But before you delve into freshwater fishing, you must know the basics of Guam’s freshwater fishing. This way, you’d make the most of your experience and have your best catch. For that purpose, here’s an article to guide you. So read on!

What You Need

Many tourist anglers consider Guam a fishing paradise since the territory doesn’t require a fishing license. However, suppose you’re fishing on its lake and rivers. In that case, you must still think about the rules implemented by the island’s fishing board since freshwater fishing is prone to overfishing and habitat damage.

Primarily, the fishing rules restrict fishing activity. For this purpose, anglers should use the appropriate equipment and fish only up to the maximum quantity allowed. Visiting fishing stores, such as Melton Tackle, is an excellent way to find suitable items that may include the following:

• Rod And Reel

Choosing between rods and reels depends on which fishing method you’d apply—lure or bait. An excellent dropshot rod is ideal for soft lures, while jig rods are for heavier lures for big fishes. If you’re a beginner, you may try a medium action rod, ranging from 8–20lbs, as it suits freshwater fishing well because of its average weight and length.

In addition, you must also consider the faction action of the rod. It tells the sensitivity rating and the casting distance of the rod. If your fishing space is limited, you may stick to a more controllable rod and reel. On the other hand, you can use rods with longer flexes if the freshwater is wide enough for longer casting.

• Lines

If you’re still new to freshwater fishing, you may start with monofilament lines. If the stream or river you’re in is rocky, you may use the abrasion-resistant fluorocarbon lines, which are typically invisible underwater, and ideal for clear waters. If you’re after large species, you must use the lines with larger diameters or the braided ones.

• Tackle

Tackles can be the collective term for weights, hooks, and floats. Weights affect the casting distance and are a primary consideration in keeping the line and hook underwater. You can use basic split shot weights if you prefer a hassle-free option. In choosing hooks, consider the types that are sharp and long-lasting. Lastly, floats signal that a fish is eating the bait. In considering this tackle, choose what’s effective and inexpensive.

• Bait And Lure

If you’re a beginner, you may use nightcrawlers as bait. They’re easy to hook, and most freshwater fishes eat them. You may also hook shiners and similar fishes with shiny appearance to bait freshwater species, such as bass. If your fishing skills are more than the basics, you can already try lures, such as soft plastics and spinnerbaits.

Best Freshwater Fishing Spots

If you already have the fishing essentials, consider choosing the freshwater fishing spots, which are also perfect spaces for breathtaking views. Here are the common fishing points you can select from:

1. Masso Reservoir

Apart from its scenery, Masso Reservoir is a great space for freshwater fishing. Some of the common species one may chance to encounter are tilapia and eel. It’s believed that the fishes in the reservoir tend to be more attracted to live baits than lures.

2. Talofofo River

This is situated near Mount Lamlam, Inarajan, Guam. It features vast latte stones, rocky slopes, and a tributary. It’s also known for giant trevally, mangrove jack, and catfish. Residents suggest using live bait and avoiding soft plastics as a lure.

3. Agana Swamp

If you’re after large species, such as largemouth bass, Agana Swamp could be the one for you. You can also catch other species, including redbelly tilapia, guppy, bighead catfish, and common carp.

Best Freshwater Fishing Season In Guam

Freshwater fishing can be productive in Guam all year round. However, it’s suggested to avoid trying fishing during typhoon season. Many anglers consider spring and fall best for lake and river fishing. To make the most of these periods, anglers typically refrain from fishing on days with extreme weather conditions.

Wrapping Up

If you’re considering freshwater fishing in Guam, consider taking the insights this article offers. This includes the fishing essentials and the spots and seasons best for freshwater fishing. If you’re looking for more tips and tricks, you may talk to a seasoned angler or tourist to know more of ideas that’d help you explore and enjoy your fishing adventure in the lakes and rivers.

Two Lovers Point

Two Lovers Point is easily one of Guam’s most popular sights and for good reason — some of the best views of Tumon Bay. This cultural site is named for Guam’s very own Romeo and Juliet story, a legend of two ill-fated lovers who jumped to their death. Despite the tragic namesake, Two Lovers Point allows for 180-degree views of the ocean and surrounding limestone cliffs. Residents should ask for the local discount to save a buck off the $3 admission fee.

Tanguisson Beach

This remote beach is actually located just north of Tanguisson Beach Park. Access is through a rocky gravel road immediately to the right when driving down the steep main road to the beach park. Use caution when driving in the rain as there are deep pits in the unpaved road. Giant rock plumes punctuate this exotic beach which is rarely crowded, has good snorkeling, and gorgeous sunsets. This beach is on the way to Shark’s Cove, which is a day trip in itself.

Ritidian Beach

Guam’s northernmost beach is both remote and sprawling. Accessible from a rocky pitted road, Ritidian Beach is in the Guam National Wildlife Refuge and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It closes at 4 p.m. so you may want to start here and drive south. As you approach the beach, there is a free lookout area on the left side of the road. From there you can marvel at the steep cliff line and often tempestuous waves crashing on the white sand beach. On a clear day you can see the island of Rota to the north. Once you get to the beach, you can park under the tall shade trees and take shelter from the sun or rain, depending on the weather that hour.

Coco Palm Garden Beach

Coco Palm Garden Beach (website in Japanese only) is a private day resort offering kayaking, zip lining, beach volleyball, fishing, snorkeling, jungle tours, and hiking. The resort charges an admission fee for access to the beach and facilities, but you can order a drink and sit on the deck overlooking the ocean without paying for admission. After a drink or two, you may opt for the beachside massage to experience total relaxation.

The pressure to achieve and meet expectations can leave students feeling insufficient. Self-doubt can be a result of several adverse incidents that have occurred in one’s life. Some of these damaging events may bruise a person’s self-esteem for their entire life. Therefore, we must learn how to deal with incidents that bring us down to avoid breeding self-doubt. As a student, confidence is one skill you will need to navigate your academic life. You cannot afford to give up an instrumental virtue that will help you overcome several obstacles. So here are some quick tips that can help you shelve self-doubt. 

Practice Self-Compassion 

Before you beat yourself up about a setback, ensure you remind yourself that you are human and you are prone to make mistakes. These mistakes provide a pedestal for us to gain experience and resilience. However, if you keep referring to your past mistakes, then you can easily fall into depression and a dark pit of self-doubt.

Doubting your ability is always because you believe in perfection. However, once you realize that mistakes are what will make you grow, you will be more kind to yourself despite the fallbacks you might face. Moreover, when you are open to making mistakes and learning from them, you will be more open to taking risks and strides that will drive you toward your goals without fear. With newly found self-confidence, you will even be able to handle the assignments from topics you dread without hiring a paper writing service. 

Acknowledge Your Achievements 

Your past winnings can give you the confidence to face future uncertainties since you will believe in yourself more. As a student, you will need such acknowledgments to fuel your ambitions and zeal to continue despite the challenges. For example, identifying a challenging school project you passed with good grades will help you acknowledge that some things in your life may be blurry initially, but there may be a silver lining at the end. Also, as you refer to your past achievements, do not forget that each day brings new opportunities to make amends in areas you feel insufficient and improve on yourself. 

