Fiji the long way with our last QFi JASA.

[drron]

Then we went to the atomic bomb pits past the old Japanese tower and command post which are falling down.All new Japanese planes were flown here before being sent to where they were needed.Such a pity that such an historic site has been ignored with a handful of locals and veterans helping to preserve a little of the site.So first to the pit where Little Man was loaded onto Enola Gay.Excuse the photographer's shadow-

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Then pit 2 where Fat Man was loaded onto Bock's Boy and off to Nagasaki-

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[drron]

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A completely different war going on today-

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[drron]

There were 6 atomic bomb assembly buildings.This is the best preserved one.

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Some tall Papaya trees around this site.

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Then it was off down 10th Ave,Around Central Park back to Broadway and Canal Street to the House of Taga.This is the ruins of an old Latte house that Spanish records say was occupied by the chief Taga back in the 1700s.These rival Easter Island.How did they produce and then build such houses?

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[drron]

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There were 18 such houses in a row here until the 1930s.The Japanese bulldozed them to construct housing for the sugar mill workers.However when they started on this house some of the workers died mysteriously it is said so they left it.Here is a drawing of the house in 1819-

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Behind it Japanese shrines-

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[drron]

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Then back to the dock as the sun was setting-

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[drron]

And now some of mrsdrron's pictures.You may note the subtle way I made sure she would recognise me-

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[drron]

Sorry I am not keeping up to date but internet access is flaky and uploading pictures impossible.
But today was one of the more memorable afternoons of my life.The Explorer reached the island of Tuam,PNG just after lunch.There was the welcome,dancing and singing and things to buy.
After that most went snorkelling or swimming but I and another medico joined the ship's doctor in providing a clinic for the islanders.I was helped by my good wife as nurse.
The villagers were amazing in triaging themselves.My colleague who was a proceduralist got more than 20 skin lesions to excise whilst I had none.But being a General physician/internist I saw mostly people with blood pressure,asthma,diabetes and heart disease.Though virtually all those older than 50 had significant cataracts.
We started off slowly but obviously gained the trust of the villagers as the lines just got longer.The tourism official from the mainland also ended up having a check up even though he would have access to a doctor.
We ended up having to call it a day before everyone was seen.
Tonight I will sleep well.

 

[OATEK]

And now some of mrsdrron's pictures.You may note the subtle way I made sure she would recognise me.

Aah, the famous shorts! Unmissable!

 

[love_the_life]

Certainly cuts a distinctive figure

 

[tgh]

……...and here I was fretting about packing some very plain , bland , and boring boardies for our upcoming jaunt on the Silver Discoverer.

 

[love_the_life]

……...and here I was fretting about packing some very plain , bland , and boring boardies for our upcoming jaunt on the Silver Discoverer.

Perhaps you should review that….don't want to be outdone.

 

[drron]

After leaving Tinian we had dinner on the pool deck with hot rocks.We started with Caesar salad,then lobster plus fillet steak and finished with coconut crème caramel-

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So internet a little better but slow so will only be posting a few images at a time until better.

 

[drron]

I don't know how to get rid og the last 3 attached images.Was trying to see how that worked and the sizes were all over the place and no quicker than my old method so apologies for an overdose of Caesar salad!

 

[drron]

Tuesday morning and we arrive in Guam-

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The navy is in-

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There is a free tour for those of us carrying on to Fiji.First stop is the War in the Pacific National Historical Park-

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A Japanese midget sub outside.Apparently only one confirmed ship sunk by the 2000 or so of these subs built.I guess Sydney was just unlucky-

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Again an interesting place with some confronting images.I also picked up a book on the Pacific war by a Japanese historian.One confronting fact there was that after the surrender the Japanese government supplied "comfort" women to the Allied Occupation Force.Several of the Japanese women "volunteered"committed suicide.

 

[love_the_life]

It looks like you are having a very interesting trip. Lots of caesar salad by the look of it! It would be very pleasant out on the pool deck for dinner. I think we only had lunch there and with the parkas and knee rugs!

 

[amaroo]

Memories of Guam Cir 1989

* Crew cut city - huge Navy, Marine, Air Force base
* 6 huge ready to deploy US Navy transport ships parked of the coast filled to the brim with armaments
* Maccas located on Naval base DO NOT service tourists .... men in fatigues and carrying large guns deliver this message in a friendly but stern tone.
* Pick-up trucks on monster wheels
* Obese locals
* Japanese tourist overrunning the island ... the females really liked non-Japanese males

 

[drron]

Just over the road from the museum was a symbol of modern America-

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Next stop was a lookout which was close to where the Japanese HQ was during the invasion of Guam.You can see that it was a great position to see how things were going-

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There is a memorial there-

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Of course what looks like a resort on the highest point in this area is in fact housing for US Naval officers-

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[drron]

So some more from the memorial-

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There was also the section with plaques listing the allied casualties.The plaques were copper and all stolen-

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Then to the old Spanish fort and it's views-

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All the way to GUM.

 

[drron]

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And for the numberplate collectors-

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Next to the Latte park,not as impressive as Tinian-

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And in the cliff caves excavated by the Japanese-

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Across the road one of Guam's more impressive buildings-

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[love_the_life]

Great pics! It seems there are quite a few land tours (bus?) on this itinerary. Am I right? We only had one on our trip (but not a lot of opportunity in the Arctic I suppose) and that was on the second last day when they wanted everyone out of the way so they could prepare for the incoming passengers. How many zodiac tours/landings have you been having? That's the real reason we like the expedition ships.