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Going Home: Postcards from GUAM

It’s “Where America’s Day Begins” and one of my childhood homes – a small island and American territory in the Pacific a few plane ride hours from Japan and the Philippines. In order to fully appreciate this post, it would help to read my intro to Guam post first to learn more about it and clear any misconceptions. This is a virtual tour of some parts of Guam we explored from our visit a couple of months ago.

Tumon Bay Guam
This trip has long been overdue especially since my husband and kids have never gone. I’ve gotten my fair share of guilt trips through the years for taking trips all over the world and bypassing the island. Going back after 13 years, some areas are a bit more run down than others. Some have drastically improved or deteriorated that I barely recognized them. While I’ve tried to share some of the local food, culture and childhood stories with my family, nothing could compare to experiencing the island in person.

Guam Mt Lam lam
I’ve seen Guam repeatedly referred to as a “resort island” getaway for the Japanese and South Koreans due to its convenient location. The main attractions are the clear, warm waters that offer a wide assortment of activities and the American-style dining options and tax-free shopping.

Guam Gun Beach

Tumon is the tourist district and lined by many hotels, resorts and restaurants. Tumon Bay is a protected marine preserve and the most popular area for any water-related activity. Although, there are many more, beautiful beaches scattered throughout the 30-mile long island.

Tumon Bay Guam
We spent our fair share of time at the beaches despite the heat and humidity. We even found some surprises like this blue starfish. This was actually the first one we’ve ever seen and are fairly common in Guam’s waters.

Guam Blue Star Fish
This was the view that greeted us for 10 days from our Hilton Guam Resort & Spa room. Yes, we were a bit spoiled and it was hard to leave it.

Guam Tumon Bay
Two Lover’s Point is Guam’s most popular attraction. Viewpoints are set along a cliff overlooking the Philippine Sea and the northern end of hotel row. It stands 368 feet above the reef and really not for anyone with a fear of heights. The panoramic scenery is stunning.

Two Lover's Point view
This lookout point isn’t just known for its views but for the story it was named after – Guam’s own Romeo and Juliet. Legend has it that two young, forbidden lovers leapt to their death from this cliff so they could be eternally together. Today, the romance is still alive with hundreds of colorful, heart-shaped plastic souvenirs and love locks left along fences and rocks with messages to loved ones or to symbolize a couple’s love.

Two Lovers Point love locks Guam
Latte Stones are a unique symbol of Guam. The ancient Chamorros (Guam’s indigenous people) used these pillars and capstone, made of coral limestone and coral heads, for building foundations. These ancient stones at Latte Stone Park were transferred here from their original location in the south.

Guam Latte Stones
But, the biggest latte stone on the island and the world is the 80-feet tall Latte of Freedom. It was completed in 2010 to symbolize Guam’s heritage and the Chamorro culture’s strength. It is also a lookout point to enjoy the ocean and surrounding area. Built of reinforced concrete, it was built to withstand island occurences like earthquakes and typhoons with winds up to 150 miles per hour.

Guam Latte of Freedom
Guam was officially claimed by Spain from 1668 to 1898 when the natives were colonized and Christianity was introduced. This era ended after the Spanish-American war when Spain surrendered the island to the United States.Plaza de España is one of the Spanish era remnants in central Guam. Most of the structures were destroyed during World War II but one of the remaining ones is Chocolate or Summer House. This was the garden’s social meeting place and where afternoon hot chocolate was served to the governor’s guests.
Plaza de Espana GuamGuam has a rich history that also included a strategic location and active role during World War II. The War in the Pacific National Historic Park is composed of six various areas around the island commemorating the sacrifice and courage of everyone involved. The Asan Beach Park was one of these points with hundreds of palm trees lining the beach where American soldiers landed to liberate Guam from Japanese forces who occupied it for three years.

Guam War of the Pacific Park

Let’s move out of the touristy area and to the southern part of Guam where I lived. Things are a bit quieter and greener here. There are several lookouts along the main highway for people to pull over and admire views like these. That other small island in the distance is uninhabited Cocos Island which is used as a day resort for tourists who want to enjoy various activities and water sports.

Guam Southern view
Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, or Fort Soledad is on a cliff with sweeping views of the ocean, coastline and the mountains. This Spanish fortification was built in the early 1800s to help strengthen the protection at the entrance of the bay. Umatac Bay was a vital supply station during the Spanish Galleon trade.

Guam Fort Soledad view

Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer, landed here in Umatac Bay in1521. This introduced Guam to Western Europe and opened the gateway to Spanish colonization. This sentry post was one of the few remainders of this once important fort.

Fort Soledad Guam

The fort still has the cannons strategically placed and pointed towards the ocean. You know how much we love taking tacky tourist photos so we couldn’t help doing this one. Cannon ball!

Fort Soledad cannons Guam
I have always loved the Inarajan Pools that was located on the southern tip of the island. These natural swimming holes are also called Salugula Pool. The calm and clear water in the pool was such a contrast to the crashing ocean waves surrounding this reef area.

