Smittys Gypsy Life: And Island getaway from the Island

In the everyday life of all things, one always dreams of greener grass! A new paridise, of ocean and island wonders. One does this even when living on an island. So when the idea flashes it's off we go. This time to the Island of Rota, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). A nice 30 minute flight from Guam to Paradise no less. And a great bungalow on the beach.

After checking in it was a quick run through town, a Merlot purchase a little cruzin, a bite of suppy and then back to the hooch for an evening on the lani with friends to watch the sunset and relax to the sound of the waves lapping the shore line, and a couple of howdys from the gecko population.

After a nights sleep interpersed with some jungle calls from various creature of the dark. It was up by 06:30 to coffe and breaky on the deck above the azure waters of the pool and a breaking of daylight over the waving waters that were greeating us good morning. And of course that magnet draw of the sandy beach streaching out like a beckoning ribbon saying come walk barefoot on me.

Of course like all islands not everything is a beach, so it was off in the cruzer to drive around the whole island. Some was pavements some was a solution to our question whats that dotted line on the map mean. As it turns out some roads such as the one along the fence around the airport probaly still has the security folks wondering what were they thinking. I promise i did not see that rock! Plus the single lane road along the mountain cliff and it's thousand foot drop off, was very interesting. But the so was the up too three foot long lizards that wandered across the road. But hey it's a road not taken by us yet. So what ya going to do? Yes those are potholes.

It was one of these roads that brought us to a neat little ancient place! The remains of a 1800s traditionl site and the Latte Stones that the timber and frond homes were built on to raise them off the jungle floor. These are ancient and the tops have fallen off the pedestal

This is what they looked like before (picture from Guam latte stone park)

Now it is well know that i like to join in various cultures and am quite willing to undergo test and induction ceramonies to achieve honorary membership status. Here i am undergoing a test for warrior status in the clan.

i am proud to say i passed and was given a Chamorro name ubunbigadume. Which i think means great brave and honorable warrior. Everybody i ask says it don't translate into english well.

So if you want to get away to Island paradise. A place where everyone waves hello, Where you have no smog, very little traffic. And a pace that is so liesure you don't want to move because you don't want to disturb the silence. This is the place diving, fishing, boating, opulent golf and resort. or just cool little bungalow. It is all the same pace. Enjoy the beach or the mountains.