issue

174

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011

Discover the primal thrill of geocaching

X MARKSTHE SPOT

Darelle Beria has looks to kill but inside she’s pure sugar

MINOR THREAT

Why it’s time to pursue and land

a high-paying, in-demand career

WORKING CLASS

HEROES

� / JUNE 2011

FEATURES

MDM, Issue #174 JUNE 2011 • Entire contents copyrighted 2011 by Glimpses of Guam, Inc. MDM is published monthly by Glimpses of Guam, Inc., 492 N. Marine Corps. Drive, Tamuning, Guam 96913. Telephone: (671) 649-0883, Fax: (671) 649-8883, Email: assist_editor@glimpsesofguam.com. All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.

MDM IS ONLINEFlip through our latest issues on your computer.www.mdmguam.com

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MINOR THREATDarelle Beria

BIKER’S DREAMHarley-Davidson

guam goes hollywoodPlanet Kyle

on the roadEvents and reader photos

stressFitness

working class heroesEducation

subaru foresterAuto

32 x marks the spotSports

publisherMaureen N. Maratita

AssisTANT eDiTOrJessica Peterson

JUNE2011

0� 26 32

repOrTerJennifer Naylor Gesick

prODuCTiON superVisOrNerita F. Enderes

seNiOr DesigN mANAgerMatt Wright

grAphiC DesigNerVikki Fong

sAles mANAgerAnnie San Nicolas

ACCOuNT mANAgerJoshua Mendiola

ADmiNisTrATiONJanice CastroJessica Leon GuerreroCarmelita McClellanBernard (Mr. B) Leonen

mANAgiNg DireCTOrMarcos Fong

CONTribuTOrsAllan CadawasCarmen RojasKyle MandapatTroy SagunRich OcampoIrwin Tumbucon

Esprit: Band leader jacket ($89), essentials by edc white tank top ($18).

Darelle beria has looks to kill but inside she’s pure sugar

By Jessica Peterson

Darelle Beria is striking. With glossy raven hair, bronze skin, and a lean and toned physique, it’s hard to believe the twenty-year-old is a wife and mother. The ultimate girl’s girl, Darelle loves to glam it up (she brought her own accessories and makeup to the shoot), but she’s also completely down to earth. Her voice is sticky sweet and ultra-feminine and her charm totally disarming. She chatted up the crew the entire shoot, going from intense pose to gushing about her two-year-old daughter with the kind of sentimentality a new mother naturally exudes. And the woman loves to model. Her enthusiasm and pure thrill at the opportunity to pose ren-dered the photographer and crew breathless. It’s not surprising that the 5’4” beauty describes herself as “sexy, fabulous, and adventurous.” Here’s what else the fierce model momma revealed.

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Esprit: essentials by edc purple tank top ($18), cropped leather jacket ($110), denim shorts ($59). Famous Footwear: suede boots ($30)

WhAT Are yOu pAssiONATe AbOuT? I love singing because it brings a better feeling to my life and it causes me to express my emotions. Cosmetology also makes me feel great about myself. I love knowing that I make other people feel happy and awesome about themselves.

NAme ONe TAleNT Or sOmeThiNg mOsT peOple DON’T kNOW AbOuT yOu.Some people don’t really know that I have a baby and that I am married! It surprises them for some reason, but I am blessed and fortunate to have them in my life. I have a beautiful daughter, Alexis

Malia Calceta Beria. My hus-band is 22 years old and my daughter is two years old, but I’m cherishing every second of it, because she’s growing amaz-ingly fast. My husband is in the Army and Alexis is just having fun being a little toddler. Ray is caring, loving, smart, sweet, family-oriented and attractive!

Although, the thing that caught my attention was how funny he was. If a guy can make me laugh, then that’s a sticking point and I’m so glad I found him! He didn’t try so hard, it all came out natural.

