Forbidden Island

Forbidden Island is a secluded beach on the North side of the island.



You have to hike through a jungle area before you come out on the cliff.

Managaha

Island fever is a natural side effect of living on a small island. People on Saipan deal with this by spending the day on an even smaller island; Managaha.



You need to take a ferry over to the island. It's free for locals.



This is the cargo ship that hauls our supplies over from Guam.



The water in the CNMI has its own specific color - "Rota Blue"



Managaha is my favorite place on Saipan. It's exactly how I had envisioned Micronesia.



Best place to go when the constant power outages are pissing you off.

Chamarros love to party

In the four months we've been out here there has been a festival about once a month. May had the Flame Tree festival, June had the Taste of the Marianas and July was Liberation day. The only thing really different about them is the name. They all involve palm decorated stages, cheap local food and tons of Budweiser (the local drink of choice).

Flame Tree Festival
They hold this every year when the flame trees start to bloom.







This guy is digging out a traditional canoe.








The Taste of the Marianas

All the local restaurants and hotels setup booths were you can sample their foods. They hold it every weekend for the entire month.

Coconut 101

Step One: Manage to climb the coconut tree in the backyard and grab a ripe one (or wait till one falls to the floor and then just tell everyone you climbed the tree)



Step 2: After whacking the coconut for thirty minutes with a dull machete that you bought at a garage sale, discover that there is a hard inner shell waiting just past the hard outer shell.

Step 3: Howl in frustration



Step 4: Success. Now enjoy all the coco-nutty goodness.