For many people in Guam, a carrier visit is personal, and over the years carriers have brought personnel home to Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands so they get to visit family.
A couple of years ago, my husband and I received a message from our sister-in-law in Montana that a close relative of hers (so a relative of ours) was an officer on board a carrier heading for Guam. We were voluntold to take care of him. He didn’t need that much “taking care of,” and had already booked himself into the Crowne Plaza Resort in Tumon.
But we did show him the island from North to South during his stay. He wanted to be anywhere but inside, so it was a scenic tour, but included an essential pitstop to sample local food at Meskla. And my husband took him to the post office so that he could mail home dresses to his two daughters, which he had found all by himself at the JP Superstore. We enjoyed meeting a new relative and he enjoyed the island.
Years ago, we ran into two Marines who were having a less than stellar experience and seeking fresh fish and an opportunity to golf. At the time we were heading to an event at Sam Choy’s and took them along. They got a briefing on where to golf, to eat fresh fish, meet a lot of people (that included Miss Guam and friends), and we delivered them back to their hotel.
These stories are probably repeated time and again in Guam when there are visitors, and in the spirit of the islands, we’ve also been given contacts and met some wonderful people in the Pacific.
In Guam, the debate is what to do with the DFS building in Tumon, as the retailer exits. I think a casino would be an added attraction to visitors. There are sufficient models around the world of how casinos are managed that we could pick and choose our model, and the Maratitas have spent enjoyable evenings gambling, and had some fine dining too at casinos. It’s time to put aside the attitude that our people must be protected from gambling.
Since I’m sharing views, I’d like to see a better experience at Guam’s airport. How about something specifically for children? Or a different retail experience? That’s what’s happening at other airports. Singapore’s Changi Airport has a Disney Discovery experience.
I’ve dropped a pretty penny on purchasing chocolate at Changi in a store that sells chocolate from around the world. Much as I enjoy Ferrero Rocher and Cadbury’s, what’s available for purchase in Guam has remained unchanged for years, and Changi and other destinations have a wealth of options for chocolate lovers.
In my fridge right now is a gift of a box of Bouchard Belgian chocolates, Dubai-style, made with pistachio and knafeh (a middle Eastern dessert).
For chocolate lovers and the rest of you, may the festive season bring you pleasurable gifts too. Thank you to our readers and listeners wherever you are and to our advertisers and supporters. I hope this column has provided food for thought. mbj
— Maureen N. Maratita is the publisher at Glimpses Media. Glimpses Media includes the Marianas Business Journal, Guam Business Magazine, The Guam Guide, Wave 105.1 FM, Power98 and Route99.