PhotograPhy:

troy Sagun, Je t’adore StudioS

art direction and Styling:

JeSSica PeterSon

aSSiSted by JameS daviS

and vikki Fong

hair and makeuP:

ray SantoS and erma riley oF

oceanS beauty & barber ShoP

motorcycle Provided by

guam harley-davidSon

hOW DiD yOu feel Dur-iNg yOur phOTO shOOT? I felt confident and comfort-able, without those two “C’s” to me the photos won’t turn out as great as you want them to be. However, I felt really sexy and energized. The clothes were great; the kind of clothes that I would want to keep after the shoot was over. The setting was perfect, and so adventurous! It was a lot different from all the shoots I’ve done before. Modeling on a bike was awesome! I’ve always thought of doing a bike shoot, but it never came through.

WhAT ADViCe WOulD yOu giVe yOuNg meN Or WOmeN sTruggliNg TO DeVelOp A pOsiTiVe bODy imAge?No matter what happens, re-gardless of whether you’re thin, meaty, or whatever you feel you are, just solve the problem and when you do, everything will be a lot better. After having my daughter, it was a struggle for me to get my teenage weight back. I always had a negative feeling about myself, thinking I won’t ever lose weight. Now, I feel so much better than before and happy that I don’t have the extra weight. To accom-plish that goal, I just had to do regular exercise. I had to do so much running and working out at the gym. Basically, develop a fit schedule to accomplish the goal and always be motivated and determined, so you won’t want to give up early.

JUNE 2011 / �

Esprit: black shift dress with hardware ($99).

Esprit: Band leader jacket ($89), essentials by edc white tank top ($18), denim skirt ($36).

Esprit: essentials by edc white tank top ($18), cropped vest ($21), zipper leather belt ($21), denim skirt ($36).

By Jennifer Naylor Gesick • Photos by Rich Ocampo

FEATURE

BIKER’S DREAMYou usually hear them long before you see them — a low roar from far away, the ground beneath your feet rumbling. And then there’s the distinctive biker appearance that never fails to capture the attention of wide-eyed passersby and idle onlookers sitting behind the wheel. Bikers are a special breed and many dream of days on the open road with the wind slapping their face and the smell of fresh air mixed with a little bit of gasoline. They all have their dream bike and for many, the name on that bike is Harley-Davidson. One such couple who loves to ride together on the week-ends are Mark F. Bato and Lorena Uncangco who bought their Harleys in 2009 and have customized their hogs to a biker’s dream. With gas prices steadily rising, more people are buying motorcycles and, let’s face it, they look a lot cooler than a scooter. Gone are the days of bikers having a reputation for being rough and rowdy. Today most biker “gangs” are groups that like to get together to ride and raise money and awareness in their communities for a variety of causes. Mark and Lorena, who goes by “Rena”, are members of the non-profit group Mariana Islands Chapter Harley Own-ers Group or H.O.G. They are associated with local dealer Guam Harley-Davidson. The group conducts fundraisers and donates to local and off-island charities and recently participated in the “Ride For A Cure” cancer awareness ride and in June they plan to hold a golf tournament to benefit Guam Special Olympics.

i kNOW geTTiNg A bike AND espeCiAlly A hArley is like jOiNiNg A speCiAl Club, WheN DiD yOu guys jOiN? AND Why?We joined back in July 2009 when we bought our first bike, the 2009 HD Softail Fatboy. We joined because we wanted not only to ride the bike, but also to help and be involved with the community of Guam. The Harley Owners Group is a non-profit organization that fundraises and contributes to the community both on Guam and off-island. Our commitment is helping others in need.

WhAT mAkes OWNiNg A hArley DiffereNT frOm OWNiNg ANy OTher mOTOrCyCle?Owning a Harley is much dif-ferent from owning any other motorcycle because with a Harley it turns many heads and you can hear a Harley from more than a mile away, especially if the baffles are re-moved from the exhaust. Also, Harley has its very own unique engineering and design. You can instantly identify a Harley just by the way it looks. When it comes to customizing your bike, there are just way more accessories for the Harley than for other motorcycles.

