Peace Island at the Park

I HAVE seen this oval structure with steps around it leading to a large slab of cement from a distance hundreds of times in the last four years that I have been here, but have never really paid attention to this particular ‘island’ located at American Memorial Park until one day a couple of months back when I was left with an hour to spare.
I can say a butterfly I was trying to capture on camera brought me to the Peace Island. I have always thought that the cemented structure bordered with the traditional latte stones around is another tribute to something that happened during the World War 2 but upon closer inspection, the Rotary International logo above a flying bird symbolizing peace met my eyes.
Unlike regular islands that are usually surrounded by a body of water, the Rotary Peace Island is surrounded by flowers and greenery.
The towering monument states that the CNMI was declared as a Peace Rotary Island in 2000.
Browsing through the internet later, I learned that Saipan Island was declared a Rotary Peace Community after having been sponsored by Rotary Club Saipan, District 2750 and initiated by Saipan Rotary Club past president Glen V. Perez.
Members of the Rotary Club of Saipan unveiled the Rotary Peace Monument at the American Memorial Park as part of the group’s effort to promote peace and understanding around the world on November 17, 2000.
I also learned that the Peace Monument is just among other Rotary peace and friendship monuments erected in other parts of the world such as Spain, Berkeley, California in North America, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in US/Canada, Indiana, Georgia, Los Angeles, Colorado, Yukon Canada, Vancouver, Mexico, Uruguay, Australia, India, Japan, and other countries. Check this site for other peace and friendship monuments: http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/library/monuments/.
Like thousands of other people living here, I drive by the place every day or stop at American Memorial Park every now and then but have never really paid attention to this landmark or what it stands for.
It’s funny because you may have been here for years and taken everything for granted, but try to take a closer look around you. You might discover something that has always been there but you might have never known what that is. This small island is indeed full of treasures.

A perfect getaway on Saipan

DRIVING down twisting roads and thick jungles in Talafofo leads one to another scenic spot where I would have loved to spend time — if only it isn’t too far.

One Friday afternoon, I and a buddy decided to keep driving up Capital Hill without any destination in mind, but then I saw the sign “Kingfisher Golf” beside Tun Goru Snack House.

I told my buddy to follow the road. He had not been in the area before so he kept on asking where we were going and I told him to just enjoy the scenery and continue driving. He said we seemed to be in an underdeveloped remote area. He was right. Some electric posts and the paved road were the only signs of civilization we saw.

Very soon, the road forked and I told my buddy to drive straight to Kingfisher Golf Links — a place which seems to exist in its own world.

Non-golfers may consider the place as out of the way and wouldn’t waste time and fuel to drive all the way there just to enjoy the greenery and the breathtaking views, but the place is so relaxing and peaceful. It also serves as a perfect getaway to break the routine of everyday life.

While there, we felt like we stepped into another dimension and that Saipan was so far away.

Opened in 1996, Kingfisher is snugly tucked away on a lovely coastline, offering an awesome view of well-trimmed golf courses, lush jungles, Suicide Cliff, Mt. Tapochao, the vast blue ocean and open sky. It was a real delight to the senses.

We made our way down to my favorite spot — an artificial murky pond with lots of fish swimming beneath the weeds and other plants.

Here, everything was so peaceful and quiet, the silence broken only by the occasional sound of golf carts, the distant roaring of the waves crashing on  rocky cliffs and the occasional drone of a passing airplane.

We took time snapping photos of anything and everything and wished that we had more time to enjoy one of nature’s impressive showcases.

If it wasn’t that late, I would have loved to revisit the Hidden Beach beyond the Kingfisher Golf Links but that required leaving the car on the road and walking into the jungle.

Another time perhaps.

a-perfect-getaway-on-saipan

Rota road trip

IF there is one place in the CNMI that provides the perfect location for driving around at your leisure and following all roads free from the thought that someone from behind will blow their horn, it is the island of Rota.

This untouched gem in the Pacific, which carries loads of character and charm, is about a 30 minute plane ride from Saipan and boasts pristine beaches, beautiful underwater wonders, rich green jungles, cool mountains, cultural and historical memorabilia scattered all over the place.

A trip some months back to Rota gave me the chance to experience what it was to drive at my leisure, stopping every now and then to take photos of whatever caught my attention and just “follow the road wherever it leads,”  things you cannot do anywhere on Saipan or you face the risk of slamming your car into a tree or into another car.

Driving from the airport and heading toward the famed latte stones all the way to the Bird Sanctuary is an exciting experience for any first time visitor in the island.

When you drive from Sinapalo to Songsong village, roll down your windows and grab the opportunity to breathe all the fresh sea air you would want and feast on the beautiful coastal views along the way.

