A diva's way to scuba dive...a yellow submarine

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So for those of you who have never heard of Saipan, or the Northern Mariana Islands, you will be happy to know that it is where I have been frolicking all day, but at 70 ft below sea level in a yellow submarine.

IT WAS AWESOME!!!

I volunteered to be another "tour escort" and got put on a submarine tour, I mean when else am I going to be able to go on a submarine (point one) and in Saipan (point two). So needless to say, I was very excited to get this tour. Saipan is beautiful!! The water was turquoise blue, similar to the water we saw in the South Pacific, and there are gorgeous green mountains in the background. During WW2, there were many battles fought here between the Japanese and American marines, and now it is part of the "United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. There is your history lesson. So basically, everyone spoke english and they also accept the U.S. dollar (I was starting to forget what it looked like).

Aside from the weather being on our side (a beautiful sunny day!), we were taken to the submarine and it was definitely one of the things I will never forget about this trip. We saw the most beautiful fish, coral, and even a shipwreck from a 1940s US marine vessel. I was in awe, it was so amazing. The best part is, I got to go down to the bottom of the ocean without even getting my hair wet. Now THAT, is a diva's way to scuba dive!

The last 2 days we were at sea, but before that we were in Madang, Papua New Guinea, which was an equally interesting day, but for totally different reasons. I escorted a "coastal villages" tour and got to go into a remote village in the rainforest to see the village life of these natives and a tribal dance. I couldn't believe the way that they lived. Small huts with no electricity, men with painted faces, topless women with grass skirts and beads, and this was their everyday life. No TVs, no computers, no Ipods, just content in their way of being. It really opened my eyes to the way so much of the world lives. The children were so cute, and the tour ended with a native dance. We all left from the tour with sort of an enlightened disposition, and it was nice to hear everyone talk about how lucky we are. Definitely not something you hear everyday on this ship.

Anyway, off we go...to Asia!! In 4 days time, I will be in Osaka, Japan! I can hardly wait for the amazing shopping in Asia that I have been hearing so much about from passengers. Everyone agrees that there is nothing in the world like shopping in Shanghai!! I am THERE!

Sending love from the other side of the world, literally!

xo,
Ashley

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