Fall 2009

Beating The Odds

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 17:00:04 +1000

Every now and then, life throws you a pickle and you have the choice whether to give up or face the challenge. For three individuals, the latter was the only choice. Whether it’s something small or life changing, overcoming challenges to become a better, stronger person is part of what makes us human. If you ever come across a challenge and feel like giving up, hopefully these people will inspire you to continue the fight, even if it seems like an impossible task.

[Jason Lee Iglesias Cruz]
After graduating from high school, many people are busy preparing for college — buying textbooks, moving into dorms, making new friends. While many of Jason Lee Iglesias Cruz’s friends were doing just that, he was fighting for his life.

Up until he was 18, Cruz was just like any other teenage boy, with dreams of doing big things with his life. “I’ve been playing [football] since I was 8 years old,” he says. “I [wanted] to play for the Miami Dolphins.” Cruz played football all through high school, while attending Father Duenas Memorial School and was on his way to play for the University of California at Los Angeles. However, on Aug. 21, 1991, he became sick and fell into a coma.

It wasn’t until nine days later that the doctors diagnosed his disease. Cruz suffers from the genetic disease systemic lupus erythematous — an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the body’s cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage.

During the nine days he was in the coma, doctors told Cruz’s family that if he did ever come out of the coma, he wouldn’t be the same, and would be a “vegetable,” he says. “But when I came out of the coma, I was talking. The doctors had no explanation for it.”

But coming out of the coma was only half the battle. The lupus left Cruz blind and paralyzed. Cruz says, “I was mumbling words because I was so weak. They had to brace me up with a strap, because I couldn’t even hold my own weight up. Basically, I had to learn life all over again.”

After a few months of rehabilitation, Cruz finally returned to Guam, but adjusting to being blind and having to walk with crutches was difficult for him. “It was hard because I was scared to cut myself. I was afraid I would fall and not be able to get up again.” Cruz spent the next two years of his life at home, depressed. “I didn’t want to live anymore,” he says.

“All I wanted to do at home was eat, eat, eat and isolate myself from everybody because I was so ashamed,” he says. Over those two years, Cruz ballooned to 300 pounds. It wasn’t until his doctor told him that he needed to do something about his weight or he could die that he stopped his downard spiral. “I really snapped out of it. Here I am wishing to die and then all of a sudden I didn’t want to die. Not that way.”

From that day on, Cruz started exercising again with whatever equipment he had at home. In one year, he lost 100 pounds. He eventually got the courage to get his life back together, go back to school and become a teacher. He also put exercising back in his daily routine.

Today, Cruz is a teacher at Simon Sanchez High School and is working on his master’s degree to become a counselor and pass on the lessons he’s learned through his ordeal. “Don’t give up. ... You have to fight,” he says. “If I put my mind to certain things, if I really think about it, then I know I’m going to do it,” he adds. He hopes to influence others to do the same.

[Joy James]
One of the island’s most recognizable faces, Joy James, has been on television, competed in beauty pagents and modeled, but while James may be living the life that many little girls dream of, it was a tough journey to get to where she is today.

As a child, James described herself as an awkward and unpopular girl who was always picked on in school. “I had such a hard time with the girls and boys at school. I could never understand them and why they were so mean,” she says.

James attended first through fourth grade in a small Christian school. She said those years were fun but in the fifth grade, things changed when she moved to a public elementary school. “I had a rude awakening about the real world,” she says. “I was so ugly. My appearance was so awkward and the fact that we didn’t have much money didn’t help my wardrobe much.”

She adds, “I was so skinny and lanky and totally underdeveloped. I had horrible teeth and big purple glasses.” James says school was anything but easy for her. “It was challenging and really hard for me to understand at the time.” However, James says the experience made her stronger and made her aware of others and their feelings.

When James turned 16, she says she started to change. “I finally got contact lenses and tweezed my bushy eyebrows and had a better understanding of clothes and makeup,” she says. “But, it was definitely a slow process, because my body was still pretty young. All the girls around me were making out with their boyfriends or having sex and I had no idea what sex was. So [even though] I started growing out of it, the awkwardness was still very much there and prevalent in my life.”

After graduating from high school, James dreamed of becoming a star and performing in front of thousands of people, but didn’t tell anyone because she didn’t think she would be able to do it. “I knew I could sing and I was tall and a lot people encouraged me, [saying] that I could be Miss Guam or be a model, but when I looked in the mirror, I remembered being teased.”

Although she lacked confidence, her faith gave her the courage to pursue her dreams. Years later, James has the following list of accomplishments under her belt: TV show host, Miss Guam Tourism, billboard and magazine model, commercial actress and singer.