Do Not Make Comparisons to Your Colleagues 

Positive competition is encouraged; however, you should not use your colleagues’ achievements as reference points. We are all gifted differently; thus, you must recognize that your strengths and weaknesses make you phenomenal. As a student, you are bound to deal with imposter syndrome since you spend much time with your schoolmates who may be overachievers. But how you deal with such situations is what makes the difference. If you let it get the best of you, you will sink into self-doubt, but if you acknowledge your strengths and efforts amid all self-loathing, you can easily overcome this imposter syndrome.  

Self-Affirmation 

Validation from your loved ones may be effective, but you must also give yourself some credit. Self-confidence is an inside job that starts with trusting in your capabilities and efforts. Once you trust in yourself, then you cannot be overwhelmed by feelings of self-doubt. Most times, we rebuke ourselves by only looking at our weaknesses. However, if you do not acknowledge your effort, it may water down even the small steps you try to take toward greatness. Words of affirmation, such as “I can do it,” can spark positivity in your daily routine. 

Seek Help From a Professional Therapist 

Sometimes some things may be way beyond us, and seeking intervention may be the right thing. Therefore, if you feel like you have hit rock bottom, you can seek professional help. Therapists have years of experience in helping people rise above their insecurities. Self-doubt is a mindset that can hold you back from achieving even the most straightforward attainable goals. Nobody has us to higher standards than ourselves. Therefore, if seeing a therapist can help you with this, you can take the therapist route. 

Take-Home Point 

Our doubts are straight-up traitors since they hinder us from achieving easily attainable goals. Therefore, you need to be more open about dealing with self-loathing. The first step is acknowledging that there is a problem and then finding solutions for the problem. Self-affirmation, self-compassion, and counseling are some of the ways you can use to deal with self-doubt. As a student, there are several things you will have to learn and unlearn. Confidence is among the essential skills you can learn since it is not a virtue we are born with. We develop confidence as we go on with our self-identification journey.

Nearly everything on Guam is imported and that means costs are higher than in the States. It’s not like South America or the Caribbean where the cost of living can be relatively low for a Statesider. The costliest items are gas, food, and utilities. For example, as of August 2019 gas was $4.31 per gallon. Produce is significantly higher, though you can find deals at local produce stands. For example, strawberries are generally $7-8 per pint and asparagus is usually $7.99 per pound. Utilities such as electricity continue to rise seemingly with no ceiling.

Blame the shipping costs on The Jones Act of 1920, which forbids all but U.S. shipping vessels to carry cargo to Guam.

How to save: Prices on Guam’s military bases are, of course, more reasonable. Non-military residents can save money by purchasing items like electronics, pet supplies, and personal items online. See our shipping guide to find out which stores ship to Guam.

It’s vital to learn to eat like a local. Farm to Table Guam has a CSA (community supported agriculture) subscription program that includes a weekly box of all local produce. Anyone can sign-up. Read how a military dependent treated sourcing local produce like a treasure hunt in The Fresh Factor.

Make friends with your neighbors (outside the base) and you will be overflowing with mangos and avocados during their respective seasons. Guam avocados are huge, creamy, and delicious. Mangos can be eaten fresh, in salads, pickled, juiced, or frozen. Same with papayas!

Eating local also means trying the dozens of bakeries on Guam. Read our guide…

It’s far

You will be homesick and it will take at least 24 hours and $1,400 per person to get back to the States. This may seem obvious, but if you’re a new Guam transplant and you feel a little down or out of sorts, consider that it may be homesickness.

How to acclimate: It may be tempting to call home every day, but a better way to combat homesickness is to keep busy and make new friends. Fortunately, Chamorro culture is friendly and open to newcomers. Keep an eye on local events where you will be sure to strike up a conversation with a likeminded resident. Newcomers often get their dive certification on Guam, which will keep you busy exploring Guam’s fascinating waters. Read our 5 Steps to Diving on Guam and Get Your Advanced Open Water Dive Certification on Guam.

Need to get back home? If you haven’t already, start saving your miles to get reduced prices on flights home. United Explorer Visa credit card sometimes offers 55,000 bonus miles to new card members! That leaves only 15,000 miles to purchase for a flight from Guam to the States.

It’s all who you know

Guam is a small-knit community and families stick together too. Locals are more likely to use someone they know for any service they need. Calling in favors and showing preferential treatment to family is not considered nepotism, even in the secular world. In fact, there’s a name for it — the Pare’ system!

How to get connected: It’s okay to ask for favors and drop names! Word of mouth is powerful on a small island, so ask around to find reliable service professionals and businesses. If you’re doing business on Guam, this can be an obstacle… until you start networking yourself. Ask your clients to refer you to potential clients. Ask them to recommend your business to their friends.

It’s slow

Guam is an island. In the Pacific. People just move slower. This can be frustrating if you’re from a fast-paced city in Asia or the Mainland and you’re driving or waiting in line on Guam. On the other hand, isn’t that why you moved to a tropical island in the middle of the ocean?

How to get things done: Simply plan ahead. Leave your house earlier and allow more time to travel and wait in line for services (hello, Ross Dress-for-Less, I’m talking to you!). Read our guide to Understanding Guam Traffic and 15 Things to Know Before You Go to Guam. A patient and kind demeanor goes a long way with customer service personnel. You’re far more likely to get help if you keep calm.

Read our 5 Steps for a Smooth Move to Guam.

Pacific Islands Club Guam

Best for Kids

With a handful of pools and lots of slides and activities, PIC wins for family fun. From kayaking to snorkeling with real fish, there’s something for kids (and adults) of all ages.

Sheraton Laguna Resort & Spa

Best for Escape

Off the beaten tourist path, Sheraton’s infinity pool overlooks tranquil Agana Bay where you might catch a glimpse of surfers or fishermen. The long and lean pool is surrounded by winding paths and beautifully landscaped grounds. You might almost think you’re in Europe!

Hyatt Regency Guam Hotel

Most Natural

The Hyatt’s lazy river winds through tunnels and past lush greenery for the most au naturel experience in a man-made pool.

Hilton Guam Resort & Spa

Best View

Of the three pools at Hilton, our favorite is the elevated pool overlooking Tumon Bay. Watching the pounding waves roll in with Two Lovers Point in the distance is the ultimate relaxation. This is the reason we took a staycation here.

Outrigger Guam Resort

Best Waterfalls

With winding pools and this awesome waterfall, Outrigger’s pool is best enjoyed at sunset, in an inner tube, or while sipping a piña colada.

Guam Reef Hotel

Best Infinity Pool

At the center of Pleasure Island, the Guam Reef Hotel pool offers unparalleled views of the Philippine Sea from an awesome height. This infinity pool was designed to blend seamlessly with the Sea, making it both relaxing and exhilarating to swim in.

The Westin Resort

Best Beach Access

With the white sand of Tumon Bay just a few steps away, this pool is for the swimmer/snorkeler who wants the best of both worlds.

Adrenaline Junkie

You’re the traveler with all the GoPro attachments — underwater, head mount, selfie stick, check! Guam can be experienced at full throttle whether you’re a small or big budget traveler. There are now two types of skydiving — traditional and simulated. Check out Skydive Guam to actually jump out of a plane or Skydrenaline Zone to just feel like you have. If you don’t mind feeling your stomach in your throat, go for a Slingshot ride in Tumon. For a milder adrenaline fix, Zipline Guam offers unique views of Tumon Bay. If water is your pleasure, book a parasailing excursion. If jumping off of stuff is your forte, check out our top spots to take the plunge or read our 12 Activities for Adventure Lovers on Guam.

