Rota, Northern Mariana Islands
Rota is a small island just to the north of Guam. It is in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, so even though the flight from Guam took only 30 minutes in a commuter plane, it was another frontier to cross.
It is perhaps the only place I have been to where all other drivers waved when driving past. I only stayed in Rota overnight, but I wish that I had been able to stay longer, and enjoy relaxing there a bit more.
Rota was home to only about 2,500 people. The largest village is called Songsong, located on a narrow isthmus between the main island and Wedding Cake Mountain (named for its tired shape). There is snorkelling, white beaches, World War Two relics, rugged coastal and jungle scenery, and ancient monuments and artefacts.
Most impressive are latte stones, which are a symbol of the Mariana Islands. The ancient Chamorro people built these for an unknown purpose. It is likely that they were used as foundation stones for structures – the higher the stone, the more important the owner. One site to visit is a quarry of partially dug out latte stones.
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