGbhh8mqwEsvcDeoKsDvePpw6aiahyphenhyphenDmpbWEPp72d6ECEN2OphHIyp4s8VaMQEAu4gUXh4uXJSiV/s1600-h/DSC_0254.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQbCPIo9lkZgVr52hfQ-oR20O_1F1ddYmeXaKWpkO_LAVx6zmRUfgdPrja49Hva4cGGbhh8mqwEsvcDeoKsDvePpw6aiahyphenhyphenDmpbWEPp72d6ECEN2OphHIyp4s8VaMQEAu4gUXh4uXJSiV/s400/DSC_0254.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540396759331298" /></a><br />Looking into the bunker.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-1CspvDoLoYC57VdR34FftRWK9MPKA11ekGNFIPA-I2oDlDEgV-SNjfikYO5lIBIR6gFQLq7EXkfpAIRl39dDJhKSFqs0L052ZDK4EypEBUkSvVK9TbCVNb4YxXREyzNWrDmS1IyOBAq/s1600-h/DSC03187.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-1CspvDoLoYC57VdR34FftRWK9MPKA11ekGNFIPA-I2oDlDEgV-SNjfikYO5lIBIR6gFQLq7EXkfpAIRl39dDJhKSFqs0L052ZDK4EypEBUkSvVK9TbCVNb4YxXREyzNWrDmS1IyOBAq/s400/DSC03187.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540127612420034" /></a><br />We were just leaving the airfield when we got caught in a sudden rainstorm. We ran into this building for shelter and were stuck there for about an hour. Luckily Rach had had the foresight to bring a 6 pack.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88bOxepOCDYoQAQfGWivPDMgZq3iSdMUAP4aRQ7TJKCaSKsMxPpFNETR59p2OI_Wc-oylUwC-_QyCD0NqFOsBSxdU6824V8BiZKavjZi_NgHExU4LB-0ua6hl_NYhfgO8GV1Xqp3JBXWA/s1600-h/DSC03175.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88bOxepOCDYoQAQfGWivPDMgZq3iSdMUAP4aRQ7TJKCaSKsMxPpFNETR59p2OI_Wc-oylUwC-_QyCD0NqFOsBSxdU6824V8BiZKavjZi_NgHExU4LB-0ua6hl_NYhfgO8GV1Xqp3JBXWA/s400/DSC03175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540129078427346" /></a><br />Looking out into the rain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWkRdJok3Xchd4yLxMoG_zhgZXfw8Qqxe-jTzqNMKmVjm7iM9olA8eSseX3RQqhbOA7lYUb8v8VnMod_pusbOdyBLlj7m4c8ogOkKjtfdMsNqtAj2RgSplL1FXijFV5XJG2gxGgJuevYq/s1600-h/DSC_0204.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWkRdJok3Xchd4yLxMoG_zhgZXfw8Qqxe-jTzqNMKmVjm7iM9olA8eSseX3RQqhbOA7lYUb8v8VnMod_pusbOdyBLlj7m4c8ogOkKjtfdMsNqtAj2RgSplL1FXijFV5XJG2gxGgJuevYq/s400/DSC_0204.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540860968484018" /></a><br />This is the door we sat under while waiting for the rain to end. The entire building was covered in wasp nests (the brown things on the door) and giant spider webs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFL4zIdXq0y7UR6C4PTwbgJ-f6_RxNsVgw0zKXIZEB4cbjZay7V_XZgei7qm1tCBb7nUmSGmdbPD7H_gc5CogRC13Qg0-9IIIj7QpL9Lx48jOaw_iW8yQEAjMmZNMna65tv6Ed-w4BXrt/s1600-h/DSC_0223.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFL4zIdXq0y7UR6C4PTwbgJ-f6_RxNsVgw0zKXIZEB4cbjZay7V_XZgei7qm1tCBb7nUmSGmdbPD7H_gc5CogRC13Qg0-9IIIj7QpL9Lx48jOaw_iW8yQEAjMmZNMna65tv6Ed-w4BXrt/s400/DSC_0223.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540720090456082" /></a><br />One of the spiders.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnfYrJHI8rNG6D6akreGYGH6H7V60ybtdJvNA55V1OC2INTC3scKwMO30WuD71oUY3Ye4EGBDWMGbbq761reNLP_G8TmkVqj053Dzfn9aduoRnDk-31_6jeMnYw82MG_uVx6KMHx32FCh/s1600-h/DSC_0212.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnfYrJHI8rNG6D6akreGYGH6H7V60ybtdJvNA55V1OC2INTC3scKwMO30WuD71oUY3Ye4EGBDWMGbbq761reNLP_G8TmkVqj053Dzfn9aduoRnDk-31_6jeMnYw82MG_uVx6KMHx32FCh/s400/DSC_0212.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540716023510978" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRlvYnVU4HcT54JrywEhSypWrlzKqftOsNTBxrpsp6NGBVmJX_6vzS1PmCBd5AlvcwlnumZMQawK5cfkcR7bgMtSiWM3ryjLoQ6-wPdr8p-qLEh1a_dSVbzMzftLACBX_lUcPFE02VGzv/s1600-h/DSC_0233.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRlvYnVU4HcT54JrywEhSypWrlzKqftOsNTBxrpsp6NGBVmJX_6vzS1PmCBd5AlvcwlnumZMQawK5cfkcR7bgMtSiWM3ryjLoQ6-wPdr8p-qLEh1a_dSVbzMzftLACBX_lUcPFE02VGzv/s400/DSC_0233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540720467479202" /></a><br />The surrounding jungle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvSqY5H6Hm2WhIUEqGXeORe3rsPc_T64kHULRqx4-Ga5oLqA2_BF4QxKZzUr0JlZZZXgzF7x85u3IPGNMl__R7ULumQ5Xl5wlt2n4Gvq70Kt2qN8tLsxz5VlCGommyz5dth-euorBukHN/s1600-h/DSC_0274.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvSqY5H6Hm2WhIUEqGXeORe3rsPc_T64kHULRqx4-Ga5oLqA2_BF4QxKZzUr0JlZZZXgzF7x85u3IPGNMl__R7ULumQ5Xl5wlt2n4Gvq70Kt2qN8tLsxz5VlCGommyz5dth-euorBukHN/s400/DSC_0274.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540119206581762" /></a><br />After the rain quit we headed out to the Nuclear pits.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVEDAkmsIK3v8FI-7IILq0CnkVCDqWCAxEdG4OQ1EXwbIBtys38RnAcWFZFzz4MBkSlkkBhezZRICYPiT5o8E970R7MoLwnPLWOzs4ckJbwUWpH_Dwt6mZp8c0-ma1SlH4SV1tPQ4Cd_6/s1600-h/DSC_0289.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVEDAkmsIK3v8FI-7IILq0CnkVCDqWCAxEdG4OQ1EXwbIBtys38RnAcWFZFzz4MBkSlkkBhezZRICYPiT5o8E970R7MoLwnPLWOzs4ckJbwUWpH_Dwt6mZp8c0-ma1SlH4SV1tPQ4Cd_6/s400/DSC_0289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276540135024313762" /></a><br />This was the first nuclear bomb pit where one of the nuclear bombs was loaded onto the plane.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0V9bwLqZFfyjjrE2dFVv1zioRLIkkPi1FTQb0TIWwqpGKdR2C6XqPq-CGT18dfAkCdKuOqxMwcDkvv6Ozz3g0im0HpqxjeDAYSBFfBDTALEl7S2tCi1041Zol28EGrrcGond2c6n0GRP/s1600-h/DSC_0292.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0V9bwLqZFfyjjrE2dFVv1zioRLIkkPi1FTQb0TIWwqpGKdR2C6XqPq-CGT18dfAkCdKuOqxMwcDkvv6Ozz3g0im0HpqxjeDAYSBFfBDTALEl7S2tCi1041Zol28EGrrcGond2c6n0GRP/s400/DSC_0292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276539773150278610" /></a><br />The plaque in front of the first pit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdwpL7PLvD9m9oF31E7s1ctfT38doYeJ4uxmZWsiRuxLtyyQRYO_eGtKlsvVNnt_64qxecKSwNKG25RjRj8G0p29qa1vNryHxJ3fBBS97lzZrLi5DKFWf9OqIDle2k4FY3yEOGWBvbP8l/s1600-h/DSC_0291.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdwpL7PLvD9m9oF31E7s1ctfT38doYeJ4uxmZWsiRuxLtyyQRYO_eGtKlsvVNnt_64qxecKSwNKG25RjRj8G0p29qa1vNryHxJ3fBBS97lzZrLi5DKFWf9OqIDle2k4FY3yEOGWBvbP8l/s400/DSC_0291.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276539775937436850" /></a><br />Another view of the first pit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp78Vdsvz7wl5YMh3mU5rGqTBPXmasmvGuIQdxFTQWKhLeNtOpkiYySwNtUuT35Qr487z6V2GmrKhfXqpcgARKk0l1mWg_JkQfJfWEnLORgwRsWWYAp1izry8itntcInYSxzLyLfcK_UO0/s1600-h/DSC_0299.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp78Vdsvz7wl5YMh3mU5rGqTBPXmasmvGuIQdxFTQWKhLeNtOpkiYySwNtUuT35Qr487z6V2GmrKhfXqpcgARKk0l1mWg_JkQfJfWEnLORgwRsWWYAp1izry8itntcInYSxzLyLfcK_UO0/s400/DSC_0299.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276539779669188482" /></a><br />The plaque in front of the second nuclear pit. This pit is about fifty yards away from the first pit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEyQ73n-ta54ZNhQLZDBxtCDWAj4-_MCgwIIsUz3ECQAvV-Lcd40_Ir51TFtgxQ26xcufF5fMNUVWNPOXrNJYB1z5SewL7j4DW-NwuH3BhuTRTw2_H92eIt0aVElIwz0GUwLb1s-4mMdR/s1600-h/DSC_0306.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEyQ73n-ta54ZNhQLZDBxtCDWAj4-_MCgwIIsUz3ECQAvV-Lcd40_Ir51TFtgxQ26xcufF5fMNUVWNPOXrNJYB1z5SewL7j4DW-NwuH3BhuTRTw2_H92eIt0aVElIwz0GUwLb1s-4mMdR/s400/DSC_0306.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276539780033230258" /></a><br />The second pit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQpZIIDQ221NW81khz2yuiYb-Ev2HQ8Z4in3vu2mKMd_M3liouuEaYzeKRfuuC81kBGvbLLEKLS3lQkCheEzNOl4V_cst7X5IvEG20rUSj72WGunx_NbAtLl3hN84cADUDL7aUKssS_ek/s1600-h/DSC_0305.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQpZIIDQ221NW81khz2yuiYb-Ev2HQ8Z4in3vu2mKMd_M3liouuEaYzeKRfuuC81kBGvbLLEKLS3lQkCheEzNOl4V_cst7X5IvEG20rUSj72WGunx_NbAtLl3hN84cADUDL7aUKssS_ek/s400/DSC_0305.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276539785236482114" /></a><br />They had some old photos of the bombs being loaded displayed inside the pits.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-81664825243258023982008-12-05T20:47:00.000-08:002008-12-05T21:06:41.282-08:00Tinian Trip - Part Two<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGH5LNFqSPsFTsOIoBSsw5OtwseLVT06ZND_qJQDsHqV5bTPqn1OuooZ8JJdgfVDUR8Us2BxaFRW26ZOG6HzAf7kyXwAAyKuXs3cweHBjwNly91ZEcirYvs2pPEn3-PrLx5nVxL7ncVUP/s1600-h/DSC_0191.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGH5LNFqSPsFTsOIoBSsw5OtwseLVT06ZND_qJQDsHqV5bTPqn1OuooZ8JJdgfVDUR8Us2BxaFRW26ZOG6HzAf7kyXwAAyKuXs3cweHBjwNly91ZEcirYvs2pPEn3-PrLx5nVxL7ncVUP/s400/DSC_0191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276535323674998482" /></a><br />There is a monument to the Navy SeaBees just north of San Jose village. The SeaBees built the airfield and the roads on tinian in just a matter of weeks. Those same roads are still the only way to get around on the North side of the island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEger91vRlGKZV_xNnk7ttM9REWM4G2mNsORwDjL0x2u4T8coQPeq1iBMkMQK5q-pFHGTBhCI41KiSvjg9Z8iATNfXKabbG8rn_OiXLCSUMwUrhMBTNCwPdgbCJz7qmFRpGvSjFp99FHcru1/s1600-h/DSC_0194.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEger91vRlGKZV_xNnk7ttM9REWM4G2mNsORwDjL0x2u4T8coQPeq1iBMkMQK5q-pFHGTBhCI41KiSvjg9Z8iATNfXKabbG8rn_OiXLCSUMwUrhMBTNCwPdgbCJz7qmFRpGvSjFp99FHcru1/s400/DSC_0194.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276535121566706594" /></a><br />The actual monument.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4nskz6_PcoZ-V7TLMmxE-DN6Ft7S9UfC2LPhu020DNkMsv47zKMIo83ixp99ZSlw7IsaVdQ5tcfTYoY5NpeyGPTcvIqQlT7eZ1YVBpAma7MyJbFYmvrXrzqccqVpReZD-c7TcbhzTAEJ/s1600-h/DSC_0189.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4nskz6_PcoZ-V7TLMmxE-DN6Ft7S9UfC2LPhu020DNkMsv47zKMIo83ixp99ZSlw7IsaVdQ5tcfTYoY5NpeyGPTcvIqQlT7eZ1YVBpAma7MyJbFYmvrXrzqccqVpReZD-c7TcbhzTAEJ/s400/DSC_0189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276535324691063538" /></a><br />One of the original WWII built roads running North. This was "8th Ave". The Seabees named the two major roads on Tinian "8th Ave" and "Broadway" after the two major boulevards in New York. They did this because the shape of Tinian reminded them of Manhattan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GvfpMpFwl08j_sE8ba3FnPMhcdx_mnot7KMBlgJTl6gwFLa_rA-oszqsgTwFN1zzbB7zbNK_jlWYs6crSKaBns6t0r4119kDKXvm0OCIvDLSYwK8oGJRSYRWEePQS07BjG47y_iDBKjD/s1600-h/DSC_0307.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GvfpMpFwl08j_sE8ba3FnPMhcdx_mnot7KMBlgJTl6gwFLa_rA-oszqsgTwFN1zzbB7zbNK_jlWYs6crSKaBns6t0r4119kDKXvm0OCIvDLSYwK8oGJRSYRWEePQS07BjG47y_iDBKjD/s400/DSC_0307.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276535126526826322" /></a><br />This is a view of Saipan from the very North end of Tinian.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSh6xlCF5-CugnIFEfQxD53FldBSoeHYoGse2Wxu1TsgHIJTA7NM-hEX14eZ89gzUURg5W1kTsUPrFiwAwQVplmve-hL8-QJvwe33f7nRrbUI3rwZw8lOZJh1Egtj4-0CNTulrh-M89qO/s1600-h/DSC_0323.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSh6xlCF5-CugnIFEfQxD53FldBSoeHYoGse2Wxu1TsgHIJTA7NM-hEX14eZ89gzUURg5W1kTsUPrFiwAwQVplmve-hL8-QJvwe33f7nRrbUI3rwZw8lOZJh1Egtj4-0CNTulrh-M89qO/s400/DSC_0323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276535129825955186" /></a><br />This hole in the coral is a natural blowhole that sprays up with every wave.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JF6rp5D-ce67etag8vPaDNOxrQwA0SAau256ELg-YdSeG9uGDm6C1mePwX2t-7EOEoYsIXAChBgBjD6d4U7lpbyjkYDJHpOEWKfLPhXzs9hp7CpSW6v-UlHHQnnTgk-HlnX1P2fGXbvK/s1600-h/DSC_0371.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JF6rp5D-ce67etag8vPaDNOxrQwA0SAau256ELg-YdSeG9uGDm6C1mePwX2t-7EOEoYsIXAChBgBjD6d4U7lpbyjkYDJHpOEWKfLPhXzs9hp7CpSW6v-UlHHQnnTgk-HlnX1P2fGXbvK/s400/DSC_0371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276534819717707122" /></a><br />One of the eastward facing beaches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77ndJFSrJX09-znad291kKz5_txk92jiyZL5qsq95WgPSUIk5kzLNDCvcQBDKHzOdQH3VX3mHgR8IN4_fpdnat3M1KTqCNpjXJ3WD_YkJy0B41Rv5rhF8nGgYfOamTz5kXzsUtHNz55oh/s1600-h/DSC_0359.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77ndJFSrJX09-znad291kKz5_txk92jiyZL5qsq95WgPSUIk5kzLNDCvcQBDKHzOdQH3VX3mHgR8IN4_fpdnat3M1KTqCNpjXJ3WD_YkJy0B41Rv5rhF8nGgYfOamTz5kXzsUtHNz55oh/s400/DSC_0359.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276534818170649586" /></a><br />The Japanese held Tinian at the start of WWII. They left behind many shrines such as this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeQlMLW7hpY7Ef8H-HDy5Wkf-AsnH8dGcvasjyRDfrTwtuicZaqu8GZFzHfjaAtcF7-lSnsS4ppx1Jtm5kl9_2JmoZDmtSGbjeLPCfXmzJoRIQyiV1NwqVySBkjyqiWtVSIjHQlpRYBOp/s1600-h/DSC_0347.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeQlMLW7hpY7Ef8H-HDy5Wkf-AsnH8dGcvasjyRDfrTwtuicZaqu8GZFzHfjaAtcF7-lSnsS4ppx1Jtm5kl9_2JmoZDmtSGbjeLPCfXmzJoRIQyiV1NwqVySBkjyqiWtVSIjHQlpRYBOp/s400/DSC_0347.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276534810257534818" /></a><br />Part of another Shinto Shrine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIJt4o2Uz7-6BNk3PkxzASJ8AwqHFZo2jaw5Q5boIUWrHuR7rErOG_8PUDyb_qaLLaI3dqE79nPwvZzRcl3GB0XwU5b5zpKXbjgo_Wj8Px_HnDVJZxurF3suBdZgg8t5HHXZFXMZcL55_/s1600-h/DSC03191.