Weekend Island Tour

Its always exciting to see a new face on island. Roy Kim MD was doing some medical relief work at the Guam SDA Medical Clinic and decided to visit Saipan for a weekend. I think its safe to say that he loved Saipan more than Guam or Rota after this weekend.

Our weekend started off with a dive on late Friday afternoon at the Grotto. It's been really hot lately so I was dreading climbing up and down the 100 grotto stairs with my wet suit and dive gear on. So this time I opted to dive without a wet suit and I loved it! I just felt so light and unrestricted. Think I'm lazy about the 100 steps? You climb 'em!



Roy won't admit what number this dive was for him since he had just gotten his open water certification in Guam this past month. I'm thinking this was his third or fourth dive but he did really well for an advanced dive site! The sun was starting to set so we didn't get to see the light shine as vibrantly through the three exit holes like usually. Visability was poor but atleast we saw one white tip shark and an eel.


On Saturday, we went to church together. Any missionary who visits our church we ask to do something during church service on a last minute notice. Thats just the way it goes. Pastor asked Roy to tell the children's story and he so graciously accepted. He did a great job.



Ken took Crystal, Rosana, Roy and I on an island tour. We hit a bunch of hot spots that I had never been to like Tank Beach, Marine Beach, and the caves off the road going towards Lau Lau Beach. My favorite spot of the day was Forbidden Island lookout. We were planning to hike Forbidden on Saturday but it rained all day.




We would have went on another dive on Sunday but Roy was flying back to Guam already in transit to dive in Palau. Lucky guy. I want to go back to Palau!
Photo Credit: The Pierson's and Rosana.

Sweet Remembrance

"Keep God in your heart. Keep your head up and look to the sky.” said Ku Jung Hwan to a friend in this article in the Saipan Tribune Newspaper today. What wonderful words to live by and remember. Ku Jung Hwan was one of four students that died at Forbidden Island during a Korean fellowship gathering last week. The island and community is so small on Saipan that when news like this surfaces its shocking. Four students were swept out to sea and had drowned at Forbidden Island.



I've been following this story and later learned that the students had climbed through the same cave pool opening that I did a couple of months back. Only I didn't go all the way out on the ledge. I had heard about how the waves can come up fast and sweep you away. I was tempted to go alittle farther just like I think they were tempted to go out farther on the ledge. Sometimes the water is so calm that it can be decieving. After this tragedy, I'm not so sure I'd want to go down to the cave pool again.

In the midst of this tragedy, I take comfort in knowing that Hwan had God in his heart. I pray that others did to. My condolances to the families. Just another reminder that life is too short and that you just never know.

Carpe Diem-a sweet remembrance.