Marpi Cleanup

This morning Isa CNMI and other Beautify CNMI volunteers cleaned up several of the Japanese memorials in Marpi with MVA, some of the Japanese tour companies, and over 200 Japanese tourists. Go us!

Thanks, Jayvee

From this week's Saipan Tribune editorial:

I love the way the Beautify CNMI! approached the problem of robberies in Marpi. Knowing that the criminals' modus operandi involved hiding within the surrounding shrubberies and trees, Beautify CNMI!, together with other government agencies, cleared the jungle of undergrowth, cut off the lower branches of trees, and pushed back the edge of the forest from the parking lots, putting a bigger space between the criminals and their potential victims. The criminals now have fewer places to hide and have a longer distance to run for cover. Simple yet effective. Since that time, there have been no reports of further robberies in the area.

Just to clarify, the thinning of the trees up at Suicide Cliff was coordinated by Beautify CNMI! partners Marianas Visitors Authority, Department of Natural Lands & Resources, and Department of Public Safety.

Laderan Banadero

The Chamorro name for Suicide Cliff is Laderan Banadero. It is on the north end of Saipan. There are two ways to get to the top: you can drive your way to the top or you can hike from the Last Command Post. 99.9% of the people that visit Laderan Banadero drive to the top. Only the adventurous attempt the hike...or the people that are told about it. Most people don't even know that there is a trail.

The Laderan Banadero Trail stretches from right behind the Korean Peace Memorial on the bottom to the top of the cliff. You can start at either the top or the bottom and you can make a round trip or have someone pick you up on the other side.

Depending on how fast you hike, it will take you between 30-45 minutes each way. It is a little steep at times, but the trail is short enough that a round trip hike won't kill you.

Although rare, you will occasionally come across a mangrove monitor lizard or a coconut crab. You can expect to see most of Saipan's forest bird species and once on top of the cliff, you can expect to see seabirds flying below you.

You walk through several different ecosystems. The top of the cliff is a tangan tangan forest. During the dry season it looks almost dead, but during the green season it is lush.

The flora in the center part of the trail is much more diverse. There are some beautiful banyan trees and coral trees along the trail as well as ferns, orchids, vines, and lianas.

The trail is very rough and there are a lot of sharp rocks. Long pants and hiking shoes are a good idea. You should bring plenty of water, too.

First Flame Tree Blossoms of 2007

One of the Flame Trees on top of Suicide Cliff is already putting out flame red blossoms. Doesn't the tree know that it is several months too early?

I also found this guy, Varanus indicus, on top of the cliff:

It was the closest I have been to a Mangrove Monitor Lizard on Saipan.