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIJt4o2Uz7-6BNk3PkxzASJ8AwqHFZo2jaw5Q5boIUWrHuR7rErOG_8PUDyb_qaLLaI3dqE79nPwvZzRcl3GB0XwU5b5zpKXbjgo_Wj8Px_HnDVJZxurF3suBdZgg8t5HHXZFXMZcL55_/s400/DSC03191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276534823288703586" /></a><br />BOOM<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YgngjXWaBDwfzgu5kF4MX9tvyB4Y5J3iP7I_M3aRqACQGnqoeZO1babIqDZ8AbTV9ZbN75pyR_ACvQEoDNWPLMnGGEgXz9LnAtTX490itZJ1zCUJrsqCIfRu_G3TpgfyQ3M8zLTlbrk8/s1600-h/DSC03189.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YgngjXWaBDwfzgu5kF4MX9tvyB4Y5J3iP7I_M3aRqACQGnqoeZO1babIqDZ8AbTV9ZbN75pyR_ACvQEoDNWPLMnGGEgXz9LnAtTX490itZJ1zCUJrsqCIfRu_G3TpgfyQ3M8zLTlbrk8/s400/DSC03189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276534819089575842" /></a><br />A wild cat in the bushes. We were a good thirty minute drive from the closest home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-59563298065739556412008-12-05T20:11:00.000-08:002008-12-05T20:47:52.950-08:00Tinian Trip - Part OneMy internet was disconnected for a while so I fell behind on the postings here. But here are the pics from our Tinian trip several months ago...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6r-VJ4Jy6Qnmdosx-qFS0GTi3DacMlnqdRTznnn1Tevj1B1E6u_QTHDt-cnNyvSbTNtHuRFUeD3H5qjsWi-z07SmN1Nif5Obx90JFOFeoFAvYkJ7VFfIE1o3nfZpYC5U0NjxydqUxrWy/s1600-h/tinian-map1.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 371px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6r-VJ4Jy6Qnmdosx-qFS0GTi3DacMlnqdRTznnn1Tevj1B1E6u_QTHDt-cnNyvSbTNtHuRFUeD3H5qjsWi-z07SmN1Nif5Obx90JFOFeoFAvYkJ7VFfIE1o3nfZpYC5U0NjxydqUxrWy/s400/tinian-map1.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276527503288134994" /></a><br />Tinian only has one village, San Jose, which is located at the Southern end. The North end is covered by the ruins of what was the largest airfield in the world during WWII. It was from this airfield that the U.S. launched their nuclear attack on Japan. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKJHLOlK6IvokV1G6Ea2Dg5_Ikf2uOTQOVZP4fACzNVVpcKCknCKoviMgLrPiv9QpJfpvChPf2lizjtwN2fiOUdX6dcGe96vG6uOjIcHCjQ4V8Xz4_TfNQUMjqct34cKAjUjM6EJX3Toh/s1600-h/DSC_0184.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKJHLOlK6IvokV1G6Ea2Dg5_Ikf2uOTQOVZP4fACzNVVpcKCknCKoviMgLrPiv9QpJfpvChPf2lizjtwN2fiOUdX6dcGe96vG6uOjIcHCjQ4V8Xz4_TfNQUMjqct34cKAjUjM6EJX3Toh/s400/DSC_0184.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526889057059394" /></a><br />Rented Scooters are the best (and funnest) way to see the island<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWyr92_CU7xTB1saD0hPrdEgbdpJ4XdfL-KNaGw8rMJ0iuC6Hals49APz9k9ZEGou9C7EKzuOYP59c-fVrTNjIZWig6EIq9t6j4pZ_NDB6Ir2j6PGpmSW_u6-xdW11Td3Q7n5iEJqC0Z3/s1600-h/DSC_0164.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWyr92_CU7xTB1saD0hPrdEgbdpJ4XdfL-KNaGw8rMJ0iuC6Hals49APz9k9ZEGou9C7EKzuOYP59c-fVrTNjIZWig6EIq9t6j4pZ_NDB6Ir2j6PGpmSW_u6-xdW11Td3Q7n5iEJqC0Z3/s400/DSC_0164.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526881482214162" /></a><br />This is Taga Beach. Its right across the street from the Dynasty Hotel. They have a really cool spot above the beach where you can jump off into the ocean. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnHrmguoQ6tT2SMoj2WnN2TmjK308qD0gMPRJnQSK9txdA7viXWH197leE7zQ-L7BW-mNWUl5MKEtPONM_fadpFiCWZRdqntnbdUGaAhtne3t4cSh0NzHTjdko0m0b8Skrqvsoqz1psE_/s1600-h/DSC_0162.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnHrmguoQ6tT2SMoj2WnN2TmjK308qD0gMPRJnQSK9txdA7viXWH197leE7zQ-L7BW-mNWUl5MKEtPONM_fadpFiCWZRdqntnbdUGaAhtne3t4cSh0NzHTjdko0m0b8Skrqvsoqz1psE_/s400/DSC_0162.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526885305418514" /></a><br />Another view of Taga Beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHVnLzTPYPqcrLj8UlBB-OcVmo4AtGXu4YvLVxZUlFm2zKD5bQUSUqlKFbmU40epydzQN3XBXtvuedKqsqgQp3Zq0Tzmh4Z5Fy_8BQFKE1Nu8d4MS-vGXf5kqxkxolGMghNQQspA1rR-w/s1600-h/DSC03172.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHVnLzTPYPqcrLj8UlBB-OcVmo4AtGXu4YvLVxZUlFm2zKD5bQUSUqlKFbmU40epydzQN3XBXtvuedKqsqgQp3Zq0Tzmh4Z5Fy_8BQFKE1Nu8d4MS-vGXf5kqxkxolGMghNQQspA1rR-w/s400/DSC03172.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526624829632866" /></a><br />This old bell tower is in the center of San Jose village.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosOZpcWi9IVR4csNl5sZ7Xf5PH-SRFCJhLmqwCKOkFEszvl4FNvchoAG9aNyRagc8dfkoc8hHeL2A8Rrefv66aVmT3e-CzQ1gnzI8LviC5txF6-GTwcUpt_RhUxgHelnptcxrZOS3g2pg/s1600-h/DSC03167.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosOZpcWi9IVR4csNl5sZ7Xf5PH-SRFCJhLmqwCKOkFEszvl4FNvchoAG9aNyRagc8dfkoc8hHeL2A8Rrefv66aVmT3e-CzQ1gnzI8LviC5txF6-GTwcUpt_RhUxgHelnptcxrZOS3g2pg/s400/DSC03167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526621062957282" /></a><br />The Tinian Democrat Headquarters has seen better days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuSmL-2p7MA0k0MzzH121tj70pEYeaLvmSmyuoIIi2k73toPvjz_SZ04Grh3K21MNs8pYkZdda_xs16OrrORAgX7MqHXZvarIir2UrApElpT4Zg-YHnfGSReiNd3R2aqQFLZb-r46Q4SV/s1600-h/DSC_0044.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuSmL-2p7MA0k0MzzH121tj70pEYeaLvmSmyuoIIi2k73toPvjz_SZ04Grh3K21MNs8pYkZdda_xs16OrrORAgX7MqHXZvarIir2UrApElpT4Zg-YHnfGSReiNd3R2aqQFLZb-r46Q4SV/s400/DSC_0044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526262874953346" /></a><br />Just outside the village they have this old engine and prop from a Japanese zero.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLef-m_6JmP2LfCZvKWgbl53cMAvcewJDSMwSaFYt3X_RkQAh8V4qJo7IoK8NH88vYIVZoQtejNp1NEtflvmq36LHXW6jDZGrjSF-33Qu-i8j8o_4mcYr-3TQayQDGF3prsrIaCCk5lZBC/s1600-h/DSC_0047.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLef-m_6JmP2LfCZvKWgbl53cMAvcewJDSMwSaFYt3X_RkQAh8V4qJo7IoK8NH88vYIVZoQtejNp1NEtflvmq36LHXW6jDZGrjSF-33Qu-i8j8o_4mcYr-3TQayQDGF3prsrIaCCk5lZBC/s400/DSC_0047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526270250750818" /></a><br />Close-up of the prop.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hvUSXYcy8nYJhJHi5hEvrDu2MgwAHHbc6-v8t1udWPAnGZsvAgzG_KRf9SbtEapdFyJ9_t7iN7QdBpK2rnZV8caNemeRuLCenuESFGgOC8za3Sqb9ld3Pu8p4WJQNC5dfsQXvmyuxfXa/s1600-h/DSC_0045.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hvUSXYcy8nYJhJHi5hEvrDu2MgwAHHbc6-v8t1udWPAnGZsvAgzG_KRf9SbtEapdFyJ9_t7iN7QdBpK2rnZV8caNemeRuLCenuESFGgOC8za3Sqb9ld3Pu8p4WJQNC5dfsQXvmyuxfXa/s400/DSC_0045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526270232982210" /></a><br />Close-up of the engine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXK3f3fiaqIioywpJwK1CRo9VLt29zGAHl_U4dbbwE0ffScRKbCFxg-wT-sfXar79iERGA-MT7Q1cHWx9gDCmolP_scHVGhTkbj3lgWAjVnBO3etMIe-8uBhfow9rh-Fe-igEv0uSWXaFO/s1600-h/DSC_0015.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXK3f3fiaqIioywpJwK1CRo9VLt29zGAHl_U4dbbwE0ffScRKbCFxg-wT-sfXar79iERGA-MT7Q1cHWx9gDCmolP_scHVGhTkbj3lgWAjVnBO3etMIe-8uBhfow9rh-Fe-igEv0uSWXaFO/s400/DSC_0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526258891499106" /></a><br />The Japanese have built shinto shrines like this all across Saipan and Tinian. They are supposed to comfort the lost souls of the Japanese soldiers who died here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIV4FNenY2V2av6WhYGLc3dIiUhN4o9XXAV-rgj4DPY76jWvZUn-ERwkO-Ib7CZnuWxpgYhIfizZFW9EhrxwS73Du2W6nyrvT1eBxZ2OaBb2JC94yPZxoEtUaYPufyZCKefrlxvIMoY8x/s1600-h/DSC_0030.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIV4FNenY2V2av6WhYGLc3dIiUhN4o9XXAV-rgj4DPY76jWvZUn-ERwkO-Ib7CZnuWxpgYhIfizZFW9EhrxwS73Du2W6nyrvT1eBxZ2OaBb2JC94yPZxoEtUaYPufyZCKefrlxvIMoY8x/s400/DSC_0030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276525696170084690" /></a><br />This is a Latte stone at the "House of Taga". Latte stones were used to support the homes of the ancient Chamarros. These giant stones supposedly were part of a great chief's home. These Latte stones are a very prevalent part of Chamarro culture and appear everywhere in local art, architecture and even on our flag.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6iCYMOCYGNkiWmp0ogb6wGJS_jAse2slE80LAicBbDfiKPIdUBYU726RqwJVsWgrP8wutzR64XhNahizA9sQiIGiJ9rDIrOIP1QopjZUWd99wMNz4FXjoLBDPY6QgCY9MCezM-3hfFDn/s1600-h/DSC_0034.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6iCYMOCYGNkiWmp0ogb6wGJS_jAse2slE80LAicBbDfiKPIdUBYU726RqwJVsWgrP8wutzR64XhNahizA9sQiIGiJ9rDIrOIP1QopjZUWd99wMNz4FXjoLBDPY6QgCY9MCezM-3hfFDn/s400/DSC_0034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526255871820450" /></a><br />A fallen Latte stone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3wGupelBSMKrJdCkCbxhjss_8F2UKBcjlI0AmjfqEZqJMkg8WbA4kOhAZSyOwMSFl1AYWMIYkdnv3umcr-Ss8hfRPljP_nVKFOZXhTnWNmhlq-mJ2ULM1S_DzwskpD1_IWdhcKK5VRJR/s1600-h/DSC03206.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3wGupelBSMKrJdCkCbxhjss_8F2UKBcjlI0AmjfqEZqJMkg8WbA4kOhAZSyOwMSFl1AYWMIYkdnv3umcr-Ss8hfRPljP_nVKFOZXhTnWNmhlq-mJ2ULM1S_DzwskpD1_IWdhcKK5VRJR/s400/DSC03206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526630352979858" /></a><br />We found these scale models of the two nuclear bombs dropped on Japan behind our hotel. Rach is standing next to the model of "Little Boy".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHShmcnBMguYblVME_6gYVsmP57bboSNNhEVFnokZgxBukSxVhKpWlPNXZQ3ftC5TuoeE6m2g-1npMps3KDwGf0YIZkhPr382XyRC4tDl6SP1syo_-uqDAfu6RWMup21OkpVDbSIqL5GB/s1600-h/DSC03203.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHShmcnBMguYblVME_6gYVsmP57bboSNNhEVFnokZgxBukSxVhKpWlPNXZQ3ftC5TuoeE6m2g-1npMps3KDwGf0YIZkhPr382XyRC4tDl6SP1syo_-uqDAfu6RWMup21OkpVDbSIqL5GB/s400/DSC03203.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276526626585109618" /></a><br />Me standing next to the scale replica of "Fat Man".Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-58974483038914702522008-09-09T04:57:00.000-07:002008-09-09T05:20:14.959-07:00Tinian tripWe finally went off island last month for our first mini-vacation. We went to Tinian, the island just south of Saipan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0gKLn4V4KTyu-npbc5IsImfF2TSQOblvlsciMX15VbKUKp9sg6ylsnZ8qnGtSP7KFpe8BoGsUD8FTzd1gWXhjB47bXq5D_CjtlUWiOs8SmCzMwPci364yj_t70e0PgpbKjMF5RFajhyphenhypheno/s1600-h/DSC03158.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0gKLn4V4KTyu-npbc5IsImfF2TSQOblvlsciMX15VbKUKp9sg6ylsnZ8qnGtSP7KFpe8BoGsUD8FTzd1gWXhjB47bXq5D_CjtlUWiOs8SmCzMwPci364yj_t70e0PgpbKjMF5RFajhyphenhypheno/s400/DSC03158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243990237841308674" /></a><br /><br />There are two possible ways of getting to Tinian: by boat or by plane. The ferry costs 20 bucks a person while the plane costs just under 200, so we took the ferry. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57K0iQpva-MxBUdmfFAFKa-UPfPcZGizZyKRAjBko8PWtMA4ADlCoEJvYFympqVAtskg5qfAcn8qjnyyJ9Xv7NeLvhe_C2oWpt07KPQvMifUp-nolsOQ-nyyC6MfJF7IaEj5G-mFNA4iV/s1600-h/DSC03267.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57K0iQpva-MxBUdmfFAFKa-UPfPcZGizZyKRAjBko8PWtMA4ADlCoEJvYFympqVAtskg5qfAcn8qjnyyJ9Xv7NeLvhe_C2oWpt07KPQvMifUp-nolsOQ-nyyC6MfJF7IaEj5G-mFNA4iV/s400/DSC03267.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243990519903429858" /></a><br /><br />Once inside we found that the ferry gives its passengers all the comfort of airline seats with the added bonus of sea sickness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2AStzRVtkhXquQPKw-CfNmaU798otSzYxXPFPujnBKnG-co9aGDUE66IAxfmZ8T2BbSp93qaYwtTWT0GiTEfGYGMGI3Qa0wxdFI7D1sxnNzFfyTBT9gvtKi-vAuSmFqdtTByr9GSIyqG/s1600-h/DSC03271.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2AStzRVtkhXquQPKw-CfNmaU798otSzYxXPFPujnBKnG-co9aGDUE66IAxfmZ8T2BbSp93qaYwtTWT0GiTEfGYGMGI3Qa0wxdFI7D1sxnNzFfyTBT9gvtKi-vAuSmFqdtTByr9GSIyqG/s400/DSC03271.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243990526005715970" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS5iBAGgrYYFJzlktPi_Acx48TPek5dk3_dJOoAS8go2st7LXVvmMjoFjm8zjJcYtqFari1atmRN-g61ZaT10MBO4RH_FreL_0zKXC27CyJROk_nTRqTE95YuSh7NRzvqXUmwyh9Gt9ru/s1600-h/DSC03239.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS5iBAGgrYYFJzlktPi_Acx48TPek5dk3_dJOoAS8go2st7LXVvmMjoFjm8zjJcYtqFari1atmRN-g61ZaT10MBO4RH_FreL_0zKXC27CyJROk_nTRqTE95YuSh7NRzvqXUmwyh9Gt9ru/s400/DSC03239.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243990255809786242" /></a><br /><br />An hour later we were pulling up in front of Tinian's premier attraction: The Dynasty Casino. The casino is a strange thing. Its a several hundred room hotel located out on an island that only has 3,000 residents. The place was deserted when we were there, yet in the photo you can see a billboard out front announcing that they are doing a several story expansion of the hotel. Maybe the owners are just very, very optimistic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeCFi-okWTni_pB0cbvVVGvU-cNQx3_vjXTv75e37mZWl_Hdej_9pIMFOLaJn2j1LMnPZHwws1j0aCXEWfCo1WcmRgA3MgXZnuhfqkbT0VXoZClmtCD2Jbq_9c1jBpkbDO6-yHjiaFXhu/s1600-h/DSC03163.