A Wildflower Morning

Nothing like a Sunday morning relaxing at home.  We were going to pop out of bed and go snorkeling early this morning.  But it was pouring rain from first light until later in the morning.  It was a good morning to relax.  We talked to Araya back in her dorm room where it was still Saturday afternoon.  She was headed out for a game night.  We couldn't get William to respond.  Was he sleeping all day or did his phone break? I looked up the tide chart and we decided to go snorkeling a couple hours before low tide, which was at 3:00 PM.  Someone said online that there is less sediment in the water then.  We went to Piti Marine Preserve.  So far is is our favorite close place.  Some say there are over 200 species of fish there.  We saw some species of fish we had never seen before.  Protecting an area from boating and fishing really does help an area.  It also seems that the fish really like the fresh squid that they ...

I woke up at 3:30 this morning.  It is amazing how much a person can get done before the sun comes up.  I got my blog going again and wrote three posts.  Actually I was still working on that and organizing photos after Rob left for work at AWR.  It was a great stay home and get settled in my house day.  And yes, it was Friday. One of the nicest things about my Guam home is that it comes with orchids.  They are growing outside on palm trees right beside the driveway and behind the house.  I am so excited that for a small part of my life, I have my own orchids that are thriving outside watered by the rain, and getting enough light, right from the sun. Plumeria also grow in my yard.  I found a cluster that and fallen to the ground and brought it in to bloom on my table.  Slowly the flowers have been opening, making my house smell so nice.  It is interesting to note that Plumeria often blooms with very ...

There were clouds of all kinds of fish on the edge of the reef at Gab Gab.  I just have to share some of the photos that William took of snorkelling at Gab Gab Beach, Guam.  It is on the Navy base, so you have to have special permission to go there, but thanks to our friend, arrangements were made for us and a large group of our friends to go see the protected beauty there.  No fishing of any kind is allowed in this area, so the fish are abundant, and unafraid. They swim by you like clouds of color, in all shapes and sizes.  Some large black and blue fish came by, very curious about us.  We latter found out they are some kind of Jacks. The coral is abundant and in very good condition.    We were excited to find Giant Clams.  They weren't the ones that were extra giant in size, maybe only 10 inches across, but the electric blue made them shine. I haven't found the identity of this unique, blue and green fish with a lo...

A couple weeks ago we decided to try going to Ritidian Beach again, on a Sunday morning.  We called a couple families and invited them to join us there.  We were so excited when they could come too, with such a spur of the moment notice.  The waves were high out on the reef, and there was a strong current by the beach, moving to the left.  But we played in the water anyway, keeping close to shore, and keeping an eye on each other. The day was warm, and sunny, except when I had the little waterproof camera out.  Dark clouds came over for a while, and provided a little shade.  The snorkellers said they could see some interesting things, even though the water was stirred up.  But most of the activity was centered on jumping the big waves that came in. This was one good wave.  It knocked me over and tried to wash my contact lenses away.

See Robin up there on the rock?  I wonder what she can see? One of my favorite places on the east side of the island of Guam is Inarajan Pools.  This area has a rich history with the Spanish and WWII, and some notable people have lived in this area.  Read more about it here .  The natural pools are protected by a limestone breakwater.  Tropical fish swim in the clear, shallow waters, making it a fun place for snorkelling.  A gentle current flows in, keeping the pools clean, and entertaining boys like a water slide There are pavilions available for shade and picnics.  Long ago someone put in a diving platform, but its use doesn't seem very advisable now, as the ladder is half missing, and does anyone know if the water is deep enough in this place for diving? The view from the big rock on the right gives you a good look at the pools, and at the ocean surf.  One thing to note, there was a rest room on site, but it was locked....