Gregory and the Torii

A few weeks ago, Greg asked if I wanted to go on a hike to get some avocados that were growing wild in a friend’s abandoned property.  The jungle had taken over the original farmland but the food crops still thrived and lucky for us, still produces in abundance and free to pick to our heart’s desire!  We ventured off in the morning- we, being myself, Greg, DJ and Greg’s dog, Griffin.  Beverly, having delivered just a few weeks ago, stayed home with their baby, Nolan. 

We first visited a torii before going into the jungle.  The torii is a Japanese entrance gate to what once was a Shinto shrine built in a natural limestone cave.  It is supposed to mark where the sacred ground of the temple begins.  The torii has two horizontal parts and two vertical columns that fell to the left or west from where it used to mark the entrance of the cave.   It most likely broke during WWII.

In the foreground of this picture, you can see the body and top cover of what looks like a lantern that stood in front of the gate.  In the middle lies one of the two columns that once stood horizontally, and the structure in the background is one of the horizontal piece of the torii.  It kind of reminds me of the symbol for pi- π .  

The gate fell to the left or west from where it used to mark the entrance of the cave.  This is one of the two-level bases.  

 

The topmost part of the structure is called kasagi and shimaki which you can clearly see in this picture.  The rectangular block to the right is the lower positioned horizontal piece called nuki.  It is hard to tell what style of torii it is from its condition and without more inspection.

We explored the cave a little bit but did not find anything real significant.  DJ thought this rock was a fossil, but it turned out it was cement from a ruined cement bag.

This is a view looking out from the small cave. 

Our party headed off into the jungle next.  Greg carried the long bamboo guaili’ (Chamorro for fruit picker) so that we could reach the avocados and coconuts.  The trail showed evidence of a once active farm with groves of avocados, bananas, coconuts, starfruit, tangerines, cassava, betel nut, taro and yams.  

The trail even had Arabica coffee trees!  DJ and Greg inspected some dried coffee beans from a tree.  Greg had to explain to him that they didn’t look like the brown coffee beans he has seen in pictures because they haven’t been roasted yet.   DJ is going to plant some at his house to see if they will grow.

We will have to come back when they flower.  Coffee flowers usually don’t last long but the flowering season is not to be missed since it promises clusters of pure white jasmine-like flowers!  

Greg cut us down some coconuts for refreshment with the guaili’.  He got pretty good at dislodging avocados and then catching them himself.  After this picture was taken, we had a pretty good downpour that lasted for most of our hiking adventure.  We got soaked!     

I was only able to get a few shots with my camera phone due to the deluge.  We probably got to pick 10-15 pieces of avocados each which are now all eaten.  We will have to schedule another visit to the jungle grove soon!  Maybe get some taro for soup?  Or some bananas will be ready?  Let's go!

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber

More Saipan Nudibranchs

Nudibranchs are related to marine snails.  Although they are related, they do not have shells as thy shed them before they become adults.  They are amazingly varied and colorful, and people around the world "collect" them in pictures.  The name "nudibranch" means naked branch because of their exposed gills.  People more commonly call them "sea slugs" which is not a very flattering name.  Interestingly, the Japanese call them umi ushi meaning "sea cow" because they have head tentacles that look like horns.  These are sensory organs called rhinopores.

You can find a few nudis in the shallow waters of Saipan's beaches.  You just have to look carefully since they are very small, and although quite colorful, they are camouflaged well in the marine environment.  This is the Elysia ornata I found a few weeks ago in Obyan Beach.   

I found a few more this weekend that I would like to share.  I do not have an underwater camera and couldn't get a picture of the Thuridilla gracilis that I saw in Obyan last week.  I did manage to find another one at Coral Ocean Point.

She was strikingly beautiful and only about 15 millimeters long. 

Can you tell how tiny she is from the size of the sand grains in the picture?  Tiny!

Another really common nudi is Plakobranchus ocellatus that has purple and lavender spots.  I guess that is why they named it after an ocelot.  I only had a camera phone with me, so sorry if the pictures aren't that great.

They are a lot bigger than the T. gracilis, at about 30mm long and 10mm wide.  I found a few of them in the shallow reef flat of Wing Beach.

I think they must be pretty common here since I always happen upon them at several shallow beaches.  You can check out more nudibranch information and look at beautiful pictures in Nudipixel where a few of my friends have contributed their finds from Guam and Saipan. 

I think these maybe are the more common shallow water nudibranchs around here but I will keep an eye out for others.  Thanks for talking stories again.