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeCFi-okWTni_pB0cbvVVGvU-cNQx3_vjXTv75e37mZWl_Hdej_9pIMFOLaJn2j1LMnPZHwws1j0aCXEWfCo1WcmRgA3MgXZnuhfqkbT0VXoZClmtCD2Jbq_9c1jBpkbDO6-yHjiaFXhu/s400/DSC03163.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243990249266290818" /></a><br /><br />The entrance foyer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB5UN8kigngAXk8w5iyZ10S8websHN2riEv823NMN9nybCu3tRo_T10D-FjokN-Jjevnq1x0AFhH44QMU-lgDvxhkbS5_QiPY2Ob6BREOZbir9lsOU7Clenmp9MI1bViaLgATmMGNWH3Y/s1600-h/DSC03160.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB5UN8kigngAXk8w5iyZ10S8websHN2riEv823NMN9nybCu3tRo_T10D-FjokN-Jjevnq1x0AFhH44QMU-lgDvxhkbS5_QiPY2Ob6BREOZbir9lsOU7Clenmp9MI1bViaLgATmMGNWH3Y/s400/DSC03160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243990245679253762" /></a><br /><br />Our room. One thing that I would have liked to know before booking the room is that it had a "Japanese style" bed. This means that they replaced our comfy western matress with something that feels more like a concrete block.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tTdG0Kbn6VTl49oWIRpvoK_1_q7Nnh5W4M2_D1AZrpf3YtgK4gKycF2dX4dR-wwF0rWnXRfBFCnvLVsotflVs3FOgqvKShi0SzjpcruzUnmiPfHY-3hAh5djNtWwg0Txeoms6lPMEBHp/s1600-h/DSC03252.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tTdG0Kbn6VTl49oWIRpvoK_1_q7Nnh5W4M2_D1AZrpf3YtgK4gKycF2dX4dR-wwF0rWnXRfBFCnvLVsotflVs3FOgqvKShi0SzjpcruzUnmiPfHY-3hAh5djNtWwg0Txeoms6lPMEBHp/s400/DSC03252.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243990258626296498" /></a><br /><br />Looking up from the hotel floor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBzuL25V60Nu4EzuZat3v_bXp4BSUL6SX2Y4VwgfAY69QFn3fcRnGo9Vc6j83cE3Kw8qmc7fdi2weI36J6Km3r417TPJMYYr-PcjgwEZHcr4T2CTD8nFlYNHRNnJXFJjr2qBTGs8fA45W/s1600-h/DSC03257.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBzuL25V60Nu4EzuZat3v_bXp4BSUL6SX2Y4VwgfAY69QFn3fcRnGo9Vc6j83cE3Kw8qmc7fdi2weI36J6Km3r417TPJMYYr-PcjgwEZHcr4T2CTD8nFlYNHRNnJXFJjr2qBTGs8fA45W/s400/DSC03257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243990515633029538" /></a><br /><br />The pool. As you can see, it was a little too crowded for us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2g3VO_L4hrWXiRibIIhUCUJEz5-8EOxcormpMbMSiKDK49rvNjN-UEChXkD79Z8YEejdvsECi1BUsoLKoVIihgKOGfSFb9fc1s9o-4w8u9tRSQWuJczredx0lA4f6OvEqmhVa2oh0g40/s1600-h/DSC03258.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2g3VO_L4hrWXiRibIIhUCUJEz5-8EOxcormpMbMSiKDK49rvNjN-UEChXkD79Z8YEejdvsECi1BUsoLKoVIihgKOGfSFb9fc1s9o-4w8u9tRSQWuJczredx0lA4f6OvEqmhVa2oh0g40/s400/DSC03258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243990521907641186" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-37443840224474326062008-09-09T04:49:00.000-07:002008-09-09T04:57:30.842-07:00Suicide CliffThis is cliff got its name because hundreds of Japanese soldiers and civilians jumped off it to avoid being captured by the U.S. soldiers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC__SItQmM0K4XLCyP4JEqodb-PmNEeRKlPYmV3HjPYn6Cr2N0fpcQk7e9LQ66VUFdHnBL2_Mt3oXMxLTeo5ir2-aSS4FksVh5ixbLPb97HS-glfvdcugftdE_F8yMsHggyskVYU-2oqH/s1600-h/DSC03066.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC__SItQmM0K4XLCyP4JEqodb-PmNEeRKlPYmV3HjPYn6Cr2N0fpcQk7e9LQ66VUFdHnBL2_Mt3oXMxLTeo5ir2-aSS4FksVh5ixbLPb97HS-glfvdcugftdE_F8yMsHggyskVYU-2oqH/s400/DSC03066.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243987846830095122" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwSFKOm6c5aGyDgZ4H84XXErX2nhmDPxqWywAEYFSk-uIjHSUPV-E3IgFfg5oKFCxH-zDlH9LMKI95-jcXqiM1Q-nbmpmHPTe1lVX6cgQXuZW5pvZ-muvbWkUXbkv4MgwjsZtJY5zlT3K/s1600-h/DSC03072.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwSFKOm6c5aGyDgZ4H84XXErX2nhmDPxqWywAEYFSk-uIjHSUPV-E3IgFfg5oKFCxH-zDlH9LMKI95-jcXqiM1Q-nbmpmHPTe1lVX6cgQXuZW5pvZ-muvbWkUXbkv4MgwjsZtJY5zlT3K/s400/DSC03072.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243987851273436802" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeCij19JEa6vds-TsG-BAQxNyedtQoMZ3rnhshbk0Coj3CL5BPYZeIWFXjoMWKz4xjJB8J4nWYyQvLJnGBx-FS7hBTgZsVMczA1tlThWF_l3DoZBgQXcpZ33uSsYO4r7Qa-sql5xNcKDZ/s1600-h/DSC03070.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeCij19JEa6vds-TsG-BAQxNyedtQoMZ3rnhshbk0Coj3CL5BPYZeIWFXjoMWKz4xjJB8J4nWYyQvLJnGBx-FS7hBTgZsVMczA1tlThWF_l3DoZBgQXcpZ33uSsYO4r7Qa-sql5xNcKDZ/s400/DSC03070.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243987850285239202" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1q5dqrsrTXBZ6wBeqLMPBb4TooAlCQLNjjqwBqrNENiRAjBxKtV0qnZIMTCEs4uZGUmFpTYAGnUf3OtHZNUJRFrSH02tE7fon5ttmoLvjOmHFhcnBkhegbwk32JxXDFZlqYqMbe8AlL39/s1600-h/DSC03078.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1q5dqrsrTXBZ6wBeqLMPBb4TooAlCQLNjjqwBqrNENiRAjBxKtV0qnZIMTCEs4uZGUmFpTYAGnUf3OtHZNUJRFrSH02tE7fon5ttmoLvjOmHFhcnBkhegbwk32JxXDFZlqYqMbe8AlL39/s400/DSC03078.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243987856294865314" /></a><br /><br />This is looking out at the very most northern tip of the island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP63rpuYcYTxePl8falF4MUBgY391uBXuSbXJ6LHIpnB9jWcredx8tBsX_X_3U3iMVs0kiZGXB_EOdnlJKBTcgyJ-EjDpqnPgvo5qSUSi6kzjxc9v75fyk6kGRfWhCy5XEa7V-SuR7kSng/s1600-h/DSC03080.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP63rpuYcYTxePl8falF4MUBgY391uBXuSbXJ6LHIpnB9jWcredx8tBsX_X_3U3iMVs0kiZGXB_EOdnlJKBTcgyJ-EjDpqnPgvo5qSUSi6kzjxc9v75fyk6kGRfWhCy5XEa7V-SuR7kSng/s400/DSC03080.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243987857930266146" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-7916125352735151682008-09-09T04:32:00.000-07:002008-09-09T04:49:28.591-07:00The GrottoThe Grotto is Saipan's most popular dive spot. Its a submerged cave that has a few tunnels that run out to the open ocean.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SkqUOshKupHD-zQ7cnG9xjE_R8Uv6nEhBIdV5cOf4Bs1Q5QUahp44d7nS69itjKqQyB6nmbAZVixEgEdzQQmaGkP3KPdoRyRbekbLT8QpLvZKsGIvtbylv-MfNC2jac0_PKvQQHshFG9/s1600-h/DSC03029.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SkqUOshKupHD-zQ7cnG9xjE_R8Uv6nEhBIdV5cOf4Bs1Q5QUahp44d7nS69itjKqQyB6nmbAZVixEgEdzQQmaGkP3KPdoRyRbekbLT8QpLvZKsGIvtbylv-MfNC2jac0_PKvQQHshFG9/s400/DSC03029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243985519505342786" /></a><br /><br />The Grotto is located at the Northern part of the island. There aren't any beaches on this side, just cliffs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Tk2_1ql7JZwar7id3bPDZfIETTK70vJW68XnK89vn9ftAqkMXK3KtkjMT18ja_mwOMWrhP2Il1MU13kIB8jv9KalZHtRY0ffP2r82wwkMC0I9wJlfj8voZumxiHX73IlVQhSOddsHNLz/s1600-h/DSC03030.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Tk2_1ql7JZwar7id3bPDZfIETTK70vJW68XnK89vn9ftAqkMXK3KtkjMT18ja_mwOMWrhP2Il1MU13kIB8jv9KalZHtRY0ffP2r82wwkMC0I9wJlfj8voZumxiHX73IlVQhSOddsHNLz/s400/DSC03030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243985524139446322" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQet1-fpk3FJ8vaDwMjV6TRjxnWxMBC2pEbAHTYN6oqqd8WFUHz969WdH40V2I1RgbwDkzhRq90VvoLJLyinlnkxmAYYSbQ7B_ZAaM9lvU4dAUVP8qgovkUlFYkEqMwJ-w8lO8ntbNpa_K/s1600-h/DSC03034.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQet1-fpk3FJ8vaDwMjV6TRjxnWxMBC2pEbAHTYN6oqqd8WFUHz969WdH40V2I1RgbwDkzhRq90VvoLJLyinlnkxmAYYSbQ7B_ZAaM9lvU4dAUVP8qgovkUlFYkEqMwJ-w8lO8ntbNpa_K/s400/DSC03034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243985526535075234" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhbs-t7gIgd1uEhLLznQXQo0HwRhhdmYoEtldQHkKful2A8Nfvi9NYbcOvcJF7StlKQvCNly7VKLf23WU9bxPhknxCx_TILWuO3z8M5Y5Xaf4AsCE7I151WKQdk9ZfZv68dXnpQxDKmks/s1600-h/DSC03039.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhbs-t7gIgd1uEhLLznQXQo0HwRhhdmYoEtldQHkKful2A8Nfvi9NYbcOvcJF7StlKQvCNly7VKLf23WU9bxPhknxCx_TILWuO3z8M5Y5Xaf4AsCE7I151WKQdk9ZfZv68dXnpQxDKmks/s400/DSC03039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243985530885110290" /></a><br /><br />There are about a hundred steps down from the parking lot to the Grotto. After your dive you have to haul your SCUBA gear all the way back up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwm0HW5qzKxcRZYOLCs9IiFCQEpuIBDIIG7LcDizuKH9BRlzqkavtEa6Ct5PidrZeDxPPyimS6f65aDaT46vyTVxHf5kUj5EVjiCfeajsxbfppzYBhgsUb-BQGAjg79MpXhnZ1F6WcQVm/s1600-h/DSC03043.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwm0HW5qzKxcRZYOLCs9IiFCQEpuIBDIIG7LcDizuKH9BRlzqkavtEa6Ct5PidrZeDxPPyimS6f65aDaT46vyTVxHf5kUj5EVjiCfeajsxbfppzYBhgsUb-BQGAjg79MpXhnZ1F6WcQVm/s400/DSC03043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243985530360316434" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VhEGWzNqDnu9T-m4f8N6Fvp0Vre0XYHyNW2uysig__Wj8bkaGBerjtZX2Gb8laRJ2bDMYrHntwuRMi8NQlqvGVx6Ff4PcJMekl9HT0AHXlMYJER59obybVViqNuE8tcIFJ45X6EyRMTU/s1600-h/DSC03045.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VhEGWzNqDnu9T-m4f8N6Fvp0Vre0XYHyNW2uysig__Wj8bkaGBerjtZX2Gb8laRJ2bDMYrHntwuRMi8NQlqvGVx6Ff4PcJMekl9HT0AHXlMYJER59obybVViqNuE8tcIFJ45X6EyRMTU/s400/DSC03045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243985759732372898" /></a><br /><br />The main cavern that goes out to the ocean is located under that notch in the center of the cliff face.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqobEt7bwM9Fs3FUkTlohpW38TjuphIch-JcbTHEfO2m7Wtu8RiZG5iZrZYMfZU40oSRHBM5X13Jt-qXIb5xnrgoeB53yApvwQsKPaVC_qLW-ZNer6bQmpwblzyCf490CuNyW6c3tzzS3G/s1600-h/DSC03058.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqobEt7bwM9Fs3FUkTlohpW38TjuphIch-JcbTHEfO2m7Wtu8RiZG5iZrZYMfZU40oSRHBM5X13Jt-qXIb5xnrgoeB53yApvwQsKPaVC_qLW-ZNer6bQmpwblzyCf490CuNyW6c3tzzS3G/s400/DSC03058.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243985760028046690" /></a><br /><br />Jeff and I watching the SCUBA divers decompress.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-9153879730292932732008-09-04T05:42:00.000-07:002008-09-08T15:58:32.380-07:00Weird Abandoned Government BuildingWhile out exploring the island with Scott and Kathleen we found this strange complex on top of a hill. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7gjgNhCIi7oclNJWcHtTeour1qKiNC5L4aOLavd3wD4vhBjTAysGluCyRsCPpwOHSGareRVyRoc09JT5DGOVrsUF1Z6iHwjVFha1e0PcsJA0pdq16X97m4qXUQdoaRoTPSD8JJ2qFQba/s1600-h/DSC03370.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7gjgNhCIi7oclNJWcHtTeour1qKiNC5L4aOLavd3wD4vhBjTAysGluCyRsCPpwOHSGareRVyRoc09JT5DGOVrsUF1Z6iHwjVFha1e0PcsJA0pdq16X97m4qXUQdoaRoTPSD8JJ2qFQba/s400/DSC03370.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242145954126904706" /></a><br /><br /><br />While we were looking at this a local drove up and told us that it was rumored to have been a CIA operation during the cold war.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OnTggfAgr4YwTXMEXJ2wlgyYvzY3vtzmoCT_HxGXBEFUEEYIguNoTFhMsesHMoZubPQEs8Re8S67TTy7cVYDEp9Gpe5ULH2UCBeTz9iqRiErKPQGg-bFtfFr7i-LlOXusyBvMTuYhqN7/s1600-h/DSC03374.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OnTggfAgr4YwTXMEXJ2wlgyYvzY3vtzmoCT_HxGXBEFUEEYIguNoTFhMsesHMoZubPQEs8Re8S67TTy7cVYDEp9Gpe5ULH2UCBeTz9iqRiErKPQGg-bFtfFr7i-LlOXusyBvMTuYhqN7/s400/DSC03374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242145965534229282" /></a><br /><br />The local man said that this was abandoned after the cold war. It used to be full of wires, but people stripped everything out to scavenge for copper.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLP9h3ZcrLksPnK0gRhkmT5Y2fbawtLSlUwKUAA4tGqaw7t6Bp_BBoCQa7O4T2e750Y3Y67c9JAwch8UCYR6-F2h3XyyuMkpE4Ws1GGI-7chyphenhyphenJbdA4BP9Z5nd20vD1rry_FSfxRJRBA6bt/s1600-h/DSC03375.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLP9h3ZcrLksPnK0gRhkmT5Y2fbawtLSlUwKUAA4tGqaw7t6Bp_BBoCQa7O4T2e750Y3Y67c9JAwch8UCYR6-F2h3XyyuMkpE4Ws1GGI-7chyphenhyphenJbdA4BP9Z5nd20vD1rry_FSfxRJRBA6bt/s400/DSC03375.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242145971551610162" /></a><br /><br />You can see from our car next to it just how large it is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kQdzTayNUhaupBOSzO7NPuXcY55t3l4jXbFg1IhL3zDp93o4-USFNkr7YBAzds2z83ZArjxX81x7Ix2jPSHAZuYvW9J-1eoF5SZ0feuw_Iy4LRmaYRQOUDoCC0o0q8q36aXgcejhJ_OO/s1600-h/DSC03371.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kQdzTayNUhaupBOSzO7NPuXcY55t3l4jXbFg1IhL3zDp93o4-USFNkr7YBAzds2z83ZArjxX81x7Ix2jPSHAZuYvW9J-1eoF5SZ0feuw_Iy4LRmaYRQOUDoCC0o0q8q36aXgcejhJ_OO/s400/DSC03371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242145959948438610" /></a><br /><br />Scott's looking down into these pits that used to house huge air conditioning units to keep the computers cooled. Now they are filled with stagnant water and tadpoles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja59ULX-D3CXqwPBDZs8bvkLsYS-AMwR4lpY9uvgjGVn-zlHhEvosf1EPn3io_LMBSMaDjLmIRUxjN5avHMmHO-Q1tb7vcEWDM1DSOaUEqieSyFvI7TVKyiv6voHjFn6sXH8iPb5AktnAz/s1600-h/DSC03373.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja59ULX-D3CXqwPBDZs8bvkLsYS-AMwR4lpY9uvgjGVn-zlHhEvosf1EPn3io_LMBSMaDjLmIRUxjN5avHMmHO-Q1tb7vcEWDM1DSOaUEqieSyFvI7TVKyiv6voHjFn6sXH8iPb5AktnAz/s400/DSC03373.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242145958074482754" /></a><br /><br />"Norf Syde"???? Thats ignorant even by graffiti standards.