Categories
Tours

Kuwaiti Tourists Discover Saipan!

I had the unique opportunity to meet, tour and interview with Wesam Behbehani and her sister, Weam, from Kuwait. Wesam, who focuses on off-the-beaten-path destinations, provides vicarious travel enjoyment to her 15,000 mostly Kuwaiti Instagram followers (@rosy_path) who are unable to travel due to prohibitive logistics and/or expense. Here is a short, post-tour interview along with articles/photos in Saipan’s newspapers:

 

MARIANAS VARIETY: https://www.mvariety.com/lifestyle/kuwaiti-tourists-discover-saipan/article_853b7418-cbc4-11ee-9555-c72bd8faff55.html

SAIPAN TRIBUNE:

https://www.saipantribune.com/opinion/columnists/kuwaiti-tourists-discover-saipan/article_14593e98-cbf5-11ee-8e72-eb04e1365a9b.html

Categories
Tours

Boots on Saipan: What’s With Those Big Gray Planes at the Airport?

A new series thanks to encouragement from Youtube channel subscriber, Mikell!

 

 

Categories
Tours

Tinian Runway Off Limits Soon?

Links to all the referenced articles are in the description of the video below:

 

See the latest update here: https://youtu.be/f25zVyeLBgM

Categories
Thoughts

A World War II Story in Photos (by a previous tour client!)

     One of the coolest aspects of doing these tours on Saipan & Tinian is getting to share these islands with folks interested in a wide range of types of tourism including Atomic Tourism, War Tourism, Ecotourism, Thano Tourism (look it up!), Pacific island culture, historical sites, abandoned buildings and more!

     I’ve been fortunate to hang out with geologists, bird watchers, nuclear physicists, foamers (yep, look it up!), and of course war buffs and authors. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of giving Fred G. Brems a two-day battlefield tour of Saipan and going in search of Hara-Kiri Gulch. (Fred gifted me the topographic map and Campaign in the Marianas by Philip A. Crowl he brought with him and that we used in our adventure and that I’ve since used to enhance the detailed nature and accuracy of my tours! Thanks, Fred!) See Fred’s tour below.

     Little did I know at the time that Fred was already several years into an 18-year project chronicling his father’s participation in World War II. We’ve kept in touch over the years and so I’ve had on-going behind-the-scenes access during the writing and development!

     So, it is with great pride that I announce that Fred’s almost two-decade project and ode to his WWII veteran father has been picked up and published by Stackpole Books! (See press release & below)

     Knights of Freedom With the Hell on Wheels Armored Division in World War II, A Story in Photos by Lt. Col. Frederick C. Brems USAR (RET) With Fred G. Brems was released worldwide on January 16th, 2024! Check it out and order on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RXQ2iy

 

 

 

Categories
Thoughts

Escape before things fall apart

THINGS FALL APART
“One of the more fascinating phenomena to observe in modern society is that of people with limited life experience, inadequate vocabulary and delusional thinking attempting to understand, navigate and explain reality to themselves and others.”—Walt F.J. Goodridge

When people who don’t know how the world works
start to work in the world,
the world no longer works as it should

When people who don’t know why policies are enacted
start to enact policy,
ideology steers policy

When people who don’t understand why laws are made
start to make laws,
laws become toothless

When people who don’t know how jobs function
are hired to function in jobs,
incompetence abounds

When people who don’t understand the natural order
try to re-order what’s natural,
feelings replace facts

When people who’ve never been held accountable
face ethical decisions,
ethics are abandoned

When people who’ve failed based on merit
are allowed to advance,
self-entitlement soars

When people who can’t define the words they use
speak from positions of influence,
words lose their meaning

When people who prioritize opinions over facts
are given control,
opinions become reality

When systems that prioritize quotas over quality
are placed in operation,
systems implode

When people who don’t respect others’ individual authority
are given authority over others,
authority becomes authoritarianism

When people who never learned how a society advances
advance in society,
society regresses

When people of limited life experience and intelligence
rise to positions of governance,
Idiocracy ensues

In other words…
When people who don’t know how things work
start to work on things
…things fall apart

 

 

Categories
Relocation Q&A

Considering relocating to Saipan? Here’s your one stop shop

“re: relocating…..could you direct me to how would I find out more about that?…If there is a website that would be a one-stop-shopping for this kind of information (a “SO YOU WANT TO LIVE ON SAIPAN” sort of site), that would work perfectly.”—recent email

That’s typical of the inquiries I’ve received over the past 10plus years. And, it just so happens I do know of such a resource! So, just in case you or someone you know are considering relocating to Saipan, CNMI and have questions:

(a) I have a Saipan Living Relocation Guide and a companion website at https://www.saipanliving.com that answers questions about cost of living, health care, entry requirements, taxes, lifestyle and more! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XDCxH9

(b) I have growing series of “Saipan Living” as well as “Relocation Q&A” videos on the DiscoverSaipan Youtube channel! Here are some recent topics:

 

Categories
Streets of Saipan

Streets of Saipan: Kagman Fire Station #5 to Joeten

Everybody on board! Featuring

“Ngang upwe Fen Ekkepen”
by Tboi featuring Honeyboii, an artist from
Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

Check out: https://soundcloud.com/braddah-tboi

Categories
Relocation Q&A

Q&A: How do locals feel about outsiders moving to Saipan?