WhAT Are yOur fAVOriTe ThiNgs AbOuT riDiNg mOTOrCyCles, AND WhAT DreW yOu TO Them?One day Rena came home with a Harley Brochure and that was what did it. The following day I (Mark) went down to Harley-Davidson in Asan and started looking at the different stylesof Harley-Davidson Motor-cycles. I spoke to Bill Nielson, who is the President of Guam Harley-Davidson, and I inquired about the Guam Fatboy. He told me that the Fatboy is the top selling bike and I fell in love with the looks of the Fatboy. From then on, it was visit after

visit to Guam Harley and then finally giving it a try and inform-ing my fiancé Rena that we were getting the Harley Fatboy. The following week we were riding our bike. Our favorite thing about rid-ing our bikes is that our adrena-line is running and we very much enjoy the wind blowing in our faces, the sun shining down on us and evenings lit by the moon and the cold night winds. We also enjoy being part of a big group of bike riders who are experienced, great company, and all like family to us. We all take care of each other.

12 / JUNE 2011

WhAT ThiNgs DO yOu like mOsT AbOuT yOur bikes?The looks of our bikes are one of a kind and customized to our specifications, a “His & Hers” first ever of its kind modification. We are satisfied knowing that it is our sweat, time, and money in the many modifications on our bikes. Our bikes turn many, many heads when we ride. The awesome customized paint job and other customization to both bikes make them truly stand out from the many other bikes out there. They run very smooth.

WhAT Type Of gAs mile-Age DO yOu geT?The Fatboy gets 35 mpg and the Sportster gets 42 mpg.

WhAT Are yOur fAVOriTe physiCAl feATures AbOuT The bikes?On the Fatboy, I like the big mean look, sound of the roaring exhaust, flame cut accessories (literally), all the chrome added accessories, and customized wheels. On the Sportster, I like the stretched out look, modified rear end, sound of the roaring exhaust, all the chrome added accessories, and customized wheels.

DOes The sTyle AND CApAbiliTies Of The bike mirrOr yOur persONAliTy AND lifesTyle? Of course it mirrors both of us because we have customized it based on what we want it to look like and our specifications. We bought and ride our bike to cruise and have a smooth safe ride with our fellow riders, and with our Harleys we do just that. There are no bike stunts involved with our bikes or any rough riding. Our bikes are cruising bikes.

WhAT DO yOu like mOsT AbOuT hOW The bike per-fOrms ON The rOAD?It is a very smooth ride and you can barely feel any bumps. The bike is very easy to maneuver over potholes and bumps.

WOulD yOu CONsiDer buyiNg A NeW mODel hArley iN The fuTure?Of course, we are looking at the Harley-Davidson Scream-ing Eagle Streetglide to be our next bike.

JUNE 2011 / 13

JUNE 2011 / 1�

LORD OF THE RINGS 4: THE QUEST FOR THE SEVEN DAY BRACLETS

Hafa adai and what’s up to my peepsquad! First and foremost, I got to yell congratulations to everyone who graduated from anything last month! Shout-outs to the High School Class of 2011, the middle school promotees, the elementary school mover-uppers and the preschool kids who go to kindergarten next year. Hecks, even want to send out a shout-out to all the kids who received first Holy Communion and Confirma-tion — now you can be a pare’! Good job guys and remember, just because you reach the finish line in a race, doesn’t mean you can’t run another one. Now that that’s all out of the way, let’s talk business. Summer is here and that means that there are going to be a lot of movies coming out. If you haven’t noticed, this year there are an abundance of sequels being released; next summer will probably be the same. There was “Fast Five,” “Pirates of the Caribbean, Part IV” and so on and so on. Some of the movies that are going to come out next summer should be filmed here on Guam. What would be the plotlines? This is The planet kyle real life guide to movies hollywood should make on guam for Next summer’s sequel rush!

PLANETKYLE

guam goes hollywoodBy Kyle Mandapat

If you thought that the quest for the ring was out of this world, imagine when Master Frodo and the other shorter guys with hairy feet have to voyage from Inajaran to Yigo on foot in search of the most powerful jewelry in Middle, Upper, Lower and Regular Earth… The Seven Day Brace-lets of Mordorfficus. Frodo can find a girlfriend somewhere along the way and then the dra-ma really unfolds when he has to figure out whether he wants to give the Seven Day Bracelets to her or Sam.

