Andy and I took a vacation to Guam to celebrate our 5th year wedding anniversary. Our anniversary is actually in December, but with Christmas and the end of the year craziness, overtime, we started celebrating it in January. It is too confusing to figure out which date is our actual wedding anniversary anyway, since we officially married in the U.S. in November, and had our American wedding, then Japanese wedding in Japan and finally did official paper work in Japan in January. One downside of international marriage is that we have to do a lot of paperwork to keep both of our governments happy.
Anyway, sunny warm Guam weather was such a nice change to the gloomy cold weather in Japan. I was so happy to be able to wear tanks, bathing suits and dresses. No tights or coats! We stayed in the Hilton, and were really happy with our choice. The pool, private beach, gym,sauna and room servicres were all excellent (I sound like a Travelocity commercial). The breakfast was great too.
We stuffed ourselves with a big breakfast, played in the pool and on the beach. We walked around the island all day. Other people seemed to take buses from the hotel to different spots, but we prefered to walk. It is a small island anyway. You might laugh if I say one of the perks of going to Guam was to shop at K-mart!? But we stayed at K-mart for a good two hours, checking out good old American foods, underwear in right sizes (for Andy) and buying a ton of dental floss (I find flosses expensive in Japan!).
We also went scuba diving. It was stunning! It was as if you were swimming in an aquarium. I didn’t think the price was too bad, $55 each for one dive. This was the second time I have been diving. The first time, I panicked, but after the delivery, I don’t think anything really scares me anymore. 🙂
We were in Guam for two nights and three days. I’m proud to say that I wore self-made clothes during the entire trip. Looking back on 2011, I did not make much clothing for myself as I was busy making them for other people. I brought my white lace shorts, lizard skirt and white back cut out dress to wear and I felt so special in my clothes, these exist as unique one-of-a-kind items in this world that only I have 🙂 I will have to make more clothes for myself this upcoming year.
We left our baby with my parents during this trip. She’s stayed over night with them in the past, but only one night at a time, so naturally I was nervous. I called twice a day and kept looking at her pictures that are saved in my iphone. When I saw some small children at the pool, Andy and I talked about what Kiko would do in the pool and on the water slides etc.. We missed her very much, but at the same time we were happy to have some alone time. Also, for this trip we had to fly and plane rides with infants are terrible, as proven during our trip to Korea a few months back.
I look forward to taking family vacations with Kiko and more kids to come in the future – It will be so much fun. But, for the time being, Kiko still takes two naps (2.5 hrs in the morning and 1.5 hrs in the afternoon) a day and I don’t wish to sit in a hotel room while she naps…So she stays at home!
Ginger says
Looks like a lovely trip! Congrats on your anniversary!
Chie says
thank you!!
Vicki says
Wow – Jealous! We are snowy and -15C today in Montreal!
I had to laugh at your comment about fear of scuba diving: my sister is a birth assistant, and she always says, “Once you’ve had a baby, anything else that happens to you in life is just a minor discomfort”. 😉 It’s so true!
About traveling with baby: I don’t know exactly how Kiko did with the flight to Korea, but to be honest, flying with a baby is usually easiest between 0- walking; after that from about 1-3 years, they won’t stay on your lap, they try to run away, they kick and scream, they won’t nap….but they are too young to really understand what is going on. I travelled almost constantly with my kids until they were 1 year old, and even went to Cuba alone with my son at 6 months, but those toddler years are sooo stressful for travelling. I’m leaving in a few weeks for a business trip to Botswana and South Africa, and I’ve decided to take my son this time (6 years old), but my 2 year old daughter will have to stay behind, because I don’t want to subject her (and I and everyone else on the plane) to that!!!
Chie says
you travel a lot! i’ve never been to botswana or south africa. that sounds really exciting! i hope your travel with your son goes well. i dont know when kiko will go to the states to see her grandparents or great-grand parents..i’m just dreading the thought of traveling with her for 15 hours from japan!!
Lisa says
Enjoy your holiday. Guam looks really pretty.
Chie says
Thank you Lisa:)
kristin says
happy anniversary! kid-less vacations are really nice – we just did the same thing for our anniversary last weekend, but it was nowhere as wonderful as guam! that “no octopus taking” sign cracks me up 🙂
Chie says
I know! The octopus sign was really funny. They also had “no spear fishing” sign. I wonder who does that..
Mariana Takagui says
I want to go to Guam! I saw this place on a Brazilian magazine that circulates the Brazilian community here in Japan, Ota-shi where I live! Traveling with baby is not easy, I know when I came to Japan because my daughter was 1 year and 5 months … Travelling without our precious jewelry makes us uncomfortable but anyway we we have to have time alone with our husbands! I’m sure Kiko went very well with their parents!
Adventures in Dressmaking says
Wow, gorgeous pics! Looks like a beautiful trip! Impressive that you wore clothes you made the whole time. Congrats on 5 years of mariage, too!