Lazy Sunbather

You’ve just traveled for 12 to 24 hours and you’ve never felt so happy to sink your toes into the sand. Before you hit the bed, you hit the beach… and you stay there all day. In fact, Guam is so safe and tourist-friendly, you can enjoy Tumon Bay even at night! If you can pry yourself out of the beach lounger, you’ll want to check out some of the dinner and dance shows at all the major hotels along the Bay. To get off the beaten path and see Guam’s rugged coastline, rent a car, hop in a taxi, or book a bus tour to see Guam’s sleepy southern beaches where you can be just as lazy, but escape the tourist-beaten path of Tumon. We recommend Ipan, Talofofo, and Inarajan beaches. Check out the 8 Most Breathtaking Beaches on Guam.

Family Guy (or Gal)

Guam is safe, relaxed, and very family friendly. If your kids love the water, you’re in luck. Swimming and snorkeling are favorite family activities, as are waterparks and hiking. Check out Tagada Amusement Park in Tumon for rides or UnderWater World to see the ocean without getting wet. For older kids and teenagers, explore Guam’s rugged terrain with Let’s Ride Guam, where mom or dad can drive an ATV (and hopefully, not drive their kids crazy) with the help of a guide. Read the rest of our Top 10 Spots for Family Fun on Guam or Family Friendly Hikes on Guam.

Shopaholic

You came with a credit card and you know how to use it. Budget shopping or luxury brands — Guam has it all. Head to Chamorro Village on Wednesday nights to shop unique handmade jewelry, souvenirs, and art. Or hit up any of the major shopping centers in Tumon for U.S. and European luxury brand apparel, shoes, and accessories. Start with the largest — The Plaza Shopping Center then work your way through JP Superstore, T Galleria, and Tumon Sands Plaza. For more affordable brands, you can explore each of Guam’s malls within a couple of days — Agana Shopping Center, Micronesia Mall, and Guam Premier Outlets. Each of the malls has a food court and movie theatre if you literally shop til you drop.

Culture Vulture

Guam has layers of history to peal back (Chamorro, Spanish, Japanese, American) all contributing to a dynamic modern-day culture. Step outside of Tumon’s tourist strip to experience historical villages like Umatac, Merizo, and Inarajan. You may even be invited to a village fiesta or BBQ! To see authentic Chamorro dance, visit Sheraton Laguna Resort & Spa to see a performance by Pa’a Taotao Tano. Read our feature, Understanding Chamorro & Micronesian Culture on Guam as well as 10 Ways to Experience Culture on Guam.

Foodie

There are five foods you must try on Guam and a whole lot more that you will enjoy. Start with kelaguen, a signature local dish. A combination of lemon juice, onions, local hot peppers, salt and sometimes grated coconut are used to “kelaguen” either seafood, beef, chicken or even Spam. Kadon Pika is another local favorite. The Chamorro word “kadon,” when translated, means stew and the word “pika” means spicy. Ingredients include soy sauce, vinegar, salt and black pepper, onions, garlic, local hot peppers and last, but most certainly not least, coconut milk. Discover the other must-try foods on Guam!

Guam is home to many Asian fusion restaurants as well. See photos of our favorite fusion dishes, best bakeries, burgers, and pizza!

Sports Enthusiast

Guam hosts several signature sports events annually, such as XTERRA, Guam International Marathon, Ko’Ko Half Marathon and Relay, and Cocos Crossing. Thousands of international visitors stream in to compete. Hiking on Guam is known as Boonie Stomping and guides take locals and visitors to rugged beaches, rolling hills, and hidden waterfalls weekly for just $2.  Want to be a spectator? Guam International Raceway is the home of drag racing, drifting, autocross, car shows, and super moto events.

Chicken Kelaguen

Recipe by Annie Merfalen

Don’t call it “chicken salad,” kelaguen is so much more. This spicy chicken dish is marinated in lemon and served with soft flour titiyas. Variations on this dish are made with uhang (shrimp), guihan (fish) or binådu (deer).

Ingredients:

1 small rotisserie chicken
6 stalks green onions
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon powder plus 3 tablespoons water (or use the juice of 1 large lemon)
2 teaspoons salt (more or less, to taste)
Hot pepper, optional
Freshly grated coconut (unsweetened), optional

Directions:

1.  Debone the chicken; shred or cut into small pieces (I used a food processor to roughly chop the chicken).
2.  Thinly slice the green onions then add it to the chicken.
3.  Add the lemon powder, water, salt and pepper to the bowl of chicken; mix to combine.  Taste; adjust seasoning if required.
4.  Stir in the optional grated coconut.
5.  Serve with my super easy sweet flour titiyas and enjoy!

Eskabeche

By Emilie Johnston, Guam Women’s Club Cookbook

PHOTO SOURCE: Contributed to Guampedia by Victor Consaga

Fresh fish cooked in vinegar sauce, Chamorro eskabeche is an localized homage to the Spanish escabeche.

Ingredients:

Fish
Cooking oil
Beans (long beans, green beans, etc.)
Kang kong
Eggplant
Cabbage
Carrots
Onions
Green pepper
Turmeric, fresh if possible
Vinegar
Salt

Directions:

1. Clean and cook all vegetables, except green pepper and onions, in boiling water until tender. Reserve at least 2 cups of the cooking water.
2. Fry fish until barely cooked. Drain most of the oil from pan used to fry fish. Saute green pepper and onions in the same pan. Add grated or sliced fresh turmeric. (Powdered turmeric may be used if necessary.) Pour in about 2 cups of the vegetable water and about a cup of vinegar. Add salt to taste and bring to a boil.
3. Arrange cooked fish and vegetables in a large casserole dish or other serving dish. Spoon or pour solution over all. Refrigerated, this will keep for several days.

Finadenne

Recipe by Annie Merfalen

Every culture has its own all-purpose special sauce, for Guam it is Finadenne – a simple trifecta of salty, sour, and spicy. Enjoy with everything from BBQ to plain white rice.

Ingredients:

Soy sauce, to taste (you can substitute the soy sauce with salt)
Vinegar, to taste (you can use any type of vinegar, or you can use lemon or lime juice)

Optional ingredients:

Green onions, as much as you like
White onions, diced, as much as you like
Hot chili peppers, as much as you can stand
Cherry tomatoes, diced or sliced

Annie’s special recipe

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
1 jalapeño pepper
2 Serrano chili peppers
4 stalks green onions
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes

1. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce and vinegar (or lemon juice if you prefer).
2. Slice the peppers then add them to the bowl with the onions, and tomatoes. Stir to combine.
3. Serve in a side dish or sprinkle over rice.

BBQ Short Ribs

By Rueben Olivas

Guam BBQ is typically made with Korean kalbi style short ribs, over a charcoal grill. Each family keeps its own BBQ recipe a tightly guarded secret. Thankfully, Rueben Olivas has let us in on the basics.

Ingredients:

1 cup of Kikkoman Soy Sauce
1 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 to 1 onion sliced very thin
6 cloves of garlic minced
Black pepper to taste
Beef short ribs depending on the number of persons 1/2 lb per person generally.

