Island Explorer: Amid the pillars of a historic house

Stone monoliths are among the mysterious attractions in the Pacific Islands, and CNMI has got a fair share of these stone edifices that has existed and weathered the elements of nature for years. The stone monoliths play a special role in the islands as though the people wanted to leave something to remind the future generations that centuries before, they existed.

The House of Taga on Tinian is one example of these monoliths. In fact, it is one of CNMI’s main attractions as visitors spread the word about its strange and unfathomable existence.

The huge pillars of stone which people of long ago had industriously and painstakingly hewn out of solid rock or reef corals were supposed to be the foundations of an elevated structure or meeting house.

According to Tinian representative Edwin Aldan who volunteered to give me and my buddies a tour of the island, the pillars were believed to be the base or foundations of the house of Taga, a 17th century Chamorro leader who possess great strength and wisdom. He was known for aiding Spaniards who were shipwrecked in the island. Legend has it that when the last of these group of latte stones fall down, the famous Chamorro leader will return to Tinian.

Even in broad daylight, it felt strange and kind of eerie to be walking around the huge slabs of stones that had been mute witnesses of the events of long ago. If the stones can talk, they would have so much to tell, more than enough to fill volumes.

A visit to Tinian will never be complete if you miss out this famous edifice that is located right at Tinian’s central area in San Jose. It is readily accessible to anybody who will spare a few minutes to drop by and marvel at this piece of history that will be here for a long time.

This article was originally published HERE

An afternoon’s escape at Tachogna Beach

IN one of my trips to the scenic island of Tinian, I grabbed the chance to escape and do some exploring on my own one late afternoon as my companions were emerged in a fierce battle with the one-cent slot machines.

A leisurely stroll from the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino on that bright afternoon led me to Tachogna Beach, a few meters south of Tinian’s famous Taga Beach.

Save for a few cottages, the beach is still unmarred by changes brought about by modernization and has retained its natural scenery.

A stress-free atmosphere pervades the place. It’s an entirely different world out there, as though time stands still and nothing else exists except for the long stretch of white sandy beach, the endless, blue skies and the shouts of glee as children chased each other to the sea. Anytime of the day, parents and kids can be seen frolicking in the sand.

Tachogna Beach is an ideal spot for get-togethers, picnics, or simply for hanging out. The coconut trees on the seashore provide an excellent shade to individuals who just want to unwind.

The beach is the venue for the Tinian hot pepper festival which never fails to draw huge crowds each year.

Taghogna Beach is Tinian’s best spot for snorkeling with its crystal clear waters which continue to lure not only tourists from all parts of the world but locals, too.

For several months now, I had been combing the island’s famous and not-so-famous beaches, nooks and crannies and writing about it to urge the residents to look at the beauty of this place with new eyes.

When you are on the island of Tinian, try to spend a few minutes of your time to visit Tachogna Beach, and one tip—time your visit in the late afternoon and you will be in for a very wonderful experience of seeing the sunset at Tachogna Beach. It’s one of Tinian’s unequalled wonders.

This article was originally published HERE

MORE PHOTOS HERE

A sunrise treat at Marine Beach

For nocturnal beings whose deepest and sweetest sleep starts just when the rest of the world is getting up, a sunrise is a rare treat, and living all the way up in Dandan requires you to really get up earlier if you are planning to catch the sun rise on the other side of the island.

We drove straight to Marine Beach in Kagman on Saturday just as pink and orange streaks were blotting the sky, slowly devouring the darkness. Only a few cars were on the road yet but we hurried on, passing Chacha Road and in no time we were on the sloping rough road before reaching Marine Beach.

I jumped out of the car even before it came to a complete stop in the parking lot, forgetting the tripod as I hurried to the beach. A strong wind was blowing, and I mean “strong winds” which threatened to blow me away effortlessly. Except for a couple of teenagers and a flock of birds who were scouring the shores for food, we had the whole place to ourselves

Alas, the sun was nowhere and in fact, dark clouds started to gather in the skies. Beginning to get discouraged, I turned my attention to the gigantic waves crashing on the rocks.

The sun was just maybe testing my patience for lo and behold, although it was not the full, round sun I’ve always dreamed of seeing, it was the sun just the same, slowly inching its way up from the horizon. I stood gaping, knowing that the moment would not last long. Before I knew it, the sun was already up in the sky and I’ve snapped just a few photos.

