September 18, 2025
Needed a couple of relaxing days after 10 Days in China!
In Naha port there was not alot to see nearby so just enjoyed some beach time with Sherrie and Delia . We went to Naminoue Beach, but I didn't take a single picture, so I borrowed these from Sherrie! First 1.5 hours at beach was relaxing and we stood in water chatting the whole time. Then a pile driver on nearby bridge construction started back up, lunch break was over! We had a hard time relaxing, so was glad we had arranged a 3 pm pick up with our taxi driver. He was a sweet older man, who couldn't have been more accommodating and so happy for our tip dollars and seemingly shocked! Love the people of Japan!
The tour today was focused on the National Park but we also got a lot of insight into American Samoa's history and current day life. Our guide was Nini and she is a college student studying accounting and finance and works as a part-time guide.
Today we took the National Park of American Samoa Tour. It's a unique park - the only one south of the equator and where the U.S. Government doesn't own the land. Efforts to establish the Park go back to mid 1980 over concern about the decline of fruit bats and wanting to protect the tropical rainforests. On October 31, 1988 Congress established the NP of American Samoa. In 1993, a complex arrangement for a 50 year land lease years with seven villages and the Samoa government was signed. We got lucky with our tour - we were expecting an open air bus, but because we were a small group, we got a plush air conditioned van!
This is an usual day, it's our second December 15th! We crossed the international date line last night around midnight and therefore we get to live December 15th, twice in 2 different locations. Freaky Monday! We also lose our 18 hour time difference of being ahead of the east coast of the USA, and will now be behind them in time. Time zones drive me crazy on this trip - trying to coordinate with the folks at home and keeping a relevant calendar!