In the Town Square on Friday evening they had a Christmas event, did some decorating and just came together as a community. Nice. More on the interesting live tree decorations later.
Here is our dive group, ready to strike awe in the underwater denizens with our fearsome presence. Also note our trendy bathing attire.
Here we are having dinner at a local watering hole. I had Rota red beans and rice with spicy saugage....ummmmmmmmmm.
Secluded bays and some original jungle higlight the island's terrain.
The traffic, however, was terrible.
There are a couple of well preserved Japanese WWII era guns, and at least one well preserved tourist.
There were very few others touring Rota while we were there. These gals came up from Guam along with a friend from the mainland, Virginia, I think. We saw them briefly then we all disappeared into the jungle to see more of fabulous Rota.
Babbling fresh water streams; now that is refreshing.
The Rota Swimming Hole. Frankly, not very impressive except for the Alcapulco cliff divers in residence.
The view from my hotel room's patio.
The sunset view is not bad either. Better than a sharp guava in the eye. It looked even better after a couple of Harry's patented Porky's Road Show Margauritas.
'Nuff said.
The Fabulous Foursome at the Taga Stone Quarry. Very impressive. Not us, the giant Taga stones. Looks like they may have had a work stoppage at a critical moment. I'm thinking Lek Wolensa showed up. Seriously, the work involved to laboriously chip those stones from the underlayment must have been grueling. Not to mention moving them afterwards. These particular ones, of course, never got off the ground as we say these days.
This was strange. A small farm in the boonies with most of the fence posts topped with these sometimes moss covered statues. Some were pretty odd.
'Nuff said again.
How about these Christmas ornaments. Beautifully painted fresh fruits hung in many of the Town Square trees. Neat. Biodegradable. Could be dessert later. Great idea.
I'll end this mini travelogue with a view of Songsong Village and Wedding Cake Mountain in the drizzly distance.
What a fine trip we had. What a wonderful way to spend a holiday weekend. Thanks to my friends Jeff, Rose, and Harry for sharing some quality time with me. And Special Thanks to Olive for taking care of Porky's so I could go out and play.
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10 comments:
Bruce, Which hotel did you stay in?
I'm suprised I can't recognize it.
Maybe its the angle of the photo...
The Coconut Village, Glen. Nice place. Built for the Japanese trade. Pleasant rooms. Still hanging on, but there is not much business.
We used to take the pot-holed coral road from the Rota resort, while working on the course, to eat lunch there sometimes, but never stayed there. It was hit hard by one of the typhoons, I didnt know it was open again. Certainly an out of the way place, nice and quiet.
That road is even more pot holed now. I'm sure Pongsonna did a number on the place as it did on many others in Rota and Guam.
Speaking of the RR, I'm taking my clubs the next time, and leaving the scuba gear. Lay around, play some golf, snorkel maybe. I like it there.
That cannon pic is just so wrong. My sister in law, Ginny, is an archeologist. When I first wrote home from the islands, she mentioned that Rota is unique as an area of early populations which was not torn up from the war. The Blue bananas might give her pause. Any native sites preserved there?
I so love Rota, I'm jealous. Looks like you guys had fun and missed the Taco Bell grand opening:)
Let's see...Taco Bell? Red Beans and Rice? hmmmmmmmmmm. I'm guessing that taco bell food has never been anywhere near a Mexican cook. so I'm sticking with the red beans, Boni.
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Yes, there are many latte stone sites around Rota, Mark. They did get straffed and bombed a bit during WWII but no major assault like on Saipan or Guam.
And so you should! I would trade all the fast food in the world to eat Rotanese cuisine.
What I would do for some binadu (deer) right now...yes, Rota cuisine is definitely one of my faves.
Bruce, I'm very impressed with your photos. Great color balance, composition...wanna work part-time? Just kidding, probably couldn't afford you.
Been meaning to come down and visit you but I'm still nursing the cold from hell. But yes, thank you for the invite, and I will drop by as soon as this sore throat and cough is gone. Beer and anti-biotics...not a good combo.
Regards,
Ed
Ed, my neighbors here in Tanapag acquire and prepare Rota deer meat from time to time and it is one of my favorites too.
You could easily afford my photographic work, Ed. I would love to contribute something to your Mag. I'd like to write something for you too....perhaps an a non-controversial subject.
Hope to see you when your cold clears up.
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