Ti napu.
The Beachcomber

Not So Extinct Sea Urchin

Some scientists believe that the collector sea urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) is extinct on Saipan due to over collection.  Imagine my surprise to find one after more than 7 years!  Well, it may very well be extinct now since I made this one into a yummy sea urchin sashimi or uni!  Yummy!  

Just kidding!  But all jokes aside, I was very happy to find that there is still a population of collector urchins  hanging on to existence in the CNMI. Someone told me that people used to collect them by the buckets in the 1980s through the 1990s.  These urchins have short spines and they have a habit of "collecting" bits of shells, sea grass and algae that camouflages them from predators.  I still don't have an underwater camera so I had to briefly bring this one above water for a picture.  I tasted another type of sea urchin a long time ago on Guam when my dad popped one open and squeezed some lemon in it.  I remember it tasting like lemony sand.

I also found a live tulip cone snail (Conus tulipa).  Out of all the cone snails, this one resembles the deadly geography cone (C. geographus) the most, so there is speculation that it is just as deadly.  Cone snails use a harpoon-like tooth to inject their prey with venom and handling them can prove to be deadly.  So my advice: Hands off!  Check out this link that my friend Doug wrote that has video of a geography cone snail.

Thanks for talking stories with me again.  Take care, friends.

Ti napu.
The Beachcomber

Obyan Nudibranch

I went beachcombing at Obyan Beach with the BFF this weekend.  The day was hot and sunny and the tide was really low.  In the shallow water, I saw two nudibranchs (sea slugs) but only managed to get a picture of one (sorry, I only had my phone camera).  I think this is an Elysia ornata and it was laying down its egg mass.  The other one was probably a Thuridilla gracilis.  Nudibranchs are especially hard to identify and there are people who are really into "collecting" them in pictures.  Here is a picture of the bright yellow egg mass:

  

Beach time with the BFF are some of the best times.  Hopefully there will be more time in the water next weekend.

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber

Took a Break

Man, is it already March 2011? I guess I took a little more of a break than I intended to. Lots of things have happened of course so I hope I get back on track and keep on posting my adventures and stories here for you from the beautiful island of Saipan!

So, welcome back but I will have to share with you on another post about my quick side trip before the holidays to Narita-san Shinsho-ji ("Narita mountain new victory temple") in Narita, Chiba perfecture, Japan. The picture is of my friend Andrew looking at a huge lantern. I think he missed the huge statues that were on both sides of Fudo myoo, a Japanese fire god of wisdom, of whom the temple is dedicated to. It was a surprise to see and it evoked memories of one of my favorite foreign films named, Heaven and Earth. Beautiful and heartbreaking, the protagonist forsakes all earthly pleasures (even his love for a woman) in exchange for victory in battle and the protection of Fudo yoo upon his countrymen. Good stuff! More stories to follow so come back again later.

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber

7792: Meetings like Pancakes

I am in DC for a few days. It is hot and my days have been stacked with meetings day and night! Still, it is great to be here again!Two years ago, Bernie and Johnny went with me to the Smithsonian. We had a blast. Johnny is from Pohnpei, FSM and was exited to see that the museum had a Yappese stone money. I hope we have time to visit there again. So many meetings though....sigh...

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber

The Secret I Keep

I recalled a verse from a song.
I sang it out loud and laughed.
I just needed to tell someone about you.

"Blue Eyes" by Carey Brothers

Wish enough, wise man'll tell you a lie
Window broke, torn up screens
Who'd have thought that you'd dream
Of a single tragic scene

I just wanna sing a song with you
I just want to take it off of you

Cause Blue Eyes
You are all that I need
Cause Blue Eyes
You're the sweet to my mean

Fess it up, dot on the palm of your hand
I can help you to stand
Saved it up for this dance
Tell me all the things you can

I just wanna sing a song with you
I just wanna be the one that's true

Cause Blue Eyes
You're the secret I keep
Cause Blue Eyes

All the lights on and you are alive
But you can't point the way to your heart
So sublime, when the stars are aligned
But you don't know
You don't know the greatness you are

Cause Blue Eyes
You are destiny's scene
Cause Blue Eyes
I just wanna be the one

I just wanna sing a song with you
I just wanna get it on with you

Cause Blue Eyes
You're the secret I keep
Cause Blue Eyes
I just wanna sing a song with you
I just wanna sing a song with you
I just wanna sing a song with you...