I took my second trip to one of Guam's closest neighbors--Saipan--a few weeks ago. The last time, I didn't have much time to see more than a frisbee field and a few bars. This time, with a phalanx of friends to host me, feed me, and show me around, I got a much fuller view of the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The must-dive dive of Saipan is the Grotto. This was an underwater cave until thousands of years ago when some huge spoiled kid started jumping on it and the roof caved in. Now, after you walk down 100 steps with full scuba gear on, it's accesible. You then cross over to a rock that juts out into a big pool. The crossing itself can be a little treacherous, but dive buddy Yousef and I were lucky enough where we came at low tide.
Yousef and I chose to find out what was behind door #3 (well, he's been like 20 times before). This meant I just had to keep up with him as he took me through a bunch of swim-throughs he knew and one or two he'd never done before. Marine life wasn't the main draw, though you could see plenty as we followed the wall down to our left. After a quick 30 minutes, it was time to head back through the bright blue light and up to the surface. We likely went a little deep, so we both had a little narco afterwards. Yousef, who doesn't drink, was fairly given the symptom of just feeling a little tipsy, where I, who does drink, was awarded with a nice headache. We scaled the 100 steps back up to the parking lot just as a bus load of Chinese tourists were coming down. They didn't much bother to move to one side, but they took plenty of pictures of us, recognizing a universal truth that everyone looks like more of a badass in scuba gear.
A few days later, on the complete opposite end of the tourist spectrum, was a trip to LaFiesta, or the abandoned zombie mall. Saipan used to be a huge hub for the garment industry, which could stamp a "made in America" label on clothes but still paying workers third world prices. When the industry left, so did the people and the business. LaFiesta is a mall that was just abandoned, and has been so for at least seven years. Friends told me that it was immediately and often looted for abandoned property. Quality abandoned property. Friend Amanda, who has plenty of good taste, took curtains and drapes to decorate her house. This mall also famously became the site where police found a murder victim a year or so ago, so host Natalie obliged me and took me on a trip there, but just during the day. Natalie and I spent the afternoon taking creepy pictures (e.g. serial killer Matt above), and finding weapons to battle with. I was told by friends this would be a great place to shoot a zombie movie, and they were 100% correct.
There is broken glass everywhere, hidden dark corners, and a perfect dose of "look zombie-fighting companion, this is how they used to live before the great undead war." There are old newspaper clippings, menus, signs, and plenty of old equipment perfect for defending an impromptu zombie attack. To the right is a picture of me bowling with an old movie reel. (obviously). There was a room with dozens of stacks of these reels just waiting for an ultimate frisbee team to use them as weapons against their brain-eating foes. Dump, swing, throw a strike and take off the head of a zombie trying to eat your your favorite female teammate. Boom! Cut. Print. Scene over.
The must-dive dive of Saipan is the Grotto. This was an underwater cave until thousands of years ago when some huge spoiled kid started jumping on it and the roof caved in. Now, after you walk down 100 steps with full scuba gear on, it's accesible. You then cross over to a rock that juts out into a big pool. The crossing itself can be a little treacherous, but dive buddy Yousef and I were lucky enough where we came at low tide.
Once you jump off the rock and into the pool, you fin up and you're ready to choose your own adventure. The Grotto has three openings, or doors 1, 2, and 3 from right to left. Each bring you out to the ocean. Though it's calm under water, you absolutely don't want to surface out in the open ocean because the current would jack you right onto the rocks.
Yousef and I chose to find out what was behind door #3 (well, he's been like 20 times before). This meant I just had to keep up with him as he took me through a bunch of swim-throughs he knew and one or two he'd never done before. Marine life wasn't the main draw, though you could see plenty as we followed the wall down to our left. After a quick 30 minutes, it was time to head back through the bright blue light and up to the surface. We likely went a little deep, so we both had a little narco afterwards. Yousef, who doesn't drink, was fairly given the symptom of just feeling a little tipsy, where I, who does drink, was awarded with a nice headache. We scaled the 100 steps back up to the parking lot just as a bus load of Chinese tourists were coming down. They didn't much bother to move to one side, but they took plenty of pictures of us, recognizing a universal truth that everyone looks like more of a badass in scuba gear. 
A few days later, on the complete opposite end of the tourist spectrum, was a trip to LaFiesta, or the abandoned zombie mall. Saipan used to be a huge hub for the garment industry, which could stamp a "made in America" label on clothes but still paying workers third world prices. When the industry left, so did the people and the business. LaFiesta is a mall that was just abandoned, and has been so for at least seven years. Friends told me that it was immediately and often looted for abandoned property. Quality abandoned property. Friend Amanda, who has plenty of good taste, took curtains and drapes to decorate her house. This mall also famously became the site where police found a murder victim a year or so ago, so host Natalie obliged me and took me on a trip there, but just during the day. Natalie and I spent the afternoon taking creepy pictures (e.g. serial killer Matt above), and finding weapons to battle with. I was told by friends this would be a great place to shoot a zombie movie, and they were 100% correct. 
There is broken glass everywhere, hidden dark corners, and a perfect dose of "look zombie-fighting companion, this is how they used to live before the great undead war." There are old newspaper clippings, menus, signs, and plenty of old equipment perfect for defending an impromptu zombie attack. To the right is a picture of me bowling with an old movie reel. (obviously). There was a room with dozens of stacks of these reels just waiting for an ultimate frisbee team to use them as weapons against their brain-eating foes. Dump, swing, throw a strike and take off the head of a zombie trying to eat your your favorite female teammate. Boom! Cut. Print. Scene over.
Fun Saipan fact of the day: There is a specific Shell gas station that randomly gets shipments of quality wine and cheese. No idea why, but whenever a shipment comes in, the news spreads like creamy peanut butter on toast. Island life.
-More to come-
Matt
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