Challenge of Travel Blog Hop
HAFA ADAI *~ Greetings from GUAM, USA
Hello Fellow "Challenge of Travel" Blog Hoppers.
Welcome to my little corner of Oceania...Guam.
When I signed up to participate in Erin & Marcie's blog hop I knew I couldn't leave my choice to chance when I had such a wealth of inspiration at my fingertips.
As a Navy family we have the lucky chance to travel all over the world. Five years ago our family packed up and moved to the middle of the Pacific Ocean for a fabulous adventure.
As I was thinking about inspiration for my piece I realized there is more to say about this place than I can put in one blog post. So I will sum it up into two broad adjectives.
COLOR & WARMTH
Color~ Well, if you glance at the pictures below you have a feast of color. Purples, reds, oranges and pinks. Rich deep greens and the more shades of blue and turquoise than you can imagine.
Warmth~ not just of the tropical climate but of the people living there. The native Chammoro's are incredibly hospitable and the other military families there became our family too.
A quick discussion about the collage pictures and why I chose them to represent my Guam.
Top Row (2-5) Spectacular Ocean views
6. Blue Sea Star Fish
7. LATTE Stone, 4 of these would form the footings of an ancient Chamorro dwelling. They are an iconic symbol on the island.
8. Chicken Kelaguen~ a native dish found at every gathering
9. Handmade Blue Sea Star Greeting cards, the beginnings of my TTE DESIGNS.
10. Chicken fights are common & legal but this sign should be against the law! LOL
11. Brown Tree Snake, everyone asks about them, this is the only live one I ever saw.
12-13. Hibiscus and Plumeria along with wild orchids and bougainvillea grew all over my yard.
14-17. Without a doubt the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in my life!
(*Pronounced --- HAAF-A-DAY)
Without further ado here is my inspiration piece. This was tough, I reworked it several times. WIth so much inspiration & so many things to incorporate I was afraid it would take on a tacky quality so I edited & re-edited until it became quire simple and rustic.
I feel like I left out so many beautiful things, but really how can
one necklace encompass an entire territory?
One final funny anecdote. When we first arrived on island I saw these signs all over the place. TUBA?? What on earth is that? Guam must have one heck of a marching band.A few weeks later I had the opportunity to taste TUBA. That's right, it's the 'white lightening' of Guam, made from the nectar of the coconut palm tree.
If you want to learn more about this little paradise check out the following:
Official information http://www.guam.gov
Visitors Guide http://www.visitguam.org/
History http://www.guam.gov/?pg=guam_history_culture
Thanks to Erin & Marcie for hosting.
I thank you for taking the time to stop by today, it means a lot to me.
If you would consider becoming a TTE DESIGNS blog follower I would appreciate it very much.
Warmest Regards,
Tammie
Be sure to finish your around the world hop with the friends listed below:
Warmest Regards,
Tammie
Be sure to finish your around the world hop with the friends listed below:
Thanks Tammie. Sometimes I forget all the really spectacular parts of Guam. I have to find my pictures!! I recently blew up 3 on canvas for the house. They look great next to my glass containers of shells. Good times. Hafa Adai
ReplyDeleteLovely necklace... silmilar colours to my New Zealand one but you made figuratvie elements rather than just colour! Is Tuba any good?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your photos and memories. Your design is very playful. Looks like you enjoyed your time on the island.
ReplyDeleteTammie, previously I had an unfortunate association of Guam with WWII. Thankfully, after giggling through your very entertaining post, I will now remember sunsets, blue sea stars, tuba (woo-hoo!) and of course "cocks 4 sale"! I love your amazing necklace, with just the right balance of elements, for a remarkable remembrance of a lovely island!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by my blog, as well!
I wondered when I saw Guam on the list is the person - you - would have a personal connection. One doesnt think of Guam as "all that" but you have surely informed me on the topic. Stunning pictures, and a fun eclectic necklace that sums it all up.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and playful piece.. great job.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun necklace. I love how everything on it represents a wonderful part of Guam. I love how the blues and greens work with the calmer brown and white. I know you will love wearing it.
ReplyDeleteYour necklace does capture the essence of Guam so well, the various components speak of a special place your family lived in. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThe picture you shared that struck me the most is the sunsets! There is something about a tropical sunset that cannot be matched anywhere else in the world! Thanks for sharing your personal photos, and your necklace design is perfectly executed to reflect your inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute. Your affection for this country is so evident and your creation is so inspiring. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience of the beauty of this land and its people! Your necklace really reflects the various aspects of Guam you speak of. I think it turned out to be just delightful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour and info on your trip! Your necklace is so pretty and looks fun to wear;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a funny necklace! great!
ReplyDeleteI love your necklace! You really captured your memories there I think, and I suspect you'll treasure this piece.
ReplyDeleteHi Tammie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful trip to Guam. This was a place that I wished my Dad had been transfered to when he was in the Air Force back when I was a child. I love your necklace and that you touched on the different aspects of the beautiful Island of Guam.
Therese
When I saw Guam on the list of Erin's participants, I came to your blog first. I was raised on Guam (1958-1970, 1973-1978; no, not military). We moved there when I was two. Gorgeous pictures of the sunsets and the beaches. So beautiful, which I had forgotten. I miss red rice! I'm hoping to go back in 2014 for a high school reunion. Great job on the necklace (I have that same Guam charm) and lovely representation.
ReplyDeleteAwesome job Tammie! I enjoyed your memories and wonderful pictures, certainly the personal experience gives a special warmth to them and the end result. I really like how you incorporated the shell as the focal especially.
ReplyDeleteTammie I love that piece. You put so many things that represent your expeience there and your memories, yet it remains simplistic and rustic and oh so pretty! Everything comes together with a wonderful synchronicity.
ReplyDeleteNot being very familiar with Guam, I appreciated your photos and descriptions. Your necklace looks like a scrapbook page come to life. Thanks for sharing your memories with us.
ReplyDeleteTammie, I squeaked with joy when I saw someone had chosen Guam! My dad was in the Navy and we were stationed there in 1995 for about ten months (was supposed to be two years, but the ship was decommissioned early). It was an incredible experience and I feel like I just relived it! We had beef kelaguen instead of chicken, but that's because I'm allergic lol. The sunsets there were so amazing and I loved walking all over and seeing so much history. Beautiful, beautiful place :) And your necklace is just gorgeous! Thank you for this trip down memory lane!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, what an incredible adventure you and your family had! Your pictures are amazing, as I'm sure, are the memories you made there. Your necklace is amazing and just a perfect piece for this challenge. (Love that bit of sea glass...)
ReplyDeleteI never though of Guam as a place I wanted to visit, but you have shown us otherwise. I love the beautiful necklace you made. It's a perfect representation of a lovely place.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Sweet Tuba! That is a funny story, Miss Tammie! I am so glad you chose to come along for the ride and I really enjoyed learning about Guam from your first hand account! Those pictures are lovely, and I like to learn about the things that make a country special. It is so much more than just pretty sunsets! Your necklace is like a wonderful living souvenir of your time spent there and is so very meaningful. Thank you for joining me on the journey around the world, Miss Tammie! Enjoy the day. Erin
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Alice, I would never have thought to visit Guam, but you were so lucky and thank you for showing us what it's like! It's a wonderful interpretation of the country you chose!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun necklace! I LOVED all your pictures, and wish I was there with you too :)
ReplyDelete