Hopefully, these are some ideas that can be used by our friends in the movie-making circle of America. Heck, if they don’t like these script ideas then I have an awe-some concept for another Max Havoc film. That will do it for me this month, again have a great summer and be safe everyone. You can catch me on Facebook or on the radio every weekday morning from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. alongside Kai The Pinay in the Morning Blender on Guam’s Party Sta-tion — Power 98! Until next month see you guys on the radio, shooots!

TOY STORY 4: THE FLEA MARKET

That’s Entertainment: Flea Markets and Speedbumps

Secondly, everyone has seen the “Fast and Furious” guys do their thing on the best roads in the world. They drifted in Tokyo, heated up the highway in Miami, tore up the streets in Los Angeles and most recently, got crazy in Rio de Janeiro! They say that they are the best drivers in the world, and I beg to differ! Sure you can drive your low-rider 100 mph down an interstate and win a race, but can you do it down the tough roads of Guam?! Think about what it would be like if they were driving down one of our more potholed roads or, even better, wouldn’t it be

fun to see Toretto driving su-per fast and then slow-ing down to drive side-ways over a speed bump! That scene in alone would be reason enough for me to see it!

Imagine it, Woody and Buzz Lightyear thought they were going to live happily ever after with that one girl. They let down their guard and assume that things are going to be perfect for the rest of their lives, when out of the blue, the little girl’s father gets stationed at Andersen Air Force Base Guam (yes, her family is in the mili-tary). However, time has passed since she has moved to Guam and now she is getting stationed somewhere else. Her dad wants to get rid of some stuff and brings the whole Toy Story crew to the Dededo Flea Market! Can Buzz and the posse survive the newspaper sales-man, the stray dogs, the people who don’t drive well, and the ducks of the infamous “Lake Flea Market?” The soundtrack will be awesome because we can use the music that they play from that van and we can have a guest starring role for the Men and Joy Barbeque Team. Imagine it; Hollywood would eat that up!

FAST AND FURIOUS SIX: SPEED BUMPS

iConnect’s Corporate Sales team during AFCEA Marianas Technet 2011at the Hyatt Regency

KIJI’s Rich De Vera and guest at the opening of KFC Tamuning

on the road SPONSORED BY:

Old Kat School Party held April 30 at Club Xscape in Agana

UFC Live Sunday at Hooters on May 1 Photos by Allan Cadawas

iConnect’s Vince Saldua hams it up for the camera at iConnect’s Car Wash – a Relay For Life fundraiser.

Photos from iConnect

Photo from iConnect

Photo from iConnect

Photo from iConnect

20 / JUNE 2011

Congratulations to Joshua Mendiola and Rose Villagomez, who got engaged on May 15.

Spring Break Night at Denials on April 20

Kolohe Kai performs on Guam at the Guerrero Field on April 30.Photos by Irwin Tumbucon

Fourth Annual Honda Tech Meet at Guam International Raceway Park in Yigo on May 1

Photos by Irwin Tumbucon

GHRA Guam After Dark Bartending Competitionat Planet Hollywood on May 13Photos by Allan Cadawas

Photos by Allan Cadawas

Make It Rain Anniversary Party at Lush Night Club on April 29

Photos by Allan Cadawas

JUNE 2011 / 21

22 / JUNE 2011

FITNESS

DON’T STRESS THE SMALL STUFFBy Carmen Rojas

SPONSORED BY

We understand that stress is bad for the heart, but did you know that stress is hard on your waistline too? many do not understand the relationship between weight loss and stress. This relationship is based on hormones and habits and taking steps to reduce stress can lead to a healthier, happier you!

Just like there are different ways to acquire stress, there are many different ways to re-duce stress. Many people find that talking to a good friend is a good stress reliever. And if you and your buddy can combine that talk with a good brisk walk, all the better! Others find solace in prayer and meditation. One of my favorite stress relievers is good ol’ fashioned exercise. Nothing like hitting a punching bag after the boss tells you to work the weekend. Pumping some iron is a great way to burn some energy after an argument with your girlfriend or boyfriend. I like exercise because it is a prolonged de-stresser. First, the good hormones released with exercise make you feel better psy-chologically. Second, the calorie burn gets some of those extra calories moving. Third, knowing that I am doing something good for myself makes me feel good about myself. Try to avoid becoming stressed in the first place. Plan ahead, take time for yourself, and avoid stressful situations before they happen. Find your own way to reduce stress, and you will reduce your waistline too. Stress is the enemy, my friends. Reducing your stress level will help you lose weight, feel better, and be a happier person. Don’t stress the small stuff, and at the end of the day it’s all small.

