Taste the Rainbow, an Ice Keki Rainbow

When I was a little boy on Saipan, oh so many years ago, a regular treat was to get ice keki on a hot day. Amazingly, the Chinen Ice Candy Store in Garapan is still around selling ice keki at the same location that I remember.

What is ice keki? Well, if you spent any part of your childhood on Saipan, you know what it is. For the uninitiated, it's an ice pop, like an otter pop sold in mainland supermarkets. For some reason though, it tastes so much better.

I've shared this experience with my kids and they love it. A mere suggestion of ice keki elicits screams of delight from the kiddos followed by requests for certain colors. Watching them down one (or two) ice keki draws a smile on my face. I know what they are feeling. It was yummy for me when I was a kid, and it still is yummy for me as a grown up.

Ice keki, another reason I Luv Saipan.

(hu guaiya hao mama)

Spending the day on Tinian

Taga Beach

This past weekend I made a trip to Tinian for my cousin's wedding ceremony.  My cousin and her family were looking beautiful just like the island of Tinian itself.  Tinian island is just south of Saipan.  You can see it from either atop Mt. Tapotchau or on the southern shores of Saipan.  The strait between Saipan's southern shores and Tinian's northern shores is less than 5 miles.  When I was younger I dreamed of kayaking across that strait.  But I've crossed it on a motor boat and those waves can be huge and scary.  I liken them to rolling foothills.

Nowadays, getting to Tinian is usually done via a 6-seat airplane.  Freedom Air will sell you a roundtrip ticket for $69.  No reservations necessary.  Just show up to the transit terminal 30 minutes prior to the hour and buy a ticket.  Flights go out to Tinian every hour.  However, if you're the only passenger on the flight, they may wait until another passenger shows up, so you could wait another hour before this happens.  Normally the morning and afternoon flights are the busiest.

Tinian has a lot of history.  It was converted into a naval airbase after the U.S. secured the Marianas during WWII, and it is famous for being the origin of departure for the Enola Gay and the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

House of Taga

Prior to WWII, during the ancient Chamorro period, Tinian was home to a legendary Chamorro chief named Taga.  His Latte house was the largest found standing in the Marianas.  My grandfather's house sits across from Taga's. I could see it just beyond the road from my grandfather's doorsteps.  I remember my father telling me the legends of Taga and his feats of strength as well as the haunting story of his daughter.  If you smell the sweet fragrance of plumeria at night, Taga's daughter is roaming the area looking for her lover.  I have smelled the fragrance at night where it was there for a minute or two and then it was gone and then I recall that story.  Goosebumps.

Present day Tinian has a casino, the Tinian Dynasty, and a great beach called Taga Beach.  It's a popular beach with the locals.  You'll see a lot of kids diving from the rocks into the clear water below.  Take a drive up to the North Field and visit the atomic bomb memorial.  There's a lot of history to take in. 

On this day though, I didn't have time to see all the sites.  I visited my uncle and my grandmother.  I attended my cousin's wedding, and wished her and her new husband many blessings on their new life together.  Such a beautiful couple, such a beautiful family, and such a beautiful island.  Tinian.

Enjoy more pictures of Tinian.



Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

(hu guaiya hao mama)

Local Handcrafted Carvings

Over the past several weeks I've been working with a local artist to help create some marketing material for his work.  His name is Martin Castro and he has created some beautiful jewelry and carvings made from shells, bone, horns, and stone.

You can check out his blog/website called Memoirs of a Shell Carver to see some of his current works of art.  Below are some of the pictures I took for him at his workshop and at the beach.






Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

I first ran across Martin at the Flame Tree Festival where he was selling his pendants, jewelry, and carvings.  Other carvers and artists were there at the Festival as well.  All equally impressive.  These artists hold on to the traditions of the local culture and they showcase the beauty of things found right here on Saipan and the Mariana Islands.