Directions:

1. Mix the ingredients either by hand or in a blender.

2. Pour the marinade over your ribs in a container and coat ribs well.

3. Place the covered container in the refrigerator or cooler for at least 2 hours or over night.

4. BBQ or grill as some say, mopping the marinade on the ribs to keep them moist.

5. Because these ribs are thin, they will not take long to cook. These are juicy and delicious right off the grill.

Buñelos Aga

Recipe by Annie and Carolyn Merfalen

PHOTO SOURCE: Barry Duenas

Krispie Kremes has nothing on fresh warm Buñelos Aga – banana donuts. For the best results, make with local sweet bananas. The best foods work just as well for breakfast as dessert.

Ingredients:

2 cups mashed ripe bananas
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Vegetable oil (for frying)
Maple syrup, for dipping or glazing

Directions:

1. Place the oil in a large frying pan; turn the heat to medium to begin preheating the oil.

2. Mix all of the other ingredients thoroughly. It’s going to look like mashed up bananas, but firmer because of the flour. The batter will be very sticky but don’t be tempted to add more flour — this is the perfect ratio to make moist donuts. Adding too much flour will make them rubbery.

3.  When oil is hot, drop the mixture by spoonful into the oil, turning frequently. The Chamorro method is to scoop up a little bit of batter in your hand, then squeeze out a dollop of batter between your thumb and pointer.

4.  Deep fry over medium heat. Keep your stove settings on medium heat. If the oil it too hot, it will burn on the outside before the inside cooks.  Cook until golden brown.

5.  Serve with a side of maple syrup for dipping, or glaze all of the donuts with maple syrup.

6.  Drain on a paper towel and serve warm.

BBQ Chicken

By Rueben Olivas

Some people use the same marinade for short ribs as for chicken, here Rueben Olivas shares his own sweet chili sauce. BBQ over charcoal as close to the beach as you can get.

Ingredients:
2 ½ to 3 lbs of chicken wing drumlets and winglets.
1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup of water
1/2 cup of sugar
2 fresh hot peppers minced
2 cloves of fresh garlic minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in 1 teaspoon water

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, combine together the water, vinegar and sugar.

2. Mix together until well blended. Bring to a boil until the sugar has been dissolved.

3. Add the hot pepper, garlic and salt, and boil for another 1 minute.

4. Add the cornstarch and boil until everything has blended together.

5. Allow this to cool before you use it for a marinade.

6. If you are going to use this sauce for a barbecue glaze, cooling is not necessary.

7. Wash and allow the chicken wings to drip dry. Place chicken wings in a re-sealable plastic bag with 1 cup of the sweet chili sauce.

8. Seal the bag and rotate to make sure the wings are well coated with the sauce. Chill for at least 4 hours before barbecuing.

9. Start the fire in your BBQ pit. You want to BBQ with medium heat. This is at about 350 to 450 degrees F. Use the thermometer in the lid/cover of your BBQ pit to measure the heat.

10. If you do not have a lid thermometer, here is another way to measure your heat. Hold the palm of your hand about 5 inches above the grill. If you can hold your hand there about 5 to 7 seconds, you can consider your heat to be medium.

11. Take you wings out of the chill box and allow them to reach room temperature before BBQ-ing. This should take about 20 minutes.

12. Grease up your grill and place the chicken wings down. Barbecue your wings about 15-20 minutes per side but make sure that you constantly turn them so that the sugar from the sweet chili sauce marinade does not burn. Total cooking time should be 30 to 40 minutes.

13. The last 5 minutes of cooking, coat the wings with the remaining cup of sauce for a nice, thick glaze.

14. Serve with white rice and your favorite sides.

Golfan Apai Lemmai

Recipe by Dr. Judy Flores

PHOTO SOURCE: Contributed to Guampedia by Victor Consaga

Lemmai, also called breadfruit, grows in abundance on the island of Guam. The meat can be baked as is, or made into dough for frying. The best way to eat lemmai, is slow-cooked in golfan, coconut milk, until soft. This recipe can also be used with banana, yam, or any other starchy vegetable.

Ingredients:

1 large (3 to 5 lb) breadfruit
2 coconuts (milk extracted or a 12-ounce can of coconut milk may be substituted)
½ teaspoon salt
2 to 3 tablespoons sugar (optional)
Water

Directions:

1. Peel the breadfruit and cut into serving-sized pieces. Place in pot large enough to fit everything, with space on top to allow for boiling the coconut milk to bubble up.

2. Mix coconut milk and salt to taste, and add sugar if desired. Pour over the vegetables, so that everything is covered, but visible.

3. Bring to a boil, then cover with a lid and drop heat to low. When the mixture is åppan and the vegetables firm but soft, the dish is ready to serve.

Hotnon Babui

By Tanya Champaco Mendiola

Fresh roasted pork is moist and tender and should fall right off your fork. Though this recipe is as simple as it gets it takes a lot of love and patience to make the perfect hotnon babui. Even if made in a special oven, this dish is reserved for very special occasions.

Ingredients:

100 lb pig, cleaned
Water
Apple, cabbage for garnish

Directions:

1. Place pig on a spit and turn.

2. Using a brush, constantly baste with water.

3. Cooking time is generally 4 hours. Some chefs recommend to allow 1 hour cooking time for every 10 pounds.

4. Fina’denne’ or another condiment of choice can add flavor to the meat after it is cooked. Garnish with apple, cabbage, or ingredients of your choice.

Latiya

By Paula Quinene

The vanilla custard cake, latiya, just might be the reason why they invented desert. The island’s take on the Spanish natillas, latiya is served at the end any great celebration.

Ingredients:

Betty Crocker boxed pound cake mix
2 cans evaporated milk
2 cans worth of water
6 eggs, room temperature
½ cup cornstarch
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
2/3 cups water
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
Cinnamon for dusting

Tools: large pot, whisk, medium bowl, small bowl, two containers with 2-inch lip

Directions:

1. Bake cake as directed on box. Let cool and slice ½ inch thick. Arrange slices in a tray that has a 2-inch lip.

2. Pour milk into pot. Refill the two cans with water and pour into the pot. Add butter and sugar. Set pot on medium heat and stir occasionally. Bring to a gentle boil.

3. While waiting for the milk mixture to boil, beat the eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl. Set aside.

4. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water.

5. When the milk mixture reaches a gentle boil, slowly pour in the eggs and vanilla as you quickly whisk the mixture in the pot. Ignore the shreds of eggs as this will not be evident in the final taste and texture. Stir constantly. Let this come to a gentle boil then add the cornstarch mixture. Stir and cook for two minutes.

6. Pour custard over cake and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cool uncovered in the fridge over night.

7. Slice into squares and serve chilled.

Lumpia

Recipe by Annie Merfalen

PHOTO SOURCE: Contributed to Guampedia by Victor Consaga

What is the Philippines’ greatest export? Food! Their fried spring roll has become a staple at the Chamorro fiesta table. Since they’re small, no one looks twice when you eat five.

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground pork, beef, or chicken
1 large russet potato, diced
1 large onion, diced
1 cup green beans, diced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
1 bag (10 oz) sliced carrots
1 bag rice noodles
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 can bean sprouts, drained
50 lumpia wrappers
Dashida Korean beef stock
Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Brown the ground meat with diced onions and garlic.

2. Add 4 tablespoons Dashida seasoning, and stir. Then add beans, carrots, potatoes, and bell peppers.

3. Soak the noodles in hot water until softened. Use kitchen shears to cut into small pieces, then add to pot with the other ingredients.

