|
Guam,
USA...from page 2
|
A Walk of History
and Culture
When going to a new place, I always make it a point
to learn about the local culture. Give it to my
wide-eyed fascination when I discover something
novel. Although I wasn’t able to immerse myself in
the villages of the historic Hagåtña (also called
Agana) town, I found myself in the Chamorro Village
one Wednesday evening. It was a once-weekly
gathering of locals showcasing their cultural
dances, artworks and a wide selection of Chamorro,
Asian and Pacific Island delicacies.
Guam’s history could also very well be traced in the
landmarks strewn throughout the island, mostly in or
near the capital Hagåtña. The Latte Park houses the
latte stones where the Chamorros used to build their
houses upon. These native dwellings were discovered
in a remote inland area of southern Guam. Also at
the heart of downtown Hagåtña, the Plaza de Espana
houses the remains of the Governor’s Palace built
during Spain’s more than three centuries occupation
of the island. Then there’s the statue of Chief
Quipuha who was the first Chamorro chief converted
to Catholicism and who allowed the construction of
the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica, the
first Catholic church in the island. Other
sightseeing stops are the Merizo bell Tower built in
1910, the Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad
overlooking the Umatac Bay which is where Magellan
landed in 1521 and the mini Statue of Liberty which
stands at the Plaza de Susana overlooking the Agana
Bay.
Into Guam’s Waters
After that dose of history and culture, visiting
Guam wouldn’t be complete without literally diving
into its waters. So off I went to the SeaWalker for
what else, a sea-walking adventure! What was a
15-minute walk on the seabed 25-feet underwater
seems like an hour of being surrounded with colorful
and playful fishes. It was like snorkeling
underwater. With a pressurized headgear that made me
look like an astronaut on a bathing suit, I waded in
the clear waters and tiptoed my way around, doubtful
for a second that I might not be under the ocean as
I really was, but inside a giant underwater museum
for the sheer variety of the sea creatures swimming
around me.
For the non-adventurous types, Guam offers a peek of
its ocean’s rich diversity with the Underwater
World, a huge aquarium that transforms into a lounge
by nightime. So imagine sipping cocktails while
sharks and stingrays lurk above the glass tunnel.
Crazily unique but simply entertaining I must say!
Weddings in Guam
Okay, so I shopped, walked the historical route,
lounged about watching the local girls |
|
|
n grass skirts belly
danced with fire, went underwater and got bitten as the
fishes nibbled on the food pellets on my palm…so what else
is there to do in Guam? Hmmm…get married?!
With all the small wedding chapels hidden around this lush
paradise, who wouldn’t think of getting hitched? Well maybe
not now for me, but in recent yearsGuam has been the buzz
location for couples opting for beach weddings. Take your
pick from chapels that are chastity-pure with pews, walls
and floors painted all-white; those that have cameras
screwed near the aisle and the podium to document the vows
without videographers breaking the solemnity,
ceiling-to-floor glass windows that open to a spectacular
panorama of the ocean, chandeliers that sing to the music of
the wind, stained glass masterpieces that filter the sun
rays with beaming graphic images; and those that seem to
float on water…ah, Guam is giving the Las Vegas chapels a
run for their money as a getaway wedding location that
promises more than a venue for a quick small-scale exchange
of vows but a romantically idyllic—and hopefully as infinite
as the chapels’ view of the Pacific shores—one at that.
Guam beckons as a three-and-a-half hour plane ride away from
the Philippines. It is less popular (therefore less
populated) than Hawaii but has carved out a niche of its
own. Count me in as one of those who’d definitely come back
for a quick retail fix, to quench a thirst to dive into the
waters, or when the wedding bells ring perhaps? Well
whichever is necessary at the moment. It doesn’t really
matter because in Guam, everything seems to be an arm’s
reach, or a trolley’s ride, away.
 Continental
Airlines flies to Guam 14 times weekly. For more information
in visiting Guam, call the Guam Visitors Bureau at
(0)727-7755. |
|
|
The Latte Park is
one of the historical landmarks throughout the
island |
|
The
Chamorro Village gathers locals every
Wednesday night selling native crafts (left)
and delicacies. |
|
|
|
The
stained glass walls of this cave-like
wedding chapel soften the sun’s rays that
filter in, offering a solemn ambience for
the ceremonies |
|
|
Quaint
wedding chapels offer romantically idyllic
venues to exchange vows with a panoramic
view of the Pacific shores. |
|
|
