Guam and Palau
Well, I think I about timed everything right in terms of how much time to really meander around the South Pacific. Unfortunately, I didn't exactly choose the right day for beaching - should have done it yesterday (had time, ended up going to the airport an hour or so early and did a lot of aimless driving).
I have to say of the 3 places I went (SPN, GUM and ROR), Palau was the most beautiful from a very natural and jungle perspective but Saipan was the most interesting from a historical perspective. I think if I was a diver then I could easily spend more days here in Palau. I don't know how the Japanese tour groups do it - there are no beaches here in Palau (at least none that I could find and I looked EVERYWHERE) to speak of. There were beaches in both the other islands. The water was amazing and the vistas were fantastic here in Palau - definitely the most dramatic of the islands.
I also wasn't expecting (and was pleasantly surprised) coin laundry at my hotel in Palau! I'm doing clothes as we speak which should be done in 30 minutes or so which should give me time to get packed and situated for tonight's flight to Guam (2:30am departure - yay for that) and my onward journey to Narita where I have about 8 hours so I plan to go to Narita-san temple as I missed it the last few times I was in Japan.
The South Pacific is very much like the Caribbean - though less direct American tourist influence (mostly catered to Japanese) - though US dominance is the norm. Fascinating - I think I may do another long weekend next year with the famed HNL work day stopover!
I have to say of the 3 places I went (SPN, GUM and ROR), Palau was the most beautiful from a very natural and jungle perspective but Saipan was the most interesting from a historical perspective. I think if I was a diver then I could easily spend more days here in Palau. I don't know how the Japanese tour groups do it - there are no beaches here in Palau (at least none that I could find and I looked EVERYWHERE) to speak of. There were beaches in both the other islands. The water was amazing and the vistas were fantastic here in Palau - definitely the most dramatic of the islands.
I also wasn't expecting (and was pleasantly surprised) coin laundry at my hotel in Palau! I'm doing clothes as we speak which should be done in 30 minutes or so which should give me time to get packed and situated for tonight's flight to Guam (2:30am departure - yay for that) and my onward journey to Narita where I have about 8 hours so I plan to go to Narita-san temple as I missed it the last few times I was in Japan.
The South Pacific is very much like the Caribbean - though less direct American tourist influence (mostly catered to Japanese) - though US dominance is the norm. Fascinating - I think I may do another long weekend next year with the famed HNL work day stopover!