4. Finally add the bean sprouts.

5. Stir all of the ingredients together, and cook until the potatoes are almost done, but still firm. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Place a lumpia wrapper on a flat surface, then add 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling on one edge.

7. Tightly fold the edge over the filling, fold the sides toward the middle, and roll, stopping one inch from the edge.

8. Moisten the edge of the wrapper with water, and press gently to seal.

9. Fry in vegetable oil until golden brown.

10. Serve with dipping sauce.

Red Rice

By Paula Quinene

Red rice is the most iconic dish of the Mariana Islands. Rice made bright with achote is served alongside everything from BBQ to Thanksgiving turkey. Make any meal a fiesta by doctoring up your rice with this easy recipe.

Ingredients:

Calrose-style rice (short-grain)
5 ½ cups water, more as needed
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon bacon drippings
¼ cup chopped yellow onions
1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
5 teaspoon seasoning salt
¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons achote seeds

Directions:

1. In a medium pot, measure and rinse 5 cups of rice. Add 5 ¼ cups water (more water may be necessary while the rice cooks).

2. Add the oil, bacon drippings, and onions. Season to taste with seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder, and salt so that it is quite flavorful. Set the pot on medium-high heat.

3. Place a strainer over the pot such that it is about 2 inches submerged into the liquid. Put the achote seeds into the strainer. As the liquid heats, the color and flavor will be released. Stir the seeds within the strainer constantly.

4. Boil the rice for 10 minutes, long enough to get a dark orange, almost red color. Stir the pot of rice occasionally to prevent the bottom from sticking and burning.

5. After the coloring is completed, remove the strainer with the seeds. At this time, if it looks like much of the water has been absorbed, add ¼ cup more water.

6. Stir rice. Cover the pot and steam for 10 minutes.

7. Check rice. If kernels are cooking and the rice looks to have enough water, scoop rice and steam another 15 minute. However, if the kernels are still quite opaque and rice looks dry, add a ½ cup more water. Do not stir cooked rice as stirring makes cooked rice mushy.

8. Check rice and repeat until rice is cooked. Use an ice cream scoop to serve perfect mounds of rice.

Shrimp Patties

Recipe by Annie and Hannah Merfalen

PHOTO SOURCE: Contributed to Guampedia by Victor Consaga

Who doesn’t love a good fritter? Made with mixed vegetables and shrimp, make these soft dough balls a decadent part of your daily meal. This recipe is made without eggs, for a denser dough.

Ingredients:

1 cup thinly sliced green beans
2 cups peas
1 cup chopped onions
3 cups corn kernels
4 cups shrimp, chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 cans evaporated milk
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
5 tablespoons Dashida seasoning
1 teaspoon Accent
1 teaspoon black pepper
Vegetable oil, for frying

Directions:

1.  Heat the oil in a large frying pan. To test the heat, use the tip of a wooden spoon and dip it into the oil.  If little bubbles start to form around the wood, then the oil is hot and ready.
2.  While you’re waiting for the oil to heat up, mix all of the ingredients (except for the vegetable oil, of course) in a large bowl.
3.  Drop batter by the spoonful – about 1½ tablespoons each – into the hot oil and fry until golden brown.
4. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

Tinala’ katne

By Tanya Champaco Mendiola

PHOTO SOURCE: Contributed to Guampedia by Victor Consaga

Dried cured beef, tinala’ katne takes on a bright reddish color. Smokey and salty, this fiesta staple modernizes an old preservation technique.

Ingredients:

1 lb beef, thinly sliced
Cloves of garlic, crushed to taste
1/4 cup vinegar
Salt to taste (ocean or table salt can be used)
Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients and rub on meat.

2. Hang to dry or place in an oven to dry.

3. Once dried, beef can be heated over a barbecue grill or in an oven before serving.

Titiyas

Recipe by Annie Merfalen

Titiyas, Chamorro for tortilla, can be made with corn or flour. They are delicious chesa on their own, or can be used like a chip to scoop up kelaguen.

Ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 to 1/2 cup cream of coconut (the sweet one, used for mixed drinks, NOT coconut cream).

Directions:

1.  Mix the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Add the coconut milk, melted butter, and cream of coconut (start out with 1/4 cup; increase to a total of 1/2 cup, depending on how humid your day is – more humid means less liquid). Mix together until dough forms; knead gently to form a smooth ball of dough.

2.  Break off golf-ball sized pieces. Flour rolling surface and rolling pin.  Roll out the piece of dough into a flat disc (about 1/8-inch thick). Place the titiyas on a dry skillet; prick all over with a fork to prevent bubbling during the cooking process.

3.  Pan-fry on a dry skillet over medium-low heat for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until the bottom begins to turn a golden brown; flip over and cook the other side until it turns a nice golden brown.  For thicker titiyas, cook over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side.

4. The titiyas are done when you gently press down on the center and it feels somewhat firm to the touch.

5.  Place cooked titiyas on a plate covered with a clean kitchen towel to keep warm.  Serve with chicken kelaguen.

Apigige’

By Paula Quinene

PHOTO SOURCE: Uploaded to Wikimedia by Abasaa

Apigige’ is a sweet mix of coconut and cassava, grilled in a banana leap. Served as a sticky snack or simple desert, apigige’ can be stored long term in the freezer.

Ingredients:
1 16 oz. bag banana leaves, cut into 8 in. long x 5in. wide pieces.
2 cups chopped/slivered young coconut (Two 20 oz. cans)
Two 16 oz packages of grated cassava (if frozen, thaw overnight, do not soak in hot water
1 cup young coconut juice
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

Directions:

1. Clean the banana leaves with a sponge and water. Wipe leaves with kitchen towel and set atop baking racks to dry.

2. Drain juice from coconut, saving 1 cup to set aside.

3. Finely slice the coconut.

4. In a medium bowl, combine the coconut meat, 1 cup of juice, grated cassava, and sugar to form a thick batter. Depending on the brand of cassava, it may be quite watery. If this is the case, pour your batter into a fine-mesh colander and drain out some of the liquid. Preheat griddle or grill to medium heat.

5. Apply 2 tablespoons of mixture at the bottom edge of banana leaf, centered, about 2 inches up from the bottom. Use 3 tablespoons for thick and big apigige’.

6. Spread mix into a 4 inch x 1.5 inch rectangle, or 5 inches long if using 3 tbsp.

7. Fold and roll like a flattened burrito.

8. Cook folded-side down until apigige’ has puffed up and bottom of banana leaves are charred, about 8 minutes.

9. You will see that the apigige’ has thickened. Flip to the other side for another 8 to 10 minutes, charring as well.

Cucumber Salad

Recipe by Annie and Carolyn Merfalen

Marinated in an island brine of soy sauce, vinegar, and hot pepper, the Chamorro spin on the cucumber pickle is perfect alongside red rice and ribs.

Ingredients:

2 large cucumbers

2 tablespoons salt

1 small onion, thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup white vinegar

Directions:

1. Slice the cucumbers about 1/4 inch thick. Place the cucumber slices into a plastic colander then place the colander into a large bowl. Sprinkle salt over the cucumbers and stir to combine. Let the salted cucumber slices sit for about 15 minutes to allow excess water to drain out. After 15 minutes, pour out any water that drained into the bowl. Rinse the salt off the cucumbers and drain.

