After watching the movie “That Thing Called Tadhanda”, the question “Where do broken hearts go?” has been running in my mind a lot and Whitney’s heartfelt rendition gave the question a need to be answered immediately. If you are wanting to forget, there’s a place that’s just three and a half hours away from Manila that will make you enjoy your long weekends – Guam.
Located West of the Pacific, in the Mariana Islands, Guam is the closest United States destination from the Philippines, and is also home to thousands of fellow Filipinos. It is currently accessible via Philippine Airlines and United Airlines. Airfare can go as low as $280 round trip, or even lower if there are any airline promos, and there are tour packages available for $500. It may a US territory, but it will feel so much like home because the culture and the people are much like ours, and Guam is populated with a lot of Filipinos too.
What to do in Guam:
Experience the Chamorro Night Market every Wednesday nights at the Chamorro Village in Agana. Try out the Fish Eye Marine Observatory, an underwater observatory at the Piti Bomb Holes Preserve. Enjoy the Mediterranean sand and salt water at Gun Beach and Tumon Bay. Snorkel, scuba dive, swim, or just lay back and get a tan at Guam’s awesome beaches.
Enjoy the marvelous sights including the Latte Stone Park the famous Two Lovers Point, which believed to have been the witness of a tragic love story. At Two Lovers Point you can get a great view of the sea and you can also have photos taken or just scream and shout your heart out, just like what Mace did.
A neo-island experience is also in store for shopaholics with the island’s extensive line-up of luxury to budget shopping establishments for your much-needed retail therapy – all tax-free. If you’re shopping trip becomes too exhausting, you can also unwind at Guam’s luxury spa facilities for a rejuvenating mind and body experience.
The Tumon Bay area possesses many duty-free shopping outlets and boutiques catering to Japanese tourists. Among these are boutiques selling Bvlgari, Chanel, Cartier, Dior, Fendi, Ferragamo, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, and more.
There are many retail outlets in Guam, including Duty Free Shoppers which operates several stores in hotels, a large “Galleria,” and a store in the Guam Airport. Further, visitors to Guam will note some of the same shopping opportunities that exist in “the States.” Although there is no Wal-Mart, there is a large K-Mart that does a very high volume of business. Indeed, visitors who are used to the cavernous voids of K-Marts in the US may be surprised to find that they can barely squeeze through the aisles of the Guam K-Mart.
Beyond the island’s array of activities and tourist spots, Guam also holds annual events one of which is the Shop Guam Festival, which aims to further excite tourists with additional shopping discounts across the island, on top of Guam’s tax-free shopping perks. Sporting and Cultural events are also held annually such as the Guam International Marathon, Ko’ko’ Road Race, and the Guam Micronesia Island Fair.
To know more about the latest events and news in Guam, you may also visit the Guam Visitors Bureau’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/visitguamusa.
