Saipan, Northen Mariana Islands

Saipan - Heaven on Earth

What? that you haven´t heard of Saipan? Well, no worries, me neither!

So, how did I even discover Saipan? While studying in South Korea, I wanted to travel around SE Asia, so I checked a few airlines. Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, etc. were on the menu. However, these destinations are quite reachable from Europe, I thought. But then there was Saipan and Guam, which I didn't even know where they were. After discovering that they were islands in Oceania, with amazing beaches and tropical nature, far from the continent, the choice was clear!

Saipan is part of the Northern Marianas Islands in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines. It used to belong to the Japanese, but the Americans took it druing the World War II.

Before I start telling you about it, I realized that this trip was simply amazing not only because of its location! Of course, it is an unusual destination, but I am talking more about the other "coincidences" that accompanied me from the airport in Seoul. Mostly about the people who made the trip what it was. Everything else. Just a little taste. For example, the super host (with a car, rented a bike, very nice and helpful, showed me cool places, rented a snorkel, invited me for beers) + his friends (Filipino - showed me the jungle, talked about the war, showed me places, where I could pick avocados, coconuts, tangerines) + an American (invited me to his son's birthday party, invited me to his house, beautiful house with a terrace where we drank beers and talked about his work in Liberia where he fought Ebola).

The airfare came to a reasonable penny and it still worked out for the Korean holidays (I didn't miss that much school). I flew from May 6 to 11. Before that, I explored Seoul for three days.

Before I start telling you about it, I realized that this trip was simply amazing not only because of its location! Of course, it is an unusual destination, but I am talking more about the other "coincidences" that accompanied me from the airport in Seoul. Mostly about the people who made the trip what it was. Everything else. Just a little taste. For example, the super host (with a car, rented a bike, very nice and helpful, showed me cool places, rented a snorkel, invited me for beers) + his friends (Filipino - showed me the jungle, talked about the war, showed me places, where I could pick avocados, coconuts, tangerines) + an American (invited me to his son's birthday party, invited me to his house, beautiful house with a terrace where we drank beers and talked about his work in Liberia where he fought Ebola).

The airfare came to a reasonable penny and it still worked out for the Korean holidays (I didn't miss that much school). I flew from May 6 to 11. Before that, I explored Seoul for three days.

I almost didn't even fly away! I had a huge nervous breakdown with my visa. The embassy website says that Czech citizens do not need a visa. I read the same thing on other websites. Unfortunately, the lady at the counter told me otherwise. She said I had to have an ESTA visa. I thought, with apologies for....It was 2 hours before departure, money in tow, me at the airport with my bags, tired after three days in Seoul. I asked if there was any way I could get a visa to fly out. She said I could get one online at the US embassy website. The battle against time and nerves began. Truthfully, I didn't believe in a happy ending. My hands were shaking, I wasn't concentrating, my battery was dying. I filled about 6 long pages, some passages I didn't even read, just ticked off to get to the next page. At the end, I paid the $13 fee by credit card. To my happiness and great surprise, the authorization went through right away and my visa came through. (In retrospect, my friend told me afterwards that it usually takes up to 14 days to get approved!) I beat the queue as I had no time left, showed the visa on my mobile and the lady nodded!! I could fly!!!

The flight took 4,5 hours. I was the only europoid looking passenger on board. Everything else China, Japan, Korea. Already here you could see that they were not tourists, but pretty wealthy citizens. Generally the rich fly to Saipan and Guam to spend time, mainly from China and Japan. I was a little worried about the immigration process going well. I didn't trust anything anymore. But everything went fine, I got my passport stamped and I was free to go!!!

As soon as I stepped out of the airport I could feel the difference in climate - the tropics! High humidity, 30 degrees (and it was 4 in the morning). Of course, I also immediately experienced a financial shock - a taxi 6km for 30 dollars. To make matters worse. I knocked on the host's door, no one answered. I knock and ring for over an hour. No one! What the hell am I supposed to do at 5am with my bags, 40 hours without sleep, somewhere in the jungle and no water?! Plus, it was starting to dawn. In desperation, I pressed the bell for the last time. You'd be surprised. A miracle! It opened! It was one of the best feelings I'd had in months. The host was a super guy, an American, beautiful room with an ocean view. I had my own room, he gave me the keys so I could come home whenever it suited me. He had an off-road car, lent me a bike...just great!

DAY 1

From 10.00 it started to get hot. Btw daily between 38-42 degrees and high humidity. On the first day Mike took me on a round trip around the island in his 4x4 Toyota.

The first thing that won me over to the island was the scenery. Palm trees everywhere, tropical rhizomes and fruit trees, indescribably beautiful beaches, jungle in places, pervasive humidity, heat, American cars, ocean all around, remnants of military equipment from the war, no tourists..... First stop was Banzai cliff.