2. Place rinsed and drained cucumbers into the large bowl. Add the onion, garlic, soy sauce and vinegar. Stir to combine.

3. Let the cucumbers sit for several minutes to allow the cucumbers to soak up all of the flavors. Serve with your favorite meat dish!

All photos used with permission

Asan Beach was one of the two primary beaches which U.S. soldiers stormed when trying to recapture Guam from Japanese occupation during World War II. There are a number of World War II memorials, relics, and informational signs scattered around the park for visitors to enjoy. The beach area of Asan Beach Park is lined with coconut trees to provide shade from the tropical sun. In addition to the beach, there is a huge triangular park which can be used by the public for just about any activity.

Tanguisson

Covered picnic tables and BBQ pits are part of the park amenities at Tanguisson Beach. Entrance to the municipal power plant property is near the Two Lovers Point attraction. Uncultivated beach and rugged margin open up to a park setting with large shade trees and manicured grass for games and gatherings.

Sharks Cove

Guam’s exclusive beaches are off the beaten path. Sharks Cove Beach is worth every minute of the half-mile hike to get there. Protective beach shoes are a necessity and snorkel equipment is recommended.

Gun Beach

The namesake gun of Gun Beach is located in the far right end of the small lagoon created in part by a massive cliff on the north end. On the left of the old gun is an entrance to another secluded cove called Fai Fai Beach. Gun Beach features good snorkeling, when safe conditions prevail, and a dive site with steep reef sides and a cable trench leading into deep water.

Inarajan Pools

For rugged beauty and photo appeal, Inarajan Pools has the most intriguing geology. Natural bathing spots surround a public park on the main road that circumnavigates the island. Coral outcroppings resembling the lava flows of volcanic islands loom at 15 to 20 feet above the horizon, blocking the view of the reef beyond.

Tagachang

Set between jungle topped cliffs, Tagachang beach is one of Guam’s many beautiful beaches but unlike some, this one is remote and ungroomed. Unlike Tumon Bay beaches, Tagachang is quiet , but best enjoyed during daylight hours for safety. Like many of the eastern beaches, an outer reef breaks the surf and makes the beach calm and safe for swimming.

Talofofo Beach

This rock beach lies adjacent to the Talofofo River bridge. The low-lying outlet is lined with a protective rock levy reminiscent of San Francisco Bay.

Ipan Beach

This southern beach is popular with locals and right next to Jeff’s Pirate’s Cove. Kite surfers are often seen from this rugged spot.

Ritidian

The northernmost perimeter reef of Guam is accessible without security clearance from Ritidian Beach. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Preserve is located near the recreation area. Strict obedience to posted warnings about the rip currents and conditions will insure a safe and enjoyable visit to one of the most pristine beaches on Guam.

What’s your favorite beach on Guam?

Eat like a local

There are five foods you must try on Guam and a whole lot more that you will enjoy. Start with kelaguen, a signature local dish. A combination of lemon juice, onions, local hot peppers, salt and sometimes grated coconut are used to “kelaguen” either seafood, beef, chicken or even Spam.

Kadon Pika is another local favorite. The Chamorro word “kadon,” when translated, means stew and the word “pika” means spicy. Ingredients include soy sauce, vinegar, salt and black pepper, onions, garlic, local hot peppers and last, but most certainly not least, coconut milk. Discover the other must-try foods on Guam!

Must-See Umatac

The small village of Umatac is located in southern Guam along Umatac Bay. Interspersed between old houses that sit along the bay’s shoreline are ruins that have become prominent reminders of the Spanish colonial era in the village. Plaques are placed throughout the village that describe the Spanish era to visitors. Remains of the Spanish times include the former Spanish governor’s residence, the site of the old San Dionisio church and several Spanish forts and a battery. A couple of small stores and the San Dionisio Church, built at its current location in 1939, sit along the road.

At the center of the bay is an obelisk monument to Ferdinand Magellan’s landing in 1521, bearing the inscription, “Magellan landed here.” After the bridge, the road runs uphill, where visitors can turn off into a small park to see the ruins of Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad (commonly referred to as Fort Soledad), constructed to protect the bay from pirates and other European explorers. (SOURCE: Guampedia)

Watch this epic film shot on Guam

Shop, eat & be entertained at Chamorro Village

Chamorro Village is a must-do on Guam. The outdoor mall is open every day but the main event happens every Wednesday night from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. when tourists and locals gathers for the outdoor market and a multitude of cultural events. You can even ride a carabao!

The markets are a great way to find inexpensive souvenirs and gifts for everyone on your list. The aroma of fresh local foods can be tempting, so be sure to bring your appetite. Vendors offer great food for even better prices, from $1 for a chicken or pork BBQ stick, $2 for banana lumpia (banana eggrolls drizzled in honey), and if you’re still hungry, plates of food vary from $5-9. Read more…

Stroll through Inarajan Village

Going into Inarajan is like taking a step back in time through Chamorro history. It remains one of the most untouched by change, even being listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. To really feel like you have stepped back onto an ancient island, stop by the Gef Pa’go Cultural Village, where you can walk through an ancient Chamorro village, compete with thatch-roofed huts and demonstrations of traditional arts and crafts. Among the most popular sites in Inarajan are the natural ocean side pools, aptly called, Inarajan Pools.

Get local at a village fiesta

Each of Guam’s 19 villages has its own festival day, or fiesta, where it’s not unusual to see a village mayor working alongside the rest of the community to ensure the celebration is a success. Fiestas are a lively and intimate way for our visitors to get acquainted with the cultures of Guam’s small but vibrant municipalities. Each village on Guam is united around its own patron saint, Catholic church, and a favorite town gathering place, providing the perfect setting for an authentic Chamorro cultural experience — and a delicious local feast — on fiesta day.

Hit the trails

Hiking, called ‘boonie stomping’ on Guam, is an excellent way to experience the raw beauty of Guam, as well as see the way many locals live and even discover remnants of ancient Chamorro villages. Find family friendly hikes or join the Guam Boonie Stompers every Saturday for a new hike.

Shop the Mangilao Night Market

Mangilao is a centrally-located village with a culturally diverse popular of islanders. Every Thursday night, locals gather to sell food, wares, and everything but the kitchen sink. The market is free. It’s a chance to chat up the locals, from farmers to home cooks. You can pick up local produce such as eggplant, bananas, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, soursop, and papaya. Keep an eye on the Farm to Table Guam website for community and agriculture events…

Visit WWII Museums & National Parks

WWII is a part of the fabric of history in the Northern Marianas and especially so on Guam. Many old timers remember the cruel days of war and can recount in detail experiences they had as children. It’s a fascinating subject that can be explored if you know where to look. Start with the Pacific War Museum in Hagåtña or the T. Stell Newman Visitor Center in Piti, which has interactive exhibits featuring gripping personal stories, museum artifacts, and multiple language support. In addition to the exhibits, the visitor center theater plays our compelling 10-minute movie, The Battle for Guam, in four languages.

Next, visit the many remnants of WWII such as Japanese pill boxes, guns, and even ship wrecks. Piti Guns is part of the War in the Pacific National Parks Service and as such has a recorded history lesson accessible at the press of a button. You could also dive to see something incredibly unique to Guam — two shipwrecks from two world wars nearly touching.

