Welcome to Guam!

July 2003 - After the flight mishap, we both arrived in Guam safely!  This was a special trip for us for many reasons.  We were going to spend time with best friends Tom, Jill, Brett, and Austin Hatch!  We were also going to visit the home that Brett’s parents lived in when they brought his brother Todd home from the hospital.  Guam houses a large navy base.  Brett’s dad was stationed in Guam during the mid to late 1960’s.  Now Jill is stationed in Guam!

Toni, Lil Brett, Brett, Austin

We were officially welcomed to Guam with this cool sign the Hatch’s had made for us!  Unfortunately, it was a bit stormy the night we arrived, so we went out to see the sign first thing in the morning.  We had a great first day!  We headed down to Tumon Bay (also known as hotel row) for lunch and to check out the beach.  Tom had a meeting in the afternoon, so we enjoyed the pool at the Nikko Hotel.  Residents can purchase passes to use certain hotel amenities.  It had a water slide, which Brett, lil Brett, and Austin enjoyed.  Jill and I got to relax in the sun and catch up!  It was a great day topped off with a great sunset.  There are amazing sunsets in Guam, and we watched the sun go down at Haputo Point this night!

 Locals eat stuff off the beach  -  Tumon Bay

A private beach near Haputo

Brett and I brought a suitcase full of dive gear.  Our first dive was from a boat that we rented.  Captain Jeff took us out of Agana to Double Reef (near Haputo Pt.).  We saw a lot of fish and a white eel during the 44 minute dive.  During our second dive at Gun Beach, we brought along some frozen hot dogs.  The scissortail sergeant and surgeon fish loved them!  After a long day on the water, we relaxed at home with homemade chili and card games.

Tom, Jill, Austin, Brett, Lil Brett, Toni

There are many sites to see on Guam.  One famous site is Two Lovers Point.  The legend says that two lovers, whose parents forbid them to marry, tied their hair together and jumped off the cliff.  The views from the point were amazing. 

Two Lovers Point, Tumon Bay, Guam

Tumon Bay (Hotel Row) in the background

30 Begonia!

One of the highlights from our time on Guam was a drive around the island.  Our first stop was at 30 Begonia!  Brett’s parents lived here when his dad was stationed on Guam.  When Brett’s brother was born in September 1967, he was brought home to 30 Begonia!  We made it just in time too, as they were starting to demolish the old apartments.  As we continued around the island, we drove over the Old Spanish Bridge, past Cocos Island, to Jeff’s Pirate Cove. 

We stopped at the famous restaurant for lunch.  The restaurant is near Yokoi Cave in Talofofo.  Talofofo Falls and Yokoi Cave became famous when a Japanese soldier found refuge and hid in a cave for 28 years following WWII.  We finished off this day with a walk in the Hatch’s back yard and a sunset at Tarague Beach.  We headed out looking for boonie – hot, wild peppers.  We didn’t find any, but we saw lizards and wild pigs.  It was another amazing sunset at one of Brett’s parent’s favorite beaches too! 

Wild pigs at Talofofo        Wild pig in the Hatch backyard

                The Hatch's                           The Troutner's

The small island of Guam is probably not at the top of anyone’s vacation list, but it is a great place to consider.  More on this island in the Pacific soon…..

Tarague Beach