Having a whole day to myself gave me the freedom to drive at my own pace and drive through used and seemingly abandoned roads to satisfy my curiosity to where the roads lead and what was at the other end.

Driving on an unfamiliar road adds to the thrill and often times I reached a dead ends but it was always easy to turn back, retrace your way and venture into another road.

My aimless driving brought me to abandoned hotels and resorts that once thrived with life and laughter.

I roamed around and took images of dilapidated buildings almost obscured by thick vines and shrubbery and left at the mercy of the harsh elements of nature while fighting the goose bumps that one gets while exploring abandoned places all alone, even in broad daylight.

Driving toward the jungles at the foot of Sabana Mountain on the afternoon of my second day put an end to all my illusions that I was brave enough.

As I drove through the road that became narrower as I went deeper into the jungles, I was losing the nerve to go down and just snapped images from my driver’s seat.

The road suddenly took a curve when I reached a portion where thick vines hanging from the trees obscured the way.

I stopped and stared at the road ahead, my imagination playing havoc on me.

With the late afternoon sun casting eerie shadows, it looked surreal, like a scene from a horror movie and I panicked.

The road was too narrow to turn back, and I was too scared to drive on.

Taking a deep breath, I was left with no choice but drive on and as soon as I reached the other side, it was all over and I was able to find a spot to turn back the car.

The experience did not mar my enthusiasm to drive around some more the following day. There are still more roads on Rota that I haven’t explored yet, but I will be back. One day.

rota-road-trip [42354] | Around the Islands.

Movies and popcorn, anyone?

I FOUND it astounding that some people said they have never set foot inside the only place which offers hours of solace and relaxation for people regardless of ethnicity and age—the Hollywood Theater in San Jose.
I thought that was just a running joke, until one day when I dragged a buddy to watch one movie which I had been waiting for a long time and right in the middle when I was totally lost in the movie, he poked me in the side and confessed that it was his first time be inside Hollywood for his 10 years of being here.
Another friend who has been here for over 25 years said she also has never set foot inside the theater but would rather rent DVDs and watch movies from home.
I had been on Saipan but two months when I took the chance to see what this island had to offer in terms of theater entertainment. The name Hollywood would astound any newcomer of course but although there’s no comparison from the theaters back in the Philippines, the seven-screen multiplex located next to Price Costco or Joeten Superstore has eased a lot of ‘bad hair days’ for me and a lot of residents here.
The Hollywood Theater screens the latest first-run movies and I always had to curb the urge to watch on the first day because several times I’ve tried sitting at the topmost row where you can barely stretch your feet, and at the very front where you will get stiff neck afterward and come out of the theater dazed because of a very close encounter with the actors on the screen.
Watching movies perched in your sofa or from your bed is a good option because you can do it wearing house clothes or just a bathrobe, where you have the power to pause the movie if you want to have a restroom break or a few minutes nap but going to the theater is a totally different experience.
Opening the glass doors after you bought your ticket and inhaling the smell of popcorn is bliss, but carrying a huge bucket to munch on throughout the movie is priceless.
The Hollywood Theater is Saipan’s meeting place of kids and parents, friends and relatives especially during the weekends. It is one place here where I never hesitate to watch movies alone and still feel at ease, something I could never imagine doing back in the Philippines. This usually happens when my companions and I don’t agree with what movies to watch so we go our separate ways and meet up after.
When you feel the need to relax, steal an hour or two and make the Hollywood Theater your destination. Try the fun of hopping from one movie to the next when you have the luxury of time.