When your body is in stress, it releases hormones such as cortisol to ready the body in case it is threatened. The problem is that the body tends to overreact a bit and will place all systems in “panic” mode. While in “panic” mode the body will not be interested in losing weight, and will in fact fight to keep weight on. Stress is a part of being human, and in infrequent occurrences it is not harmful. The problem is when people live in a state of stress. The body never comes out of panic mode and will constantly fight to keep weight on rather than shedding it.

Most people tend to get a serious case of the munchies when under stress. Food can release counter hormones to the cortisol and will make us feel better. All those chocolates, chips, and even alcohol, when combined with the harmful effects of hormones, build on the pounds in dra-matic fashion and make it very difficult to lose any weight. The stress also makes us ignore the amount and types of food we are eating. We tend to grab the first thing we see when we open the fridge, and that chocolate cake is pretty hard to miss.

The Role of Hormones BAD HABITS HOW TO REDUCE STRESS

While in “panic” mode the body will not be interested in losing weight, and will in fact fight to keep weight on.

http://www.subwaypacific.com

JUNE 2011 / 25

EDUCATION

There’s a scene in the ‘80s cult classic film, “Say Anything,” in which the protagonist, Lloyd Dobbler, is having dinner with his girlfriend’s stern father. Lloyd’s answer to the disapproving father about his post-high school career goes like this: “I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don’t want to do that… What I really want to do with my life — what I want to do for a living — is I want to be with your daughter. I’m good at it.” If you’re an unemployed twentysomething, listen up. It’s time to face the facts: the national debt is sky high, gas and food prices are on a runaway train, and discretionary spending isn’t bouncing back as econo-mists hoped. This is not the time to ride your parents’ financial coattails. It’s time to secure a career — better yet, a high-paying one — in a field with plenty of demand. With a median hourly rate of $12.45, Guam offers increasingly narrow prospects of living the American Dream or, for that matter, just surviving. The era of coasting into financial success or banking on family income is coming to an abrupt end. MDM looked into the numbers at Guam Community College and the University of Guam to see which fields are most popular among students. We compared those figures with Guam Department of Labor statis-tics about the highest paying jobs. Here’s what we found…

Working Class HeroesWhy it’s time to pursue and land a high-paying, in-demand career

By Jessica Peterson

Nearly 500 or 22.34% of GCC students were undeclared in a major in the fall 2009 semes-ter. This indicates that students often enter college without clear direction or may just may be “showing up” to appease parents.

Others are hitching a free ride on a scholarship, albeit without the intention of graduating or the passion to succeed. This post-millennial economic freefall is no time to be an undecided slack-er and college is an expensive place to falter. It’s often better to choose a major and adjust later if absolutely necessary. Students who stick with their majors are

more likely to commit to careers later on. It’s still important to like what you’re doing. At the same time, if you’re not earning enough to do it, you’re not going to love it for very long. As a three-year trend, women

are more likely to complete their degree (541 females versus 474 males). However, more women are generally enrolled. In the 25 and under age range, 751 females versus 577 males enrolled at GCC. Overall, criminal justice majors are the most successful in completing a degree with early childhood education a second favorite among completers.

Although associates programs such as criminal justice are quite popular, there were only 250 legal occupation professionals on Guam according to 2009 data. So what may seem like an edgy, glamorous job could lead to

trouble finding a position on an island with relatively low crime. CSI may translate into “Can’t Support It.” Opt instead for a ca-reer with plenty of positions and relatively few skilled employees.

Guam Community College Enrollment

It’s time to face the facts: the national debt is sky high, gas and food prices are on a runaway train, and discretionary spending isn’t bouncing back as economists hoped.

