Saipan

Saipan, a United States Commonwealth, 70 miles north of Guam. Once a holding of Japan and the sceen of some bloody battles in WWII. We found old Pill Boxes, tanks and cannons. There are several war Memorials around the island. This was a Pill Box build onto a limestone cave. The holes from cannons were pretty cool.

I traveled with other nurses from GMH. I'm finally starting work tomorrow.

Saipan has lots of bars that men pay $40 per cocktail for female "companionship". Also, massage parlors that do legitiment massage but for a small fee, men get a "happy ending".

Suicide Cliff; Japanese soldiers jumped to their deaths rather than surrendering. The watery cliff pictures are Banzi Cliff, where dozens of families including children jumped because they heard the Americans would tourture and rape captives.

I ate Spam Sushi for the first time, not bad. Don't know what type of eggs these were, but the Japanese loved them.

We dove the Grotto, the #2 best cave dive in the world. I got temporary anchor tattoo because I feel I'm a real scuba diver after such a technical dive. We saw a baby shark, amazing coral formations and Feather Coral. I'm called the 'bottom dweller' because I'm deeper than the rest. I like to see creaters and take pictures.

Flowers in bowls all over the hotel.

Piti Bomb Hole Preserve

I had internet problems with the last photos. Nothing I wrote posted.

I snorkeled at Fish Eye, the funny blue tube sticking out of the water. Piti Bomb Hole Preserve is the bay. It was belived the holes and caverns in the ocean floor and coral formations were caused by the American bombing of Guam in 1944. All are natural formations where the fish live.

I saw coral formations I've never seen. I was afraid to touch anything with my body or flippers, I don't want to hurt anything. The coral was soft and moved with the current and waves. The more I explored I'm thinking all were huge anenomies. Not sure, but I will find out.

The fish were not afraid, they were curious. I was able to touch a few but when I laughed into my snorkel they scurried away only to return a little while later. Next time, I'm taking Vienna Sausages.

I continued south of Piti to explore more of the War in the Pacific memorials. Guam is different than people think. This island is beautiful.... with flowers, trees, beaches and people that aren't military. Yes, the Navy has a base on the south end and Anderson Airforce Base in on the north, but everything in between is beautiful.

Finally, the doctors have cleared me. I should start working ASAP. Superbowl Monday 0900, Bloody Marys all around.

Piti Bomb Hole Preserve

Harley

My heart is breaking. Harley is sick. For the past three weeks Sarah, Daniel and John have been caring for my very good friend. I wish I was home to care for him myself.

Harley, is unable to walk. They say he isn't in any pain, his appitite is good....but he can't walk. The vet, John & Sarah took him to thought it was Valley Fever or cancer. All labs came back normal. All x-rays came back normal. No arthritis or hip problems. He is 9 1/2, which is old for a Rottweiler. I miss my friend and am very worried.

Sarah is giving him medication and a special diet of chicken and rice for some GI irritation caused by Aleve, John ment well. They thought Harley's problems were arthritis so John gave him Aleve for stiffness, he didn't know.

Daniel thinks it's time to put him down, but Sarah wants to give him every opportunity. I wish I was home to help. My kids and friend needs me. I wish I could hold his paw and ease him to the next level. I miss him and I'm sorry for him. He was with me through so many good times and bad. He always loved me, laid with me in bed through cancer and divorce. I hope he dosen't suffer. What am I doing 6800 miles from home when my friend needs me?

Gab Gab Diving

My new friends, Amanda invited me to the Navy Base to go diving. We rented our equipment, $12.00 each for two days and $3 to refill our tanks. Gab Gab Beach is closed to the public. Prestine coral formations as far as I could see. It was a bummer my camera was fogged up and the water clarity wasn't the best, but I'm going back tomorrow.

Largest anenome I've ever seen. 4 x 4 feet

A tidbit of history...Guam

I think this was off a plane.
Guam Veterans Cemetary Vaults
I hiked to the top of the bay in a dress and flip flops, steep and wet.


Japanese cave looking in and looking out. I had to bend over it was only 5 feet tall.

Pictures of the American landing at Asan Beach. We bombed this part of the island for a week before the first man landed.

Two man Japanese sub that ran aground in Asan Bay one week after the Americans took the island back.

The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Dec 7, 1941, the Japanese invaded Guam. The locals, Camorros were tortured for information about the Americans that they were loyal to for many decades before. You see, we occupied Guam since the Spanish is the early 1800s.

World War II raged, thousands of soldiers around the world fought & died. In August 1943, it took two weeks for American to retake Guam. Hundreds of soliders were wounded and died for a stratigic chunk of land close to Japan.

It's been enlightening to explore here and see how Japan defended it's territory from the Americans. Just a few short weeks ago I was photographing the hugh pill boxesand giant cannons that shot missels five miles into the Pacific to protect San Francisco Bay from the Japanese. We diffenatly had bigger more advanced wepons. The Japanese has muscle & wepons for awhile but we kicked butt.

I understand there's a dive sight where I can touch two sunken ships at the same time, they are nearly bow to bow at 60 feet down, one from WW I the other WW II. This kind of stuff is why I travel.