Last Day on Oahu

On our last day on Oahu we visited Iolani Palace, the residence of the last two reigning monarchs of Hawaii. The Palace had electricity before the White House of Buckingham Palace did.
Then we viisted the beach one last time. The water was cold, so we enjoyed sitting and watching all that was going on around us.
Finally, we had as our "last supper" a meal of island food from a favorite restaurant of Dabney and Tyler.
They took us to the airport where we waited and waited for a much-delayed flight from Guam. Finally, we left about mid-night and were able to sleep some on the flight to Houston. We had a bit of a wait there (better than having to dash wildly to make a connection) for our flight to Greensboro. We got in to Greensboro about 4:45. Bill and Tom met us at Tight Squeeze to escort us the rest of the way home.
We had a fabulous time but are glad to be back home!
Until our next adventures,
ALOHA!

Next-to-last Day

This morning Ann and I walked to many shops and looked around (and did some shopping) in a non-touristy area. Then we ate a delicious lunch prepared by Dabney (roasted kale leaves, curried sweet potato soup, roasted purple sweet potatoes, and a yummy papaya salad). Ann and I hit the pavement again and went to the touristy area. ABC stores are on every block (not Alcohol Beverage Control but "A Better Convenience" somewhat like the ever-present Wings and Dunes stortes on the East Coast). We came home briefly and then went to Duke's, a casual restaurant in The Waikiki Outrigger hotel, with a view of the ocean, of Diamond Head, of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and of the sun set. We had arranged to meet a former JRDS student, Megan Davies, there and had such fun catching up with her doings.
We came on home and began the arduous process of packing and wondering if our suitcaes will be overweight...only time will tell. Tomorrow night, to be exact. Our plane leaves at 9:40 pm for Houston, and we expect to be in Greensboro by 2:30 or so.
So...this may be the last post for this adventure, this totally satisfying experience. Thanks for being with us on our Pacific Adventures!

What a Day This Has been!

This morning Ann and I went to a small farmers' market where we bought pineapple, bananas, kiwi, veggies for stir fry and saw chopped octopus meat (but we left that for someone else to buy). Adjacent was a thrift store that we perused.
After that Dabney, Tyler, Ann,and I went on a long hike up Makoup'u to whale watch. Because the wind was calmer than usual, it was easier to tell the whale spouts from white caps. We were rewarded by seeing many whales in action. It was also unusually clear today.
From there we went to a deli and got lunch food, and then we proceeded to Kailua Beach and ate our lunch on the beach. What was especially wonderful about this spot is I believe it to be the site of Camp Kailani, where I worked the summer of 1964. It is now a lovely park, It was great fun to walk on the same beach where I spent spare moments that summer.
Then we hustled on back to dabney and Tyler's to get ready for the big event of the evening...a luau at Paradise Cove, about 27 miles from Honolulu. We pased the school Obama attended, an ice skating rink. Aloha Stadium, Pearl Harbor, among other things. We were on a tour bus and were right in the midst of going-home-from-work traffic.
Once we were at Paradise Cove, we could stroll and watch various traditoonal crafts being made or shop. Finally, it was time for the meal, and we served ourselves buffet-style. Among the offerings were pork, chciken, a salmon salad, white fish, poi, rice, various other salads, a coconut-spice cake, coconut puddding, chocolate cake, and pineapple.
We watched many hula dances, listened to singers, and gasped to a fire dancer's feats. There were dancers representing Hawaii, Samoa and Bali. Ann and I joined a group to learn the hula (on stage...) and received certifcates of schievement "for advanced performance in Polynesian dancing." (Sure!)
The bus ride home was much faster than the ride to the luau. Everyone was pretty weary by then, but it was a fun night.
Aloha!

Oahu on Foot (and on bus)

Today we went to the Foster Botannical Gardens and saw a plethora of palm tree varieties, as well as other species of trees and plants.
We also went to the Ala Moana Shopping Center for a little while. Night falls early here, and we are ready to turn in.

