Fiji the long way with our last QFi JASA.

[drron]

The island is every bit tropical.Hard to now believe that there were over 2500 Japanese garrisoned here during the war.The island was bypassed by the Americans and several hundred of the garrison died of starvation.

.

.

Coconut crabs however live here-

.

As if on cue as we got back on the zodiac to go back to the ship the volcano started to rumble and spew smoke and at first a little ash-

.

.

Looked like a couple of locals tried to escape on an outboard surf board-

.

.

Simple lunch on the back deck-

.

The rest of the island remained undisturbed as the last of the expedition crew returned-

.

.

 

[drron]

As soon as everything was back on board we set sail around the island of Pagan-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The island at one time was a copra plantation so those coconut trees are expected.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

The cruise around Pagan continues-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

And the time draws near to say goodbye to Pagan-

.

.

.

.

.

Another quiet dinner with some beautifully cooked lamb.
The next morning we awoke with Saipan in view.It is the second largest island in the Mariana chain after Guam.Now it is the seat of Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas and its people are US citizens.

.

.

At the entrance to the harbour is a small island the locals use for water sports.Only local vessels are allowed to land there.

.

.

Also the first major development we have seen in a week-

 

[drron]

.

.

.

Ship 54 where are you?

.

.

This ship is going no where-

.

.

Typical cruise ship port-

.

.

After breakfast we were off on a bus tour.The first stop was Suicide cliff.Many Japanese soldiers and civilians leapt to their death here despite US servicemen of Japanese heritage from Hawaii trying to talk them out of jumping.A beautiful place with such a sad history-

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

A moving memorial to all who died on Saipan-

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

We now headed off to the Grotto a dive spot in a cave with a small island just off shore called Bird Island which is a nature reserve.First some shots on the way-

.

.

The Saipan Country club-

.

.

.

Now the Grotto and another collared kingfisher this time with blue wings-

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

The fruit of a vine at the grotto-

.

The last command post of the Japanese was next with a collection of military reminders of war-

.

.

.

And the view back to suicide cliff-

.

.

.

And behind the memorial a garden of Japanese shrines-

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

Behind the rocks another example of the Japanese fortifications-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[amaroo]

Your TR is bringing back some memories! We went to Saipan and Guam in 1989...

Did you walk down those stairs to the Grotto?

 

[drron]

More of the last command post-

.

.

There is a large Korean memorial.Thousands of them were brought to Saipan as basically slave labour to build fortifications.Many died here.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Some quite direct road signage and again a look back at suicide cliff-

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

Then it was off to Banzai cliff.Another spot where Japanese soldiers and civilians jumped off into the sea or rocks below.

.

.

Such sadness at a beautiful spot-

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Your TR is bringing back some memories! We went to Saipan and Guam in 1989...

Did you walk down those stairs to the Grotto?

On this morning it poured with rain on and off but fortunately when we were on the bus.No rain when we stopped.However we were told that the stairs down were very slippery after rain so with my knee and mrsdrron's ankles we stayed at the top.However the knee is really holding up well and mrsdrron's ankles are slowly improving.

 

[drron]

There are many memorials here.Virtually all from the Japanese and most dedicated to peace.

.

.

.

.

.

This one however was to the bravery of the Japanese 9th Tank Regiment-

.

At the back a Shinto shrine as well as a Buddist one.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

And this was from the Japanese Emperor but praising the loyalty and bravery of the Japanese troops-

.

.

Then off to the American Memorial Park run by the US National Parks.A small museum.Be warned the introductory video is at times confronting with film of the events at Suicide cliff and the aftermath of the Japanese Banzai charge near the Last Command post.

.

.

And a picture of North Field Tinian where we went that afternoon-

.

All this surrounded by beauty-

.

 

[amaroo]

On this morning it poured with rain on and off but fortunately when we were on the bus.No rain when we stopped.However we were told that the stairs down were very slippery after rain so with my knee and mrsdrron's ankles we stayed at the top.However the knee is really holding up well and mrsdrron's ankles are slowly improving.

This is a small section ... given it was taken 25 years ago, I wonder what they look like now

 

[drron]

The memorial to the US war dead-

.

.

.

.

And again such a beautiful place with a luxury marina at the back fence-

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

I stayed out on deck as we left Saipan.The colours are fantastic.everything you think tropical waters should be-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

I believe that is the Hyatt.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

We then went to lunch.By the time we finished we were entering Tinian's tiny harbour.The Explorer is only the 4th cruise ship to visit Tinian and the first to use the dock.The locals are enthusiastic and our tour guide is a fellow that has published a book on Tinian's history.A really interesting time.

.

.

.

.

We are soon in the little red bus heading down Canal street to turn left on Broadway.The Officer in charge of construction on Tinian during the war was from Manhattan so all roads and features are named for Manhattan features.So we went up Broadway,through Times Square to Airfield North where the B29s took off with the atomic bombs for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.The second picture of runway able has a marker close to the end of the strip.According to Colonel Tibbets that is where Enola Gay's wheels left the ground on the mission to Hiroshima.

.

.

.