These handcrafted carvings are exquisite and I take great pride in knowing they are made by skilled hands right here on Saipan.  And yes, this is another reason why I Luv Saipan.

(hu guaiya hao mama)

Thursday Night Lights

What do you do on a Thursday night?  Watch TV?  Go to bed early?  Well on Saipan, there's the Street Market.  It's a venue in Garapan where the street fronting the Fiesta Resort and Hyatt hotels are closed to through traffic.  Tents are setup on the street where you'll find vendors selling prepared food, produce, and merchandise.  There's usually some form of entertainment as well, where local students or groups dance, sing, or do some kind of performance.

The Street Market is bustling with tourists and locals.  It's the most crowded you'll see a street get on Saipan.  The smell of the BBQ will make your mouth water.  The fresh fruit and produce will tempt your eyes.  The vendors selling Thai, Filipino, and Chinese cuisine will offer 5 choices for $5 dollars.  An excellent deal in my book.  You'll even find Chamorro food and hand made handicrafts.

Every so often, I take my family down to the Street Market to grab dinner.  My kids' favorites are the BBQ sticks and pearl shakes.  We never leave the Street Market without picking up BBQ sticks.  For me, I look for the Chamorro food, especially tamales gisu.

If you're ever on Saipan, get to the Street Market on Thursday night, grab something to eat and just people watch.  It's an I Luv Saipan experience.

To see more pics of the Street Market, click on the image above.

(hu guaiya hao mama)

Christmas on Saipan

It has been a while since my last post.  With the Christmas holidays, New Year's, and getting into the 2011 groove, things have been quite busy for me.  Although we're now a few weeks removed from the holiday season, I want to share a little bit of the goings on in Saipan around Christmas-time.

Some say it doesn't feel like Christmas if it's not cold and snowing, but I think cold and snow on Christmas is way overrated.  Sure a few minutes out in the snow is fun -- throwing snowballs and making a snow man -- but, after your hands burn from the snow and the cold air burns in your lungs, you end up wanting to go inside to warm up.  For me, I'd rather be warm and feel the sunshine on my skin while wearing nothing but a t-shirt, shorts, and zoris (flip flops).  I'd choose a warm breezy day at the beach during Christmas break over 30 minutes of playing in the snow.

There are a few Christmas traditions here on Saipan that I've come to enjoy.  The first being The Niño.  The Niño, or baby Jesus, comes to the homes in each parish community on Christmas day.  You'll hear Chamorro Christmas songs being played loudly in the street while a group of kids and adults take The Niño to each home.  If you're Catholic, you welcome The Niño into your home and place him in your Nativity scene or on a nicely decorated table, with candles lit.  Everyone in the home kisses The Niño's feet (it's more of a sniff) and then a prayer is said.  For my family we thank the Lord for the gift of his only son to mankind and we thank Jesus for the blessings he's given throughout the year.  After our prayer, we give The Niño back to the folks outside, along with a donation to the Church and some snacks (usually some pastries and juice).  The Niño comes to your home a few more times after Christmas Day, which usually are on the Sundays (after morning mass) between Christmas and New Year's Day, and then on New Year's Day.

Another Christmas tradition I've come to enjoy on Saipan is the Christmas tree competition held at the Paseo de Marianas.  Different elementary schools across the island decorate a Christmas tree in the Paseo using only recycled items.  The trees are always beautiful and the kids are very creative.  Each tree is judged and the winning schools get cash donations.  It's a great fundraising event for them.  Plus, it's a great way to decorate the Paseo with the little hands of kids from the different communities of Saipan.  Walking down the Paseo looking at each of these decorated trees is a favorite thing for my family to do.

Finally, another Christmas tradition is the lighting of the huge, albeit artificial, tree at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.  This year, the tree also included a large nativity scene, which was nice to see.  In the past, the tree was decorated with large presents and reindeer.  Seeing this large tree lit up at night while driving down Beach Road always brought cheers in my car as my kids point out the pretty lights.