See WWII in a day on this tour…

Attend the Guam Micronesia Island Fair

The Guam Micronesia Island Fair is an annual signature cultural event showcasing the vibrant cultures of Micronesia. For over a quarter century, delegations from the Federated States of Micronesia, Rota, Saipan and Tinian and the republics of Kiribati, Nauru, the Marshall Islands and Palau, have gathered on Guam to commemorate the region’s largest cultural event. Meet Micronesia’s master carvers, blacksmiths, traditional fishing experts, jewelers, weavers, dancers, musicians and chefs and see first hand customs that have been in place and perpetuated for the millennia.

Visit the Guam Museum

Located in downtown Hagatna, the Senator Antonio M. Palomo Guam Museum & Educational Facility reflects the diversity, creativity, and resilience of Guam and the Mariana Islands. It has over 250,000 unique artifacts, documents and photographs in its collections, the earliest dating back to 1887 from the Philippine Exposition in Madrid, Spain. The museum opened in 2016 and is one of Guam’s most unique architectural features.

What’s your favorite way to experience culture on Guam? Comment below!

Ajira Airways flight 316 experienced a time-warp on the way to Guam (True or False)

The exact coordinates of flight 316 were as follows:

On this flight, headed to Guam were the members of a scientific research group called DHARMA. A mid-air disturbance occurred changing their course not only to a different island, but to a different space and time. This group’s general goal was to manipulate scientific laws in order to change any of the six factors of the Valenzetti Equation, a sequence that was believed to have some connection to the date marking the end of humanity, in hopes of delaying such a date. DHARMA has a stocking warehouse in Guam’s Orote Peninsula and this website.

Did the website convince you? Scroll down for the answer.

FALSE

FACT: A time warp is not a fictitious idea, but a hypothetical change or distortion occurring in the flow of time that would move events from one time period to another. However, the story above is science fiction. The information was taken from a website created by fans of the TV show “Lost.” Orote Peninsula is located in Guam’s Naval Base.

FICTION: The popular sci-fi TV show had a time-warp mythology arc, and the pilot episode mentioned Guam as the final destination of the fictional airliner Ajira Airways. The fictional Hydra Island is where the time warps took place. Guam is mentioned on another episode that shows, in white subtitles (picture above), the location of the DHARMA Logistics Warehouse in the Orote Peninsula.

In 1997, a member of the Guam National Track and Field Team headed for the South Pacific Games in American Samoa. She discovered having traveled “back in time” during the first day of her trip (True or False)

Traveling back in time is a concept in quantum mechanics describing the phenomenon of when a person moves back, in different points in time, the way a physical object moves in different points in space. Time travel is the process that occurs in a time warp. Travelers leaving Guam have often experienced losing hours-worth of time when flying towards the region of the south-western Pacific. Some who have left Guam on a Monday find themselves waking up on board a plane, landing in American Samoa on a Sunday — having to relive the day all over again.

TRUE

(Left of Dateline) Monday/ Sunday (Right of Dateline)

FACT: The tagline, “Guam is where America’s Day begins,” says it all. We’re a day ahead on the west side of the International Dateline and a day behind on the east where American Samoa is situated. So every single human being who has traveled crossing the International Dateline to the east side of the Pacific Ocean has technically traveled back in time. In school we were taught about the International Dateline, an imaginary line that runs through the middle of the Pacific Ocean on the 180° line of longitude, separating two sides and creating two consecutive calendar days. So when a person travels east across the International Dateline, a day (24 hours) is being subtracted. And when a person travels west across the International Dateline, a day (24 hours) will be added. What is stranger is that the dateline is not a perfectly straight line. It has been redrawn over the years at the request of certain countries.

Local residents prefer giving directions by using landmarks instead of proper names of streets (True or False)

Ask an islander for directions and you will have no need for Google Earth, Mapquest, or your smartphone app because the route you will be given will feel like riddles to a treasure hunt. The locals often find that using landmarks and other non-descript areas is the most efficient way to finding streets or places.

A local’s directions to Talofofo Bay: Coming from Barrigada, turn left at the Chalan Pago intersection in front of former Judge Manibusan’s house (on top of a ledge). Keep driving. You know you’re in the village of Yona when you pass by Bordallo’s Mansion at the top of the hill and after a half a mile away, the giant Carabao statue will be on the right. You’ll go down a curving hill that takes you through the Ilig Bridge currently undergoing construction. Keep going straight as you pass the Cross-Island Road to the left. On the right, is a cemetery by the beach. Keep going straight and Jeff’s Pirate’s Cove should be on your right. Follow that road until you go up a hill. Stop at the stop sign, and there should be an uphill road turning right. Don’t take that! Proceed to the road going downhill, on the left. As you drive downhill, you will see Talofofo Bay on your left.

TRUE

FACT: Not relying on street signs was, in part, put into practice when countless typhoons during the ’80s and ’90s ravaged the island one after another, causing street signs to either disappear (by being blown away), receive damages beyond repair, and for most, left unreadable after the pelting wind and rain peeled off the paint. Other than that, signs are not as picturesque as landmarks, and what better way to get people to appreciate the interesting details locals notice about their island while sending you to your destination?

Talofofo Bay is one of only four green sand beaches in the world (True or False)

The volcanic sand is formed by iron-rich rock particles, which gives the sand its black, reddish-rust weathered appearance. What gives the sand in Talofofo Bay its distinctive green color is from the mineral called Olivine. The mineral is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals by volume, but when it is found of gem quality it is known as Peridot. This gem is popularly known as the birthstone for the month of August.

TRUE

FACT: The other three green sand beaches are: Papakolea Beach in the island of Hawaii, Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island in the Galapagos Islands, and Hornindalysvatnet, Norway. The Talofofo beach sand received high concentrations of this mineral from deposits of eroding volcanic terrain in the southern part of the island. The intensity and tint of the green is determined by how much iron is contained in the crystal structure.

Earthquakes happen every day on Guam (True or False)

The 12th story apartment and hotel, Royal Palm Resort, was in operation for only one month when an 8.1 Earthquake struck Guam. Accustomed to earthquakes, the majority of local residents, with patience and calm, wait for the slight tremor of the Earth to pass then proceed on with their daily routine. Their nonchalant attitude towards earthquakes would forever change after one Sunday evening in August of 1992 when a 8.1 temblor rocked the island for two terrifying minutes. With strict building codes already in place, most structures received only minor damages and no one was seriously injured. However, one building could not withstand the impact as the second floor collapsed during the earthquake, and consequently the majestic structure had to be demolished. Today, only Royal Palm Resort’s parking garage remains in the middle of a bustling Tumon across the street from the San Vitores church.

TRUE

FACT: Guam is in a very unique location on a long belt of volcanic activity known as the Ring of Fire. These fissures in the ocean floor are hot spots that cause earthquakes as it runs around a perimeter spanning the entire Pacific Ocean. When Earth’s plates collide, they form mountains. The Mariana Archipelago is essentially underwater mountaintop islands formed 100-plus million years ago, and only have active volcanoes located on the northern chain. Our tiny island is perched at the edge of the Philippine plate which continues to move rising over the Pacific plate. The Pacific plate continues to sink underneath the Philippine plate, causing the Marianas Trench to grow deeper. This movement, however, moves at the rate of 1 to 10 centimeters per year. The distance and depth of the trench despite our close proximity to a highly unstable area along Earth’s plates, fortunately, mollifies the intensity of daily earthquakes. We normally do not feel these tremors unless there is larger volcanic and plate tectonic activity.

