Tuesday 10 April 2012

Strange fusion of tri-athletes and WWII relics

You learn quickly on Saipan that you are surrounded by a high per-capita of athletes. Not just regular athletes, tri-athletes as in triathlons. This past month alone there were 2 international triathlons, the Xterra and the Tagaman. In between actual competitions, the athletes are always up for training sessions wherever they can squeeze one in. Swimming in the always calm western lagoon- protected by the reef a mile out- is a good place. In other parts of the world you'd measure how far you swam by a buoy. But that wouldn't be as interesting..

 Saipan is 3hr flight from Japan, who controlled the island and much of the region until shortly after Pearl Harbor and the U.S. waged its Pacific campaign against Japan. Battle of Saipan was a major one that saw 10s of thousands of lives lost on both sides. Relics of the war are found all over the island. Unexploded shells from planes and grenades are still found on a regular basis..

 Across the street from the courthouse in Susupe, visible from the beach, are 2 Japanese tanks in the shallow lagoon, sunk about 1/2 way with their barrels pointing at the island. Even though they are rusted out, sitting in a picture perfect lagoon, there's still something innate in you that says "run away!" when you look down a barrel of a tank. As I swam toward the tank the first time, I felt a bit courageous and foolish- like a OWS protester running directly at a police barricade. Not so to the residents of Saipan.

 Like scheduling a yoga class, there is a MWF 12pm "Around the tanks" 1.3km swim. There's even a home made promotional video to get a glimpse of all this action. Dont mind the 80s synth beats, they dont get too many live shows around here.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypA5NHnTfEU