Basta Igat, Sikat! by MyMaria

Hafa Adai, Guam! (Days 1 & 2)

This post is overdue, I know. But that does not stop me from sharing with you the awesome experience we had in Guam over a week ago. Pictures paint a thousand words but let me tell you that this short vacation we just had was completely beyond our expectations. I had assumed that Guam would be paradise but what I didn't expect was for it to be exactly where I dreamed I SHOULD be living while I am alive and here on Earth! Tee hee. *takes mental note to look for job opportunities in Guam*

It really is the best of both worlds. Being an island girl, I cannot stress it enough to say I would die if I were to relocate to a non-coastal area. Having quick access to the beach to smell the ocean breeze as well as hear the sound of the waves is very, very therapeutic for me. Even if it's the Marianas Trench right out there, it certainly does not burst my bubble. I mentioned it's the best of both worlds, right? Well, it is a US territory and you can live the American dream. I could not ask for more. Hawaii is too far from home so Guam is just perfect.

Okay, now let me show you our travel photos so you will see why it is very good to visit Guam (if not move there already!), how you can get there, and what to do there. I'm going to have to split this Guam blog post into two because there are just so many things to write about.

Alright, are you ready for the first part? This is Day 1 and 2 of our trip to Guam.

United Airlines fly out of NAIA Terminal 1. The check-in was fast especially since we had no check-in luggage. Can you believe we actually packed light? Well, it's a holiday vacation on a tropical island. What do you expect? We are actually allowed at least 50 lbs (or 23 kg and up to 62.0 linear inches or 157 cm L + W + H) per bag for each passenger but we'll see after we go shopping. *wink* On the other hand, the number of times I went abroad were always through Terminal 2, so this was my first time to be in Terminal 1. I should say this place needs some work because it looks old and certainly is not the best airport terminal I've ever been to.

Since United and Continental Airlines have been integrated, now we've got daily flights to Guam through United Airlines with very convenient flight schedules. Our flight out was for 10:55 am, but we actually checked-in very early because we arrived from Tacloban just past 7 in the morning and of course, even though the check-in is available starting 24 hours before the scheduled departure via web-check-in or through the free smartphone app, there really isn't anywhere else to go as we wait for our flight. Ideally, you'll need to be at the terminal 2-3 hours before your flight.

We arrived in Guam at 4:55 pm (Standard Time: UTC/GMT +10 hours or +2 hours Manila time) so this flight is actually very ideal for travelers who will be staying at hotels. Check-in times usually start at 2 PM. However, if you'd rather take an evening/red-eye flight, UA offers them, too. If I remember correctly, there are 2 flights from MNL to GUM everyday. In addition, passengers can either get promo fares through their favorite travel agent or their website at www.united.com. By the way, our return trip was scheduled to depart at 6:55 pm, thus giving enough time to explore more of Guam even during our last day!

One good thing about Guam is that there are roughly 40% Filipinos in the island. It came as no surprise when the driver of OceanView Hotels and Residence in Tumon who came to pick-us up was actually a Filipino. Furthermore, the majority of the employees at the hotel were Filipinos and practically 90% of the restaurant crew were Filipinos. Heck, the radio is always on KTKB Megamixx 101.9 FM, Guam's one and only OPM station.

Honestly, you'll never be homesick while in Guam. It's just like being in Mactan Island, if you ask me... only you spend dollar$ and have a much better choice when it comes to shopping. Food is basically the same. Island food = Filipino food.

The only caveat is that beer is not cheap in Guam (umm, it's a US territory afterall!) and the ones that most people drink (because they're affordable maybe?) don't seem as strong as what we usually drink. They do have San Miguel and Red Horse beer but they're expen$$$ive. Plus, they take DUI charges seriously.

When it comes to shopping, Guam cannot be beat. Does the words TAX-FREE and DUTY FREE mean anything to you? I bet it does... to anyone who loves to shop! So whether you're into the designer goods or just want really good bargain, well, you should surely be in for a major treat! Now that 50 lbs baggage allowance does sound sweet after all, if not kind of insufficient.

Big thanks to Heinz Philippines for sending us to a one of a kind and unforgettable Guam vacation!

There are so many sights to see in Guam. We dropped by the Visitor's Bureau to get more information. I was afraid that our short stay was not enough to check out all the awesome spots. It really was, to my dismay. But hey, it gives us another reason to come back, right? Still need to explore more of Guam island! And oh, the SlingShot awaits!!!

Our first tourist spot was Tumon Bay. Okay, so we weren't exactly dressed to go swimming that day because it was drizzling. It actually was raining most of the time during our trip but still we were given a few hours of sunshine. Thank you, Lord! We had enough sunlight to take some cool shots of Guam so we can share with you a glimpse of paradise.

And then we checked out some of Guam's history... take note there's a lot, and when I say a lot you will see plenty of cannons (usually by 3's) at the various forts we visited all over Guam. It really does remind you of what Guam had been through.

In case you're wondering, those kids are my niece and nephew. I have a cousin who lives in Guam and he has been truly awesome for being our host and offering to show us around, GUAM-nam style(!) with full Filipino hospitality. Thanks, Manoy, for taking time off work to be with us!

Also met with a good friend from Ormoc, Bianca Serafica. She's currently doing her apprenticeship at the Pacific Islands Club resort as a pastry chef.

Also we were very privileged to be able to enter the US Naval Base and Air Force Base in Guam after being cleared with a background check. Unfortunately, you can't take photos inside federal property so yeah. I have mental photos in my head though. This is all I got while we had lunch at the Navy Exchange.

Well, this post has been long enough I think, but hey that's it FOR NOW. I've still got so many photos to sort out. You have no idea!!! There are still 2 days worth of tourist spot hopping and discovering Guam's history.