Wednesday, June 26, 2012
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HAFA ADAI FROM PARADISE


I know I know, I haven't posted for awhile.  Been very busy getting Audra moved off the island, doing craft projects for the kids Bible Camp (I do go to church on a regular basis here believe it or not.  Audra's friend introduced her to a cool church where nobody is in charge and everyone has a say.  I love it and the people are very welcoming and make you feel like family), getting her car fixed up, and, of course, snorkeling:)  I promise this blog post will not be about snorkeling.........I will cover my latest experience with that next post when I get my new pics developed.


I stated a while ago on Facebook that I would show you all some of the markets here on the island.....well the west side of the island.  I will have to go take more pics of the ones on the other side.  


Most of them are either Japanese owned or Chinese owned and quite a site to see at night.  They are relatively small, although there are some big ones (but none as big as our regular grocery stores back home).  I love going into them and looking at all the foreign stuff.  The packaging is all in Chinese/Japanese so it is difficult to figure out exactly what you are looking at.

Let's start with The NEW XO market.  It is on Middle Road and sits across the street from H-Mart which had a big fire in it last month.  XO Market is big compared to the other markets here and has a variety of stuff in it.  Most of the meat is frozen since it is imported and looks really funky looking in all the stores.  But once you thaw it it looks normal.  I love how this is called the NEW XO Market because I don't think there was an old XO Market.

The next market is called "Happy Market.  I haven't been in this one yet but will go in it soon.  It is right in the down town area of Garapan and is pretty small.  In fact, you can only use ONE food stamp when you shop there according to the sign:)  This has been an on going joke between Audra and I ever since we first got her because all the stores accept FOOD STAMP only, NOT FOOD STAMPS (according to Audra the Asian language does not think in terms of plural like we do when they write so everything that is supposed to be plural to us isn't).

I shop on a regular basis at Twins Market (the other one is on the South side of the island and they look alike).  I stop there every day to buy the island newspaper so I can keep up on all the goings on here.  This past weekend they had the worst car accident since 2008.  Three brothers ran off the road that goes up the mountain and over it to the south side of the island and all three of them died.  The road is paved and in fairly good condition.  It was 11AM too.  I don't know their ages or if alcohol was involved but the cab of the truck was totally smashed down.  It hit a make-shift garage when it went off the road.  Any way, getting back to Twins Market, it is Chinese owned and the cashier doesn't speak English but she knows me so always has my paper ready.  All of the Chinese Markets have the paper lanterns hanging out front and the good luck Hello Kitty inside by the register:)  Twins has a very fascinating selection of various types of Bettlenut for sale too.  It is perfectly legal, a nut from a local plant and is kind of like speed.  I so want to try it but it turns your teeth a very ugly red so I guess that's a good thing to keep me from trying it:)  Cracks me up they have signs posted all over about driving sober but it's ok to chew Bettlenut:)

I found another market that opened up since I was here last time called The Green Consume II.  I think it's supposed to say Consummer but I guess they get the point across.  I haven't been in this one yet but it does look interesting.  I will have to go investigate and see how "green" it actually is.

Now for my very favorite finds that just opened up.......the "PRETTY" line of stores.  There is Pretty Market that is very pretty lit up at night.  Audra and I went in there looking for Doritos one day but discovered it is not a place to get American food, only Asian.  It is very nice inside and clean.  The best part is they have two funky kiddie rides out front I am dying to go on.  One is a good luck Kitty and plays a weird little Chinese song.  I haven't had the guts to hop on it yet but one of these days........  Audra wouldn't let me do it when she was here but now that she's outta here anything goes!

Then, to my surprise, as I was driving down Beach Road past McDonalds in Garapan what do I see but "PRETTY TOURS".  It is lit up just like the other Pretty store.  The store was open when I jumped out of my car to take the picture and I think they were sad when I hopped back in my car and took off:)

The last picture is Saipan's version of WalMart.  It is called Dolphin and has stuff in it like most of our 99 cent stores have in them.  It is always fun going shopping there and looking at all the retro stuff like "Dippity Do" hair gel.  I hadn't seen that for ages.








So that is your tour of a few of the markets I have found here.  This sampling is less than one tenth of all the markets that are on the island.....they are everywhere!  I don't know how they all manage to stay open but they do.  Next time I'll take you on a tour of the vegetable stands.....they are a trip too and plentiful.  A lot of them are operated by the Chinese as well and the veggies are imported from there.  The locals sell their fruit and veggies along the roadside down on Beach Road.


I will end with a picture of one of the daily sunsets.  Every night there is a show as the sun is setting.  I sit out on the balcony and enjoy it.  Gotta love island life!  I am definitely a convert!

Hope you all are enjoying what is left of June.  I only have about six weeks left in Paradise and my heart is getting heavy.  It will be very sad when I have to leave:(


Keep the faith and be nice to one and other!