$54,160

Dentists

$129,740

Top Paying Jobs on Guam

Family & GeneralPractitioners

$167,310

Physicians &Surgeons

$174,720

Lawyers

$91,320

Education Administrators,Elementary & Secondary School

$63,520

Civil Engineers

$58,040

FinancialManagers Computer &

InformationSystemsManagers

$53,410

Top GCC Majors in Fall 2009

2,220 registered students

Top UOG Majors Among Graduate Students in Fall 2009

At the University of Guam, there were 272 graduate students of the 3,550 total students in 2009-2010. Tuition and fees average $5,566 per full-time student in fiscal year 2009.

JUNE 2011 / 27

Scholarship program benefits GCC student

By Jayne Flores

Franchesca Alvarez, a soph-omore at Guam Community College, has been accepted as a summer intern in the Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in the Biological Sciences (URM) program at University of Hawaii at Manoa. The program seeks students from Hawaii, Guam, Com-monwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, and American Samoa to increase the num-ber of people from underrep-resented minority groups in the biological sciences. During the ten-week pro-gram, Alvarez and the other interns accepted will receive training in current methods of research in environmental biol-ogy, and develop and pursue their own projects under the guidance of a scientist men-tor. Areas of study include coral reef biology, marine and terrestrial invertebrates, and marine and terrestrial ecology and conservation. The interns also receive airfare, a stipend, dormitory housing, and $500 to fund their project. “I think this program will aid in guiding me towards my decision as far as pursuing a science degree and em-bracing it for a career,” said Alvarez. “This program will put me right out in the field, which will give me an ability to apply myself and see first hand how things are done… Also, I want to empower the students of GCC to take up opportunities that are available to them so that they too can bring more resources back to Guam,” Alvarez said.

SUBARU FORESTER

AUTO

By Jennifer Naylor GesickPhotos by Rich Ocampo

With industry awards and accolades as well as glowing owner reviews, the 2011 Subaru For-ester is a cool compact SUV. Starting at $20,495, it combines the practical with comfort, fun, and a sense of adventure. The Forester was named a Top Safety Pick for 2011 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, winning for good performance in all crash tests for front, side, rollover, and rear, as well as standard electronic stability control. The Forester also won the Best Compact Utility 2011 Residual Value Award by ALG, meaning it holds its value better that any other in the category. Its sleek look and reasonable price tag works for new car owners, and families will love the top safety pick and multiple storage features. It is a great balance of utility vehicle and fuel efficiency, which is always a plus as the price of gas creeps ever higher. With the large rear hatch and cargo space with under-floor storage, you can carry everything you need. Combine that with the symmetrical all-wheel drive that keeps the Forester stabile and agile, and you will enjoy weekend trips to the beach, running around town shopping, or cruising Tumon. Music lovers go gaga for the optional sound package and enjoy belting out the tunes with a six- or seven-speaker system with Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a USB port with iPod control capability.

28 / JUNE 2011

Yigo resident and Subaru car club member, Dominic Buniel, shares some of the things he loves about his spark silver metallic 2010 Subaru Forester XT Premium with special features and customizations that include a turbocharged AWD, panoramic sunroof, JDM front underspoiler. and STI marque plate.

What do you like most about the forester? The turbocharged engine from the WRX line. With that being said, it means I can easily upgrade the performance (Invidia Q300 Catback exhaust with a COBB Downpipe & AccessPORT) and handling because most of the aftermarket upgrades can go onto the XT from the WRX.

What type of gas mileage do you get? I get 26 mpg in Guam’s stop-and-go traffic. Based on Guam’s gas prices now, I use about $30 of premium from Monday to Saturday.

What are your favorite physical features about the car? The JDM front underspoiler and functional hoodscoop, and especially the panoramic sunroof.

Does the style and on-road capability of the car mirror your personality and lifestyle? I like presenting myself in a certain kind of demeanor and distinctive style and I feel this car mirrors that. It’s classy, purposeful, and confident with a touch of adventure!

What do you like most about how the forester performs on the road?It’s a four-banger that pushes 240 hp and doesn’t eat too much gas!