Cars on neutral at the bottom of Guam’s Gravity Hill reverse in an uphill motion due to magnetic forces (True or False)

The deep southern roads of Guam wind and gently roll up and down the mountainous terrain. Somewhere in Umatac, a road has been traversed on then is strangely reversed on to test whether the car will roll back up the top of the hill. Some say it happens because the world’s tallest mountain (below sea level) is just around the corner, changing the area’s gravitational pull. Another theory is that there may be some secret military underground silo buried under a mountain, hiding top-secret gravity-altering technology or it may simply happen from the strong winds brushing against the grass-covered slopes onto the road.

FALSE

FACT: The slope of gravity hills are optical illusions. The rolling hills and the surrounding layout of the landscape produces the illusion that the surface may appear to be an uphill slope but is actually a slight downhill slope. Many hills much like this exist around the world and are turned into tourist attractions. They may be also known as magnetic hill, gravity road, mystery spot, or mystery hill.

As for Guam’s gravity hill, the phenomenon has rarely worked as expected since the road was reconstructed. But in certain weather conditions, such as a windy and rainy day, it has been known to work.

Men wear giant clamshells as jewelry (True or False)

A piece of “hima” known in English as the Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas), is carefully carved out, polished into a glassy luster and made into a necklace lined with disks of the spondylus shells. The body ornament is called sinahi, which means “new moon.” The name is given by its carved crescent-shape curve. This token from the sea is also a reflection of the ancient people’s expert sea-faring skills, relying on celestial navigation to guide them along the vast ocean highways. The revival of this body ornament was first re-introduced in modern times by influential Chamorro men like Ben “Sinahi” Del Rosario, a pioneer in carving one-of-a-kind shell jewelry pieces, and the late Angel Santos, Chamorro civil-rights activist-turned senator.

TRUE

FACT: These pieces adorned only the ancient Chamorro chiefs, called Maga’lahi, according to historical accounts. It has now become a coveted jewelry item sold in cultural fairs around the Pacific region and on several websites. The high value of these pieces recognizes the arduous task of retrieving giant clams and spondylus shells legally, and often at great ocean depths, and for a growing appreciation of refining a craftsmanship focused on recreating ancient replicas into exquisite, wearable works of art.

It’s raining, it’s Pouring on a sunny day. This phenomenon only happens on Guam during the birth of an animal or an unusual wedding (True or False)

In Guam, hard rain can pelt down on your windshield with just a few cumulus clouds and a bright hot sun out in the sky. A “sun shower” is what this meteorological phenomenon is called. It is not an official weather term, but the name has been used around the world associated with folklore. The theme shared in most stories is that during this phenomenon, an animal has given birth, is getting married or an unusual wedding between monkeys are taking place. Since sun showers happens almost every day on Guam then could this account for our large stray animal population?

FALSE

FACT: The scientific explanation is that it is more nature’s version of another optical illusion than nature’s way of announcing an even stranger event. Cumulus clouds are white, round and fluffy clouds that brings on fair weather, but in this case, a cumulus cloud is built up vertically. The tall cloud may be completely bypassed by the sun’s rays as it beams down at a certain angle. But the vertical cumulus cloud appears to be a smaller version of a cumulonimbus cloud, a towering dense cloud that brings on heavy rain. The combination of height and dense build-up causes rain to be dumped in an abrupt manner.

FICTION: Many older local residents, such as in the Filipino community, have their folktale versions of what sun showers are: a witch being born or getting married. Other places like Hawaii name the sun shower Ghost Rain. In Japan, a fox’s wedding ceremony is being held, while in Korea a male tiger is marrying a fox. In Tanzania a lioness has given birth, and the list goes on in many more other countries, especially India. Long ago, strange weather phenomena seemed fantastical, few and far between. We know now that extreme weather is an effect of climate change, not a joyous ceremony in the animal kingdom.

Guam has phantom hermit crabs that disappear into thin air (True or False)

Locals fondly recall childhood experiences of having had the brief pleasure of making these notoriously elusive creatures, the hermit crab, their pets. A lone purple pincher hermit crab would wander into yards, and besides the African snail shell on their backs, bring with them an air of mystery. From where did they come? But more importantly, Where did they go?

When a hermit crab was captured (before there were handy pet store containers with latches) the sizable crab was usually placed in a tall five-gallon paint bucket or the convenient deep laundry sinks in the garage. Before leaving it for the night, these novice pet crab-owners covered the container, usually with multipurpose plywood then weighed it down further by a hollow block (or two) to keep the one crab from escaping. The next morning, with everything still in place and still intact, upon removing the plywood lid, they discovered that the crab that supposedly spent the night in a secured container had simply vanished.

FALSE

FACT: These intelligent creatures have the capacity to devise a plan and engineer an escape, usually through the use of their strong claws and legs. If there were any objects inside the container it would be used as a stepping stool first, then afterwards, they would outstretch their limbs to reach another point where they could latch on with their legs, which have tiny talon-like ends. Those same sharp ends can find tiny grooves on a seemingly smooth structure to climb on, or the crab can gravitate to a corner to use the angle as leverage on the way up. Once they reach the closed top, they can wedge the sharp end of their leg underneath the lid then use their (house-carrying, coconut-husking) immense strength to lift it enough to escape back to freedom.

The brown tree snakes have caused more than 1,000 power outages on Guam (True or False)

The brown tree snakes were responsible for causing over 1,200 power outages dating back to 1978, according to research reported from Columbia University. It is hard to believe that the entire island can be plunged into utter darkness by one slithery and slender interloper. The snakes’ attempts to cross electrical lines for shelter on high and dry ground in rainy weather produced massive damage with power surges and ended fatally for the snake. This created economic havoc when the need arose to replace expensive power station equipment and when many households experienced widespread electrical fuse blow-outs on home appliances. This prompted the purchase of surge protectors to better prepare for a period of load-shedding blues, scheduled isolated power outages for years to come.

TRUE

FACT: The brown tree snake has never eaten a baby as the tabloid media previously reported, nor are the sensationalized reports true about the streets of Guam covered with millions of these cold-blooded creatures. There are occasions when these mildly venomous snakes have bitten babies, mostly on their arms, requiring treatment for skin inflammation.

Recent data has shown a decline in snake population when compared to data taken in the ’80s. Since the snakes had no real predators and competition with other organisms, they were able to wipe out several bird and lizard populations resulting in the decrease of their food supply, leaving only each other to compete against. The government continues to take active measures to control the population and to secure locations at high risk where snakes may adversely affect the environment and economy.

Recently the media has been buzzing again about the snake-overtaking-Guam story. Many reports make mention of “dead mice” and “dropping poison pills,” but scientific journals clarify that this aggressive method of eradication will be dropping a total of 30,000 live mice carrying acetaminophen onto a secure federal property with dense snake population. Data is currently being collected to determine whether results will prove successful or not.

Did you answer all the questions correctly?

Are there things you still find hard to believe? The island is as mysterious as it is exotic, but one who is the curious type, bent on digging deep down, all the way to the root of things, may find that the answers are explained by the simple and wonderfully logical world of science. But with all this strangeness going on, it’s quite entertaining to be on an island filled with intrigue in the middle of nowhere.