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEolINo4gKLWNH0etJNjFwUQG_ENivITtSwKODBGobEkUmutzW29vqIpJXhAXhnI4GUAV0l1_hitGC-K2CS4M9f9iQP0bujeFtWvxge3yMaIPwL-xfQAjylgXbZKnP5MEQrioBOf_CrKoG/s1600-h/DSC03376.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEolINo4gKLWNH0etJNjFwUQG_ENivITtSwKODBGobEkUmutzW29vqIpJXhAXhnI4GUAV0l1_hitGC-K2CS4M9f9iQP0bujeFtWvxge3yMaIPwL-xfQAjylgXbZKnP5MEQrioBOf_CrKoG/s400/DSC03376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242146215892220370" /></a><br /><br />Inside one of the empty buildings next to the satellite dish.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpihea-txAMlKwPRbr19pto2HnpWsFN3XQ7IfUKxYC7FwDYzVT45h6BWDpysbw5Od5BDZLKhFUOmpQ-FoTn4vi-RtPYxEj84Kx-t_9Hjg4MXn7jKT-Pe9XV8JFRMpmAV5OKOHzHJono1g/s1600-h/DSC03377.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpihea-txAMlKwPRbr19pto2HnpWsFN3XQ7IfUKxYC7FwDYzVT45h6BWDpysbw5Od5BDZLKhFUOmpQ-FoTn4vi-RtPYxEj84Kx-t_9Hjg4MXn7jKT-Pe9XV8JFRMpmAV5OKOHzHJono1g/s400/DSC03377.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242146217287271490" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga5zPC85SJ0cgKJz64sanwOd3iFla-Lo1-SNz3BYiDLMgVookTXC0gDSA72nMPfxO85_Ip0QHu_mH7XAvHbWv8erLyOMhAT9xDPxQU8zVDc9tYvzYqGbG30cSRwE-wmZeb8JXwspOuviH/s1600-h/DSC03379.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga5zPC85SJ0cgKJz64sanwOd3iFla-Lo1-SNz3BYiDLMgVookTXC0gDSA72nMPfxO85_Ip0QHu_mH7XAvHbWv8erLyOMhAT9xDPxQU8zVDc9tYvzYqGbG30cSRwE-wmZeb8JXwspOuviH/s400/DSC03379.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242146219896355826" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-51768648559351798702008-09-04T05:34:00.001-07:002008-09-04T13:37:11.711-07:00Calabera Cave<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_pt_OiDA-PfzfTQ94jqLcdg3vdRN50tqul6X5k9hRL6V_UfpL5YKsptcbJr_OF3AW6q-eS6Y-ZLsgsPEvuKlAsTf_EDMn_a5vZZOP_uO_9-1pQYipo6WJeSPIg-HIa0cvGaT57rYS2N8/s1600-h/DSC03367.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_pt_OiDA-PfzfTQ94jqLcdg3vdRN50tqul6X5k9hRL6V_UfpL5YKsptcbJr_OF3AW6q-eS6Y-ZLsgsPEvuKlAsTf_EDMn_a5vZZOP_uO_9-1pQYipo6WJeSPIg-HIa0cvGaT57rYS2N8/s400/DSC03367.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242143818178806050" /></a><br /><br />We went down to check out Calabera Cave with Scott and Kathleen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tPVQS0t1LhakDDVjefrR5Iu64xyG-ZTaelz8ajVasGq-e15TxmB7DqQU54fxjU0tqnjRNjgmuFCufHi8gedMTu_VKiIDD4eJV_4DPGSH6DgQQ6kAEiNlWji-5Hf2drhDivAHDeZyRvML/s1600-h/DSC03365.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tPVQS0t1LhakDDVjefrR5Iu64xyG-ZTaelz8ajVasGq-e15TxmB7DqQU54fxjU0tqnjRNjgmuFCufHi8gedMTu_VKiIDD4eJV_4DPGSH6DgQQ6kAEiNlWji-5Hf2drhDivAHDeZyRvML/s400/DSC03365.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242143815690488642" /></a><br /><br />This is the cave entrance. The cave goes down pretty deep. Unfortunately we all came completely unprepared without a single flashlight. So our cave exploring was limited to the cave entrance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4IlhULMskJi1kNd6FFJlR-FAnImkVwy30kyuzM-L-8E1HXTTJVq-XTtwGHt9NmtzDQsJ3lNZ8H9l-wSBIxeuszV76FtwOvAesVHQXnNTjcqFEt8KuLXGtUDKyWJ14d2KJ4gl3q-oMUNT/s1600-h/DSC03345.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4IlhULMskJi1kNd6FFJlR-FAnImkVwy30kyuzM-L-8E1HXTTJVq-XTtwGHt9NmtzDQsJ3lNZ8H9l-wSBIxeuszV76FtwOvAesVHQXnNTjcqFEt8KuLXGtUDKyWJ14d2KJ4gl3q-oMUNT/s400/DSC03345.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242143811607060514" /></a><br /><br />The cave has some pictographs on the wall that date back a few thousand years. It was also used during WWII by the Chamorros as a place to hide from the occupying Japanese.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36amxsSe_oTCxFyaWcgox8ueBGYXQelUrA8fVUejS56pwif3gjqL9ZUDjw8z-_DRPBuwRlJuo_5RB7tkrcsN0mjmKjHAEix4EW_Ktl9js0buzvwm-g68T7RTVfW8w4-xLzUoJ92OG6Z1J/s1600-h/DSC03364.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36amxsSe_oTCxFyaWcgox8ueBGYXQelUrA8fVUejS56pwif3gjqL9ZUDjw8z-_DRPBuwRlJuo_5RB7tkrcsN0mjmKjHAEix4EW_Ktl9js0buzvwm-g68T7RTVfW8w4-xLzUoJ92OG6Z1J/s400/DSC03364.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242143814059680738" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-32612233367856129062008-09-04T05:13:00.000-07:002008-09-04T05:32:21.827-07:00Boonie StompJoe and Katie took us "boonie stomping" for the first time. This is a popular past time out here that involves wandering off the path and into the jungle. It seemed like a bad idea until Joe explained that the island is only 3 miles wide and an hour walk in either direction would put you out on a beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fP5Ahwxs0-PXeRrq9S6hGA3BV1eIebFf4us6N3RpLcHST0K06SfFs33XlePm6FHQoZawpY6k9u3Lu-KNPS84O9IoWKsBRhbXUSd5VWV-vi3a0R53qecN5rUNrAz1NJLwC71h8sdAv1WP/s1600-h/DSC03140.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fP5Ahwxs0-PXeRrq9S6hGA3BV1eIebFf4us6N3RpLcHST0K06SfFs33XlePm6FHQoZawpY6k9u3Lu-KNPS84O9IoWKsBRhbXUSd5VWV-vi3a0R53qecN5rUNrAz1NJLwC71h8sdAv1WP/s400/DSC03140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242138503265133202" /></a><br /><br />Our boonie stomp included the obligatory ride in the back of someone's truck. Its normal to see trucks driving around with a dozen kids bouncing around in the back. In typical island logic, you can get a ticket for having your kid inside the car without a seatbelt, but its totally legal to throw your five year old in the bed of your truck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOmKG0o-6NMSf45hlY9oM3SyUmlBxrDEZ8giTkjpnopMEB0sAui8hRAvb6ZLgoI1cSOg_BRNo8oQKtMY0Y1usTLbL2SPzFUOkkDt-rES77vjS4FFh1KcCyKAOhVk13sV8aj7iUULDwto4/s1600-h/DSC03144.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOmKG0o-6NMSf45hlY9oM3SyUmlBxrDEZ8giTkjpnopMEB0sAui8hRAvb6ZLgoI1cSOg_BRNo8oQKtMY0Y1usTLbL2SPzFUOkkDt-rES77vjS4FFh1KcCyKAOhVk13sV8aj7iUULDwto4/s400/DSC03144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242138505465720978" /></a><br /><br />We started our hike out at a Japanese shrine. This dates back to World War II.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xNn1kOFZG9WcC87zLP-vYFOsJUTmhYzqrNS7m4JBhsZkq3y3zg9zUSuV0mn1JI6au3ibQlp7EZCLVFmPw8N2ORQgLnPvVtBjw2hE4s5jOaIbwfTuQN6Umuk1LhvGs6Zv90TmLdYgMsJC/s1600-h/DSC03145.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xNn1kOFZG9WcC87zLP-vYFOsJUTmhYzqrNS7m4JBhsZkq3y3zg9zUSuV0mn1JI6au3ibQlp7EZCLVFmPw8N2ORQgLnPvVtBjw2hE4s5jOaIbwfTuQN6Umuk1LhvGs6Zv90TmLdYgMsJC/s400/DSC03145.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242138504035686770" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCHj7tKxkvP2wk4SdzmGuTJFBw_AJEMtlGLmD2eTkIeQET5Q-9CprQbAqq-MDilqazWx1oh771YEiHUWgu6-vITlnsTRPhPjl6VFkJoxtGf52MrpsEQ7H4sNekOz0Fh015x0j7nezgriV/s1600-h/DSC03146.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCHj7tKxkvP2wk4SdzmGuTJFBw_AJEMtlGLmD2eTkIeQET5Q-9CprQbAqq-MDilqazWx1oh771YEiHUWgu6-vITlnsTRPhPjl6VFkJoxtGf52MrpsEQ7H4sNekOz0Fh015x0j7nezgriV/s400/DSC03146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242138510619351522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3F7qWEyiXW76uCKBa15DvJ9awv8jOZ32GMzjV9WyRK5QZVoMhoXjxKFfT7OJ3XpulBoAdMj0h6pQ3h4DqFMN8jXrondYlVLhki9njSXLMjWNuniZPQs9SGosrCq8hzZjrFUy-fLS2djk/s1600-h/DSC03147.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3F7qWEyiXW76uCKBa15DvJ9awv8jOZ32GMzjV9WyRK5QZVoMhoXjxKFfT7OJ3XpulBoAdMj0h6pQ3h4DqFMN8jXrondYlVLhki9njSXLMjWNuniZPQs9SGosrCq8hzZjrFUy-fLS2djk/s400/DSC03147.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242138515359275362" /></a><br /><br />This is Joe and us outside a little cave above a small waterfall. About ten seconds after this Rach stepped into some soft sand along the bank and sank in to her knees. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2Fxl2P9-qF2IB00GpNWYY_KzrQXDJzQIrwD03HNYHO4v6E1wwtJKd40p77YiWS-CPnjGFlUzbeRV3ZDTaHA2b5GAjG0LFH2Pdm0hRu2iMh5ulGn7tjykbazIt7r_HIe7EOTqfpsXEeXq/s1600-h/DSC03150.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2Fxl2P9-qF2IB00GpNWYY_KzrQXDJzQIrwD03HNYHO4v6E1wwtJKd40p77YiWS-CPnjGFlUzbeRV3ZDTaHA2b5GAjG0LFH2Pdm0hRu2iMh5ulGn7tjykbazIt7r_HIe7EOTqfpsXEeXq/s400/DSC03150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242138737078636418" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lMz7N7l0EZJbeYs4_GqE13c5tm4tZXYI9DHyRXL487mvzNeD8RNw4Itd1QQTSwnZzyWcpXLqdYCiioMjRnV0XEi9f8_pCvDTtz_LQr2HPSkg6KM7acWM-fBk4xH86HM-42lwkfyQXjBT/s1600-h/DSC03151.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lMz7N7l0EZJbeYs4_GqE13c5tm4tZXYI9DHyRXL487mvzNeD8RNw4Itd1QQTSwnZzyWcpXLqdYCiioMjRnV0XEi9f8_pCvDTtz_LQr2HPSkg6KM7acWM-fBk4xH86HM-42lwkfyQXjBT/s400/DSC03151.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242138738441826706" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSn1JCxG8s6QLo1Ozvxie1ONoOHEgtdwwAGjLBUoiftDGtzPR4WM84LpqEIx0-YCatNt9tzCLXUfFBiCqYhk3MbSq_I5IK7EoBjnUNk2Ym-AM9Ya_qFgfkDt0fB2h0TyRLn-rEaMANA8y/s1600-h/DSC03394.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSn1JCxG8s6QLo1Ozvxie1ONoOHEgtdwwAGjLBUoiftDGtzPR4WM84LpqEIx0-YCatNt9tzCLXUfFBiCqYhk3MbSq_I5IK7EoBjnUNk2Ym-AM9Ya_qFgfkDt0fB2h0TyRLn-rEaMANA8y/s400/DSC03394.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242138742314396930" /></a><br /><br />This is an unexploded 8 inch shell that was just laying out on the ground. This type of ordinance would have been fired from the US naval ships that bombarded the island in WWII before their invasion.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-65414321508410687902008-09-04T05:11:00.000-07:002008-09-04T05:13:30.728-07:00NeighborsThese are some of the random things that live in the jungle outside our house who come by to scare the hell out of Rachelle from time to time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPy60K29257SpUo5aToh51YtsiGOUu2kWKW6kqszBZxkt9o6DUw_fa89HyHH0hJw0Kr-HTah16ecdPvwP1A38G_6EgBB7gc4bW0cmtKCj8ycRpke8-Dwcv3ZM_nSKeGI-nnhz1pieNWdgd/s1600-h/big+bug.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPy60K29257SpUo5aToh51YtsiGOUu2kWKW6kqszBZxkt9o6DUw_fa89HyHH0hJw0Kr-HTah16ecdPvwP1A38G_6EgBB7gc4bW0cmtKCj8ycRpke8-Dwcv3ZM_nSKeGI-nnhz1pieNWdgd/s400/big+bug.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242137771154158754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnn7Su5XRD2ObUA5YqIWScXZihC9e9ylqsNLdWACPHBcqPUanJfV68O4ePGTFI1msrGhyphenhyphen9tOz8J9TxTOBTcizuEVs8fobrv8M50RNGzde5DxzaEcX1cgPix2PTh9MtEmjipmqfsO36oMe/s1600-h/DSC_0108.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnn7Su5XRD2ObUA5YqIWScXZihC9e9ylqsNLdWACPHBcqPUanJfV68O4ePGTFI1msrGhyphenhyphen9tOz8J9TxTOBTcizuEVs8fobrv8M50RNGzde5DxzaEcX1cgPix2PTh9MtEmjipmqfsO36oMe/s400/DSC_0108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242137777858532290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX7-WH-8SsxyXfxrAdPiReyDqwqRQKFLz_R0BAsxn9yKrWRYvCJynpFIVPvmpIkezi4nQpXJOrfLxeuTeW9Ju0VrMTzRwhV7YB5TAjRs0fsARzWG7YYIAAIUFY8-6gg1vH1qR0ihOXZyQ/s1600-h/lizard.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX7-WH-8SsxyXfxrAdPiReyDqwqRQKFLz_R0BAsxn9yKrWRYvCJynpFIVPvmpIkezi4nQpXJOrfLxeuTeW9Ju0VrMTzRwhV7YB5TAjRs0fsARzWG7YYIAAIUFY8-6gg1vH1qR0ihOXZyQ/s400/lizard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242137778063729362" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-85988589554209312832008-09-04T04:41:00.000-07:002008-09-04T05:10:47.310-07:00Sunday DriveRach and I went for a drive through the North end of the island a few weeks ago. That part of Saipan is pretty empty except for some war monuments, the Grotto and Suicide cliff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr93K1_4YxRGjgHzrvqZA_Zqws7c9WsdfFxbUbW9pLsddbKumlDj3hEunpTEPvRUDHdUqSETOZfBp5ELONZ4vRKbkkYPmAeruMvd6oDEufD0nDJQT7UhlW5oxZOogkVT_jKOtJu8ZbWNhq/s1600-h/DSC03014.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr93K1_4YxRGjgHzrvqZA_Zqws7c9WsdfFxbUbW9pLsddbKumlDj3hEunpTEPvRUDHdUqSETOZfBp5ELONZ4vRKbkkYPmAeruMvd6oDEufD0nDJQT7UhlW5oxZOogkVT_jKOtJu8ZbWNhq/s400/DSC03014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242134405946180770" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuV_L-Jnar8Yv6fV0xwZP7ay7EQqAEJvg5andyC1XM2qD3SELDwmBiwpJn_OOHavg04Fcia1f4uU3hg1s_tTpA7PPvG_9uOevACei8i5hfIuMsHNsGzSdDz3agNra4z1oVD-u0mFAslEBr/s1600-h/DSC03062.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuV_L-Jnar8Yv6fV0xwZP7ay7EQqAEJvg5andyC1XM2qD3SELDwmBiwpJn_OOHavg04Fcia1f4uU3hg1s_tTpA7PPvG_9uOevACei8i5hfIuMsHNsGzSdDz3agNra4z1oVD-u0mFAslEBr/s400/DSC03062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242134412912699874" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPmwRvzpsIroAJ3jt8QGLVHXombT2PM8n61dk97xLy2_-VYjTkgL-q5t-T-dBxiyUxCGcitPuWZ48gkIj8W8e33DBa1k-o1YeuR8kgk7GJqpQjijgKriE4GcdfK8YYpYUko6qzzZhI0XT/s1600-h/DSC03063.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPmwRvzpsIroAJ3jt8QGLVHXombT2PM8n61dk97xLy2_-VYjTkgL-q5t-T-dBxiyUxCGcitPuWZ48gkIj8W8e33DBa1k-o1YeuR8kgk7GJqpQjijgKriE4GcdfK8YYpYUko6qzzZhI0XT/s400/DSC03063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242134411755719106" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGK6Y46o5OJwKxTdyR0K_YHQG1kHHwDvDX_nxVYYTlB4P7DcM5w_PFG82ccTvpWiNg5aj4u00UqnB8dsF5FwDjxS67cCKD2jKtBNkOXrn5DXsh-LX0y593ChXyEgTcT1SCJJuWKAC7tHk9/s1600-h/DSC03083.