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| Guam Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_2 A trip to Guam is like visiting the four exotic corners of the globe. Many people consider Guam one of the most interesting places in Micronesia. In addition to the indigenous Chamorros and 'stateside' Americans, Guam boasts large populations of Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Micronesian Islanders, as well as a few Vietnamese, Indians, and Europeans. Furthermore there are some interesting historical landmarks to explore. The graceful remains of Spanish buildings, the Plaza De Espana, and stone bridges may be seen in Agana, which is Guam's capital. (For more on Agana, see below). It is an important US Military Base. You must have a U.S. visa to go to Guam uless you are an American Citizen aswell as a passport. _____________Sights Edit This Visiting the sites on Guam won't only be enjoyable, it's also educational. Guam is home of many historical sites dating back from the days of Spanish rule to the occupation of the Island during WWII. Almost all of these sites can be accessed by either tour guide or on your own. If you're not familiar with the sites or the history, it is recommended that you get with a tour group. Your guide will be very knowlegable about any site you will visit. Some of the more popular sites date back to WWII. You can visit the actual guns used during the war. Many of them still sitting in the exact place that they were used against U.S. liberation forces. A very interesting site to visit is the hiding place of Sergeant Soichi Yokoi in the southern village of Talafofo. A Japanese soldier dedicated to his duty, to his country and to the Emperor of Japan. Sergeant Yokoi who had remained elusive to liberation forces, remained hidden and refused to surrender for 28 years even after being informed that the war had ended. On January 24, 1972, Sergeant Soichi Yokoi was captured by accident by locals and was turned over to the authorities and ultimately returned to Japan where he was received as a national hero. This single event made world wide news. ___________Practical Information Edit This [Add Practical address] guam Edit This Although English is spoken throughout the island, the local people continue to speak their own Chamorro language. Some, particularly older residents who lived on Guam during the World War II period of Japanese occupation, speak Japanese, as well. As in other destinations, the fastest way to make friends on Guam is to learn a bit of the local language. type: Embassies and Consulates World66 rating: [rate it] ______Getting Around Edit This Getting around on Guam is just like any other travel destination. Rental cars, public bus system, shuttle vans and taxies. Many visitors like to included a rental car in their travel plans. If so, your rental agency will provide you with a map of the island and will almost always provide you with information on major sites to visit. And there are alot of them. If your hotel reservations included a rental car, you're all set. If you didn't reserve a rental car in advance, you can easily find one at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport. After arrival and baggage claim, you will go through a U.S. Customs and Immigration check. Just after completing the checks and on the way out of the terminal building, most of the time you will walk right by several rental car agencies that are usually open 24 hours a day. Should you choose to drive yourself, keep in mind that the top speed limit on the island, and only in selected areas is 45 miles per hour. A majority of the roads will be 35 mph. School zone speed limits and constructions zones throughout the islands villages are enforced by the Guam Police. Just like any other city in the world, there is the occassional driver attempting to break the land speed record before getting to the next intersection. Don't follow that type of example. Guam is a beautiful tropical island with many sites to see. Take your time and drive responsibly and enjoy your visit. Driving under the influence is absolutly NOT TOLERATED anywhere on the island. (Hint: Usually cheaper to rent a car if you do it online prior to arrival. Web rates are generally lower) Not all travelers like to rent cars in an unfamiliar area. Especially if they are traveling from countries where it is custom to drive on the left side of the road. So they leave the driving to the locals. Just about every hotel has either an airconditioned shuttle van or bus that will wisk you from the airport directly to your place of lodging. Tour busses are also available to tour the islands sites. Open air trollys are also a popular way to get to the main shopping areas as well as restaurants and will stop at just about every major hotel to pick up and drop off visitors. Taxies are available 24 hours a day and usually service the entire island. Contributors March 05, 2008 change by bcguam [Add Local transport mode] Walking Edit This Unfortunatly Guam has had a number of vehicle to pedestrain accidents. It is imperative that if you decide to walk along any of