James hopes that other girls can learn from her experience and have the courage to follow their dreams as well. “Take it one day at a time and find something in it that you can hold onto. Whether it’s a friend or a class or a sport ... just get saturated in it to pass the time and just let life come.”

[Troy Williams]
If you’ve lived on Guam for a while, then you’ve probably seen the blond-haired Troy Williams on The Visitors Channel promoting what the island has to offer our Japanese guests. While you may know him through television, you probably don’t know about the hard road he’s traveled.

At the age of 25, Williams was a healthy young man until he lost his leg during a diving accident. “I lost my leg scuba diving when I was drug into a thruster motor 20 years ago,” he says. When the accident happened, Williams was diving as part of his job as a submarine co-pilot.

“I was shaken up pretty good at the start, as you feel like everything you used to do is coming to an end,” he says. “But my friends pushed me and have never let me play the martyr.”

Many people would have given up on diving after such a horrible accident, but he continues to scuba dive to this day. He had a special fin made by DiveR to accommodate his unusual kick. Some of his friends even jokingly tell him that it gives him an advantage. “My nickname in the spearfishing world is ‘Lonefin,’ a name given to me by a long time friend Scott Russell. He laughed and says it was always easy to find me as a diver because there would only be one fin above the water before the dive. So ‘Lonefin’ has stuck pretty good.”

Williams has taken the accident in stride — even using it to pursue a path in marketing. “I took the time during my rehabilitation and physical therapy to study Japanese and apply this new skill set to my new career path,” he says. “Now, as vice president of business development for BIG Media and The Visitors Channel, I see that this choice gave me a huge competitive advantage. It is something that we all have in our lives, adversity, and if we use it to channel our energies into a positive and meaningful result, adversity can actually propel us into new directions.”

The biggest challenge that Williams has faced are the misconceptions people have about his condition, but there are many physically or mentally challenged people who excel in many different aspects. “All people want to be a meaningful and valuable part of our community and feel like we belong. As Erik Weihenmayer, the blind rock climber who scaled Mount Everest says, ‘People get trapped into thinking there is only one way of doing things.’”

Perseverance was his key to overcoming his disability. “We all have our hurdles to overcome and some are greater than others,” he says. “Don’t worry what other people think as they have their own obstacles, which have been put in their way as well. Focus on your own goals and strive to achieve them.”

The Feds Move In

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 16:00:16 +1000

With the Consolidated Natural Act of 2008 scheduled to take affect Nov. 28, it is uncertain what
impact it will have on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on May 8, 2008, applies federal immigration law in the CNMI through a transition program. The transition program is intended by Congress to allow for federal immigration law to be applied in a manner sensitive to the unique circumstances and needs of the CNMI.

The transition was scheduled to begin June 1, but was delayed 180 days at the request of Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo and CNMI Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, to allow the governments of Guam and the CNMI to work together to address concerns regarding the proposed transition program and the expansion of eligibility for country participation under the new Guam-CNMI visa waiver program.

Although subject to most U.S. laws, the CNMI has administered its own immigration system since 1978, under the terms of its 1976 Covenant with the United States, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The CNMI has applied this flexibility to admit substantial numbers of foreign workers through a permit program for non-U.S. citizens (noncitizens) entering the CNMI. In 2005, these workers represented a majority of the CNMI labor force and outnumbered U.S. citizens in most industries, including garment manufacturing and tourism, which have been central to the CNMI’s economy.

The act has people in the CNMI particularly concerned about the future of Russian and Chinese tourists to the islands, which represent about $190 million in annual revenue, according to the office of CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial. It also had people concerned about regulations for foreign workers, investors, students and retirees.

The federalization was also cited as one of the reasons why the commonwealth’s bond rating was downgraded earlier this year. In May, a report from Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the commonwealth’s rating of general obligations bonds to “B2” from “Ba3.” According to Fitial’s office, the federalization of the CNMI’s immigration control was a factor in the commonwealth’s deteriorating financial situation and financial rating.

“The federal takeover of CNMI immigration policy set to take effect November 2009 creates additional uncertainty in the already beleaguered tourist sector.” The report specifically cited the expected loss of vital Chinese and Russian tourists as a basis for the CNMI’s financial downgrade.
Moody’s also cited a staggering CNMI population decline that will be exacerbated by restrictive new federal immigration rules that will result in the loss of more foreign workers and less economic activity in the Commonwealth.

In downgrading the CNMI’s credit rating, Moody’s also cited the CNMI government’s pension crisis and budget crisis as contributing factors to the CNMI’s weakened financial condition. But CNMI Lt. Governor Eloy S. Inos notes that these very factors are also adversely affected by the Federalization of the CNMI’s immigration and minimum wage laws.

“Federalization has harmed and will further harm our economy and tourism industry,” Inos said in a release. “And this will result in less economic activity and less revenues to address our government’s budget and pension crisis.”