Inarajan Pools

There was a bridge for visitors to pass through to get to a viewpoint that looked out into the ocean and a diving board for those who wanted some adventure. We saw local kids and tourists doing some interesting dives here. It was a lovely area to explore the corals and marine life in a natural setting.

Inarajan Pools bridge

There are only a few black sand beaches in Guam and Talofofo Bay is one of them. This was a popular spot for surfers. Although during our visit, it was only us and another family swimming here during a weekday afternoon.

Guam Talofofo Bay

One of the southern area’s most popular attractions is the Talofofo Falls Resort and Theme Park. I don ‘t know when it became a resort and theme park but it is neither one unless one counts the small collection of non-operational kiddie rides. We went on a short cable car ride to the bottom of the series of waterfalls.

Talofofo Falls from cable car
This was touted as Guam’s biggest waterfall but it was a bit disappointing during our visit. I remember this waterfall to be bigger and with more water. But to be fair, we were there during the tail end of dry season.

Guam Talofofo Falls
What kid wouldn’t want to run across and jump along the way in a suspension bridge? (no matter how rickety it looked)

GUAM Talofofo Falls bridge

This area also contains Yokoi’s Cave. Sergeant Yokoi was a member of the Japanese army, who sought refuge in the jungles during World War II. He was found here (alive and relatively healthy) in 1972 after hiding out and surviving in Guam’s dense jungles for 28 years after the end of the war. He was in the jungle with two fellow soldiers but outlived them. His main hideaway was an underground cave that has since collapsed but a replica and memorial is nearby to visit. It was a little bit of hike to get there with the least ideal conditions of extreme heat and humidity.

Yokoi Cave Guam
I also wanted to do something I’ve never done in Guam before. We did a cruise that sailed along two rivers flanked by a lush jungle and stopped at an ancient river village replica. It was such a peaceful and lovely ride that I’ve highly recommended this cruise to local family and friends who haven’t gone here thinking it was too touristy.

Guam Talofofo River cruise
One of the things I have missed about living on Guam is the food. I’m lucky enough to have a Guamanian restaurant down the street from my house but there’s nothing that can compare to potluck style family get-togethers or the delicious spread of a fiesta table. Fiestas or parties are HUGE in Guam. Villages celebrate them in honor of patron saints. Come to think of it, locals find an excuse to fire up the grill and cook. I’ve always loved the hospitality. Everyone is invited to come in and join the party whether you know the hosts or not.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to attend any fiestas during our visit. But, we had some get-togethers with family and friends to give my husband and kids a taste of more island food. These are the staples in many of the parties – red rice (coloring and flavor from the achiote seeds), BBQ meats, fish, egg rolls, noodles and chicken kelaguen (diced chicken with lemon). Food around the island is a combination of Filipino, Spanish, Chamorro and now infused with some Japanese and Korean flavors. Only in Guam will fast food giant, Kentucky Fried Chicken, sell red rice and chicken kelaguen. My husband and I came home with our clothes a bit tighter.

GUAM food
Spam (slice pork and ham) is ubiquitous in Guam. A Times article has labeled Guam as the SPAM capital of the world with residents consuming about 16 cans per person annually. This was the SPAM aisle at the 24-hour Kmart. Who knew you could have so many different flavors of SPAM? I think I’ve lost some island girl credentials by not bringing some home or at least, trying one flavor. Which flavor looks appealing to you?

GUAM Spam Flavors
After seeing their uncle on a touristy carabao ride photo during his visit, my kids desperately wanted to ride these docile water buffalos in Guam. We eventually found one to ride on at the night market and were the first ones in line. For $3 per person, the kids rode a carabao around the parking lot that took less than five minutes. This was a memory and experience they will always treasure.

Guam carabao
Carabaos have unofficially become Guam’s mascot. We also found painted, fiberglass carabao statues all over the island. They deserve their own post and photo gallery in the future.

Painted carabaos guam
Many of my favorite Facebook postings from my family and friends who live in or visit Guam are the spectacular sunsets. In the beginning, I felt a little silly and sad not remembering seeing such dramatic displays growing up. I guess I had other priorities other than sunset viewing as a teenager. After being lucky enough to travel to many places since then and seeing my share of sunsets, I can say that Guam ranks right up there. We were greeted with this incredible sunset just a few hours after landing.

Guam Sunset
Everyday was another spellbinding display of colors.

Guam sunset
One of my favorite memories was our family beachside dinner watching this sunset unfold before our eyes.

Guam Sunset

This trip made me realize that I took many things for granted growing up in Guam – the beaches, the natural, tropical beauty and those stunning sunsets. It was an incredible feeling to see and experience the island through the eyes of my children and share my childhood with them. There were so many more activities we didn’t get to do and many more beaches yet to explore. One advantage of this short and sweet trip was that I’ve got my family on board for a return visit soon.

Two Lover's Point Guam

Guam isn’t on many travelers’ radar and many haven’t even heard of it. I hope that sharing these pictures will inspire some of you to travel there (it’s about a 4-hour flight from Japan) or at least, gave you a bit of insight the next time you hear about it. For my fellow islanders who left and haven’t visited for awhile, I hope these photos invoked enough homesickness to start planning a return trip there soon.