the main roads anywhere on the island, use caution. Should you decide to cross a road on foot, use the designated cross walk even if it means walking a little further. These areas are usually lit up and drivers are more familiar with them. Use extra caution and always look both ways before crossing any road anywhere. Vacations usually don't include a hospital stay. Let's not alter any plans. World66 rating: [rate it] email: bcguam@live.com __________Getting There Edit This Travel time to Guam by air is a double digit venture. Depending on the time of the year, you can count on 11 to 13 hours from the west coast if traveling through Tokyo or Osaka, Japan. After a brief layover, an additional 3 and a half hours into Guam. And that route will require a valid passport. If traveling through Honolulu, Hawaii, again from the west coast, you can expect about a 5 and a half hour trip to Honolulu then approximately a 7 to 8 hour flight into Guam. Another option is to travel from the west coast through Hawaii and then a 9 hour flight into Tokyo and then onto Guam. This route is very time consuming but if you enjoy flying and are banking the miles, this is a good one for you. The most common airlines traveling to Guam from the mainland United States is currently Continental or Northwest Airlines. You can get to Guam on other airlines, ie, JAL, ANA, KAL etc, but most of the time those routes originate in other parts of the world. Remember, when traveling to Guam from the west coast, you will cross the international dateline and will experience a major time and date change but after getting over any jet lag, it's well worth it. Contributors March 04, 2008 change by bcguam [Add Global transport mode] By Air Edit This type: general World66 rating: [rate it] ___________Economy Edit This Economy—overview: The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenue generated by the tourism industry. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown rapidly creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than one million tourists visit Guam each year. Most food and industrial goods are imported with about 75% from the US. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing. GDP: purchasing power parity—$3 billion (1996 est.) GDP—real growth rate: NA% GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$19 000 (1996 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Inflation rate—consumer price index: 4% (1992 est.) Labor force: total: 65 660 (1995) by occupation: federal and territorial government 31% private 69% (trade 21% services 33% construction 12% other 3%) (1995) Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $524.3 million expenditures: $361.4 million including capital expenditures of $NA (1995) Industries: US military tourism construction transshipment services concrete products printing and publishing food processing textiles Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity—capacity: 302 000 kW (1995) Electricity—production: 755 million kWh (1995) Electricity—consumption per capita: 4 925 kWh (1995) Agriculture—products: fruits copra vegetables; eggs pork poultry beef Exports: total value: $86.1 million (f.o.b. 1992) commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products construction materials fish food and beverage products partners: US 25% former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63% other 12% Imports: total value: $202.4 million (c.i.f. 1992) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products food manufactured goods partners: US 23% Japan 19% other 58% Debt—external: $NA Economic aid: recipient: although Guam receives no foreign aid it does receive large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress the Guamanian Treasury rather than the US Treasury receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October—30 September ___________People Edit This Population: 148 060 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 25 972; female 24 097) 15-64 years: 60% (male 47 357; female 42 189) 65 years and over: 6% (male 4 244; female 4 201) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 1.5% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 25.04 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 4.42 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: -5.59 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 8.28 deaths/1 000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.7 years male: 74.12 years female: 79.44 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.58 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Guamanian(s) adjective: Guamanian Ethnic groups: Chamorro 47% Filipino 25% white 10% Chinese Japanese Korean and other 18% Religions: Roman Catholic 98% other 2% Languages: English Chamorro Japanese Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.) ___________Beaches Edit This Ritidian Beach Ritidian Beach Bruce Concepcion Once you have arrived on the island, it is not hard to appreciate the peacefullness and the tranquility of the beaches on Guam. Although California has great beaches, it is only practical to enjoy them during the summer