In December of 2010, Teresa and I were finally able to take a vacation together again to a nice, warm, tropical location. We decided to go to Guam, as it is only 3 hours from Tokyo, tropical, not too expensive, and has great diving. Plus, we hadn't been to Guam in about 15 years.
We wanted to see what was new, and what was still there. I chose a stay at the Hyatt, on Tumon Bay. It had the best pool system on the island, was right on the beach, and right in the middle of the shopping and hotel beach area. Left is looking out our balcony window. Self shot below.
The beach in front of our hotel looking north. The Hotel Nikko Guam is in the background.
Looking south, you can see the Hilton.
Teresa poses in front of Tumon Beach.
Sean takes a pose in front of Tumon Beach.
We met up with a friend of ours on the second day, Helen, who moved from Tokyo to Guam. We had a great dinner at the Denny's....good food, and nothing like the Japan Denny's resturants.

We rented a car on the third day and drove around the island. This shot is just south of Apra Naval Base, looking north.

This is one of several beaches on the "War in the Pacific National Park". Actual allied invasion troops landed on this beach. As the largest island in Micronesia and the only U.S.-held island in the region before World War II, Guam was captured by the Japanese on December 8, 1941, hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and was occupied for two and a half years.
Looking south from the same spot. 15 years earlier, Teresa and I went diving out a mile from here in a cave formation called "Blue Hole". LINK1 and LINK2
Here is our cool rental car. It was fun to drive on the right side of the road again.
On the south end of the island there are tall hills of rolling grass. Guamis in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government.[3][4] The island's capital is Hagåtña (formerly Agaña). Guam is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands.

First discovered by Europeans by Ferdinand Magellan on March 6, 1521, the first colony was established in 1668 by Spain with the arrival of settlers including Padre San Vitores, a Catholic missionary. The island was controlled by Spain until 1898, when it was surrendered to the United States as part of the Treaty of Paris following the Spanish-American War. Here near the south end is where Magellan landed, and setup a protective fort for the Treasure Galleons traveling from the Phillipeans to Central America.
Guam, the only Spanish outpost in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, became the regular port between Acapulco, Mexico and Manila from 1565 to 1815, and (since Philippine independence) the most western outpost of actual United States territory in the Pacific. It is the biggest single segment of Micronesia, the largest islands between the islands of Kyushu (Japan), New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Hawaiian Islands.
Here Teresa and I pose on the ruins of the Spanish Fort at Umatic, Guam. The Spanish built a number of forts to protect this bay, only the ruins of this one remains.
I pose with a display cannon, made for us tourists....this forts name is Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad.
Now rounding the southern end of the island and heading north on the east side of the island. The waves and water are much rougher on the east side, as this is where the currents in the Pacific colide with the island. The Mariannas Trench is not too far out from this spot.
Passing Cocos Island, we continue to head north towards Talafofo Bay.
We at at Jeff Pirate Cove Resturaunt, overlooking a beautiful bay. It was a bit windy tho.
Looking north from Jeff's, you can see the University of Guam on the hillside. There were alot of Kite-Surfing going on in the bay...usually 5 or 6 at any one time.
We ended the day by touring Anderson AFB on the northern tip of Guam. I had been here a number of times in the early 90's, and it was interesting to see what was new and what was old. Here I am in front of the "Arc Light" memorial.
I take a picture of Teresa in front of the memorial. Flag, Lady, Plane. It doesn't get much better than this!
We then drove down to the base beach. The base beach is down in a sheltered pocket, but it's quite a steep drive down. Also, just off the beach the water is rough, with dangerous currents...so it's not a place to swim, dive, or surf. Apra Navy Base is the place for that! Looking North.
Looking south from the overlook
And here is a shot of the water from the beach. The base runways are on the top of the cliffs over the water in this shot.
Here is some B-52 wreckage in the jungle. This section is just the end tail piece to the original Arc Light display, and a Super Typhoon moved it here. Here is the story.
Another shot. The aluminum is not holding up well, but some stainless steel parts are weather extremely well.
The next day we drove the car down to Apra Naval Base, and went to a place on the far edge of the base cliffs to a place called Spanish Steps on the Orote Penninsula. Originally built by the Spanish hundreds of years ago, getting down the cliff now requires ropes and careful cliff hiking.
Here is a view from a little ways down the ropes and steep trail section. Still a long ways to go down yet! And we are wearing beach sandals of course. The last time we visited, 16 years ago, a super typhoon had removed most of the vegetation from this area.
When we finally reached the jungle floor, the very thick vegetation reminded us that it has been years since it was last cleaned by a super typhoon. The danger of falling coconuts was very real! This place is crawling with large crabs, iguanas and other things. Very cool tho.
We emerged after a bit of a jungle hike to this secluded beach, under the Orote Cliffs. Looking east you can see the inside of Apra Harbor. After we got to the bottom of the cliffs, the sky opened up and it poured a very heavy rain. We took shelter for a while under the trees.
I swam out a bit into the pacific. This shot is looking north west. The water had a bit of a current, but was very clear and warm. The rains in Guam only last about 15 to 30 minutes, which is nice.
Teresa wades out into the water too. We were trying hard not to get a sunburn, so we always used lots of sunscreen each day, and kept on our shirts....
We then hiked back thru the jungle to the southern beach area, which is a bit rocky, but has some excellent shelted diving spots. Teresa and I spent quite a bit of time diving on beautiful colorful coral formation here.
Many of these isolated islands would soon tople into the ocean, as they were severly undercut.
Leaving the base we stopped at a large shelted beach on called Gab Gab. Looking north to Orote Point, you can see the Submarine Tender location, where the submarine weapons, (including nucs) are stored.
Looking north in the Apra Bay, naval tenders and freighters are visiable. The base is building up quite a bit.
Marines were practicing amphibious landings on Gab Gab, and another group were practicing underwater scooter drills too. Gab Gab is a really nice spot. Good diving there too.
The next day, I noticed a lizard hanging on our balcony window.
We spent quite a bit of our days reading on our balcony, and also reading by the pool. The pool had several slides, twisting and turning thru the heavy foliage. Lots of fun...
A shot of me reading.
Looking down from our balcony at dusk...
Looking down as the tiki torches burn, guiding visitors to the Luau that happens each night on the beach.
Sunset on one of our last nights....
Outriggers go by every day at dusk, as the local Chamorro's practice an ancient hobby....
Dinner at the Outrigger Hotel....
Looking across the bay from a trolly bus's passenger area...it was a good and cheap way to get around...but it is a bit slow.
We talked another tourist into taking our photo on the beach....
Teresa poses with the night fading into a briliant sunset...
I pose with our hotel's tiki torches burning....
Back on a 737 for the flight back to Tokyo. Tumon Bay can be seen behind the aircraft, down by the water.
We took off and headed north west. Looking down you can see Anderson AFB's base beach.
Looking back at Anderson AFB, on the north tip of the island...
Now looking down as we cross over the coast of Japan...back to 30 degree nights, and 50 degree days....
We touch down at Narita, outside of Tokyo. It was a great 9 days in Guam!
MUSIC VIDEO OF THIS TRIP HERE