F&B 911: Himawari

I'm sure most of you have all ready discovered the little grocery store in the heart of Garapan, in a location where people wouldn't notice at all. Himawari is actually not a new supermarket but it's just that it's just now that people have been talking about it. It surprised me to gather great reviews about the Japanese food and other stuff sold at the store.

The store sells very reasonable Japanese bentos, sushi, tempura, croquets and so many more. They even sell soup. One good thing about this shop is that you get to pick these by yourself. You can create your own bento. Very Japanese. They have breads too. You have a choice whether to take them out or eat your food inside the shop since they have tables and chairs as well installed inside the shop. You can ask them to heat your food as well if you want.

To top it all, the bentos, sushis and a lot more is 50-percent off from 6pm tp 9pm. Oh, that you have to verify, if it's really from 6pm. I bought mine after 9pm.

Photo shows what we bought today, spicy tuna sushi, onigiri, salad, cinnamon bread, cake, bacon epi bread, karage all for $14.50 only.

The Reveler

History: Cinco de Mayo

Parties! Parties! Parties!

That's tomorrow, Saturday, May 5. Parties to attend to: Porky's where Power99 and the Tarantula Girls will heat the night away, Club V Saipan Grand Hotel, Godfathers and Jonny's Bar.

A brief history of the Mexican tradition:

Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.

Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. With this war, Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850's. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a Civil War, had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.

The English, Spanish and French refused to allow president Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary. The Spanish and English eventually withdrew, but the French refused to leave. Their intention was to create an Empire in Mexico under Napoleon III. Some have argued that the true French occupation was a response to growing American power and to the Monroe Doctrine (America for the Americans). Napoleon III believed that if the United States was allowed to prosper indescriminantly, it would eventually become a power in and of itself.

In 1862, the French army began its advance. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French army in what came to be known as the "Batalla de Puebla" on the fifth of May.

In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be known as simply "5 de Mayo" and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810, nearly a fifty year difference. Over, the years Cinco de Mayo has become very commercialized and many people see this holiday as a time for fun and dance. Oddly enough, Cinco de Mayo has become more of Chicano holiday than a Mexican one. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.

The Reveler
History taken from: http://clnet.ucla.edu/cinco.html

F&B 911: Sabo Coffee and Tea Shop

Good news to coffee and tea addicts, this one-week old coffee and tea shop called Sabo is another great news to Saipan for having a real feel of coffee shop. Loved the interior. They even have umbrellas outside for a better coffee and tea experience. Well, great if there's no vog. Sabo is located at the heart of Garapan, along the Cpl Derence Jack Road adjacent Flex Colours Salon (Behind Winchell's).

This shop has huge potential for a great hangout among coffee and tea aficionados. They sell different kinds of tea, from rose to jasmine to chrysanthemums and so many others. The coffee they serve is a Seattle's Best coffee paired with cookies ($5) or with cheese cake ($7). Mind you they don't serve refills. Wi-Fi is coming out soon. No sandwiches yet and other heavier meals.

Accessories and ethnic jewelry from the Philippines are on display too...

Owners are Chinese and Japanese entrepreneurs.

The Reveler

Solicitation

i thought women in skimpy clothes 'solicit customers' only in garapan. i saw them in san antonio and chalan kanoa, too. talk about expanding the market. at one time, my friends and i tried to ask some of these women in garapan for their 'price'. my lady friend and i tried to hide at the back seat of the vehicle while our male friends tried to do the talking. but the women in sexy clothes had to really look inside the vehicle just to make sure, and saw us, so off she went. then a friend asked, maybe there's a code, like 'what time is it?' or 'how much is a can of soda' or something. we'll have to find out. while others who bragged about their night endeavors tried to give us figures, we thought it would be best if we get the numbers from the women. maybe i have to convince real men to do the talking next time.

Did you know?

…that the $2.3 million Wax Museum of Saipan, which officially opened on Nov. 17, 2006 on Ginger Street in Garapan, has only two real wax figures? (One’s the Frankenstein’s monster, which doesn’t have anything to do with the history of the Northern Marianas or the Chamorros, which is the theme of the museum). The rest are only wax coatings.







Photo by Weird Elle

Betel Nut on sale?

Just passed by this sign tonight that says "Betel Nut on Sale!"

Does this mean, this store is selling the betel nut on a lower price like buy four packs get 10 more free? Or it just says, that store is selling it?

The Reveler

Night club after night club

In January, the court sentenced the owners of Red Heart Massage and Mayi Club—located along Beach Road in Garapan—to three years of imprisonment, for bringing in young women to Saipan and force them to become prostitutes. But just a month or two later, the same spot where Red Heart Massage and Mayi Club once stood is alive again! This time, it’s called RAINBOW club (or bar). true to its name, this supposedly new business is more colorful than its predecessor.

The judge who presided over the Red Heart Massage case, Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo, revoked permanently the business license of Red Heart Massage owner, Edward Cabrera. I assume he’s not the owner of Rainbow, or is he?

“Prostitution is all over the place. When you’re in Garapan, you will see pimps and prostitutes, yet we have very, very strong and serious laws about prostitution. The government has to send a message to the community — that they know what’s going on and they will do everything to stop it,” local newspapers quoted Judge Govendo as saying.

If one night club or massage parlor closes due to prostitution or any other violations, only to have another to take over its place, it appears there really is a market for such type of business here on the small island of Saipan. And otherwise, you won’t see girls in skimpy or sexy clothes waiting for customers on street corners in Garapan.

For whatever reason, despite the government’s so called effort to curb prostitution or the appearance of it, there is still prostitution, (now cheaper, some say because of the economy) although we read in the papers that from time to time there are women arrested for ‘soliciting’.

(speaking of bad economy, I was told other women sell themselves NOW but customers would pay LATER--after the customers receive their salaries. this applies to customers who are working on saipan, whether as resident or guest worker)

Remember the Starlite Club in Garapan, which recruited minors from the Philippines to strip dance? That club’s right across a police station for years and yet the abuses were supposedly discovered ONLY last year. And it was not discovered by chance by any police officer, but only after the minors and other women ran away from their employers.

(to be continued…)

Relax, focus on the polite "thank you" note

You can find this in Garapan.


















Photo: Weird Elle

FBI's Doug rocks!

Being a music band's lead vocalist was a dream come true for FBI agent Doug Small--at least for a night--when he put on a show that rocked the patrons of the Godfather's Bar in Garapan Saturday night. At around 11:30 p.m., Doug appeared as Johnny Cash with a matching wig and, together with the Jerry Alcantara and the Gigolos band (whose members each received a shirt from Doug with the letters FBI for Female Body Inspector), entertained the crowd with his favorite songs, including "Free Bird" by Lynrd Skynrd. Free draft beer and pizza! It was Doug's farewell party. He's leaving Saipan for good for a more challenging assignment (I guess). The bar was filled with Doug's colleagues and friends. Thanks to a friend who asked me to attend the party, I had a night of fun. Good luck with your future endeavors Doug!