Christmas in Saipan is a wonderful time.  It brings with it some unique traditions.  These traditions are more reasons why I Luv Saipan.

To see more pics, click on image above.

(hu guaiya hao mama)

Lunar Eclipse on Dec 21, 2010

It was another beautiful clear night this evening and my wife happened to notice the moon start to change color.  She called to me and pointed out the moon and said it looks like an eclipse is happening.  We both had read over the weekend about an upcoming lunar eclipse, but I thought we had missed it on Saipan or that it was only in North America.  Lucky for us, and thanks to my wife's keen observation, we got to witness the total Lunar Eclipse of 2010.  It was amazing seeing the moon turn orange on a clear starry night on Saipan.  Another memory captured and another reason I Luv Saipan!

Click on the image above to see more pictures of the lunar eclipse.

(hu guaiya hao mama)

The Stars Come Out At Night

Back on the Mainland U.S., I lived in cities where it was hard to see all the stars in the night sky.  The only time I was able to see the stars was when I made a trip to the mountains.  Here on Saipan, on almost every night, one can gaze upward and see the millions of stars in the sky.  And all one needs to do is walk outside of their home and look up.  Saipan's starry nights, it's just another reason why I Luv Saipan.

The video and photos are taken from my backyard.  It'll give you an idea of what you see in the starry nights of Saipan.

Click on image to see more photos.

(hu guaiya hao mama)

Atop Mt. Tapotchau

Mt. Tapotchau is the highest point on Saipan. At 1554 ft. (474 meters) from sea level, it offers a fantastic panorama of the island, the surrounding ocean, and neighboring islands.  On a clear day, you can see Aguiguan (Goat Island) just beyond Tinian to the south.  On a crystal clear day, you can see Anatahan to the northwest, and Farallon de Mendinilla to the north. 

(Lake Susupe, Tinian, Aguiguan in the distance)

(If you squint, you can see the silhouette of Anatahan in the distance)

The road up to Mt. Tapotchau is rough, bumpy, and steep at certain points, but the reward that awaits you, especially during the golden hours of sunset and sunrise, is well worth it.  You'll need a 4x4 to get up there without any trouble, but I've seen, with amazement, sedans going up the road.  

(The road up to Mt. Tapotchau)

At the very top a statue of Jesus looks westward, watching over the people of Saipan.  On Good Friday, the Catholic church leads its parishioners up the mountain before sunrise.  Many people, myself included, also make it up to Mt. Tapotchau on New Year's Day before sunrise to catch the first dawn of the year.

Standing atop Mt. Tapochau is a must for anyone visiting or living on Saipan.  Experiencing the sun rise and set from this vantage is breathtaking.  If you're there at sunset, don't leave after the sun goes down.  Wait a little while for the lights to turn on around Saipan.  It's the cherry on top.

(Garapan at dusk)

With it's magnificent views, Mt. Tapotchau is another reason why I Luv Saipan.

For more photos atop Mt. Tapotchau, click on the image above

(hu guiaya hao mama)

I Luv Rota Too

Rota is two islands (3 if you count uninhabited Goat Island - Aguiguan ) south of Saipan, or just one island north of Guam.  From Saipan, it's a 30 minute plane ride on Freedom Air.

My mother was born and buried on Rota.  She always said, "Rota is beautiful."  I used to think that was just a home island bias, but after spending some time on Rota to bury my mom and to visit her grave, I agree with her.  You were right, Mom, Rota is beautiful.

My mother's favorite place on Rota was the Bird Sanctuary.  I finally saw it for myself just recently, and it became my favorite too.  I would even go further and say that the Bird Sanctuary on Rota is the most beautiful spot in the CNMI.  I could spend hours there.

Every car that drives by you'll see a hand raise up and wave.  Everyone is friendly.  And if you have family on Rota, forget about it.  Be prepared to eat and be given things to take back with you.