Valentine's Day 2010

We had a good flight from Guam on Feb. 14. One of the flight attendants was Ken Reyes who knows Lupe's fmily, so we had much to chat about.
We got to Dabney and Tyler's place, unloaded our luggage and walked about 2 blocks to the beach. The front of their apartment faces Ala Wai, a lovely canal.
Today Ann and I slept really late and then we went to the beach for a while. We could tell that we were burning, so we came home and later we had lunch at Tiki's. The food was delicious, and, because we sat outdoors, the view of the ocean was gorgeous.
We can tell that our time here will pass way too soon.

Last day on Guam

On this our last day on Guam, Ann met with her friend from Guam Community College, Eric Chung, and an advisor and students from Phi Theta Kappa(honorary society; she is the advisor at BRCC). While they were meeting at Shirley's (a local restaurant), Mimi and I strolled among the lovely plants at a nursery. We picked out many specimens that we would like to have. (Mimi already has wondrous things in her backyard "jungle.")
Soon after that Tom, Mimi, Opal Jaquette (their friend and house guest), Ann, and I went to Asan Beach (where the Marines landed to liberate the island from the Japanese in WWII) to participate in a family gathering of my former classmate, Joe Mendiola. What a welcoming family! We enjoyed delicious island cuisine and much fun and fellowship. Joe has a delightful family (wife, sons, daughters and 20-some grands), and we appreciate being included in their festivities.
We came back home and packed our bags so that we could check them in at the airport tonight to expedite our departure tomorrow morning (Feb. 14). We'll be on Continental flight CO2, leaving at 6:40 and arriving in Honolulu at 5:50 pm on Feb. 13. (Isn't the International Dateline something!)
We have had a fabulous time on Guam and can only hope that Tom and Mimi and Lupe and others we have met will visit us in Virginia one day.
Adios for now!

Next to the Last Day

Today we have been covered by an article in the newspaper and an interview on the radio. From the radio broadcast came a call from someone who was a "Navy kid" at the same time we were. We got to meet him tonight, a Mr.Mike Dodge. We knew a few people in common, and he could pinpoint some places we have been curious about.
If you did not get the link for the braodcast, here it is:

Mihttp://pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3271:ann-and-mary-walker-on-the-patti-arroyo-show&catid=52:k57-interviews&Itemid=151

It is a 30-min program, but the time went quickly for us.

This evening we went to Chamorro Village where Tom Santos was jammin' with other musicians. The music was really good.Tom is a ukelele player and taught some of the group to play years ago. Ann got down and boogied,much to the spectators' delight. Several of Ann's classmates came to be with us. It was a fun evening.

Only one more day "on island."

Time Is Passing Too Quickly!

This has been another busy and fun day. At 8 am we were told that we had a visitor. A lovely lady we had chatted with at U of G brought us fresh papayas from her yard. A little while later,General Ed Perez, husband of Ann's classmate, Priscilla Toves Perez, brought us chimangas (sp?) and star apple (star fruit). He said that the fact that everything is thriving so abundantly, and the fact that they are not bothered by brown tree snakes, is an indication that she is "at one with the earth." (my verbiage) He paid quite a tribute to Mimi and Tom and their fabulous "jungle."
We had the interview with the newspaper. That story will be featured in tomorrow's paper. Then we went to Island Living, a store with exquisite things from Bali. After that we had lunch at one of Mimi's favorite restaurants, a Chinese one. Our lunch was yummy!
Before long we were off again,this time to Ritidian Beach in the northern part of the island. It was rather rocky, so we did not really swim, but the water and sand were just beautiful. As we approached the beach, we went through a jungle, and right before our eyes was a bevy of beautiful black butterflies. The fact that they were unexpected just added to the pleasure of the moment.
Tonight Lupe called from her home in Chula Vista, CA, to say that she had gotten home safely. We were glad to hear from her.
Also, tonight, Mimi and Tom had an unsettling event: they were driving their truck when the wheel came off. Thank goodness no one was hurt.
One of the blooms on their night-looming cereus is expected to open tonight at 8 pm. I am afraid that Ann will miss it. She has been asleep since 6:30 pm.
We will be flying out on Sunday, rather than Monday, in order to have more time with Dabney and Tyler. It will be hard to say good-bye to Mimi and Tom and Opal and all the friends we have made on Guam.

