Hachiman Jinja

While Gryphon was at preschool today, Cheri, Alice, Sarah and I went in search of Hachiman Jinja shrine, a Shinto monument destroyed in WWII. Luckily, when asking directions, Cheri ran into the owner of the house next to the shrine.


At the top of some stairs completely covered in vegetation, one of two original stone lions looks into the jungle.


Breadfruit were scattered on the ground.

I got stung by wasp, but Cheri was able to use her traditional midwife medicine to help: just mash up any jungle leaves and slap it on.

The car required a good push from Cheri and me to get out of its parking spot. We later discovered that the rear drive shaft had been removed, so no 4WD for us. We love surprises.

The next stop was the Saint Lourdes shrine, nestled peacefully between the roots of a flame tree.

Cheri and Sarah hadn't seen the view from Mt. Tapochau, so we stopped up there on the way back.

After picking up Gryphon we got Cheri a library card so that we can check out 20 items at a time now!

Mt. Tapochau

Gryphon has been having a hard time saying goodbye in the morning - he forgets how much fun he has.

Yesterday afternoon the children and I drove up to Mt. Tapochau, the highest point on the island. The steep and rough road up really showed the CRV what it was made for.

There were some delicious views up top. We could see rain on Tinian (the island south). Gryphon played peek-a-boo and kept Alice from falling off the mountain.




Gryphon liked looking for rats in the tourist coconut stand.

Crash!

On my way to get the CRV registered yesterday, I was waiting to turn left when I noticed a car coming up too quickly in my rearview mirror. I honked and accelerated, but not quick enough! After confirming that Alice and I were okay, I checked on the other driver. She was very upset but uninjured (airbag), so I tried to calm her down and called it in. Did I mention it was pouring?

I couldn't tell if her car would be totalled, but the CRV just needs some new paint on the bumper - it's starting to grow on me. I was also glad that I had secured auto insurance that morning. The police issued a report, and with a squirt of betel nut juice they sent me off - still in time to pick up Gryphon from preschool.

Last night we picked up dinner and 5 bags of tangerines at the farmers' market.

Pau Pau Beach

Cheri worked a 12-hour yesterday (no new babies), so after nap time the kids and I headed to a new beach.

We had to share it with two other people.

Alice tried eating more coral.



When it was getting close to time to go, I noticed that one of my purple Crocs had floated a long way away. With fins I was able to retrieve it with both kids on my stomach. Maybe I'm just gaining body fat.

Backyard jungle adventure

Yesterday before lunch we explored the trail behind the apartment building. Almost immediately we were forced to seek shelter under banana trees.

But we pressed on, up a steep and slippery hill, to the Cave of the Land Crabs.The roots and vines were very helpful during the climb.

We couldn't help imagining the cave crowded with people hiding in 1944.


After lunch and a nap, we went to Java Joe's down the road to use the network. Gryphon enjoyed half an eclair.

We're experimenting with a clothesline in our house.

Alice stood for a good 10 seconds to do some texting.