some tourist spots in Saipan

A family friend visited us here in the island of Saipan, and I was tagged along today as the photographer. :D I really don't mind for I love taking pictures ever since I had bought my first camera out of the cash gift my dear Lola (Grandmother) gave me for my Elementary graduation. I was able to take some beautiful shots, and I want to share them with you here in my blog.

First Stop: Banadero Cave (The Last Command Post)
This is a natural limestone cave fortress. This very cave is the "Last Command Post" for the Japanese army in WWII. There are still tanks, cannons, guns and other war relics in the area. Peace memorials have been set up here for the soldiers who gave their lives during WWII.

Notice the cave just above the artillery? Up there, you'll see this passage way that leads to the inner cave.

Second Stop: Suicide Cliff
Just above the Okinawa Peace Memorial is Suicide cliff where hundreds of Soldiers jumped to their deaths rather than surrender. Here I share with you two shots I took:

Third Stop: Bird Island
This is probably one of my favorite tourist spots here in Saipan. :) Maybe it's the rock amidst the waters with the waves gently breaking around it. Either way, this is a sanctuary for the migrating birds, hence the name.




Final Stop: Hotel Nikko
Okay, this is not a tourist spot. :D Hotel Nikko is one of the hotels here in Saipan. In my personal opinion though, this is the nicest and biggest/tallest hotel in the island. What's more, they have their own botanical garden and a mini zoo (mostly birds) and a fish pond with a wide selection of tropical fishes, and baby sharks too! This is the very reason we had to stop by here. :)

Those colorful Scarlet Macaws were loud. And as we were leaving the area, they got louder as if asking us to stay. :D :D The man-made water falls there complements the paradise-like surrounding. And finally, this Moluccan Cockatoo is lovely. She's the only one that looked at the camera. And her pose is just so nice, isn't it? Now, don't ask me how I know it's a "she" ;)

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take photos of those tropical fishes. My cousin and I are planning to go back just to do that, hopefully armed with extra digicam battery, and if sky is the limit: a brand new digicam. :D

Information Sources:
Marianas Visitors Authority
Pacificwrecks.com