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGK6Y46o5OJwKxTdyR0K_YHQG1kHHwDvDX_nxVYYTlB4P7DcM5w_PFG82ccTvpWiNg5aj4u00UqnB8dsF5FwDjxS67cCKD2jKtBNkOXrn5DXsh-LX0y593ChXyEgTcT1SCJJuWKAC7tHk9/s400/DSC03083.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242134418402586082" /></a><br /><br />This is a flame tree in full bloom. They only bloom for a few weeks each year. Which is a good thing because they spray pollen all over the place like a fireman with poor hose control and half the people on the island (including me) are allergic to them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTBmcPO7IM95VSHUrenRD-sQFmwBwmCBikFFFB2zcJDKVwlqrT64xAQkw9G9AKwSN80LVeY80T2oobwQwcbd583IlNeH9Kn_RAywilgvylRz6h0RrroHCP23BDYSt5y9UdWKfJsF-l3NN/s1600-h/DSC03095.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTBmcPO7IM95VSHUrenRD-sQFmwBwmCBikFFFB2zcJDKVwlqrT64xAQkw9G9AKwSN80LVeY80T2oobwQwcbd583IlNeH9Kn_RAywilgvylRz6h0RrroHCP23BDYSt5y9UdWKfJsF-l3NN/s400/DSC03095.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242134418190733346" /></a><br /><br />Us and our wussy little car. I'm thinking of painting a big flame down the side and chroming it out. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFmt_74MirPou5os4VJxGfmezilRJsSXfZE5sMFE9KROKSpdriq0U1eMkvLmRPaNKl1ENdfi2jkhAxECD3Yt2-D_vYJj82zsgpMBKziFljjJxq_Rk5l6mMHpXd0bktLyIbBPzAaoMxT03/s1600-h/DSC03116.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFmt_74MirPou5os4VJxGfmezilRJsSXfZE5sMFE9KROKSpdriq0U1eMkvLmRPaNKl1ENdfi2jkhAxECD3Yt2-D_vYJj82zsgpMBKziFljjJxq_Rk5l6mMHpXd0bktLyIbBPzAaoMxT03/s400/DSC03116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242134588964993010" /></a><br /><br />Like all drives on a small island, you eventually end up back at the beach.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-38375843845609808022008-08-04T06:47:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:27.669-08:00Forbidden IslandForbidden Island is a secluded beach on the North side of the island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwm7jjIkyXTjpZcUgx33to7KlwcXw6U8tbFGSCkajxpuwYdOHpmjE9F1Gnw0cK0oGetwGVYHQCy4_NZ5MW_CP3t-CyDbpzjT85Cxq2w-7Zknh74Q99FsFe8fEQ4ndMLYPQhXo56fI_ufqH/s1600-h/DSC03008.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwm7jjIkyXTjpZcUgx33to7KlwcXw6U8tbFGSCkajxpuwYdOHpmjE9F1Gnw0cK0oGetwGVYHQCy4_NZ5MW_CP3t-CyDbpzjT85Cxq2w-7Zknh74Q99FsFe8fEQ4ndMLYPQhXo56fI_ufqH/s400/DSC03008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230659474038354562" /></a><br /><br />You have to hike through a jungle area before you come out on the cliff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjSBYkc8I__6eZJgb8hnLOJKVQ6xl0g81kQT2Uv9ixr1e5O29aa4CYj9gjBi6Mnbqu2psmlqwDs5Z3md207Q93xbvdBT-hGfCNAPA8xDKCec9lJpi7eLsGxBH33dyYEXXcp5I5La8oikZ/s1600-h/DSC02965.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjSBYkc8I__6eZJgb8hnLOJKVQ6xl0g81kQT2Uv9ixr1e5O29aa4CYj9gjBi6Mnbqu2psmlqwDs5Z3md207Q93xbvdBT-hGfCNAPA8xDKCec9lJpi7eLsGxBH33dyYEXXcp5I5La8oikZ/s400/DSC02965.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230659723914784370" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FWK9G03v_ik6UUrmNXT7ILR1FVSiR2AuCH6YRphMhJFSuyQH57GHmqhlyL3vbigDC9Tcji_pxv7bp0kg5GvOn1WI0g5Yy92gU7nB_altIVGqtJFdQD98qfRbICNdpAu0iC-Z8KYsTvXK/s1600-h/DSC02969.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FWK9G03v_ik6UUrmNXT7ILR1FVSiR2AuCH6YRphMhJFSuyQH57GHmqhlyL3vbigDC9Tcji_pxv7bp0kg5GvOn1WI0g5Yy92gU7nB_altIVGqtJFdQD98qfRbICNdpAu0iC-Z8KYsTvXK/s400/DSC02969.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230659728816499938" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQcovFc-zuJjh6iT_wjYts-oxE-lzK179qkKjIF3NxjA10064okXh7JoQF662O6f2y77R-oVDUpmnGmI3qjXb444Whjc_gIRv_gD77vn-Ok677anr7UwF1JPirV5rjMCq032puIsB_rgG/s1600-h/DSC02991.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQcovFc-zuJjh6iT_wjYts-oxE-lzK179qkKjIF3NxjA10064okXh7JoQF662O6f2y77R-oVDUpmnGmI3qjXb444Whjc_gIRv_gD77vn-Ok677anr7UwF1JPirV5rjMCq032puIsB_rgG/s400/DSC02991.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230659733564687842" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuKgL3UuWWu0Xr5bkwcMvTrjt2J-vjaZyz8CLW0NXeLziRCns5uV0oZCfNZQkuhpL78pngqoBFwLdUaYdq_fNbD3h9XWx955OAE5RekQyDDoBO030Vx7DceAEOuJW5Cy94VSF3A2S24YZ/s1600-h/DSC02994.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuKgL3UuWWu0Xr5bkwcMvTrjt2J-vjaZyz8CLW0NXeLziRCns5uV0oZCfNZQkuhpL78pngqoBFwLdUaYdq_fNbD3h9XWx955OAE5RekQyDDoBO030Vx7DceAEOuJW5Cy94VSF3A2S24YZ/s400/DSC02994.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230659740398439234" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe9ZrPyh3raPJk_HYArX4wvHxrtFKYsJotmeWGjygDdbLuRNY4itXYcgGhizhCO_qtSbne4fY7MfYV2tXhXwBnm43Bu35hdbhTiHNsyYJV6hZzXFLFQnbwzkrUCWynYlcv0AWrvIPTAxf/s1600-h/DSC02996.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe9ZrPyh3raPJk_HYArX4wvHxrtFKYsJotmeWGjygDdbLuRNY4itXYcgGhizhCO_qtSbne4fY7MfYV2tXhXwBnm43Bu35hdbhTiHNsyYJV6hZzXFLFQnbwzkrUCWynYlcv0AWrvIPTAxf/s400/DSC02996.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230659476038771746" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-40126378846392495922008-08-04T06:37:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:28.761-08:00ManagahaIsland fever is a natural side effect of living on a small island. People on Saipan deal with this by spending the day on an even smaller island; Managaha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-6Ry6kRgp_9gGxS9k1QOwS6ujCVCurvVjsWAhHV2ZxrLWwY626uRuLuoHXkKIirmhz_lZiilo7llK1IHG9CkenrUXItzhRVt30QHuWS3wt3_lHN8CV1NE9A1DivbazpVUsTA1a8JRb0X/s1600-h/DSC02827.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-6Ry6kRgp_9gGxS9k1QOwS6ujCVCurvVjsWAhHV2ZxrLWwY626uRuLuoHXkKIirmhz_lZiilo7llK1IHG9CkenrUXItzhRVt30QHuWS3wt3_lHN8CV1NE9A1DivbazpVUsTA1a8JRb0X/s400/DSC02827.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230658019491755154" /></a><br /><br />You need to take a ferry over to the island. It's free for locals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_o4XDRAajNtw9q9a39bF2HHC-vhi-Mk4aBf0OgOaBTMCzDu4fStwweVNMr6Ux8fG4CuNr-qK6V2aLP8mpr385Xv2DO_z_Kvmm9ybrNkzBYfRtzl115IDd6soILfgQz9mEsSYM7Hw54qp/s1600-h/DSC02828.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_o4XDRAajNtw9q9a39bF2HHC-vhi-Mk4aBf0OgOaBTMCzDu4fStwweVNMr6Ux8fG4CuNr-qK6V2aLP8mpr385Xv2DO_z_Kvmm9ybrNkzBYfRtzl115IDd6soILfgQz9mEsSYM7Hw54qp/s400/DSC02828.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230658024477262530" /></a><br /><br />This is the cargo ship that hauls our supplies over from Guam.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjj4FGNxnzfViJHD28nYQRvvVpnh8nEaSRnZMD2PiSvd8YEvTA_dE21LEvx0h1ojN1pY-nT0pfnV0SCylqJrkoJRwbN9zUp5qm14HLZirGGAxGVZsZh6TKFWuT2-UefsRd8QoBD4hZGwkv/s1600-h/DSC02834.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjj4FGNxnzfViJHD28nYQRvvVpnh8nEaSRnZMD2PiSvd8YEvTA_dE21LEvx0h1ojN1pY-nT0pfnV0SCylqJrkoJRwbN9zUp5qm14HLZirGGAxGVZsZh6TKFWuT2-UefsRd8QoBD4hZGwkv/s400/DSC02834.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230656631395386978" /></a><br /><br />The water in the CNMI has its own specific color - "Rota Blue"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A0rbhvGvX82ZaKSGFaUPMFhzOso0IyHL3tF1tg3dta7wM5cODnqaegRJX_-aaeb7I3qF9SaaRKWfYqYmjb0Dvk8NkxadU1ppg54RqK1y6jrIzyhn87_TwJzY8x9DkLgXfPdfm2-tJSSc/s1600-h/DSC02767.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A0rbhvGvX82ZaKSGFaUPMFhzOso0IyHL3tF1tg3dta7wM5cODnqaegRJX_-aaeb7I3qF9SaaRKWfYqYmjb0Dvk8NkxadU1ppg54RqK1y6jrIzyhn87_TwJzY8x9DkLgXfPdfm2-tJSSc/s400/DSC02767.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230657995984975426" /></a><br /><br />Managaha is my favorite place on Saipan. It's exactly how I had envisioned Micronesia.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22_hSwmwEbC3f9jLFGAyVfq2XnwJS-XswEyb8NuGzDgHPrJHrViupMG07cRtwMPtUBqEAkKapq3FvExs3Q5Z4GskRe01S-ww-wTBUl1xTk5MJlkkmypuB0A90gc4vj4n6sK3XQ0ngPEO/s1600-h/DSC02781.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22_hSwmwEbC3f9jLFGAyVfq2XnwJS-XswEyb8NuGzDgHPrJHrViupMG07cRtwMPtUBqEAkKapq3FvExs3Q5Z4GskRe01S-ww-wTBUl1xTk5MJlkkmypuB0A90gc4vj4n6sK3XQ0ngPEO/s400/DSC02781.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230658004671487794" /></a><br /><br />Best place to go when the constant power outages are pissing you off.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-OGnDHr_jSCkAg2fNLLjdgnmLrce9tVDPpFoiJcTpPr6yYK8fKpMwyXswsw-n5CylfTMk4_BGFQD_XycmoLnafxWNhZGnmUpKsVpTZYtAgj0-2eRKfme6D68kaCPthyphenhyphenEo1pbLoIdbjfy/s1600-h/DSC02789.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-OGnDHr_jSCkAg2fNLLjdgnmLrce9tVDPpFoiJcTpPr6yYK8fKpMwyXswsw-n5CylfTMk4_BGFQD_XycmoLnafxWNhZGnmUpKsVpTZYtAgj0-2eRKfme6D68kaCPthyphenhyphenEo1pbLoIdbjfy/s400/DSC02789.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230658011736655298" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-45354931378088226092008-08-04T06:23:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:30.859-08:00Chamarros love to partyIn the four months we've been out here there has been a festival about once a month. May had the Flame Tree festival, June had the Taste of the Marianas and July was Liberation day. The only thing really different about them is the name. They all involve palm decorated stages, cheap local food and tons of Budweiser (the local drink of choice).<br /><br /><strong>Flame Tree Festival</strong><br />They hold this every year when the flame trees start to bloom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2bZWajIovTwApBMfDNu8oj1IxyuES0bu6C-dFjlMMNdPJEoJ5YdkESC93bqfShlVSoODfYoKcOIjLO3cg_RiurCZRPALrBFv9NRr3uRsECvyY_4zRTDR0uOAnRTCk2VfrOk2RIVAk3dm/s1600-h/DSC02740.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2bZWajIovTwApBMfDNu8oj1IxyuES0bu6C-dFjlMMNdPJEoJ5YdkESC93bqfShlVSoODfYoKcOIjLO3cg_RiurCZRPALrBFv9NRr3uRsECvyY_4zRTDR0uOAnRTCk2VfrOk2RIVAk3dm/s400/DSC02740.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230653991824925986" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1MjX0cQo7l6veqR4080VtJtsTnTsdqj0lvCjIGjl32YNDR-eVKtjXz7eEPjpT9J008ULDbbnyXk5pUWkQcpwQskYAIPlwr1WGEthK7V1hNYvCIiTzFjWFV4zFaODtXU7ApPRkhlHbL2i/s1600-h/DSC02741.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1MjX0cQo7l6veqR4080VtJtsTnTsdqj0lvCjIGjl32YNDR-eVKtjXz7eEPjpT9J008ULDbbnyXk5pUWkQcpwQskYAIPlwr1WGEthK7V1hNYvCIiTzFjWFV4zFaODtXU7ApPRkhlHbL2i/s400/DSC02741.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230654001214910178" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoDQGAaEWtCmOCVA5OpkUjQ09BeLLs9iYdcFPNJPd35b0kTGCYvkaHEPpHljFOv-RjzGllb63LUCFjwPT4loIPse29A0kdqu38RtTmEbVqoAdcQnirJorMsR5jBgO0BPfeU2uzEXb_87K/s1600-h/DSC02742.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoDQGAaEWtCmOCVA5OpkUjQ09BeLLs9iYdcFPNJPd35b0kTGCYvkaHEPpHljFOv-RjzGllb63LUCFjwPT4loIPse29A0kdqu38RtTmEbVqoAdcQnirJorMsR5jBgO0BPfeU2uzEXb_87K/s400/DSC02742.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230654003290916290" /></a><br /><br />This guy is digging out a traditional canoe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dHlzUNPV-5gWuQPStXSMU7heHqR4DDOBoWSwmcJbk7lacm_agjdADVcQj-W9eWxAv_pKVLcQFPqrqBgPgdVI0Zi3MYs9SromA0Lo3I2qDKpEte5ldc8qLDPD-_fv36_Ax54GzDJRPMkI/s1600-h/DSC02744.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dHlzUNPV-5gWuQPStXSMU7heHqR4DDOBoWSwmcJbk7lacm_agjdADVcQj-W9eWxAv_pKVLcQFPqrqBgPgdVI0Zi3MYs9SromA0Lo3I2qDKpEte5ldc8qLDPD-_fv36_Ax54GzDJRPMkI/s400/DSC02744.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230654011456245778" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_bpdRAVQ41o9FISsbBJ15cqH1pjpaFWPJgWrvexkaDDgpl4-ZrDuMmhcdHIifBE0oe7i2LvV9ftMH878DVq9lwwYwBAmcu1_-1J_KNQj12XWl09eu_Tud1nelCPSqKnlyQeKxs3ZxU_X/s1600-h/DSC02745.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_bpdRAVQ41o9FISsbBJ15cqH1pjpaFWPJgWrvexkaDDgpl4-ZrDuMmhcdHIifBE0oe7i2LvV9ftMH878DVq9lwwYwBAmcu1_-1J_KNQj12XWl09eu_Tud1nelCPSqKnlyQeKxs3ZxU_X/s400/DSC02745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230654023104024082" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF06UM9iFn_hxVylC48hC22QzAiQyGIx-qrl3S4TJGUwNU47UKoL_HUdpoNir5vgIQZOxqskTtPQ3J-WgIe19AdKt2BnPy8hE6IckugmVSYc3sgA7X0VOJrua7z4LCrraPTdd0pOGPRgy/s1600-h/DSC02746.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF06UM9iFn_hxVylC48hC22QzAiQyGIx-qrl3S4TJGUwNU47UKoL_HUdpoNir5vgIQZOxqskTtPQ3J-WgIe19AdKt2BnPy8hE6IckugmVSYc3sgA7X0VOJrua7z4LCrraPTdd0pOGPRgy/s400/DSC02746.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230654670757428738" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>The Taste of the Marianas</strong><br /><br />All the local restaurants and hotels setup booths were you can sample their foods. They hold it every weekend for the entire month.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5nhhOHbhFP7M1aKm1nHxavBpNAXmY37XOWxkCkFH6EEf2TVvMyCZt5xsgAdulUYh1kK12-HNJnYo78e8PaJMkEuAqVWK6MnTkD1dI5hjBGIdy8o5GdojiZZs84cKTIOd-OE7oj-6rZ9j/s1600-h/DSC02753.