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  2. SAIPAN, 2013

JUNE 17, 2013: ACCENTUATING THE MUNDANE ON A SUICIDE WALK

Don't worry: It's not what the title may lead you to believe. On Saipan, there is a walkway which starts at an important historical / commemorative site (Last Command Post) and proceeds up to Suicide Cliff, where local families leapt to their deaths when the Americans took the island toward the end of WWII. The walkway is over 3 miles long and gains over 550 feet in elevation. Then, from Suicide Cliff there is a trail which returns to Last Command Post, probably involving about 3/4 of a mile or so (and, of course, the same elevation difference). So, it can make for a nice morning of exercise.
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I know I must have read this stone many times.  But for some reason a couple of months ago this one just seemed to really click with me.  It seems to say so much.  Suicide Cliff in the background.
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I know I must have read this stone many times. But for some reason a couple of months ago this one just seemed to really click with me. It seems to say so much. Suicide Cliff in the background.

abb

  • Another overlook from the trail, looking down on Last Command Post >500 feet below us.  The white dots you see against the blue of the ocean are either fairy terns or Pacific tropicbirds (both were out today).
  • Sometimes, as one enters into the dense forest area of this trail, there are thousands of insects.  I had never noticed this curious behavior before, however:  Notice on this video how the bugs swarm ONLY WHILE I AM WALKING.  Whenever I stop, they thin and then pretty much disappear.  They were NOT coming from brush I was rubbing against or anything like that.  It seemed that simply my movement got them to going.  Quite interesting.<br />
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By the way, these are the type of little bug which gets into your ears, your eyes, up your nostrils, in your mouth if you unwittingly open it, etc. etc.  Thank goodness they were only at the edges of the dense forest, both where I entered and where I exited down below.
  • Ravina humilis, I believe.  A member of the pokeweed family.  Anyone want some poke-salad?
  • Onward ho!  The purple flowers are scarlet gourd, a noxious invasive weed which, it seems, would carpet the entire island and shade out everything else if it were allowed to do so.
  • Interesting how different species grow along, over, and around their neighbors.
  • This happens to be a part of the trail where I often make a wrong turn (then it becomes obvious quickly, sending me back this way).  Here I'm assessing the roots of the situation.
  • And now we are back at Last Command Post!
  • Greeted by our spectacular Bougainvilleas.
  • I know I must have read this stone many times.  But for some reason a couple of months ago this one just seemed to really click with me.  It seems to say so much.  Suicide Cliff in the background.
  • Saipan style red carpet to get me back to my vehicle!
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