I found capturing the rising sun through the lens a real challenge. Twice last month I had sacrificed and groped my way out of the house before five o’clock in the morning to proceed to the Bird Island lookout where somebody told me “offers the best view of the sunrise.”

Both times we were disappointed because the sun refused to cooperate with our sleep-befuddled system. On the first morning, there was a slight drizzle, and on the second time dark clouds hang over the skies, blocking out any chance of seeing the sun.

What’s so special with a sunrise anyway? It arises everyday, we all know that but try catching those few precious moments when it makes its grand entrance into the world and you will witness one of nature’s spectacular wonders.

Marine Beach is not ideal for swimming because the current is so strong and the waves so high you would be swept out to sea any minute, but the place is perfect for hanging out.

This article was first published HERE

Twilight at the Fishing Base

My most favorite moment in a day is when the sun begins to set, signaling the end of another day and the moon begins its journey to the skies to rein when darkness falls.

Perched on the hood of a car, I waited with the shutter poised, savoring each second before capturing what I wanted through the lens—the sunset and a moon half-hidden in the clouds. The tide is still out but at the dock there is a flurry of activities. While some boats are quickly closing the gap between the sea and the dock where where pick up trucks are waiting to tow them home, some are preparing to go out fishing for the night.

Transitions are taking place and it’s a wonderful feeling to be an observer of it all.

I was not at some exotic dream location whiling away time and splurging my hard-earned money but at a place known to everybody which is just a few minute’s walk from the road — the Fishing Base in Garapan.

The place is a favorite hangout of many. A visit to the place at noontime will reveal cars parked under the shade of the trees while its passengers are having lunch break or a few minutes off from work. Others just want to sniff a breath of salty air from the sea while others just want to relax.

Saipan is blessed with so many beautiful spots where you can do many things for free, and the Fishing Base dock is one of those places.

You need not take weeks off and spend thousands of dollars for a lavish vacation in some paradise you see advertised in travel brochures. Paradise is right within your fingertips all for free, and a few minutes are all you need.

Take those few steps across from Kristo Rai Church in Garapan and get rewarded by the wonderful sounds, smells and sights of local color unfolding before you especially as dusk falls in the place.

This article was originally published HERE

Leisure time at the walkway

THIS long strip of walkway along the beach road beneath the shade of pine trees is one place residents pass by several times each day, and many have always taken this place for granted, but have you ever tried taking off a few minutes of your time to walk, jog bike or just spend some leisurely minutes on the walkway? If not, you are missing one of the best things in life on Saipan that’s free and is in no danger of closing out.The walkway along beach road is a favorite of many joggers and runners early in the early morning and late afternoon hours. Whether you want to walk your dog, keep in shape, or give your baby a whiff of fresh sea air, this is the ideal spot to do it. You can sit on one of the benches facing the sea and meditate, or let your imagination fly. The beach road walkway offers you a hundred and one ways to spend your leisure time, and feel refreshed and renewed afterwardAfter several months, I finally got the chance to spend some time to walk along the wooden walkway along the beach road, although the time I picked was far from ideal—12 noon.

Except for a woman with her baby on a stroller and a couple of fishermen who were hoping to catch some fish their luck to with their poles, I practically had the whole place to myself. It was exhilarating to stroll without thinking of work and deadlines, and stopping by every few minutes to snap photos of anything and everything.

The slack traffic on the road on that Friday noon added to the tranquility of the place. Ah, and one more bonus-sunsets at the beach road walkway are just spectacular. The walkway is just there offering you everything for you to see, hear and feel for free—the endless stretch of blue sea and skies, the gentle lapping of waves on the shore, the soft breeze blowing your hair away, the grunt of a fisherman when he discovers the fish devoured his bait but got away, or the grin on his face when he pulls in his line with a fish squirming at the end, the camaraderie between friends and acquaintances, smiles from strangers and a lot more. All you need is to take few minutes of your day to shed off the daily pressures and you’ll feel refreshed.