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5nhhOHbhFP7M1aKm1nHxavBpNAXmY37XOWxkCkFH6EEf2TVvMyCZt5xsgAdulUYh1kK12-HNJnYo78e8PaJMkEuAqVWK6MnTkD1dI5hjBGIdy8o5GdojiZZs84cKTIOd-OE7oj-6rZ9j/s400/DSC02753.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230654679044642834" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnAPygo9Ri4FOBCJo3DqxVcB3hRAntnpwJIA08fEhEL94YdTR0mMrV7GQiHGHOmj5LSvCNrxdBdMbcn7sZEwJh8XfL7X0CM-eAQFvGukGtLenBWez3VIzfTcmFuxyezE_l6qHv8T-lo6g/s1600-h/DSC02756.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnAPygo9Ri4FOBCJo3DqxVcB3hRAntnpwJIA08fEhEL94YdTR0mMrV7GQiHGHOmj5LSvCNrxdBdMbcn7sZEwJh8XfL7X0CM-eAQFvGukGtLenBWez3VIzfTcmFuxyezE_l6qHv8T-lo6g/s400/DSC02756.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230654680681859042" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyOy2JKW2DPfkxHnisSczHfMAChHRitMvUWHR6_sC4HxtUJCW6Npw-aDpAks0HJ6jgKzIpNk473LzwzRMo1U1P2jjmVffbVykP3Z7ED9T0noV4LpjA5CI61TqBUp0VvtCjFIBDR-K1GG-/s1600-h/DSC02757.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyOy2JKW2DPfkxHnisSczHfMAChHRitMvUWHR6_sC4HxtUJCW6Npw-aDpAks0HJ6jgKzIpNk473LzwzRMo1U1P2jjmVffbVykP3Z7ED9T0noV4LpjA5CI61TqBUp0VvtCjFIBDR-K1GG-/s400/DSC02757.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230654688052624738" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SVGTleZZCuSqNnlJ5ig01k8hhGNz1n9hHpqmpyCfXC7SrjwFBkd8CqAOODNX5cC-BtbnlQER5PBaNTkqzALkDMXnGYLOFpv1pQxG2kmASbUpnk1Txl-10BmwuTWsnLH6bk4O3hmF0MSE/s1600-h/DSC02758.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SVGTleZZCuSqNnlJ5ig01k8hhGNz1n9hHpqmpyCfXC7SrjwFBkd8CqAOODNX5cC-BtbnlQER5PBaNTkqzALkDMXnGYLOFpv1pQxG2kmASbUpnk1Txl-10BmwuTWsnLH6bk4O3hmF0MSE/s400/DSC02758.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230655502260831634" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-56705163576348382782008-08-04T06:09:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:31.398-08:00Coconut 101<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEvtScoo3VYTg28fm5w8NUVHxeScSl8qkpUAxBaR64D8ivsxT3orFKK6k0TKJrH-cs6M7wngRgRFJ6J94vqBjgcAumITxMVppzJ_-sruzPxCdb52rldX1NnE-mKPAIsEbtKAnHtcGubpG/s1600-h/DSC02943.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEvtScoo3VYTg28fm5w8NUVHxeScSl8qkpUAxBaR64D8ivsxT3orFKK6k0TKJrH-cs6M7wngRgRFJ6J94vqBjgcAumITxMVppzJ_-sruzPxCdb52rldX1NnE-mKPAIsEbtKAnHtcGubpG/s400/DSC02943.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230650735517945282" /></a><br /><br />Step One: Manage to climb the coconut tree in the backyard and grab a ripe one (or wait till one falls to the floor and then just tell everyone you climbed the tree)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVf3ccV97IE5qEVo5lMhAy76odxIq4pWkEQQx7DOwF9Iqh4Lia3jxGPdiTPL8yzG3YuUGRHFF1OlIDR772ZDZ0ldFYDTx1SajVXTCJSV7Ehigtn592R3IkUDF6PB0CI8EkBKlJ6fxvrp4i/s1600-h/DSC02946.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVf3ccV97IE5qEVo5lMhAy76odxIq4pWkEQQx7DOwF9Iqh4Lia3jxGPdiTPL8yzG3YuUGRHFF1OlIDR772ZDZ0ldFYDTx1SajVXTCJSV7Ehigtn592R3IkUDF6PB0CI8EkBKlJ6fxvrp4i/s400/DSC02946.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230650747651397426" /></a><br /><br />Step 2: After whacking the coconut for thirty minutes with a dull machete that you bought at a garage sale, discover that there is a hard inner shell waiting just past the hard outer shell.<br /><br />Step 3: Howl in frustration<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXwi3-neKe2E8u4IrjXHLNHixt22HxevYSvtVnw3_2wZvjDNWRhdphoQa6VLtP8CYngWbi-TOqQ5zz63BL1guIbq-azlDLPHyva1cNwvYTHTUnPZ3y0vECm9Y8Bll7NHStbesb_Lqnv0t/s1600-h/DSC02947.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXwi3-neKe2E8u4IrjXHLNHixt22HxevYSvtVnw3_2wZvjDNWRhdphoQa6VLtP8CYngWbi-TOqQ5zz63BL1guIbq-azlDLPHyva1cNwvYTHTUnPZ3y0vECm9Y8Bll7NHStbesb_Lqnv0t/s400/DSC02947.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230650756876484498" /></a><br /><br />Step 4: Success. Now enjoy all the coco-nutty goodness.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-50120727821847957602008-04-21T03:14:00.000-07:002009-06-23T17:48:13.363-07:00Some more pics of our view<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDVmj3D009gbIbzztRDF0_UJUuIaQ-YjuJ45fBZGEhMdG4Io2pBPPab7wbcWqaVANIo4izcC_4WW6rdWWnSQc2mqTxEsRex2b0hrNnkya4l76YqYtHb5ASe1D50tVdpTPmp4k6qu3lqFI/s1600-h/DSC02622.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDVmj3D009gbIbzztRDF0_UJUuIaQ-YjuJ45fBZGEhMdG4Io2pBPPab7wbcWqaVANIo4izcC_4WW6rdWWnSQc2mqTxEsRex2b0hrNnkya4l76YqYtHb5ASe1D50tVdpTPmp4k6qu3lqFI/s400/DSC02622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191640471789384418" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJio6euRfhDAYUPHSfUnyD_F81iFzyRUOfCi1kJNzhSMKDlDeH11MC3hRJEkqdSstUz_G16G_G-tjWuosroaQLB2yRxiJhmqV_v5wLxhMBiwG1M2N2qxRf5cGH-yW9-A98P5SxgfJHBn6H/s1600-h/DSC02624.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJio6euRfhDAYUPHSfUnyD_F81iFzyRUOfCi1kJNzhSMKDlDeH11MC3hRJEkqdSstUz_G16G_G-tjWuosroaQLB2yRxiJhmqV_v5wLxhMBiwG1M2N2qxRf5cGH-yW9-A98P5SxgfJHBn6H/s400/DSC02624.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191640476084351730" /></a><br />This is Garapan, the main tourist part of the island. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCukZSF-bw5iHWI-cagArpQTlsiMGUzvHEOYB_NA7S09DZt6H6K8ViP-3ciMA8J3w5AC5WilKgy0illwhTxRp0eRaB-L6h6JRSPJm21spxz0bp_s5S-BBYQe9VG358DaSdI8DcRZ7BhOwr/s1600-h/DSC02625.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCukZSF-bw5iHWI-cagArpQTlsiMGUzvHEOYB_NA7S09DZt6H6K8ViP-3ciMA8J3w5AC5WilKgy0illwhTxRp0eRaB-L6h6JRSPJm21spxz0bp_s5S-BBYQe9VG358DaSdI8DcRZ7BhOwr/s400/DSC02625.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191640476084351746" /></a><br />The small island is Managaha island. That is probably the best snorkling on the island. Its also where you go for parasailing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-61861531682385531582008-04-21T03:13:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:36.450-08:00Perseverance defined<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-McT-Pvbmr0IZE2kuqnFKN_MhIPWniT7gvpr7rvj8PbhLUlV4mYF5wUb94H7rUtzDQRVS-Pzk7sz_dFA9nV6ShS1xgTqKSWvOEPrUy7qmJmGGH2cOLxPhrScQ-mQWg8ZgRkcHjm5dfXkx/s1600-h/DSC02630.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-McT-Pvbmr0IZE2kuqnFKN_MhIPWniT7gvpr7rvj8PbhLUlV4mYF5wUb94H7rUtzDQRVS-Pzk7sz_dFA9nV6ShS1xgTqKSWvOEPrUy7qmJmGGH2cOLxPhrScQ-mQWg8ZgRkcHjm5dfXkx/s400/DSC02630.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191639986458079954" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-62009039862927733522008-04-21T03:07:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:37.344-08:00Welcome to the JungleWe went for a little walk through the jungle today. The great thing about hiking out here is that there are no poisonous animals on the island. So you don't have to worry about spiders or snakes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6USjJSDulA9_nyK6CiS5qinj54be3vkVgWKAbGASxHu6y02S_51fqpJEdQWZhIs_-YMWSOFgnr8oOcJRyS_bSd5zotYwSuCRQ_1RQ3OIZ1RVnNuwhElICnQV5SyWu6a9zCEEN1qDTYCvp/s1600-h/DSC02652.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6USjJSDulA9_nyK6CiS5qinj54be3vkVgWKAbGASxHu6y02S_51fqpJEdQWZhIs_-YMWSOFgnr8oOcJRyS_bSd5zotYwSuCRQ_1RQ3OIZ1RVnNuwhElICnQV5SyWu6a9zCEEN1qDTYCvp/s400/DSC02652.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191639277788476050" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_xUC15bALt4Lcc89h7-4lhy0QecS5JCOMPYVdTtEs6ROG-vGj8n60ZPYmL2uXF3eu-oe7PP0m0x8Ae6oMYe1sTSqtmp-8UhX7AlKIhcqMK-iXuqi1j87h_t4QlnsH3pOiKduQP85Zyhi/s1600-h/DSC02653.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_xUC15bALt4Lcc89h7-4lhy0QecS5JCOMPYVdTtEs6ROG-vGj8n60ZPYmL2uXF3eu-oe7PP0m0x8Ae6oMYe1sTSqtmp-8UhX7AlKIhcqMK-iXuqi1j87h_t4QlnsH3pOiKduQP85Zyhi/s400/DSC02653.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191644951440274210" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2uOEwVJ2fv5501-T_HYYoB0cNaWBesNSvM1PHu1AwAC39hk5pwDRYNpdt1I6TmU24gawb-nd6pnT87z4vQ4ZxXuEBCQGEZB9dzl0gTBzFJtpbBByFbBdODfmsZdlbe6wMW3myqyLiP7k/s1600-h/DSC02656.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2uOEwVJ2fv5501-T_HYYoB0cNaWBesNSvM1PHu1AwAC39hk5pwDRYNpdt1I6TmU24gawb-nd6pnT87z4vQ4ZxXuEBCQGEZB9dzl0gTBzFJtpbBByFbBdODfmsZdlbe6wMW3myqyLiP7k/s400/DSC02656.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191644955735241522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6JYzaDBGalE8adkamdL79QV7KhdfhvaVMWXVNSz03FrB0M0ZzRtVeCz5xWEUVnNkaTCNuWSE77dnLslHIB-UoSuD_UzS0NIZPjg2DdqpTqkTxV3ltBr0gbpItmHpjzH00_gZZkJPtNKl/s1600-h/DSC02658.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6JYzaDBGalE8adkamdL79QV7KhdfhvaVMWXVNSz03FrB0M0ZzRtVeCz5xWEUVnNkaTCNuWSE77dnLslHIB-UoSuD_UzS0NIZPjg2DdqpTqkTxV3ltBr0gbpItmHpjzH00_gZZkJPtNKl/s400/DSC02658.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191639299263312578" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-51987283802080135332008-04-21T02:39:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:40.306-08:00Saipan SundaysSaipan is full of some of the most beautiful resort hotels I have ever seen. And one of the bonuses of living here is that on weekends we can just drive down to them and use their facilities. Two of them have wave parks that give really good local discounts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj47FDTOZGtYIvJaJNbvUZ4vefsuSosvJYEXMmKo4I9g6D5KJFUAij3ieAOoHv89A20eEp2wbaTn6W8C5PPPuQ32i8dm5ODRqmz9GcrCHfAM53j-bd6NrrJJESlZ-VStjn-s7r4cUABCD/s1600-h/DSC02635.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj47FDTOZGtYIvJaJNbvUZ4vefsuSosvJYEXMmKo4I9g6D5KJFUAij3ieAOoHv89A20eEp2wbaTn6W8C5PPPuQ32i8dm5ODRqmz9GcrCHfAM53j-bd6NrrJJESlZ-VStjn-s7r4cUABCD/s400/DSC02635.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191645582800466754" /></a><br />This is the entry foyer of the Aqua Resort Club. Most of the hotels are located in Garapan. But this one is located of by itself on the North end of the island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JFB7so4bGrRrmTbRDnEJEA8aZhjwpsetgiYJR6U7MHMswYVIZ7OPZXykFWgIrgFCJfsGkB1NYZOgoeU7ml-VJF-FG9N6BWb2Q4VHEx2QAF6FXxb3-303wV_s11MS4Fxb2eda318Ajhk6/s1600-h/DSC02637.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JFB7so4bGrRrmTbRDnEJEA8aZhjwpsetgiYJR6U7MHMswYVIZ7OPZXykFWgIrgFCJfsGkB1NYZOgoeU7ml-VJF-FG9N6BWb2Q4VHEx2QAF6FXxb3-303wV_s11MS4Fxb2eda318Ajhk6/s400/DSC02637.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191645587095434066" /></a><br />The pool right outside the entrance hall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsti2sPURwg0cJ9I2cphe9SigJ5MKWNOn6nt4TQIk_MjwGAaf0IB1L8HyRE9PWC4hKN8cqM077mCs_nosMiS1sIFL2m_5Elk_DuQebXo-4nF15ELFy9ZNWy5aDQwpWC8WkrjMGpkThVBeR/s1600-h/DSC02647.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsti2sPURwg0cJ9I2cphe9SigJ5MKWNOn6nt4TQIk_MjwGAaf0IB1L8HyRE9PWC4hKN8cqM077mCs_nosMiS1sIFL2m_5Elk_DuQebXo-4nF15ELFy9ZNWy5aDQwpWC8WkrjMGpkThVBeR/s400/DSC02647.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191633118805373378" /></a><br />A few of the obligatory overpriced fruity drinks at the swim-up bar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18ZZETmyTbZ40Rl1nxN6SuAffek78gz1WYHI0mKkbaLfYXv89OYLd24wWUOl6mnHq3o7tx0MkO5uQ4j2oHQloPShem-pxrSwvN86tNW0TMHATDjOCKweSaTE69TE2LdTm2azTK84Cc18l/s1600-h/DSC02638.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18ZZETmyTbZ40Rl1nxN6SuAffek78gz1WYHI0mKkbaLfYXv89OYLd24wWUOl6mnHq3o7tx0MkO5uQ4j2oHQloPShem-pxrSwvN86tNW0TMHATDjOCKweSaTE69TE2LdTm2azTK84Cc18l/s400/DSC02638.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191633118805373394" /></a><br />View of the beach facing south.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsASxe0wc0FYGXEZSJCbosbF-sXcNywFRFnhBbRMJFNvsQ0nVM9ftrU3QCnsrdlNF7KImfZDyxNESR3hLxgye-IcaUKjAP7gNA9k0tx9dmIXqvitRvCydVNjut3aRnl9GD7xOjQKrXq-xQ/s1600-h/DSC02639.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsASxe0wc0FYGXEZSJCbosbF-sXcNywFRFnhBbRMJFNvsQ0nVM9ftrU3QCnsrdlNF7KImfZDyxNESR3hLxgye-IcaUKjAP7gNA9k0tx9dmIXqvitRvCydVNjut3aRnl9GD7xOjQKrXq-xQ/s400/DSC02639.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191633123100340706" /></a><br />The beach behind the resort looking north.<br /><br />This Next resort is called the Pacific Island Club.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-FLYHkRMqAQWxl95UNuGV8OoLnhZb23yWYG60_NuFOfah7md1voLnxJ0zAF-F0_BPhUUNyI-1mEFbcd1HmCNBSe_xA6jwc_kYaBOdaWmDmpTUa7tA7HE4IrszSIztWv36RDioNKTO2Gu/s1600-h/DSC02671.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-FLYHkRMqAQWxl95UNuGV8OoLnhZb23yWYG60_NuFOfah7md1voLnxJ0zAF-F0_BPhUUNyI-1mEFbcd1HmCNBSe_xA6jwc_kYaBOdaWmDmpTUa7tA7HE4IrszSIztWv36RDioNKTO2Gu/s400/DSC02671.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191635124555100658" /></a><br />The entrance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QB7xT8DrZBWqwL-ZPRkIjfO3AwHJFTqKxu3ymUPWMxYr7FsaqkBrN74p9W4fvfF41jAfURvr_LgDcaHMPtL61xe0gEMHN4Xvz9J_LRbYa64iIrTY1WlCfQYvR60kUiGx8DqGR201RPP_/s1600-h/DSC02672.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QB7xT8DrZBWqwL-ZPRkIjfO3AwHJFTqKxu3ymUPWMxYr7FsaqkBrN74p9W4fvfF41jAfURvr_LgDcaHMPtL61xe0gEMHN4Xvz9J_LRbYa64iIrTY1WlCfQYvR60kUiGx8DqGR201RPP_/s400/DSC02672.