Would you consider buying a new model forester in the future? Yes, or another crossover from Subaru, but I’m looking forward to the new Subaru coupe.

http://www.cokeguam.com

3� / JUNE 2011

By Jennifer Naylor Gesick • Photos by Vikki Fong

SPORTS

A treasure hunting adventure where X marks the spot on your electronic map guiding you in real time to the booty using satel-lite signals from outer space. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but geocaching will have you will feeling like a kid again and kids will love it too! Geocaching is a perpetual game of hide and seek where the primal thrill of the hunt takes over and before you know it, you’re breathless and have walked for miles. While you won’t find any chests filled with gold coins or jewels, what you gain is just as valuable. Geocaching com-bines exercise, sightseeing, education, socialization, and a sense of accomplishment. The activity is popular all over the world with more than 1.3 million caches as far reaching as Antarctica, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Geocachers hide various boxes or containers with a book for finders to sign and some-times trinkets inside; and then they mark the spot’s exact GPS coordinates. They post the hidden treasure online, and then others set out to find it. But, just because you have the coordinates doesn’t mean the container will be clearly visible. They are all hidden and sometimes you have to solve a puzzle to get the final clues. If you are an avid hiker, geocaching adds a whole new level to boonie stomping. “We go boonie stomping with a purpose,” said one of Guam’s top geocach-ers, Bill Davis, also known by his

geonick Blygoat, when some of the MDM crew met up with a few of Guam’s leading Geocachers to learn about this interesting activ-ity and how to get started. Blygoat (pronounced billy goat) explained it very well. First, go to geocaching.com and create a free account. You will then need a GPS device, but you may not have to buy one if you have a Blackberry, iPhone or

other smart phone. If you use your phone, first download a geocaching app. Some are free and others cost up to $20. Blygoat said he and his wife Wanda, a.k.a Wandafoh, have seen more of the island in the last four years goecaching than in all their previous 20 years on Guam. He said some of the beautiful wa-terfalls and amazing places they have hiked gave them a whole new outlook on life as well as a slimmer physique. Blygoat started in 2007 when his brother introduced him to the sport on a visit to Hawaii. “I blame it all on him,” he chuckled. “I came back to Guam, bought a GPS and my wife and I went to the first one. We kind of stumbled through it, but after we found our

very first find, we were hooked.” BirdieMoms, whose real name is Jackie Egland, was one of the first geocachers on island. She said in 2006 when she first started coming to Guam there were only 19 caches while today there are more than 650 active caches wait-ing for adventure seekers to find. Birdiemoms said she has gained mental dexterity as a bonus from geocaching, “I have learned how to think outside the box,” she said. She also said it is a good and inexpensive family activity. “You can get a good GPS for about $100 and go out as a family.” When we all met and I went on my first hunt on a sunny afternoon, we found four caches just in the vicinity of the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa. The cache called Devil’s Punchbowl Re-turns, was a unique surprise just over the hill in front of the hotel. I was shocked to find so much nature in a relatively urbanized area of Guam. Ypao Beach Park is Guam’s most popular and most discovered cache. Find it at N 13° 30.168 E 144° 47.20. All caches have a name, description, and sometimes ad-ditional hints are posted online. Though Ypao Beach Park is popular, it was the trickiest for this newbie to find. The cach-ers won’t allow me to tell you where it is for fear of it being “muggled,” or plundered by a non-geocacher, but I can tell you we found ourselves between a rock and a hard place.

Marks the Spotwith GeocachingX

To get started• Go to Geocaching.com and create a free profile• Use a GPS device or GPS-enabled smartphone• Look up caches near you online, and plug them into your device• Get out and start your adventure!

Some essential items to carry with you• Pen or pencil (to sign the log)• Gloves• Swag (items for trade)• Plastic bag for picking up trash• Extra batteries• Water/snacks

Rules of Geocaching• Sign the logbook inside the cache• If you take a trade item from the cache, replace it with an object of similar value• Replace the cache exactly or better than you found it • Log your visit on www.geocaching.com.

The activity is popular all over the world with more than 1.3 million caches as far reaching as Antarctica, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

JUNE 2011 / 35