A Return to Saipan

We did a day trip to Saipan today. The flight took about 45 minutes, and we arrived about 8 am. Mimi's friend and our tour guide the last time we went, Bernie Ito, met us at the airport. Our first stop was at Herman's Bakery where we met Herman's daughters, Agnes and Anna (who are Lupe's relatives) and met Sid Sablan who recognized some of the people in the 1950 yearbook from The American School for Dependent Children. (Fran was in the 6th-8th grade class, Ann was in third grade, and I was in first grade).
From there we scouted for the location of our housing area and felt that we were close to it, although we were unable to pinpoint the site exactly.
From there we went to the Senior Citizens Center where a rousing game of bingo was being played. Some of the participants left their bingo-playing to look at the yearbook and pictures we had brought. Some recognized names and faces asnd seemed excited to see items from long ago. We also showed them the sandals we had from our days there. Some people thought they had been made by Lino Tenorio and others felt they had been made by Manny Blanco.
We then visited the Micronesia Arts Council and saw wonderful artifacts and works of arts and crafts from the past.
Then we went to the Museum of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands where we met with the director, Robert Hunter. We showed him the sandals and asked if he would be interested in having themm for the museum. His eyes lit up and assured us he would like to have them, because they have very few things from the Navy Ocupation period. We also gave them copies of the yearbook and photos we had taken from 1947-1950 period we were there.
Sometime in the midst of all this we took time for lunch. Ann had a rustic salad, and I had the most delicious dish with wahoo and vegetables marianated in a lime vinaigrette.
To end our day we walked along the beach looking for shells. It was a wonderful way to end a very special day. We are grateful to Mimi for making the arrangements and to Bernie for being such a good hostess.

Around and About

Today Opal Jaquette, Mimi's surrogate mom and houseguest, was our "escort" to various spots on the island. First, we stopped at Hebrews, a coffee shop at Harvest Church near us. (Don't you love the word "He-brews" for the name of a coffee shop?! That is a clever name.) Then we went to the University of Guam to the Micronesia Center in pursuit of several books Ann had seen the last time we were there.
After that we went to one of our favorite island attractions, Jeff's Pirate Cove and had lunch. We had delicious Greek salads. The wind was so strong that the lettuce in Opal's salad began blowing off the plate! We chatted with Jeff a while and then continued our journey to a bookstore and then to Chamorro Village. We walked around there a while. (It is much calmer during the day than when we went last Wednesday night.)
This afternoon Mimi drove us to the beach at Adelupe Point, the site of my elementary school. Our plans to swim were changed to "Let's just stroll along the beach" because the waves were HUGE, and the currents were strong. Mimi said that it is quite unusual to see waves that high. It was pretty exciting!
Tonight for supper, in tribute to one of Guam's favorite foods, we had Spam. Good and salty. Yum! Yum!
It was another fun day.

Monday on Guam

This was such a fun day! Super Bowl Monday is a big event here; many people take off from work,and some schools were closed or had a conference or work day. We were invited to the Super Bowl party at Lupe's sister's house where the entire clan had gathered for the game. Many of the people here have large outdoor kitchens and dining areas for family gatherings, as did this one.
First we were offered brunch and soon thereafter, we ate lunch. Among the dishes were dried beef and gravy, scrambled eggs, fried rice, sausages, hot dogs and hamburgers, tortillas,a yummy dish with sardines and tomatoes, and many more offerings. For dessert there were homemade doughnut and homemade baked custard (flan). Those who enjoy football were caught up in the plays via two large screen televisions on the patio. Some of Lupe's sisters played cards.
We especially enjoyed walking around the yard that had lovely gardenias, hibiscus, orchids,and other tropical plants. A great time was had; it was such fun to be part of the Gumataotao family gathering.
Later today we went to Ypau Beach on the Philippine Sea side of the island. The water was warm, the tide was high, and the currents were strong. It was fun!
What a memorable day this has been!