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191635128850067970" /></a><br />The kiddie pool and water playground. Logan would love this place.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4EOTAi10uLtiWQhRObbwj44PIEehwRcqwG46xCOVpg17JTBs_fUPDXtS-h8fH7aDOmwgGxT-PfFcTQuPtHZ4uTQ3Ko3xtBXTBdw5sPBjZt5wAGy5OP-rv2yEw3UbMYhNbJZ54iC0TKDY/s1600-h/DSC02673.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4EOTAi10uLtiWQhRObbwj44PIEehwRcqwG46xCOVpg17JTBs_fUPDXtS-h8fH7aDOmwgGxT-PfFcTQuPtHZ4uTQ3Ko3xtBXTBdw5sPBjZt5wAGy5OP-rv2yEw3UbMYhNbJZ54iC0TKDY/s400/DSC02673.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191635137440002578" /></a><br />One of the three pools. There are water slides that come out behind the pirate ship. Rach and I were the only people over 10 who were using them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrMDH7CrF9Yq3mO4-23kg-3loD2FsjRIqIaeaj7oPE7DPndrmhpuUIYVFNMnXh83GI6YZKjXlg16gEtDOukBIzro6CXM_fTvWZVxXKSw9bARTM-4q8FeByNB0dpBHN1T6JFkRA3JxmjtT/s1600-h/DSC02675.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrMDH7CrF9Yq3mO4-23kg-3loD2FsjRIqIaeaj7oPE7DPndrmhpuUIYVFNMnXh83GI6YZKjXlg16gEtDOukBIzro6CXM_fTvWZVxXKSw9bARTM-4q8FeByNB0dpBHN1T6JFkRA3JxmjtT/s400/DSC02675.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191635141734969890" /></a><br />The "lazy river" that goes around the park.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VdJEGHedO9e-B54NKErNx_75r251yUYhBrSodbFXfWXm5nEFjLuN5u1WQqY_cF1Vz1gxY8k0SYxHeKc_xlXmZbNT5NpdtBbQZ_sfSmWLUT67VA13pJSNnxYfgv-frcAFzVJRALKeMNOc/s1600-h/DSC02676.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VdJEGHedO9e-B54NKErNx_75r251yUYhBrSodbFXfWXm5nEFjLuN5u1WQqY_cF1Vz1gxY8k0SYxHeKc_xlXmZbNT5NpdtBbQZ_sfSmWLUT67VA13pJSNnxYfgv-frcAFzVJRALKeMNOc/s400/DSC02676.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191635146029937202" /></a><br />They have these rubber floats that you can use to float around on the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfI5SMOF3b_0MWQz7cWosrxnL49pj61S5UR539S-q1E_096HA-NauJeLxNS5Inj4DKcEhZmieuR9hh_EJMEo_8YpfYIjhXsfEeFYnvV1AJZuXpc6DVvfViCUzhyphenhyphenmkI5h_cLmzrAzTmuhD/s1600-h/DSC02681.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfI5SMOF3b_0MWQz7cWosrxnL49pj61S5UR539S-q1E_096HA-NauJeLxNS5Inj4DKcEhZmieuR9hh_EJMEo_8YpfYIjhXsfEeFYnvV1AJZuXpc6DVvfViCUzhyphenhyphenmkI5h_cLmzrAzTmuhD/s400/DSC02681.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191637164664566338" /></a><br />They have a great half priced happy hour right on the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytphci2fQIn8djnykmEH8-vYOePhFC3sdySzRoVb38O5hXMAernn0FXm6gcSROZ_tbUPMfkWOFniIp1Lw7GyG7AjCn9zaIOaw_Fq1TL6F9hyNGERW7Hfsk175zTifaMdoHigJ0dC8V51p/s1600-h/DSC02684.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytphci2fQIn8djnykmEH8-vYOePhFC3sdySzRoVb38O5hXMAernn0FXm6gcSROZ_tbUPMfkWOFniIp1Lw7GyG7AjCn9zaIOaw_Fq1TL6F9hyNGERW7Hfsk175zTifaMdoHigJ0dC8V51p/s400/DSC02684.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191637186139402834" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwpeQaI2b7oXnklTjvlqi_LBJs7sr2k1eXpdEzD4uwIUP6aVquKfi2b1HDGTFD-bpVpu_8b4TUXcoJd686ESqp7XdnSgWtYVvrUShgd1p6PIK_Kc2HLawNkuDqQP35BW-ZHo1W-6f8IIU/s1600-h/DSC02686.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwpeQaI2b7oXnklTjvlqi_LBJs7sr2k1eXpdEzD4uwIUP6aVquKfi2b1HDGTFD-bpVpu_8b4TUXcoJd686ESqp7XdnSgWtYVvrUShgd1p6PIK_Kc2HLawNkuDqQP35BW-ZHo1W-6f8IIU/s400/DSC02686.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191637190434370146" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgyaebUSGFdCRzqCOOHsV-wC6TKnZWx7y62O3RmUAmh64wBF3reBjOyM-pBQ7UXYHF7uQFAn4oBNsk83A3cj8pzsaEKELIfFTOY3onnxhtLxF4aCWxvy3E3XfiId4zoMuC2AZurn3um50/s1600-h/DSC02692.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgyaebUSGFdCRzqCOOHsV-wC6TKnZWx7y62O3RmUAmh64wBF3reBjOyM-pBQ7UXYHF7uQFAn4oBNsk83A3cj8pzsaEKELIfFTOY3onnxhtLxF4aCWxvy3E3XfiId4zoMuC2AZurn3um50/s400/DSC02692.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191637194729337458" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcrHcMdgIxlgon9VA8E4Nra9sFQot9G2rsTM-x-xWyQoszYB0M_acYZZ6lbxYoFVftba5Qc3B7qlfrWtSBOAh5qBKCuqJk3fZP_PV1CdAUjC-D3QsQ5vYogoJjwKX8-sC-BG8sRXad5UL/s1600-h/DSC02723.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcrHcMdgIxlgon9VA8E4Nra9sFQot9G2rsTM-x-xWyQoszYB0M_acYZZ6lbxYoFVftba5Qc3B7qlfrWtSBOAh5qBKCuqJk3fZP_PV1CdAUjC-D3QsQ5vYogoJjwKX8-sC-BG8sRXad5UL/s400/DSC02723.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191637194729337474" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-32161857464138385892008-04-16T04:29:00.003-07:002008-12-11T08:45:41.142-08:00Some reposted picsThese are some of our first pics that most of you have probably already seen. I just wanted to get them up here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinve0PL0WrQuO5Eu4H7pjZwbspmN0aRBCZW41B15ViRbcVC9egmGaXmNqbYEakFeiKjnzWiEK1qarR4SbyeWaTo3oaELMobzLIo3xbjrn03ennJ059dpIM41sBEXbAiq575wi5ygMrel25/s1600-h/DSC02485.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinve0PL0WrQuO5Eu4H7pjZwbspmN0aRBCZW41B15ViRbcVC9egmGaXmNqbYEakFeiKjnzWiEK1qarR4SbyeWaTo3oaELMobzLIo3xbjrn03ennJ059dpIM41sBEXbAiq575wi5ygMrel25/s400/DSC02485.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189804934491249106" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDk_JrViToX2FTpCiMHR_9bixaj5id0j9FkD20CELh8qx4BKK7do7GlokWqQgHbdfnLQBGWmeN3V3gbhd8_rdZ6p6Z60dDaL6oGCjPOI5DJIJp9QZKK2G-0PpJKo4Yhtx8jXcaM20I1DB/s1600-h/DSC02499.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDk_JrViToX2FTpCiMHR_9bixaj5id0j9FkD20CELh8qx4BKK7do7GlokWqQgHbdfnLQBGWmeN3V3gbhd8_rdZ6p6Z60dDaL6oGCjPOI5DJIJp9QZKK2G-0PpJKo4Yhtx8jXcaM20I1DB/s400/DSC02499.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189804938786216418" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi5zr0aiRsA-rY3KD6oEOZ697z-tiblbtRNw19ANHixo9vfO7DkfsB9jv5a-3se8OXmp_mccdWZTjKQFQhn67wcPmFQhqrInUOFB7ywI75S9eb0FvCgNVLVb1EUJZD8Pv5-DiOLz9_EK3/s1600-h/DSC02463.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi5zr0aiRsA-rY3KD6oEOZ697z-tiblbtRNw19ANHixo9vfO7DkfsB9jv5a-3se8OXmp_mccdWZTjKQFQhn67wcPmFQhqrInUOFB7ywI75S9eb0FvCgNVLVb1EUJZD8Pv5-DiOLz9_EK3/s400/DSC02463.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189804947376151026" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ys4TXuL7iXHa4aTfkcBxS_iihcDXOQFunnD0f5Mt4qVyXuXHUsrHrjrIPnVOPuohL71Hs99C8iURgiD6qgWabOpRT5vSsm8_W4vCeJDqit8BBC3yPpq7Hy9qMXZeaxCFpjeka6frIjIA/s1600-h/DSC02465.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ys4TXuL7iXHa4aTfkcBxS_iihcDXOQFunnD0f5Mt4qVyXuXHUsrHrjrIPnVOPuohL71Hs99C8iURgiD6qgWabOpRT5vSsm8_W4vCeJDqit8BBC3yPpq7Hy9qMXZeaxCFpjeka6frIjIA/s400/DSC02465.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189804947376151042" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlrMKR44HO6d5R1NNVYZy8coIjHpJNa9KJyxZTlF56avEHzw4daT4jDHHHkxtyfC3Mm9hyphenhyphenwxgv4qDnUwZ7_V4pBJgOFwBOiIY_wH9xL8lxxCf8jFdUM8P5-ZFX2gbuWrlCZ5hyNeJJy4v/s1600-h/DSC02461.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlrMKR44HO6d5R1NNVYZy8coIjHpJNa9KJyxZTlF56avEHzw4daT4jDHHHkxtyfC3Mm9hyphenhyphenwxgv4qDnUwZ7_V4pBJgOFwBOiIY_wH9xL8lxxCf8jFdUM8P5-ZFX2gbuWrlCZ5hyNeJJy4v/s400/DSC02461.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189804951671118354" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-75162899907642141472008-04-16T03:39:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:42.041-08:00Locked upAs most of you probably know, Rach and I brought our cats out to Saipan with us. There is a mandatory quarantine out here (I'll be writing more about that process later) and the cats have to be locked up for a month. Here are some pics of their quarantine cage:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_aulsN-6qe2soq2O3gDsqwucbt5KXiAaYtp_GVJljAP-MJMkUQj8EWWOSo7u1b4Sm_7p23rhpbfcREp-BlcO6lIh60eMZxwYDSKrbeHedXXJUmi2GNYG4VsJQrVVGDpKv37VspXpoz_p/s1600-h/DSC02526.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_aulsN-6qe2soq2O3gDsqwucbt5KXiAaYtp_GVJljAP-MJMkUQj8EWWOSo7u1b4Sm_7p23rhpbfcREp-BlcO6lIh60eMZxwYDSKrbeHedXXJUmi2GNYG4VsJQrVVGDpKv37VspXpoz_p/s400/DSC02526.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189791761826552210" /></a><br />This is the enclosed area inside the enclosure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUELXT7t9QyLn6eoiNsXUImWjRzzzW-ZZ0T6sRoY6opr5HHgWAm-k6KjK4v8o3N3H2Jd20AHoouDqYCDmMi-axW3uMVDzKFJ3gBD73_RAgtZl4bxbmHbF5luagbXx77pr7L_ef70pB76fW/s1600-h/DSC02527.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUELXT7t9QyLn6eoiNsXUImWjRzzzW-ZZ0T6sRoY6opr5HHgWAm-k6KjK4v8o3N3H2Jd20AHoouDqYCDmMi-axW3uMVDzKFJ3gBD73_RAgtZl4bxbmHbF5luagbXx77pr7L_ef70pB76fW/s400/DSC02527.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189791774711454114" /></a><br />This is in the main open area of their cage looking towards their enclosed area. They only come out of that enclosed area when we are there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uJEeWhpQo7TZaX36V5cBN9LSVlqSDVJgocedQvA24Tw-1G5QdZUksppOXrkK4NTnLuGQAh23qc7MXYqvLI3US4svCgoaL7kWI7Jn_kkGCDfs3LE3PQop6xLWmlhyphenhyphenSzwEN-u4Jl_L8jBb/s1600-h/DSC02528.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uJEeWhpQo7TZaX36V5cBN9LSVlqSDVJgocedQvA24Tw-1G5QdZUksppOXrkK4NTnLuGQAh23qc7MXYqvLI3US4svCgoaL7kWI7Jn_kkGCDfs3LE3PQop6xLWmlhyphenhyphenSzwEN-u4Jl_L8jBb/s400/DSC02528.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189791779006421426" /></a><br />These are the double doors where we come in. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf21aQp47xvYZjxAI6sjlGw6UWFgd-f9_wAnXSxq3IPmmvMSR5EyZlkm_mDRdTCv7OCu5Zcc6m18M6m2f5vmY7TE6siOeRY9VNnN4JMSm-GGEfWlfvWMZC1mGaAuna5i5_59eiVXi34C6u/s1600-h/DSC02529.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf21aQp47xvYZjxAI6sjlGw6UWFgd-f9_wAnXSxq3IPmmvMSR5EyZlkm_mDRdTCv7OCu5Zcc6m18M6m2f5vmY7TE6siOeRY9VNnN4JMSm-GGEfWlfvWMZC1mGaAuna5i5_59eiVXi34C6u/s400/DSC02529.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189791787596356034" /></a><br />Rach has been visiting them everyday for the past month.<br /><br />But the good news is that they come home in two days.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-37939203235245072882008-04-16T03:24:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:44.495-08:00Village PicsIn response to some requests, here are some random pics of Garapan. Garapan is on Beach road and it is the tourist area of the island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQDZGBL7w6h-v2-NBMwKYkZeBLHY03ef6PorUFiBKJp5LDPnp-OJiLWbJPs5OUQ-RKSnofq5ZiQpnAAXF6yRlrcUJqa8iBrpvCEUAjvUP91xLhDderEx3SjUvDLL4sIvCl_bqEEdwubpJ/s1600-h/DSC02547.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQDZGBL7w6h-v2-NBMwKYkZeBLHY03ef6PorUFiBKJp5LDPnp-OJiLWbJPs5OUQ-RKSnofq5ZiQpnAAXF6yRlrcUJqa8iBrpvCEUAjvUP91xLhDderEx3SjUvDLL4sIvCl_bqEEdwubpJ/s400/DSC02547.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189788416047028482" /></a><br />Just a pic of the view looking south on Beach Road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_rASnyftDp1tRhHQimUsQLJ3xJIu7JZn9y4yBOjrx5Mg-vuTfGzWAepDWrxHQDkB84h2AHajMlCQ-55m1DdZ5SPuynbh9d2BwtAIsvcWBdWB8KIxcizDIAcTtTw_YeXuT5gDQkZ8PWKt/s1600-h/DSC02548.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_rASnyftDp1tRhHQimUsQLJ3xJIu7JZn9y4yBOjrx5Mg-vuTfGzWAepDWrxHQDkB84h2AHajMlCQ-55m1DdZ5SPuynbh9d2BwtAIsvcWBdWB8KIxcizDIAcTtTw_YeXuT5gDQkZ8PWKt/s400/DSC02548.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189788420341995794" /></a><br />This is Wild Bill's restaurant, our favorite place to eat on Saipan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMsIlc2bA_JPwhIQSwGbtZAcnpqUikpEEG2SJeM0yVho9vSkAXceqlNTCq8PP-gEzjxoDSig7BbrnkdUBb4X1LfdF8ojMheagSkSIQh8V8vrZ7Cx654JW8C5_o0DAuVDbDvz6_k_jgTVQ/s1600-h/DSC02550.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMsIlc2bA_JPwhIQSwGbtZAcnpqUikpEEG2SJeM0yVho9vSkAXceqlNTCq8PP-gEzjxoDSig7BbrnkdUBb4X1LfdF8ojMheagSkSIQh8V8vrZ7Cx654JW8C5_o0DAuVDbDvz6_k_jgTVQ/s400/DSC02550.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189788420341995810" /></a><br />Another look of some of the buildings on Beach Road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeFHLCI-AAeLOE4Xe3dyX78Gyy2PtUIcSrB3-iEhLU9F-taX1NLOZoGcVLQMAI60-powBELBf8xU6pHgVKogJ-OhU_ce9P_lKKODM8PgfH1vsTtMrLJOHHPA63UKlrv8CUdGwhpFEd4D0/s1600-h/DSC02553.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeFHLCI-AAeLOE4Xe3dyX78Gyy2PtUIcSrB3-iEhLU9F-taX1NLOZoGcVLQMAI60-powBELBf8xU6pHgVKogJ-OhU_ce9P_lKKODM8PgfH1vsTtMrLJOHHPA63UKlrv8CUdGwhpFEd4D0/s400/DSC02553.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189788424636963122" /></a><br />Random shopping center on Beach Road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjyhk4V3XzHPMttHciS_9DBtQh4VDKU73xg-29OQq8wbK62MoJDyy8Vr6S4SGnDgO9hFR8AWnSsruj1A91C5J0cPBCOUv6NuUdLvHmQv_ZNx8ovX6EzwsmmtAgOS63eHI6jH7TS2Y7Kue/s1600-h/DSC02554.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjyhk4V3XzHPMttHciS_9DBtQh4VDKU73xg-29OQq8wbK62MoJDyy8Vr6S4SGnDgO9hFR8AWnSsruj1A91C5J0cPBCOUv6NuUdLvHmQv_ZNx8ovX6EzwsmmtAgOS63eHI6jH7TS2Y7Kue/s400/DSC02554.