The beaches are pristine.  The natural beauty enchants you.  You'll leave Rota thinking when you can come back and visit again.  Rota truly is Nature's Treasure Island as it's welcome sign on the road from the airport shares with you.

After the recent visits, I must admit, I Luv Rota too!

To see more photos, click on the above image.

(hu guaiya hao mama)

Trick-or-Treat: Halloween on Saipan

There's just something about Halloween that gets everyone excited.  For kids, it's all about the candy and goodies.  The costume is secondary.  For single adults, it's a chance to party in disguise.  For parents of young kids, it's all about the smiles on kids faces.

My memories of Halloween on Saipan date back to the 70's when the only place to go trick-or-treating was Capitol Hill.  At the time, that's where all the Trust Territory government housing was located.  The streets were paved (a rarity at that time) and most of the families that lived there gave out candy. 

Since I've moved back to Saipan from San Diego, I've got to experience the new "Capitol Hill" of my childhood years, and it's called Tottotville.  I live in this neighborhood.  I moved into a house that my sister owns and she warned me about Halloween.  She said, "Tons of kids come, so be prepared."  Boy she wasn't kidding.  That first Halloween in Tottotville was nuts.  It seemed like a couple thousand kids rolled through the neighborhood trick-or-treating.  Each year after that, we've had at least a thousand kids trick-or-treating in Tottotville on Halloween. 

Recently, a new trick-or-treating event has gained popularity called Trunk-or-Treat, and it's held at American Memorial Park from 4pm-7pm on Halloween.  Different organizations signup to hand out candy from the trunks of their cars in the parking lot in front of the visitor's center.  This year, we checked it out and it drew the same amount of kids as Tottotville.  Funny enough, I saw some of the same kids at the Trunk-or-Treat later on at Tottotville while we were handing out candy there.  Smart kids!

Anyway, I love Halloween on Saipan.  I love handing out candy to kids.  I love asking about their costumes.  I love hearing the young voices yelling, "Trick-or-Treat!"  Or saying, "Thank you!"  Or shouting, "Happy Halloween!"  The kicker though is to see their eyes get wide and their smile appear when I drop some candy in their bag, pail, or hand.

Yep, it's just another reason I Luv Saipan.

(hu guaiya hao mama)

Butterflies (and Caterpillars)

Over the past couple of weeks and up until now, if you happen to stop to smell the roses, you'll notice that there are many butterflies floating about.  Drive down any road, or gaze at a flowering bush, or look into canopy trees, and you'll see many black butterflies with white polka dots, or yellow butterflies, or orange monarchs fluttering in the air.  Give them more than a passing fancy and you'll observe that they are often dancing with one another.  If you're lucky, and you are careful to tread quietly, you may find them clustered together as if they were gossiping about the day's events.

They are all beautiful, but I think the prettiest of them all are the tiny little tan-gray butterflies that upon closer examination have spectacular designs on their wings.  Ahh, the little things always surprise you with their beauty!

In the trees (and shrubs) around my house, there are many caterpillars and many chrysalises.  The ficus tree out in our front yard is looking like a Christmas tree with all the chrysalises hanging like ornaments from it's leaves.  My family collected a couple of the chrysalises to see what type of butterfly will come out from them.  It's a great little experiment we're conducting and the kids (including myself) are just waiting impatiently.

In the past couple of years, I've been fortunate enough to capture these beautiful butterflies in photos and videos.  I'm not quite sure how many cycles Saipan has with it's butterflies, but looking back at my photos and videos, they seem to come out in force in September and October.

Butterflies (and caterpillars), they're a subtle part of this beautiful island, and another reason why I Luv Saipan.

(mouse over and click on a pic to see a larger size of the image) Get this widget at roytanck.com

This is one of my very first videos I've put together starring the tiny beautiful butterfly that happened to fly into my kitchen.

(hu guaiya hao mama)