Tales from the lonely benches

HAVE you ever tried parking along the Beach Road and actually sit in one of those benches that are scattered far and few along the long stretch of beaches near the walkway?
You may say that these lonely-looking benches with wooden planks and metal feet, facing the sea exposed to the rain, sun and the winds day in and day out have been there forever. So, what’s with those ordinary benches by the seaside anyway?
I can say nothing much, except you’ll find some planks missing and some rusty nails sticking out but if you take a few minutes to sit down and be in for something you’ve always taken for granted.
Oh the stories those benches can tell!
Arriving an hour early for a massage appointment at the Beach Road one evening, I crossed the street and relished the chance to finally sit on one of the three benches facing the sea, stretch my legs, breathe in the salty tang of the ocean air and just let time pass and watch the world go by. It was a chance which I had been dying to do since forever.
I was in a daydreaming state when an angry-looking guy flopped down on the bench farthest from me. Not aware that somebody was there, he broke the silence and started yelling at somebody or whoever he was talking to in his cellphone. I was glued to my seat, not wanting to eavesdrop yet not wanting to get up and catch his attention. After a few minutes, the guy stood up and left, not knowing I was there.
Trying to recapture my earlier bliss, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath when two joggers passed by, pleasantly swapping stories to each other. Minutes later, a couple passed by, bickering about bills and family matters as though they were at home and not on a public walkway.
Talk about peace! The thought of relaxing flew away totally this time, and I began to see the benches in different way—as an avenue to learn about people and their lives. It’s like being given a chance to peek into a window and see things for what they are without the main characters knowing that you’re there. Okay, call it eavesdropping but no one can blame you for sitting there and hearing all those things. In the first place, you were there to sit and relax!
From that time, I never drive along the Beach Road without glancing at these benches which are deserted most of the time but if I do see anyone sitting there, I begin to weave stories in my mind as to what they are thinking and what they are going through.
Many times I see couples or families watching the sunset from the benches and had to curb the urge to stop and snap photos—after the blasting of horns and screeching sounds of the cars behind me of course.
Those benches could indeed provide several chapters to write a book. As for those bench occupants, be careful because one day, you might just find your stories in the pages of a book!

Peace on a marble tablet

A FEW steps behind the Flag Circle at the Court of Honor of American Memorial Park in Garapan is a wide marble tablet which I have always seen before but have not given it any particular notice, until last week when I had time on my hands and I was at the area.
After covering the solemn ceremony of the Veteran’s Day at the Court of Honor, I ventured near the wharf area to cool off and noticed with news eyes this monument that I had no idea played a very big role marking the end of the bloodiest battle in the Pacific.
Stepping on the tiled cement, I approached the tablets and read for the first time what was written there.
The middle tablet bears the following inscription:

PEACE AT LAST. At 6:35 August 15. 1945, the Commander in chief of the US Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas Admiral Chester W. Nimitz ordered all offensive action against the Japanese to cease. All the guns of war fell silent. The long post war process of healing, reconstruction and the building of a basis for mutual trust and lasting peace began. The signing of the peace treaty between Japan, the United States and the Allied Powers on September 8, 1951 at the San Francisco Peace Conference formally brought World War 11 to a close.

Flanking the middle tablet were two tablets signed by US President Harry S. Truman and Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida attesting to their desire for peace and reconciliation.
Joggers and bikers around the area usually pass by without paying attention to this marble tablet, or maybe they already know it is there and thinks no big deal of it.
Here is something that the present and the future generations must continue to be aware of. The tablet is just a piece of marble, yet it is an instrument announcing to the world that although the scars of the war will always be there peace was finally attained. It signifies an end to tragedy, to a war that claimed thousands of both US and Japanese soldiers and civilians, and left thousands more of families homeless.
If you’ve got some free time, try to visit American Memorial Park’s Peace Memorial. It is one place that a lot of people from different parts of the world would give a lot for just to visit this monument of peace. It is right within your reach.

WW11 reminders at the airport

THE minute you emerge from the arrival area and out into the open at the Rota International Airport., a collection of Japanese WW11 airplane engines and anti aircraft guns neatly arranged in a row will meet your eye.
I saw the collection right away at the left side of the airport but had to curb the itch to walk over for a closer look and start snapping photos of these artifacts that continue to attract tourists and history buffs from all over the world. It was my first time to set foot on Rota and I had no spare time because a friend was picking me up in a few minutes. I vowed to come back, which I did the following day when I finally rented a car to do some exploring on my own.
The rustic airplane engines were placed in constructed stone pedestals surrounded by neatly trimmed grass. Albeit rusty, the engines were obviously maintained and oiled because they don’t show the impression that they are ready to fall off into pieces at a moment’s notice.
At the end of the row of airplane engines is an equally rusty yet well-maintained anti aircraft gun still intact after all these years.
I took my own sweet time inspecting the relics and capturing them on the lens to share to the rest of the world who haven’t had a chance to visit the island.
The variety of World War 11 relics scattered all over the island is just one of the many bonuses you get in driving around the idyllic Paradise of this 13km long island in addition to the rich historical sites, the long stretches of white sandy beaches, rich evergreen forests, and the slow, leisurely lifestyle.
History records show that Rota was occupied by Japanese forces during World War II and became an important link for the Japanese to get their supplies from Japan.
In an island where stop-lights are unheard of and where motorists wave at each other on the road, where a remote-island atmosphere rules in comparison to the hustle and bustle of Guam or Saipan 30 minutes hopper ride away, these World War 11 relics feel more at home.
Rota is a jewel waiting for visitors to come and explore its treasures, and these treasures can be seen right from the airport and all over the island.