in which we explore the jungle

This set is from a few weeks ago, when we first arrived in the new house.  The kids decided that we needed to explore the jungle outside our door on the first day in the new place.   

 

silly me, I had L. take a "before" shot, with the idea in
mind to have an "after" one....

 

L. was our nature photographer:

 

And BR was our brave bushwhacker, clearing a path before us...

 

I couldn't help but think that P-roc's mom would especially like some of these plants.  This one was very sharp and the root system seemed to be above the ground (zoom in if you can):

 

 

(massive spider web)

 We can't get over how the hermit crabs travel so far from the beach.  Our house is a good distance from the water, halfway up the mountain, but lo and behold...

and two nights ago we found an even much larger one in our driveway!

"bearded trees": I don't know if you can see this very well, but it has leaves
growing all over the trunk and branches.  I think it looks like a beard! 

And then we didn't get an "after" photo because jungles are hot and sticky and sharp and kinda scary and sometimes it hurts to explore them.  Personally, I like the kind with paths ready-made, but it was cool that the kids were up for trying it out without any at all.

(So now can we get back to the pina-coladas-on-the-beach part, please?)

signage

this meets you at the entrance of the "I [heart] Saipan"
store.  And I'll just bet Obama does!  And that he has even
heard of Saipan...

(it's  grrrrrrr.....eat!)

(thumbs up for feet!)

Because the food won the first round...

Okay, these next several come from our exploration of a compound we happened across at night.  The whole place is gated and large, and kinda really, really strange. 
At least they left signs to help visitors know just what services are offered.  (Although why they are in English at all escapes me since it is so very clearly geared toward Chinese visitors.)

(Tinian is a neighboring island, visible from Saipan.  It is known for growing a certain
kind of chile pepper)

 And this sign is just as mysterious.  Because it is at the entryway to our property. 

 

Oh, I see...Yes, she does seem rather vicious, doesn't she?

in which I conquer the great tuna

 

 Tada!  Fish tacos. 

 

With orchid centerpiece, courtesy of our neighbors.

July 4th (known as "Liberation Day" here)

We started the day with a hike down to a cove and island where there are crystal clear tidal pools...

 

(we have to travel down long unpaved roads to reach these trailheads)

hmm, what is so interesting that everyone stopped hiking?



Ahh...

 

 

And views like these seem to always lead to family selfies:



we look happy, but we were disappointed that the water was
too rough and we had to turn back. 

next time, Forbidden Island, next time...

So we had to cut the hike short and we didn't get to swim.  But that's okay because...oh wait, now we are locked out of the car.

Which led to this: 

 



 

 

and this.  (if you travel with a machete like Alex does)

which led to this....

which inspired this...

and so then J. volunteered to stay behind to figure out the whole the-key-to-our-crappy-car-doesn't-work-anymore problem...

 



(have fun snacking on pancakes!)

 ...and our friends dropped the kids and me off at the beach where we played for the rest of the day.

...which, it goes without saying, leads to more sunset-over-the-ocean photos.

 

And that led to A. and BR joining in the hot dog eating competition

And then we all watched the fireworks.  Which lasted a full 20 minutes and were launched from the beach where we were, just about 100ft. away from where we were standing. 
It was cool!  And loud! 
Probably the best fireworks J. and I have ever seen.

Happy Liberation Day, everybody!

we have moved!

For the last week, we have been "household shifting" over to the new and permanent island home.

 

(photo credit goes to L. for this one)

It has a large yard with some fruit trees and tropical flowers and waving bamboo so tall it bends down and rests on the branches of other trees.  It has a large wrap-around porch that is shaded.  The house is breezy and very cool. 

 

It has a wide open living space that will suit us just fine when it comes time to start schooling.

 

There is a room for guests in the downstairs area, with a separate bath.  The house itself is not large, but we think it will be just right for our needs for this year.

 

There is no ocean view, but we get that anytime we leave the house and drive for 5 minutes in any direction.

 

(did I mention the large lush yard?!?)

 

Oh, and there is a gazebo.  And a pool.

Yup.  A pool!!!!

360 view

The island's highest point is Mt. Tapochau (1,500 ft).  There are some WWII memorial plaques and you can see in all directions.

 

(see that rain coming down out there?)

(cool, right?)

"Concrete Jesus"