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189788424636963138" /></a><br />Hard Rock Saipan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr7SroNBOJeFbjdgK6-_9KSagjpPyAl73oVSFhhRruTacR4aK4zOFmwv6Wb0wqgaxDKbgQk7haMxsAuJmkdvsg268HhcxNveXeMmCtaJ4o2Nao9gWn75RNK5ondTxGxLSllqtDbVPQT4x/s1600-h/DSC02566.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr7SroNBOJeFbjdgK6-_9KSagjpPyAl73oVSFhhRruTacR4aK4zOFmwv6Wb0wqgaxDKbgQk7haMxsAuJmkdvsg268HhcxNveXeMmCtaJ4o2Nao9gWn75RNK5ondTxGxLSllqtDbVPQT4x/s400/DSC02566.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189789257860618578" /></a><br />Just a random shot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq_6i81KT7SjDKAR6t3GzvJbL-AsQvzVMnRcnTtBRuMie9WAtTcuHSB-BSwiRx6jDEU8wzo1WXbyn6-lTOXRwqhob69eWHqLse52gA6Kml7Om59LGMKt7H1_oU_w3lcUOEyBZp9jMsWnW/s1600-h/DSC02569.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq_6i81KT7SjDKAR6t3GzvJbL-AsQvzVMnRcnTtBRuMie9WAtTcuHSB-BSwiRx6jDEU8wzo1WXbyn6-lTOXRwqhob69eWHqLse52gA6Kml7Om59LGMKt7H1_oU_w3lcUOEyBZp9jMsWnW/s400/DSC02569.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189789262155585890" /></a><br />A department store where we were shopping for a mattress.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11AwdAh3wGh2327QfT5NFZw-3eCJXhTIOt5iMSBmrotdM4M4nAtdBEeRpkbT-POHJ7_55n7F6ooYrsYjlbTgziUiwrr593aG8i4sCH4iLxHrQpSQe0nkEpD6GhpaZjWSiR_6HIan4mfNt/s1600-h/DSC02573.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11AwdAh3wGh2327QfT5NFZw-3eCJXhTIOt5iMSBmrotdM4M4nAtdBEeRpkbT-POHJ7_55n7F6ooYrsYjlbTgziUiwrr593aG8i4sCH4iLxHrQpSQe0nkEpD6GhpaZjWSiR_6HIan4mfNt/s400/DSC02573.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189789266450553202" /></a><br />Our movie theater. But don't get excited - they are closing for good this week because they can't afford the rising power costs (Saipan residents pay the highest power fees of anywhere in the US)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BnS0GwtkylIhq6sDD21fYhn7HSjvI8pmsQhMwTsgmuIV5EbbeQy9ACQKVxQAxMy9FJQ3JNACD852fHFi9_eosO2uUp1fADpYFEMf5WfttK0klgVZiT27Fe8sFthcMNQNeDyYirvJGnLi/s1600-h/DSC02574.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BnS0GwtkylIhq6sDD21fYhn7HSjvI8pmsQhMwTsgmuIV5EbbeQy9ACQKVxQAxMy9FJQ3JNACD852fHFi9_eosO2uUp1fADpYFEMf5WfttK0klgVZiT27Fe8sFthcMNQNeDyYirvJGnLi/s400/DSC02574.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189789266450553218" /></a><br />This is our "Price Costco". Basically just a costco that doesn't charge a membership fee.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-15838819343985909542008-04-16T02:48:00.000-07:002008-12-11T08:45:46.758-08:00As requested...Its been really hectic lately with settling into our new place and starting work. But everyone has been emailing and asking for photos, so I'm uploading a few tonight. We'll post some better ones when we get a little free time.<br />These first few are some of our favorite place on the island, the beach:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGkmeGRaOugmEAKaj-wunPbJ2YNOYAJdFJdo65TT51kFKE0uMIGYTPitKCqpuy6Iu0nLzyNdVKx0c3MgvUcrcGUpnQVpUCWFjrKDKS30O4fbzfIuY072ASn4Ux_m6PqUlYou9__v_-YCl/s1600-h/DSC02544.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGkmeGRaOugmEAKaj-wunPbJ2YNOYAJdFJdo65TT51kFKE0uMIGYTPitKCqpuy6Iu0nLzyNdVKx0c3MgvUcrcGUpnQVpUCWFjrKDKS30O4fbzfIuY072ASn4Ux_m6PqUlYou9__v_-YCl/s400/DSC02544.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189779070198192178" /></a><br />In this first one you can see the tankers in the distance that are always anchored just beyond the reef.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbP5nB1zRhyV2dXvTQSuwrP7YDAB_zByLY9EWtBz-DW3YpQETJaSVHcFbHVXAgklQi3zfuG_U7BbdX4mlkWAvGh87XQaPNwwiyF1xRBAMfU9zEj-0Ry0XS9FMhpUgzn3neu8mZO7o1Fiv/s1600-h/DSC02545.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbP5nB1zRhyV2dXvTQSuwrP7YDAB_zByLY9EWtBz-DW3YpQETJaSVHcFbHVXAgklQi3zfuG_U7BbdX4mlkWAvGh87XQaPNwwiyF1xRBAMfU9zEj-0Ry0XS9FMhpUgzn3neu8mZO7o1Fiv/s400/DSC02545.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189780500422301762" /></a><br />The beach right across the street from the Courthouse where I work. I come over here for lunch alot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkQzyOtgenNP1vxUCcmuTNg0PJAdcCbrxwBbZK87zJVL5D_9-vwd9VX9hvbs6V13IWXFM2-Jc8OzOVK76-d45fa9Q-fPS-E0Zw6u-aZrWjFDc0PjKIqLt5H1_706LL1NnP2fy0k0p6W2J/s1600-h/DSC02515.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkQzyOtgenNP1vxUCcmuTNg0PJAdcCbrxwBbZK87zJVL5D_9-vwd9VX9hvbs6V13IWXFM2-Jc8OzOVK76-d45fa9Q-fPS-E0Zw6u-aZrWjFDc0PjKIqLt5H1_706LL1NnP2fy0k0p6W2J/s400/DSC02515.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189780517602170962" /></a><br />This is one of the many WWII tanks that are resting in the shallow parts of the lagoon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtoeVfENmTwLtw_7zwKx5YFtMzFNbgkOpfAW4Nd8vieBBl2I_oEH3GsxqQriuicbWTuJ4AG2TKO8LSnXuBtqxkmpPF1_MQ4RCI3i2hsr-TfkcVDUXFbW3onClPwACT2Y8xhAhkLJcSpph/s1600-h/DSC02541.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtoeVfENmTwLtw_7zwKx5YFtMzFNbgkOpfAW4Nd8vieBBl2I_oEH3GsxqQriuicbWTuJ4AG2TKO8LSnXuBtqxkmpPF1_MQ4RCI3i2hsr-TfkcVDUXFbW3onClPwACT2Y8xhAhkLJcSpph/s400/DSC02541.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189780517602170978" /></a><br />The view from the sidewalk on Beach Street.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2VZx-dvgFYyUPaSmiJeTo-4_82KCg3Z9qjM42ziYzKmRc5RH4uEkE7OvDA8WDHXyq0WqmbhADWWrwzeVOOmMikZlY4Lfjffrdrhhy-NDT52ITrPK7o-mmI6E0Beb8KavAIw-bHW8pYeF/s1600-h/DSC02531.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2VZx-dvgFYyUPaSmiJeTo-4_82KCg3Z9qjM42ziYzKmRc5RH4uEkE7OvDA8WDHXyq0WqmbhADWWrwzeVOOmMikZlY4Lfjffrdrhhy-NDT52ITrPK7o-mmI6E0Beb8KavAIw-bHW8pYeF/s400/DSC02531.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189780517602170994" /></a><br />A Saipan sunset.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fhx_3PqpQcTwMIq8soGY0GYEaoadTjsfEOCL2TVFeIii3_zBBenPEfQqDikmvLxXIYKt7gco6cZUX34elpcqN5VMr2iJ2LpE-23OXNY7HPR-FnFN8uSBZaSsqtxwbfjK_IIBBu1eDXTN/s1600-h/DSC02560.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fhx_3PqpQcTwMIq8soGY0GYEaoadTjsfEOCL2TVFeIii3_zBBenPEfQqDikmvLxXIYKt7gco6cZUX34elpcqN5VMr2iJ2LpE-23OXNY7HPR-FnFN8uSBZaSsqtxwbfjK_IIBBu1eDXTN/s400/DSC02560.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189782939963725954" /></a><br />This is a restaurant on Beach road. The area in the middle is where you sit to eat. You sit on mats rather than chairs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW_b6CRWZhaH4ySyfwSa2q44e7Hq-8bqtk6ynjb2sOYFkywsJBxQPc17kNcILK4eeEf1LtHSjeF_Wdp1dcpKqMJme2PKXMpuiJQZ4pKrZDEH4FdcCiq9JXVjrvb2xPbIrBfwVsKyecxlx/s1600-h/DSC02561.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW_b6CRWZhaH4ySyfwSa2q44e7Hq-8bqtk6ynjb2sOYFkywsJBxQPc17kNcILK4eeEf1LtHSjeF_Wdp1dcpKqMJme2PKXMpuiJQZ4pKrZDEH4FdcCiq9JXVjrvb2xPbIrBfwVsKyecxlx/s400/DSC02561.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189782948553660562" /></a><br />Eating some Japanese food.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYStKcc3ny95uytVAbyYmxTFNiSjPeqx-HOayd8j_LadxHFSfmJuK0n0iKN_QoBHH1Rd-Z6qS-VXQ1fO0vq0bLT7MZwuVkCFQjrl1XNQWgQoBmQJLxUjkWcXcqO0QGkwGEW1KJRmnKuliB/s1600-h/DSC02575.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYStKcc3ny95uytVAbyYmxTFNiSjPeqx-HOayd8j_LadxHFSfmJuK0n0iKN_QoBHH1Rd-Z6qS-VXQ1fO0vq0bLT7MZwuVkCFQjrl1XNQWgQoBmQJLxUjkWcXcqO0QGkwGEW1KJRmnKuliB/s400/DSC02575.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189782948553660578" /></a><br />This is Godfather's bar; where we go on weekends to here some great live music.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABPL_AAgnvs3sBitqbOBn4rwQxWbWUFCXN8fT2m-KV_cxCDjYfkHP7P3AqhzntEVXBbEWVePncQQpr9J9VWS4e177eAZeJCqsXkrS2zHrWzqR7-NPTRyUict1HrJMyT8o-2w80GhDe0qe/s1600-h/DSC02578.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABPL_AAgnvs3sBitqbOBn4rwQxWbWUFCXN8fT2m-KV_cxCDjYfkHP7P3AqhzntEVXBbEWVePncQQpr9J9VWS4e177eAZeJCqsXkrS2zHrWzqR7-NPTRyUict1HrJMyT8o-2w80GhDe0qe/s400/DSC02578.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189782952848627890" /></a><br />Our backyard is cut straight out of the jungle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzavMQKdxTE3kNiTqDjutI5mVRFVbjU5GXoQpMAsHmqFMAiNx1N_l1v6PHq2IBYsZlEwwDOP0Ci7nLeCQt8P5B6fvx7F0v4syGAr9xtqjr_S7EYnLbyHOwTir_pJlXtr4ZVmRgulUiIi2V/s1600-h/DSC_0254.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzavMQKdxTE3kNiTqDjutI5mVRFVbjU5GXoQpMAsHmqFMAiNx1N_l1v6PHq2IBYsZlEwwDOP0Ci7nLeCQt8P5B6fvx7F0v4syGAr9xtqjr_S7EYnLbyHOwTir_pJlXtr4ZVmRgulUiIi2V/s400/DSC_0254.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189782952848627906" /></a><br />The rest of these are the view from our front deck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9KrmRvcoUefhue6OEF9Ch2vfCux8kg-yk_c599NKXo05G0elogA058D5nJOty3OOAEYbhAZb9YTLw9ds4WREzfT-OFEIpyqhfuEunr9YJZiEtF2GgfQPNbU54VDhXKX4EoT0TMTyDFh9/s1600-h/DSC_0257.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9KrmRvcoUefhue6OEF9Ch2vfCux8kg-yk_c599NKXo05G0elogA058D5nJOty3OOAEYbhAZb9YTLw9ds4WREzfT-OFEIpyqhfuEunr9YJZiEtF2GgfQPNbU54VDhXKX4EoT0TMTyDFh9/s400/DSC_0257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189784121079732434" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE2FMwvbTBZ8cD1C6Y7nVmWo064xeC9c21qmKGkIdoA3sbVAMq6ERZEn0z0nljjI06euMms15hg_FX5XVtbjTtkAB_t114UpRNHDtV4t-GfqQXrtZKtQ4yvZH50i0oY4ZKTnzClnq_65R/s1600-h/DSC_0258.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE2FMwvbTBZ8cD1C6Y7nVmWo064xeC9c21qmKGkIdoA3sbVAMq6ERZEn0z0nljjI06euMms15hg_FX5XVtbjTtkAB_t114UpRNHDtV4t-GfqQXrtZKtQ4yvZH50i0oY4ZKTnzClnq_65R/s400/DSC_0258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189784121079732450" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vqLHv3bwPTZI_ewbyGBtl4T7_U-boYsaRjT1Rh8K8dd3kt7p1HnPg5yIl6g7FoX7u8YXNnpDB8gte-lAoz-Bjoot8Q4CQZTUoiLQg4s6s1T5lIzmhqXPbNiopOc07VeFli5LXlshMpsM/s1600-h/DSC_0259.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vqLHv3bwPTZI_ewbyGBtl4T7_U-boYsaRjT1Rh8K8dd3kt7p1HnPg5yIl6g7FoX7u8YXNnpDB8gte-lAoz-Bjoot8Q4CQZTUoiLQg4s6s1T5lIzmhqXPbNiopOc07VeFli5LXlshMpsM/s400/DSC_0259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189784125374699762" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-270624933499354232008-04-10T04:40:00.000-07:002008-04-11T11:20:38.387-07:00Saipan?!? Did you accidentally misspell Spain or something?A little background is needed before we really get into the meat of this blog. Almost every single person I know responded to the news that we were leaving by saying "Huh? Saipan? Where is that?". So here's the low down on our new home:<br /><br />The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands<br /><br />. . . is a chain of islands between the Philippine Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. The three main inhabited islands are Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. Saipan is the main island. The climate is tropical year-round and the average daytime temperature ranges in the mid-high 80s fahrenheit.<br /><br />. . . indigenous peoples are the Chamorro and Carolinians. The official languages of the CNMI are Chamorro, Carolinian, and English.<br /><br />. . . was established in political union with the United States of America. The Covenant that established the political union was approved on March 24, 1976 (48 U.S.C. ยง 1801 et seq.) and took full effect on November 3, 1986 (Presidential Proclamation No. 5564). Presidential Proclamation No. 5564 declared that persons born in the Northern Mariana Islands, with limited exceptions, are citizens of the United States of America.<br /><br />. . . has it's own Constitution, just as the 50 U.S. states do. However, unlike the 50 U.S. states, not all of the provisions of the U.S. Constitution are applicable in the CNMI. <br /><br />. . . uses only one U.S. Postal Service zip code - 96950 - throughout the CNMI. Similarly, only one telephone area code - (670) - applies throughout the CNMI. Postal mail and phone calls to the CNMI are domestic U.S. mail/calls and not international.<br /><br />(summary courtesy of http://www.cnmilaw.org/aboutcnmi.htm)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413457670855446531.post-55259382353880814722008-04-10T04:32:00.000-07:002008-04-10T04:40:33.324-07:00Welcome to Saipan!Hello and welcome to our first blog posting! When Rach and I first started preparing for our move to Saipan, we were both struck at how interested everyone was. Beyond family and close friends, even random people that we had to explain our situation too (like people changing our address at the post office or the guy cutting off our cell phone service) were full of questions about our upcoming adventure. And when we left, everyone unanimously demanded that we send them constant updates, photos, weather reports, etc, on a regular basis. So we thought, being somewhat lazy by nature, that posting to one blog would be easier then all those assorted emails. So here we are. Enjoy and keep in touch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0