@ApauHawaiiTours asked, “How do locals feel about outsiders moving to Saipan?”  I’m not “local,” but here’s my take:

 

Categories
Relocation Q&A

Saipan Living Q&A Livestream Wed Oct 25 11am Saipan time!

Click watch on Youtube, then the “Notify Me” button so you don’t miss it in your time zone! Relocating? Retiring? Or simply curious about life on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands? Well, this is your chance to ask me anything about life on Saipan! I’ll be taking your questions live as well as answering questions that have already been asked in the comments section! This will be fun, informative, includes some business ideas for entrepreneurs and might be helpful for someone you know who’s relocating, but can’t make the livestream! Don’t miss it! Wednesday, Oct 25, 2023 at 11:00am Saipan time (ChST: Chamorro Standard Time)

That’s 9:00pm Tues Oct 24 in New York City

6:00pm Tues Oct 24 in California

 

Categories
Tours

CHATGPT Analyzed My Saipan Tour Reviews. Here’s what it found…

I compiled 42 (i.e., ALL) the tour reviews I’ve received on Google, ToursByLocals and TripAdvisor/Viator, and gave CHATGPT the following task prompt:

BACKGROUND: My name is Walt Goodridge. I am a tour guide. I offer personalized, customizable, all-day World War II tours, “Saipan in a Day” tours, and “Tinian to Hiroshima tours” as well as trekking and adventure tours on the islands of Saipan and Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. I wish to create a compelling value proposition for advertising and marketing my tours based on what satisfied customers have actually said. Following are all the reviews I’ve received for my personalized, all-day tours of the islands of Saipan and Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands. Each review starts with a “Customer: Name” followed by tour details in some instances, and the actual review (some are multiple paragraphs; each new entry begins with “CUSTOMER.”

TASK: Please analyze the reviews and provide:
(a) 10 descriptive words that appear frequently
(b) 3 to 5 benefits or value that are frequently alluded to or addressed by the customer
(c) 3 to 5 compliments that are given by the customer
(d) Any other benefits and themes that YOU identity that could be used to craft an overview of my tours’ unique selling proposition
(e) an 80-100 word overview of my tours (less than 450 characters)

 

CHATGPT:
Based on the reviews, here is an analysis:

(a) 10 Descriptive Words:
1. Knowledgeable
2. Informative
3. Personalized
4. Flexible
5. Enthusiastic
6. Accommodating
7. Engaging
8. Attentive
9. Comprehensive
10. Memorable

(b) Benefits/Values:
1. Personalized Experience: Walt tailors tours to individual interests, ensuring a unique and customized experience.
2. In-depth Knowledge: Walt’s extensive knowledge provides a deeper understanding of Saipan’s history and culture.
3. Flexibility: He is flexible in adjusting the itinerary based on customer preferences and requests.
4. Insider Access: Walt offers access to private collections and arranges special visits, enhancing the tour experience.
5. Comprehensive Experience: Customers cover a wide range of historical and cultural sites, maximizing their time on the islands.

(c) Compliments:
1. Knowledge and Enthusiasm: Customers consistently praise Walt’s depth of knowledge and passion for the subject matter.
2. Flexibility and Accommodation: Walt’s willingness to adapt the tour to customer preferences is highly appreciated.
3. Engaging Conversations: Guests enjoy the meaningful and engaging conversations with Walt, adding a personal touch to the experience.
4. Attention to Detail: Walt’s meticulous planning and attention to detail, including timestamped itineraries and post-tour updates, are valued.

(d) Additional Benefits/Themes:
1. Personal Connection: Walt’s willingness to share personal stories and experiences creates a more intimate and enjoyable tour.
2. Rare Insights: Customers appreciate the opportunity to learn about Saipan’s history from someone who has lived elsewhere and now calls it home.
3. Off-the-Beaten-Path Experiences: Walt takes guests to places that larger tour groups may not have access to, providing a more unique and exclusive experience.

(e) Tour Overview (80-100 words):
Discover Saipan with Walt Goodridge, your knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. Enjoy a fully personalized tour tailored to your interests, whether it’s exploring World War II sites, immersing in nature treks, or delving into Saipan’s rich cultural history. Walt’s flexibility ensures your itinerary reflects your preferences. Gain rare insights from someone who’s embraced Saipan as home after an adventurous journey. With access to private collections and off-the-beaten-path locations, you’ll experience Saipan in a way few can. Engage in meaningful conversations, capture stunning memories, and leave with a comprehensive understanding of this beautiful island.

Walt
Excellent! Thanks!

ChatGPT
You’re welcome! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask. Good luck with your tours, Walt!

 

You can check out the actual reviews below, but if you actually wish to request a tour, contact me directly (www.discoversaipan.com) to save on cost:

(a) TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60716-d8818668-r510130398-Discover_Saipan-Saipan_Northern_Mariana_Islands.html

(b)Google: https://www.google.com/search?q=discoversaipan

(c) ToursByLocals: https://www.toursbylocals.com/TBL/WebObjects/ToursByLocals.woa/wa/reviewsFancybox?guide=13181