Guam Agat Marina

Have you been to Guam? Would you like to visit?

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32 thoughts on “Going Home: Postcards from GUAM”

  1. I have also been given much grief about my worldwide travels that for a very long time didn’t stop at the Philippines. Maybe it’s a Filipino thing? Even as a casual tourist, this looks like a wonderful trip. Guam is so beautiful. That you had the added dimension of getting to show your family around your childhood home must have been so special. I like the tacky cannonball photo, but I especially like the one of all of you at the end.

    1. Thanks Michele! I think it is a Pinoy thing. My husband and I get so much grief about the Philippines. I’m glad you enjoyed this photo tour of Guam. It was very special to show them where I grew up and it may have given them a little bit more of an insight on their mom.

  2. Guam looks like an incredibly beautiful place to have grown up, Mary, and it must have been wonderful to be able to share your childhood home with your family! Although I found it hard to believe that people actually held many of the misconceptions in your earlier post, I do have to admit that I didn’t realize how popular Guam was as a tourist getaway. Now that I see the incredible natural beauty, I can see why. Love those fibreglass carabaos and can’t wait to see your post about them – we had fibreglass moose in Toronto a few years ago!

    1. Thanks Lisa! It really was a blessing to share my childhood home with hubby and kids. Growing up, I didn’t appreciate the natural beauty. I think I was too busy dreaming of other places and plotting how to escape the island as soon as I could :) It surprises so many people how many tourists there are in Guam and just how popular it is in Japan especially. How cool to have seen those moose statues.

  3. I’ve wanted to go to Guam since a girlfriend worked there at the Pacific Daily News, early on in our journalistic careers. This post keeps that dream of getting there alive for me. Fabulous tour!!! Thanks

  4. Hi Mary, thank you for sharing so much about the beauty and culture of Guam. It’s sad that I grew up not too far from it but I didn’t learn much about it, much more visited it. I didn’t know that like the Philippines it was also colonized by Spain and and, therefore, share similar culture like fiestas, celebrating saints etc, and oh the carabaos, too! It’s great the your husband and kids finally saw where you grew up, and that they enjoyed it. I hope I get to visit it someday. I look forward to more post on Guam.

  5. Awesome post, what fabulous scenery. I remember your previous post on Guam where you had dispelled the misconceptions about the place. Really love the way you described Guam, it seems a hidden gem :)

  6. Mary, Jim has been to Guam, but I haven’t. Our dream, probably once we retire, is to take a year and hop from Pacific Island to Pacific Island. I’m sure we would spend some time on Guam. Your photos are stunning…those colors! Thanks a million for linking up with Weekend Travel Inspiration!

  7. SUCH a fascinating post – I’ll confess to being one of those traveller’s who hadn’t heard of Guam until reading a few blog posts about it – it looks so beautiful! That sunset is breathtaking and that has to be the most colourful love lock bridge I’ve ever seen!

  8. Your photos are wonderful, Mary, and you’ve told me so much about Guam that I didn’t know. It’s funny how sometimes we explore the exotic, and ignore what is more familiar to us. (I’ve done the same thing.) What a terrific gift to give to your kids – the introduction of your homeland.

  9. Guam is much more beautiful and interesting than I had realized. Your photos are wonderful. I pinned a few. Also interesting, I have seen the love locks in several countries, but never before with the hearts. I love it.

  10. I have never even heard of the Guam Island, but it looks like a paradise! So sweet that you went back after 13 years with your children to show them your childhood island. I bet they appreciated it. The south of the island looks like the best part, and the Inarajan Pools look amazing, that green color, wow! I have never even seen a blue starfish! Is that common only on this island or in the whole Pacific?

  11. Oh how I love reading about your adventures! I love the pictures in this one and I can’t believe there are lots of blue starfish in Guam. I’ve never seen one before and it would be amazing! It looks like such a beautiful place. I hope we get to travel there one day:)

  12. What a fabulous tour you’ve taken us on. I learned so much about Guam in this post. I’ve known very little of its history, culture, food and natural beauty — a shame especially since it’s a US territory. Guamanian food looks really delicious, but I’m not much of a SPAM fan. I’m glad that you had this chance to show your family your childhood home.

  13. Thank you for this great article and the lovely pictures. I’m from Guam as well and my family and I try to get home as much as possible. Posts like this one make us happy that there are people out there sharing the good things about our home. Yes, it made us mahalang(feeling of great wanting and missing something or someone). But it was worth it. Good job!

  14. Thank you for the great photos. Loved them all. I was stationed there 69 to 71, didn’t know how really great it was there till last few years. I had a great time there and did get to see a lot of the island and volunteered to take groups around the island whenever possible. I would love to make a visit as a civilian but I know I will never be able to make. So I will have to settle for pic’s by whoever posts them. Thank you again

  15. I would love to visit Guam this year. what woll be the best month for that? I love your pictures and the way you talk about Guam. I cannot wait to go there myself.

    1. Hi Kim! Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the photos. I believe rainy season is from July – Aug and sometime in December. You may need to check on typhoon season too. I hope you make it to Guam this year.

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