Then we drove to a very interesting place for me, historically significant, namely the site of the war - American memorial park with the remains of heavy war equipment. I've only seen this in movies and documentaries. The cannons, the machine guns, the observation posts, the jungle around, the heat....an incredible spectacle and experience. I imagined the war, the jungle, the heat.....40,000 Japanese died...the pictures speak for themselves.

Next stop was Suicide cliff. A place where the Japanese committed suicide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDUy0uzmaU4 - for strong stomach only!

I didn't dare look down.

In the evening I went for a walk around the city. Beautiful! I talked to a Russian and he said he had been to many places (Thailand, Philippines, Maldives) but he liked Saipan the best because it has everything. In the Maldives and other places there are only beaches, hotels...But in Saipan there is life, it's a city. There are pubs, restaurants, offices, shops, party streets, big roads, hospitals, shelves and yet minimum tourists, beautiful beaches and nature.

2. DAY

The next day I couldn't wait to jump into the ocean!! The beach is like in the photos from the Maldives, completely empty! The ocean is calm, the water is warm, azure blue, alone on the whole beach and you feel like you are in paradise. Indescribable feeling....Well just look!

3. DAY

So, in the morning I got up early (5.45am) and went to the jungle and the surrounding area with a Filipino (Alfie). He showed me the Japanese observation post, showed me places where I could pick avocados, coconuts, tangerines straight from the tree. He showed me where the military hospital was during the war + told me interesting stories.

In the afternoon I was invited to a birthday party for Mike's friend's son. The son was 8 years old. The birthday "geek" was KFC :D We went there in the back of a car - a great experience for me - you on the back, palm trees next to you, ocean, fresh breeze, 40 degrees....

After a big shopping trip we went to their house to celebrate and eat it all. Beautiful house on a hillside, terrace overlooking the ocean. I was so happy to meet new people with amazing stories. Daddy American (fought 2 years against Ebola in Liberia). Mom from Uganda, delivered 200 babies in horrible conditions. Terribly kind and good-hearted people. We drank Mexican beer, ate KFC and watched the sunset. It was incredibly relaxing. The next day I couldn't wait to jump into the ocean!! The beach is like in the photos from the Maldives, completely empty! The ocean is calm, the water is warm, azure blue, alone on the whole beach and you feel like you are in paradise. Indescribable feeling....Well just look!

4.DAY

The last day was the best! Mike lent me a mountain bike, so I rode on my own for half the day. I rode around the eastern half of the island. But I hit rock bottom. It was 40 degrees, windy, high humidity. I rode 500m, but it felt like 5km. But all the suffering and exhaustion was worth it. Especially the freedom! In the morning I packed a few things and set off. First stop was the most beautiful beach for me - PauPau beach! Alone on the beach, white sand, endless ocean...well see for yourself.

Then I drove to the north of the island to look again at the Last Command Post or the place where the remnants of the war are -cannons, gun emplacements, tanks, machine guns, memorials. I was very interested and the place was really special. A strategic position for the Japanese, lots of surviving war munitions.

It was around noon and the weather was really unbearable. I was taking breaks after every half-kilometer. Fortunately there were markets everywhere, so I always bought a dollar's worth of cold drinks and some sweets. I have never experienced such humidity and heat.

I had enough after 4 hours. Plus I was riding in the worst heat. Yes, I admit, not a smart idea. Well, I made it to the center of the island, had lunch again at Filipinos (super portion for $8). At home, I took a cold shower and waited for Mike because we had planned to see the biggest attraction on the island - Mount Tapochao - 360 view. The highest point of Saipan from which you can see the island like the palm of your hand. It was a pretty ugly road leading up to it. Good thing Mike had a 4x4. I would never have made it there on my own. The view of the whole island from all the tents was indescribable! Breathtaking! I couldn't believe my eyes for minutes. So many sensations and feelings in a few minutes. Just standing on one square inch and just turning in place. I was mainly looking at the tropical nature. Greenery everywhere, jungle, beaches all around, few roads, tranquility and endless ocean!

Full of impressions, I returned to my room. I still had a couple of hours before sunset, so I took advantage of it and cycled down to the south coast. On the way, I did some more souvenir shopping. On the south side of the island they had nice bike paths + running paths around the coast.

I stopped at some beautiful beaches along the way! I won't repeat myself and overdo it with the superlatives. But isn't it beautiful?

I packed up at home and Mike dropped me off at the airport. I thanked him for everything, but still 100x thank you wasn't enough for all he did for me. I waited at the airport for four hours. then another 5 hour flight and then another 4 hours back to Chuncheon.

Saipan was an indescribable travel adventure. The best trip ever!I am so grateful that I was able to visit such a special place and enjoy it like this! I have tried to describe it all, but I still think that words just can't describe it.