Sunday On Island

Today we were with Ann's friend from Guam Community College, Eric Chong, and his wife, Josephine. They treated us to a delicious lunch at Chao's (restaurant). The meal was served family style. We had white fish with a sauce, garlic tips, Chinese broccoli and chicken, tofu, salt and pepper shrimp, and rice. It was all delicious! We ran some errands and were given a tour of Barrigada Heights, a very classy, upscale residential area.
It was a fun day!

Reggae Concert

Saturday was a day of lounging, doing laundry, and such...until the evening when we attended a reggae concert. (I am sure we were the only people over 40 years of age!). The featured performer, Gregory Isaacs, was unable to attend, so the co-performer, Yellowman, as well as many local reggae musicians, filled the night with lively sounds. It was a fun experience.

Days Two and Three

We have been too busy or too exhausted to keep our blog up to date, but I'll try to fill in now. Yesterday (Thursday here) the mayor of Piti Village took us up to Mount Tenjo in hopes that we would recognize the housing area where we used to live. Because the area is now grown up with verdant jungle vegetation, we were unable to pinpoint the site. That was disappointing, but we appreciate Mayor Gumataotao's willingness to help us.
Later in the day, we toured the Government House, where the Governor and First Lady live and where various functions are held. Lupe's niece is the First Lady,and her cousin, a hostess. Several classmates joined us there for the tour. We were served a refreshing punch and Korean persimmons. The classmates sang their national hymn, "Stand Ye Guamanaians" in the Chamorro language...a very moving moment.
Later that evening we went to The Top of the Mar, which is a restaurant and where we used to take ballroom dance lessons. We enjoyed a Mongolian Barbeque. You fill your plate with vegetables and meats and sauces, and then the food is cooked outside on a large, flat-topped grill. It was delicious. Again, several classmates were with us, as were Mimi and Tom, our hostess and host.

Today (Friday) we began the day at Lupe's daughter's house for a brunch consisting of papaya and a biscotti-type local bread. Then we went to Gef Pago Park, a living history Chamorro cultural village, in the southern part of the island.
From there we went to Talofofo Falls. We rode a sky lift to the falls and enjoyed beautiful scenery.
Tonight...tonight we are going to an Elk's Club to dance. Lupe calls it the "AARP Club" because the clientele will be in our age group! We'll see...

Day One on Island

Today we had an appointment at the government complex (which is housed in the buildings of my former school on Guam, Adelupe Point Elementary School). My cl;assmate, Lupe, had arranged for us to meet the Governor, Felix Camacho. Several more classmates joined us there, Barcy Diaz Martinez snd Ray Aflague. Lupe Perez, of course was there, as were Joe Mendiola and his wife, Agnes. Our hostess, Mimi Santos, was also in attendance. What a welcoming, hospitable group are the people of Guam! The Governor's photographer was on hand to take our photo and each of us received a copy. After that, we visited a military museum which focuses on Guam in WWII. The museum is a private enterprise in tribute by a Marine to a buddy killed in VietNam...very impressive.
Tonight we went to the lively Chamorro Village. What a happening place! Among the attractions were musicians, dancers, food vendors, as well as many other merchants selling their wares. It is the place to see and be seen!
Another big day is on the agenda tomorrow. We'll see what unfolds then...

The Arrival

After 21 hours in the air, we finally landed on Guam Tuesday night (they are ahead of the East Coast by 27 hours.) In addition to our hosts and hostess, Tom and Mimi Santos, being there to geet us, Lupe had organized a group of Ann's school classmates from Agana Junior High and from mine, Adelupe Pt Elementary School to be there as a welcoming committee. They greeted us with beautiful leis. It was awesome to see and recognize people from 55 years ago! As much as we hated to bring the evening to a close, we felt the need for sleep, so we said farewells for now...but we'll be getting together again.
Our room at The Jungle B&B was just as we had remembered it from our stay there two years ago. The beds felt wonderful, and we settled down for a needed and welcomed night's sleep.
The plan for today is to meet the Governor this afternoon, and to attend the Chamorro Village festivities tonight where there will be island music, island food, and island fun.