2014/07/26 — Saturday — Inarajan

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The rainy season has definitely come to Guam, but we are still trying to visit the sites whenever possible.

Since this is our last weekend here, this is our last chance to visit the Village of Inarajan at the far south end of Guam.  This website gives excellent background information on the village — http://www.guampedia.com/inarajan-inalahan/

Some of our photos are lacking in clarity as a result of the very rainy weather:

Bear Rock at Agfayan Bay -- the Agfayan boat ramp is in the foreground.

Bear Rock at Agfayan Bay about 1/2 mile SW of Inarajan on route 4– the Agfayan boat ramp is in the foreground.

Salaglula Pools at Inarajan are natural pools. Last time we drove by, also during rain, there were children diving from the high platform a the light pole.

Salaglula Pools near Inarajan are natural pools. These are located midway between Bear Rock and the village.  Last time we drove by (also during rain) there were children diving from the high platform at the light pole.

Chamorro Cultural Village is centrally located in Inarahan. It is well worth the $10 ($6 for residents) to take the tour.

Chamorro Cultural Village is centrally located in Inarahan. It is well worth the $10 ($6 for residents) to take the tour.

This old house was home for a family with 16 children. The addition on the back was added later and is still occupied.

This two room house was home to a family with 16 children. The addition on the back was added later and is still occupied.

140726 -- OldHouseSignDemonstrating the making of salt from sea water.

Demonstrating the making of salt from sea water.

Normally the boxes of salt would be sitting in the sun to dry, but not this day!

Normally the boxes of salt would be sitting in the sun to dry, but not this day!

Making quick work of husking a coconut.

Making quick work of husking a coconut.

Using the same husking tool to crack the coconut open by wacking it around the sides.

Using the same husking tool to crack the coconut open by whacking it around the sides.

Virginia drinks the coconut milk. The edges were amazingly straight considering how it was cracked open.

Virginia drinks the coconut milk. The edges were amazingly straight considering how it was cracked open.

This tool is used to remove the 'meat' from the coconut.

This tool is used to remove the ‘meat’ from the coconut.

140726 -- ScrapingCoconutShowing some of the products made for the coconut trees.

Showing some of the products made for the coconut trees.

Removing the fiber from the bark of wild hibiscus to make rope.

Removing the fiber from the bark of wild hibiscus to make rope.

Winding the strands of rope together.

Winding the strands of rope tightly together.

Striping pandanus leaves for making finer quality and longer lasting products.

Striping pandanus leaves for making finer quality, and longer lasting, products.

A community oven -- a baker did the baking as members of the community brought their meals to be cooked.

Community oven — a baker did the baking as members of the community brought their meals to be cooked.

These Chamorro buildings are made of bamboo and banana plants.

These Chamorro buildings are made of bamboo and banana plants.

Although rustic, the restrooms are very modern compared to the Chamorro's original facilities! The plants are pandanus palm.

Although rustic, we are sure these restrooms are very modern compared to the Chamorro’s original facilities!   The plants in the foreground are pandanus palm.

All that remains of this Baptist Church is the front.

Adjacent to the Chamorro Cultural Village are these Baptist Church ruins, supposedly built in 1925.   Now only the front wall remains.

The most I could find about the history of this church was at this website —

http://paleric.blogspot.com/2011/03/inarajan-baptist-church.html

Adjacent to the Baptist Church ruins is this statue of Chief Gadao.

Adjacent to the Baptist Church ruins is this statue depicting the legend of Chief Gadao.

For a readable copy of the poem engraved on the plague —

http://ns.gov.gu/gadao.html

For a summarized version of the legend —

http://chiefgadao.tripod.com/id1.html

On the way home we stopped by Talofofo Bay, about a fourth of the way up the west side of Guam:

A few surfers were enjoying the waves at Talofofo Bay.

A few surfers were enjoying the waves at Talofofo Bay.

Looking down on Talofofo Bay and the surfers

Looking down on Talofofo Bay and the surfers — can’t you see them?!

Looking towards the inlet to Talofofo Bay

Looking towards the inlet to Talofofo Bay

We passed Talofofo Cave returning home, but decided it was too wet to stop.  Passing through the village of Talofofo, we joined up with the Cross Island Road (Rt 17) to complete our day’s trek.