months. And then you are tasked to find a spot. Beaches on Guam do not share the hustle and pace of California beaches. The weather is always warm and tropical here providing locals and visitors 365 days of beach weather per year. So it is a very good idea to use a generous amount of sun screen. Most visitors are not used to the sun exposure you can get in the tropics and as a result, the allmighty sun burn awaits. Don't be miserable, use a very good sun screen. You can purchase sun screen at almost any convenience store. One of the most popular beaches used by locals and tourists alike is Ypao Beach. (pronounced "EE-POW") Ypao Beach is located on the central coast line of the west side of the island facing the Philipine Sea. Water is warm and crystal clear all year round. Local events and celebrations occur at Ypao Beach from time to time, but it is always open to public use. Just a warning though, the tropical sunsets from this beach are addicting. There are many beautiful public beaches located around the island. I would recommend taking the time and using either public transportation or a rental car and visit any or all of them. Stop and get out and walk. It's a very relaxing experience. Most of the public accessible beaches are neighbored by a local convienence stores. Food and drinks can be purchased. Just keep in mind, if you bring it to the beach, when you leave, take it with you. Help keep the beaches beautiful. ::::::: Cetti bay Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The best undiscovered bay in the pacific! Pristine!!! Rotate 360 degrees and will not see one object of human influence. ::::::::Cocos island Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Cocos Island is a 100-acre island at Guam's Southern Coast surrounded by a clear, turquoise lagoon off the shores of Merizo accessible by glass-bottom boats. Besides being a favorite picnic/dining site, Cocos Island is the focus of international attention as a Spanish galleon wreak site which has yet to be recovered. Ten commercial divers and underwater archaeologists have been excavating the ocean depths since may 98. In June 2, 1690, the Neustra Senora del Pilar de Zaragosa y Santiago hit the southern reef at Cocos Island. It was enroute from Acupulco, Mexico to an annual fair in Manila with shipments of silver swords and artifacts. With its bottom torn, the Spanish Manila galleon sank in ocean waters at depths of 30 to 87 feet. Its naval crew, and some Franciscan missionaries escaped the galleon before it slipped into the ocean shelf. Ships that sailed the trade route carry silks, spices and jewelry from Manila to Acapulco. These items were traded and the galleons carried silver and gold ingots and Spanish coins back across the Pacific to manila. A 1691 Spanish court of inquiry into the Pilar's loss reported only one chest of silver was recovered. There is a good chance that she was carrying as much as $1.2 billion Spanish coins as ballast in the lower decks of her hold. The sunken hull of the Pilar broke apart during following typhoons and its wreckage drifted into deeper waters. 300 years ago, Guam and the Marianas Island Chain was a provisioning stopover in the Spanish Galleon Trade. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://ns.gov.gu/cocos.html _________Getting There Edit This [Add Global transport mode] National Jet Airlines Edit This National Jet Airlines, affiliated with Qantas, provides flights to the Cocos twice each week. It is an excellent destination, but a little pricey. One-way tickets cost around $1100, while a return trip will cost you about $1600. To find out more information about getting to the Cocos, go to http://www.nationaljet.com.au/. type: By Air World66 rating: [rate it] ::::::::::Inarajan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i_1 Bruce Concepcion Inarajan is located towards the south eastern part of the island. Easily accessible by the main road that practically runs around the entire island. You will want to stop by the natural pool located along the main road through the village across the street from the Inarajan market. It is a large natural salt water pool where visitors as well as locals can sit and enjoy or take a swim. :::::::::::::Umatac Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Magellan Bay Magellan Bay Bruce Concepcion Generally thought to be the location of Magellan's first landing. Has an annual festival dedicated to and called "Discovery Day". Also features a reproduction of a Spanish Bridge, made from stone. Umatac is located on the southern end of the island about a 35-40 minute drive from downtown Hagatna from Marine Corps Drive. A two lane winding road weaves it's way through the southern villages. Speed limit is down to 25 mph in some areas. No need to rush. Take your time and enjoy the drive. There are many stopping points along the way that will provide you with some excellent photo opportunities. This photo was taken from an old Spanish fort overlooking Magellan bay. See photo gallery for more. bcguam. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: David J. Lillig, USMerchant Marine Capt. |