A walk along the shoreline

Sometimes you have to look up to see the beauty around you!

And sometimes you have to take an unknown road...

or brave the ghosts of abandoned lives...

but then, the way opens, and you eyes can focus on the simple things in life...

and see the detail behind the beauty!

I crossed paths with this horse and buggy... the prince sitting comfortably in the back. I tried to get him to smile...

but she knew what she had done! Have you ever seen such a flat cat??

They were on their way to pick their breakfast. Tangerines anyone?

Here is a different kind of hedge

There are so many abandoned buildings around the island. Some are well kept, as though the ghosts of past families continue to live there...

while others are totally abandoned, left to be eaten by the jungle

Both rich and poor take time to create interesting garden architecture

Some are large, and some are small, but all are unique and interesting

Others have... other types of gardens

Here is the Upper Room church-- they came to sing Christmas songs with us!

The jungle is a gigantic monster, slowly eating anything dead or abandoned

But it is a colorful beast

with a coat of many colors...

I thought I heard the crashing of surf...?

Who says there are no waves on Tinian? You just have to go out past the breakwater! The waves were large, and had a perfect curl-- surfing anyone?

Can you find the abandoned building in the picture?

There are hidden structures all over the island of Tinian-- almost impossible to see or find, except by accident.

The men continue to work on the large barge near the dock.

The steel plates so heavy they need to use a crane to lift them into place!

A cross and monument mark the entrance to the port of Tinian.

They continue to dig a large hole in the middle of town, using a large jack-hammer to break-up the limestone.

They have dug up the existing road all the way down to the dock.

And continue working down the hill from the center of the village

Along this same road is a park called the Peace Gardens. On one side is the House of Taga, where the large taga stones are located, on the other side are peace memorials.

Beautiful palm trees surround the center of one memorial.

A circular site with a pyramid, and quotes from famous peace-makers.

There is also a stonehenge type monument

And then there are the grand natural monuments!

The jungle is relentless, covering anything and everything in its way!

This was once an entrance to someone's property...

And this, perhaps the doorway to their home...

leading up to the chimney on their roof?

Some trees look simple and plain from a distance...

but once you get up-close, the beauty can be clearly seen...

and even closer, becomes even more beautiful! Perhaps life is like that! It is only when we get to know things, up-close and personal, that they become clear, and the inner beauty can be seen.

Disneyland has nothing on Tinian!

Exclamation point!