This article was originally published HERE

A trip to CNMI’s past

BEFORE we get our feet wet in the pristine waters of CNMI’s beaches, dive into the ocean’s spectacular depths, or explore the islands’ nooks and crannies that draw visitors from far and wide, let us make a first stopover at the commonwealth’s bank of artifacts and take a trip back to the past.
The door of the Northern Marianas Museum of History and Culture is just within your reach, a key to transport us back in time when the islands were under different governments.
From the outside, many of the residents in the islands may not even give a side glance to the old building that used to be a Japanese hospital before, but the old buildings hold valuable treasures and pieces of history that every resident, as well as visitors must not miss.
“Every piece and every artifact that is in the museum carries a piece of history of the CNMI and it tells its own story about the past,” museum executive director Robert H. Hunter said.
A tour of the museum will take you back to the pre-compact period or the Spanish period, German period, Japanese period, the Trust Territory and the present commonwealth.

Wander into the different sections and get a chance to see what life was during the different periods. Artifacts like old canoes, jars of all shapes and sizes, exhibits, gold pieces, World War II relics and memorabilia, and other pieces of history. You will come to discover that these artifacts are worth preserving for the future generations.
“We have hundreds of boxes of artifacts in our storerooms that were donated by people from everywhere, and these are very valuable pieces that should be preserved as they are a part of the history of the islands,” Hunter said.
Going back, Hunter said the idea of putting up a museum took place in the early 1970s when some dedicated individuals worked together to get the museum organized.
He said the first museum was located at the old Japanese building by the old mayor’s office in Chalan Kanoa. It was later moved to a smaller building down in Garapan which is the present location of American Memorial Park where it went into operation for about a couple of years before closing down.

He said most of the displays then were a hodge-podge of artifacts donated by people from all over the world.
“It was relocated somewhere else afterwards, until the government invested about $10 million for the rehabilitation of the museum,” he said.
Hunter said the present location of the museum is the first permanent place which has been designed as a formal museum.
Hunter said credit goes to persons like Herman Guerrero and Mike Fleming who persevered in trying to come up with a proper museum.
“This is the only state museum in the Marianas, and we get a fair share of archaeologists from Guam and other places who come here,” he said.
He said that the displays are just about 20 percent of the total collections. The rest are in the storeroom as a bigger display area is needed.
He said that on the average, the museum gets about 20-40 visitors daily, and an approximation of 500 visitors monthly, mostly from student field trips.
Hunter is inviting everybody, and not just the visitors to step into the museum and get a glimpse of how their ancestors lived years ago.
You have to step into the museum to get the feel of the place. Each artifact that had been a mute witness to the lives of people of the past portrays its own message.
The NMI Museum is open from 9am to 4:30 pm Mondays to Fridays, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays. For more information, call 664-2160.

For PHOTOS click HERE

This article was originally published HERE

Smiling Cove... Where the best things in life are free

One of my favorite places on Saipan is this short stretch of dock located at the far end of American Memorial Park, the Smiling Cove Marina.

Tucked at the farthest end of the Smiling Cove is a small park that gives you a perfect 360-degree view of Tanapag, Micro Beach, Managaha Island and the Capitol hills in the distant.
The place, a step just beyond the “Off limits to vehicles” sign issues a silent but irresistible welcome especially for wander-lusty individuals. The place has a mini-lighthouse and well-manicured grasses beneath the shades of pine trees—a perfect spot to sit, watch the activities around you or simply let the time pass by.
I happened to be at the place on one windy day and I have to literally hold on to the tree trunks so as not to be blown away by the winds but it was a refreshing experience, one I would gladly have in exchange for the routine of work any day.
If you want to check the place out, forget getting a coiffure or gel-plastered hair but be prepared to rough it out and breathe in the salty tang of air straight from the ocean.
Not many people frequent the place (it feels like a private dock actually) save for a few who venture out with their fishing poles.
Smiling Cove dock comes alive as sunset draws near, with hordes of tourists transported by buses arrive for sunset cruise trips via Jade Lady 111, Stars and Stripes and other luxury boats.
As a sunset buff, I have stored several gigabytes of photos in my computer of the setting sun with Micro Beach as the backdrop from my favorite location—perched atop a huge cement pole lying on the ground.
I can never get a fill of the place—seeing multi-colored fishes swimming in crystal-clear blue waters, hearing the happy chatter of tourists from the cruise boats, the splash of water as a fisherman throws in his line, fresh air blowing on your face—all these and more which you get to enjoy for free.

This article was originally published HERE