Comments on mustbethehumidity サイパン / Life in Guamtanamo: Scratching an itch

I wouldn't say nazis about anybody, but TSA Agent...

2008-07-24T15:30:00.000+10:00

I wouldn't say nazis about anybody, but TSA Agents Forced Woman To Remove Nipple Rings, Pulled Pants Off Disabled Man? Extreme, no?

TSA NAZI'S....Good one Lil, youre still an idiot.

2008-07-24T10:43:00.000+10:00

TSA NAZI'S....Good one Lil, youre still an idiot.

Sorry.. if you simply cut and paste excerpts from ...

2008-07-23T21:26:00.000+10:00

Sorry.. if you simply cut and paste excerpts from the "Sucks" website and paste them here.. they will be removed. Now if you are using the statements in the context of your comment, fine.. otherwise Bill.. peddle your disgruntled crap elsewhere.

Are you planning to obstruct justice?

2008-07-23T20:25:00.000+10:00

Are you planning to obstruct justice?

who are the 20 sopenoed to testify for the grand j...

2008-07-23T11:50:00.000+10:00

who are the 20 sopenoed to testify for the grand jury?

Are books only printed in english?

2008-07-23T10:49:00.000+10:00

Are books only printed in english?

Not True

2008-07-23T07:36:00.000+10:00

Not True

Saipan does indeed suck. The reason there is no bo...

2008-07-23T07:27:00.000+10:00

Saipan does indeed suck. The reason there is no book store at the airport is because 90% of tourists don't speak English.

If I get an itch will you scrach it for me? LOL. H...

2008-07-23T05:37:00.000+10:00

If I get an itch will you scrach it for me? LOL. Haven't been to the airpor lately, so I needed a comment!

We've visited many countries and cities in Europe(...

2008-07-22T19:47:00.000+10:00

We've visited many countries and cities in Europe(Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Frankfurt, Berlin, London) many times over several decades.. nothing I've been through is worse than Guam. Idiot. ;}

I don't know.. somehow the "automatic" tags snuck in.

Lil, how does this thread relate to the tag “bad j...

2008-07-22T18:11:00.000+10:00

Lil, how does this thread relate to the tag “bad judgements cnmi judges”?

Who said anything about TSA Nazis?

2008-07-22T15:00:00.000+10:00

Who said anything about TSA Nazis?

TSA Nazis? You obviously haven't been to the Middl...

2008-07-22T14:51:00.000+10:00

TSA Nazis? You obviously haven't been to the Middle East or Europe have you? 10 times worse, and that was way before 911. You are an idiot.

Tourists will not come to the villages. Why? Bec...

2008-07-22T13:50:00.000+10:00

Tourists will not come to the villages. Why? Because the hotels will not endorse it or support it. The hotels want the tourists to stay in their hotels and DINE in their hotels.

It is a great idea Tony, and I do like it, but HANMI and individual hotels will never go for it.

And yes, thinking outside the box requires great leaders who know how to think and listen. I don't see too many of them these days. Are they an endangered species?

The village idea is great. I only see tourists on...

2008-07-22T12:39:00.000+10:00

The village idea is great. I only see tourists on foot from the two hotels at the street market, so I think you won't see any if it's in the villages. I agree with you on the big vendors. The vendors selling schlock (Chinese made trinkets and toys) should also be curtailed.

Having small businesses at the street market, taki...

2008-07-22T12:14:00.000+10:00

Having small businesses at the street market, taking them to the local villages, and busing are all great ideas Tony, but planning and thinking out of the box are shooting a little high. :)

Lil: One thing I would like to see is the street m...

2008-07-22T11:39:00.000+10:00

Lil:

One thing I would like to see is the street market being revamped...too many of the super commercial vendors are there (ie: Fiesta Resort, Hyatt, Shirley's, and etc.). I would prefer if it was just small business owners.

Plus another option would be to have the street market go to the villages. What is wrong with having the tourists bussed to San Vicente, Tanapag and so forth. Yes gas would be an issue, but the memories will always last. Let our visitors experience true local village culture.

Problem number one: TAYA PLANNING;
Problem Number two: NO THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BUN/BOX (take your choice).
Problem Number three: Thoughts of this nature brings about too much suspicion from the powers to be.
Problem Number four: Continue in Bob Marley fashion..."get up, stand up, stand up for your rights.
Problem number five: I talk too much...when I haven't even started to get warmed up! I need to stop for now, I am foaming at the mouth and I might short circuit my computer...and lastly, be very careful of the CUC thought police...LOL...LOL...LOL... :-)

Tony - I like the buffet of local food plan, it gi...

2008-07-22T08:23:00.000+10:00

Tony - I like the buffet of local food plan, it gives a glimpse of the islands for tourists that have been "huddled" by hotels.

I would close MVA. Their functions and costs are the responsibility of HANMI.

DFS cares about DFS and Saipan needs to employ the same strategy. DFS even sells wood carved dolphins from PI…to funny...we could assemble them here and export them with our
"Made in the Northern Marianas Islands of the USA" labels!

