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Tours

Welcome!

I have some of the most interesting tour clients! I’ve launched this blog to share their stories–starting with a special group from Annapolis, MD. (You can meet others on the testimonials page and on my Youtube channel) Videos of their adventure are coming soon!
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Categories
Tours

B-29 pilot visits Saipan

As it appears in the Marianas Variety AND the Saipan Tribune (Thur, March 16, 2023)

Alex Dunn, former United Airlines pilot of 32 years and one-time pilot of the lone, operational B-29 used by the Commemorative Air Force for traveling air shows, recently visited Saipan for DiscoverSaipan.com‘s World War II Pilgrimage tour. Dunn is seen here with John S. Castro-Mames, project coordinator of the Seafaring Traditions Program in Susupe along with author/guide Walt F.J. Goodridge.(Photo: Tyler Warwick)

Categories
There's Something About Saipan

Fire in the hole! 79 years later, bombs are still exploding!

Join me as I drive up north to Suicide Cliff overlooking the Marpi blow pit and we’ll witness the detonation of unexploded ordnance 79 years after the Battle of Saipan.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Tours

Cruise ship tour day canceled, but thanks to Roger, it wasn’t a total loss!

The Saturday, March 4, 2023 cruise ship arrival here on Saipan was canceled due to high winds which made the docking a safety issue. Here, however, is a Tripadvisor review from one of the day’s “almost-customers,” Roger Cook:

I began corresponding with Walt in August 2022 in advance of a planned cruise stop in March 2023. Walt responded immediately and an engaging dialog ensued with Walt proposing a fascinating full day group tour of the island. We continued to email regularly over the next several months as the group grew to nearly 40 members.

On the morning of our arrival, as the ship steamed toward the entrance to Saipan harbor, the Captain announced that weather would prohibit us from making the port call. We were greatly disappointed. We had been looking forward to meeting Walt and touring Saipan with him.

Gracious, as always, before the day was out, Walt had already refunded half of the group their fees and was working on the balance. I would urge anyone planning to visit Saipan to contact Walt, an honest man who offers good value with a delightful manner. I may never get to Saipan, but I will treasure the experience of working with Walt forever.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60716-d13198283-r880988761-Saipan_in_a_Day_WWII_Pilgrimage_Amelia_Earhart_Tour

My Response:

Hey Roger! Even though we never got to meet, it was great having you as my one-man, pre-cruise, tour marketing department and as my onboard contact as the docking situation evolved that morning.

We needed to rent one of the vans from the evening before, but–as this was not my first time at this rodeo–my team and I waited at the airport rental agency before signing out the other vans while we waited for your email about the captain’s decision. A few other passengers on the ship emailed me as word of the cancellation spread, but we didn’t call it a bust until we got YOUR email!

Cruise ship arrival days are a rarity here on our little island, so I do hope you get to swing by this corner of the planet in some other way. There’s a lot of history and mystery to see and experience here on Saipan, Tinian and Rota!

Thanks for the review!

Walt (“The Jamaican on Saipan!”)

P.S. Thanks as well for your amazing generosity in helping defray the costs. FYI: For this and any business service I offer, I like to charge only for results. So, even though I did, in fact, incur expenses in the lead-up for the day, I don’t believe the potential customers should be penalized if they don’t receive any of the results they anticipated–particularly if the reasons are not under their control. It probably won’t endear me to my competition, but that’s my policy and I’m sticking to it!

P.P.S. On the bright side, I gave away all the boxes of Chicken Kelaguen wraps from Herman’s Modern Bakery (a sample of local Chamorro cuisine that was to be a surprise for the group) to gas station attendants, strangers and friends as I tied up the day’s loose ends. So a few (non vegan) folks got free snacks from the day’s outcome!

Bangladeshi, Carolinian, Jamaican and Fijian volunteer team and special honored guest awaiting final word of captain’s decision.

 

 

Categories
A Day in the Life

A visit to Saipan Cares for Animals in this Year of the Cat!

2023 is, in fact, the Year of the Cat (if you’re in Vietnam; Rabbit for others)! So–as a “cat person” myself, perhaps it’s no coincidence that I found myself at the Saipan Cares for Animals “virtual shelter” run by Executive Director, Beth Pliscou, and her staff. While no longer operating as a shelter since relocating the facility, the clinic does provide, to members of the public, all the services the clinic once provided to their shelter animals, free of charge–if the citizen (the person who may have found the stray dog or cat) provides the shelter. Services include spaying, neutering and vaccinations.

Local celebrity and “relic hunter,” Fabian Indalecio has a warm spot for Saipan’s strays and neglected pets, and so encourages visitors (such as my tour clients who wish to contribute to his Battle of Saipan museum) to, instead, make those contributions to Saipan Cares for Animals.

In this short video, a recent tour client and I did just that and made a quick, but cuddly visit to the clinic on Middle Road….on the first floor of the green building…across from the Shell gas station…that’s next to First Hawaiian Bank! Watch until the end for a cuteness-overload!

 

 

 

Categories
Trekking

Finding Nika on Saipan (A trekking adventure)

Battle of Saipan artifacts, wild yams and nature’s beauty…A cool way to spend a Sunday afternoon…

 

Categories
A Day in the Life

What’s new, pussycat?

Woke up this morning to a feline corolla d’état :

The Youtube version of the video may be blocked in certain countries. If so, check it out here and below:

https://www.discoversaipan.com/videos/whats-new-pussycat

 

 

 

 

Categories
A Day in the Life

The Great Marpi Bull Escape! (feat. Cow Cow Boogie)

From my private Saipan video archives. I’m minding my own business, listening to music while driving up to Marpi, when all of a sudden…

Watch till the end…

Categories
A Day in the Life

Saipan healthy? Vegan strong! The 100-Second Hang Challenge

Can you hang for at least 100 seconds? Grip strength–improved in many ways including this hang challenge–is a measure of upper body and overall muscular strength and can predict overall health, as well as your risk of cardiovascular disease–as you age (for those of you who plan to) the stronger your grip, the more likely you are to survive diseases like cancer. Measure (and improve) your grip strength by taking the 100-second hang challenge! Here’s how well your friendly neighborhood vegan did! (Another event in the Saipan Living Lifestyle Olympics; Use the chinup bar by the jogging path by Quartermaster Road!) (Subscribe to my new @AskaVegan channel!)

 

 

Categories
Relocation Q&A

SaipanLiving Q&A: Shipping my car to Saipan…How much will it cost?

Q: “I may have a job offer on Saipan. I’m thinking of shipping my car there. How much does it cost, and what advice can you give?”

A: A more pertinent question is: “Even if it’s affordable, should you even think about shipping your car to Saipan?” Here are my answers to both:

 

 

Categories
A Day in the Life

Jamaica takes silver at the SaipanLiving Olympics!

The Filipino Water Delivery men’s team took the gold, but the Jamaican(s) placed second! Sorry you missed it!