Guam

 The island of Guam, although Micronesia's largest, is small enough to explore in a day or two. The south is where the locals live with its rural kaleidoscope of sleepy, historical villages, stunning waterfalls and pristine beaches. The north is mainly taken up by the US military's Andersen Base, but even so it still contains Ritidian Point, a simply sublime stretch of coast featuring swaying palms, azure water and golden sands. We stayed on Tumon bay, the island's accommodation hub, at the PIC resort. The island doesn't manufacture anything and is known as the Pacific theme park for Japanese, Filipino and Korean visitors. There is a native culture, the Chamorros, similar to Tahitians and Hawaiians. Traveling with 130 8th graders was not the most relaxing vacation, but the mothers who planned this trip spared no expense making sure we had a great time.

At the airport with all of our 8th graders.

 This is a  replica of the Statue of Liberty and it  stands in the Paseo de Susana at the entrance of Hagatna harbor and visible to boats approaching the harbor. The statue was constructed by the Boy Scouts of America in 1950 in observance of their 40th anniversary.

Touring the island  in limousine buses. 

Amazing snorkeling.

This marine park has an underwater observatory 30 feet below sea level with divers feeding the fish. 

The coconut is split in half after drinking the juice then soy sauce and wasabi are added and they call it coconut sashimi.

A couple being married at Two Lovers Point.

Legend has it that a beautiful daughter of a wealthy land owner runs away after being told she will marry a Spanish captain. She finds a beautiful secluded shore where she falls in love with a young warrior.  

Her father and all the Spanish soldiers pursued the lovers up to the high cliff above Tumon Bay.  The lovers found themselves trapped between the edge of the cliff and the approaching soldiers.  All the young warrior could do was warn them to stay back, and the father ordered the soldiers to halt.

The lovers tied their long black hair into a single knot.  And acting as if they were entirely alone, they looked deeply into each other's eyes and kissed for the final time.  Then they leaped over the long, deep cliff into the roaring waters below.

Her father and all who remained rushed to the edge to stare in great anguish.

Since that day, Chamorros have looked to the jutting peak above Tumon Bay with reverence.  The two lovers remain a symbol of true love--a love in which two souls are entwined forever in life and in death.  Forever after, the high point on the cliff was known as Two Lovers Point.            Today lovers affix padlocks declaring their undying love for each other at the site.

View from my hotel room.

I was so happy to indulge in American cuisine!

When you are in the Pacific, there will be a luau.

With lots of dancers shaking their hips.

And of course the fire dancers.

How about a light show projected onto a water fountain.

The bay is stunningly beautiful with the coral reef acting as a wave breaker.

There are at least seven pools at this resort.

Checking in with the students to make sure they have sun block on.  Koreans tend to stay out of the sun, so they burn quickly and of course there were kids who didn't heed the advice and spent the last couple of days inside with a lot of aloe vera gel.

Walking back from the largest K Mart in the world.  A very popular place where our students spent hundreds on American candy and chips and pizza!

Volleyball court at the resort right on the beach.

This is part of a waterway that wraps around the resort and guests can kayak through it.

Tug-of-war in the pool.

A swim-through aquarium.

The resort from the street.

From my deck.

Charcoal BBQs in the middle of the table to cook your own dinner.Picture is dark, but we are just above the beach.

This is a must for your next backyard party!

That's the meal I won't soon forget!