Cab drivers will pick you up anywhere on the western side of Saipan for 3 dollars but if tourists are in peril the chamber could provide rides.

When it comes to DFS, it is all about maximizing p...

2008-07-22T07:28:00.000+10:00

When it comes to DFS, it is all about maximizing profits. They will not carry a local product unless it can bring in money. After all, DFS isn't in the business of promoting our local culture.

That's probably the reason why I won't buy anything from DFS anymore. Although I never bought a Rolex or anything else in that price range, I have bought a lot of my clothes, ties, colognes, and gift items from them. Now I head to Joeten or Lolipop's or any local store. I buy locally as much as I possibly can, but if I can't find it here, I'll order online.

They get the franchises for years 'n years. I don...

2008-07-22T07:26:00.000+10:00

They get the franchises for years 'n years. I don't think many local companies can compete when (if?) they come up for renewal.

IT'S AN AIRPORT DEPARTURE STORE!!!! Anyone who's i...

2008-07-22T07:09:00.000+10:00

IT'S AN AIRPORT DEPARTURE STORE!!!! Anyone who's in there should be REQUIRED TO CARRY NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES!

DFS could have bolstered an entire segment of entrepeneurs here.. gift makers, postcard makers, handicraft makers, etc. Instead they import from the PI. Years ago, we were looking for a gift. We spotted carved dolphins that looked like the type I've seen at fairs here and in Micronesia. All the carvings were all from the PI and Mexico.

Excellent post Lil. I'm glad you brought this up....

2008-07-22T05:51:00.000+10:00

Excellent post Lil. I'm glad you brought this up.

I am very disappointed with DFS. I asked if we could sell MP in their airport store. I was told that I could, but I would have to sell other magazines as well. In other words, I would have to "create" a magazine section, offering and selling and restocking at least 7 or 8 magazines.

That is complete insanity. All I wanted was to have MP in their store so that tourists could see it. I also think it would be nice to see some of our local publishers and their books there. But apparently, that would be asking for too much from DFS.

I'd like to see an orchard of local fruits and veg...

2008-07-22T01:23:00.000+10:00

I'd like to see an orchard of local fruits and veggies. Tourists can learn about the vegetation and sample some also. Eco tourism can be a great market to tap into. My last trip to Cairns with the kids all we did was visit farms and zoos. No one needs sparkly stores and roller coasters to be on vacation.

Thanks for the insight Tony. I don't think we nee...

2008-07-22T00:25:00.000+10:00

Thanks for the insight Tony.

I don't think we need MVA as it is. They're an expensive operation. That funding should be directed to professional advertising agencys in our market countries. The board can work with a Director and one administrative person to manage the paperwork, and coordinate on-island activities.

Still can't get over the $5,000 per month. I don't think a free photo is going to help pay that rent. Poker machines maybe.

There is so much here that is not brought into the tourist-industry fold. Where can you see an aquarium? Where are there any handicrafts? Why aren't buses of tourists at the Garapan Market? Where are traditional Chamorro and Carolinian dance performance shows at hotels? Why are tourists being treated to Chinese buffets, instead of Chamorro BBQ's?

It's all rigged by the tour operators to get every buck they can. Problem is they leave almost nothing here in the CNMI.

Good point on the type of services provided at our...

2008-07-22T00:01:00.000+10:00

Good point on the type of services provided at our departure area.

When my wife's restaurant, Rose's Cafe, was still open we had inquired as to the requirements needed to open up an outlet within the departure area. Well for starters, LSG has the exclusive rights for all the food concessions within the airport premises. When I inquired with LSG they would not give me a hard quote. The lady I had talked to said the range would be $4K-$5K per month. End of story.

Actually, we wanted to go in their and serve local dishes at a reasonable price. If you need references, please ask Boni's sister Yvette and Jose, they were regulars. We decided if we were to go into the airport that we would have to sell our special lunches and dinners at $7.50 per plate. Our basic course is meat entrée, rice, sautéed kang kong, soup, dessert and bottomless ice tea. But with the proposed rate that they wanted, there was no way in hell that we could survive, unless we charged $10 and took your picture for free.

As for MVA. Personally I feel that the hotel association should be footing 50% of the bill and the government the other 50%. Basically, it is the hotels that get the influx of tourists. Plus this is their forte and that should be more reason for them to be super conscious of how THEIR money is being spent. The landscape really changes when the money is no longer free. BTW, during the past few years, I had brought this matter up with many of our representatives and senators; many of them thought I had just been released from Jack Nicholson's Cuckoo House. Actually, I had to tell them no, no, no, not that house, you know the big house.

Another issue I have with MVA is that they do not go around the island and actually look as to what do we really have to sell to the tourists. What is truly lacking is TAYA PLANNING!!!

One last thing. Ed maybe your crew could take photos of the island and kick it up a notch and add some aji-ni-moto with genuine fractuals. Then may be the tourists will come in droves to see the imagined paradise that could be offered. :>}

I better stop or I'll be here till next week still typing away.