Inos points out that the CNMI government has had to substantially reduce its operating budget below $160 million. “If we had a stronger economy that brought in $200 million in government revenues, as we did before, we could then allocate $40 million or more to the Northern Marianas Retirement Fund,” he said. Federalization makes CNMI economic growth very difficult, he added.

While some people are concerned about the affects of the Consolidated Natural Act of 2008, others are worried about the uncertainty that would be created if the implementation of the act is delayed any further.

According to an Aug. 30 article in the Saipan Tribune, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources staffer Allen Stayman said delaying the act won’t reduce the uncertainty the commonwealth faces.

In the article, Stayman said, “This is going to be a difficult transition and it may be that the best thing you do is to just get on with it. The further delay is not going to reduce the uncertainty that we’re currently facing. What’s going to resolve the uncertainty and thequestions is to get on with the process.”

Look Out World

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 15:00:41 +1000

Communications company IT&E is now offering its customers increased avenues for keeping in touch while globe trotting.

According to Kathryn Barry, marketing manager for IT&E, “The IT&E Global Roaming Solution allows an IT&E customer to travel to over 230 countries and still use his or her CDMA number. [There is] no need to have a GSM phone and buy SIM cards everywhere you go.”

Barry says IT&E has direct roaming agreements with Verizon in the U.S., KDDI in Japan, Bayantel in the Philippines and SK Telcom in Korea. “In addition, through a partnership with Vodafone, IT&E customers are able to stay in touch via the IT&E Global Roaming SIM card that can be used in BlackBerry and other wireless devices that have the dual CDMA and GSM capabilities. The SIM card can also be placed in any quad-band GSM phone and the IT&E customer will receive calls, SMS and data with the CDMA phone number,” she says.

She adds that in the age of wireless accessibility, there is no need to be tied down to an office, especially when traveling is a part of your job. “This allows IT&E customers to keep in touch with the office, family and friends while off-island,” Barry says, adding that no wireless carrier in the Marianas has as many roaming destinations.

The Style Diva’s Top 10 Fasion TIps

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 14:00:59 +1000

You want to make a statement with your appearance, but not one that will scare people away. Fashion forward or not, here are some basic dos and don'ts for any season.

[1. Pattern on Pattern]
Don't get me wrong. I love pattern play. This fall's animal print is back with a vengeance. But put on a leopard print top and a leopard print bottom you'll risk looking like... well, like a leopard. Try picking one bold pattern to bring focus to your best feature. This is also true when paring a striped woven with a pair of striped trousers Guys LOVE doing this. Think opposites – thin striped top with a pair of widely striped trousers.

[2. Shoes and Belts]
I get this question from male shoppers all the time: "What color shoes should I wear with navy pants?" I always ask them, "What color is the belt you are wearing with them?" Unless you're doing black pants with brown shoes (and why would you?), shoes should match or complement the color of the belt. Think in terms of family of colors. Earth tones (beige based) matched with earth tone, or cool tones (greys, blues) with cools.

[3. Fit]
Nothing is more unflattering than wearing the wrong size. I encounter women who insist on wearing a specific size all the time. Every brand is cut differently, and within every brand, depending on fabrication and style, sizing can vary greatly. Don't get stuck on what size you "normally wear." If you find yourself pulling and shifting your outfit after taking a couple of steps, it doesn't fit.

[4. Vee Neck Over Vee Neck]
Nothing is sillier on a guy than a vee neck t-shirt peeking out of a v-neck sweater. You're creating two little arrows that point toward your stomach, and you may not want to draw eye movement in that direction when people are talking to you. Try a crew neck t-shirt or a woven underneath instead.

[5. Showing Underwear]
Maybe you haven't done laundry this week and don't have the right underwear to go with that racerback tank top. In that case, don't wear it. The late '90s trend of exposed undergarments is well in the past and it is not coming back. Invest in a pair of spanx to wear underneath thin cotton/linen pants. Panty lines are tacky but thong lines are even tackier.

[6. Lack of Proportion]
This fall, leggings and skinny jeans are practically replacing all other pants. And everyone can wear such skintight bottoms if the porprotions are right. Think volume or length with fitted bottoms, like a loose graphic tee (for those small up top) or a boyfriend blazer (to hide wider hips). You'll look fabulous and totally in proportion.

[7. Minis and High Heels]
Minis, when worn properly can lengthen anyone's legs. Minis can be worn with tights and flats to create a classic preppy style, or with a pair of riding boots that will scream fall. Minis can even be worn with tall wedges in the summer, but be careful of wearing minis with any high heels that are more than three inches. I have yet to see anyone successfully pull this off without looking like they work in a street corner.

[8. Colors]
Think complementary colors, not exact same colors. Outfits built from monochromatic, analogous and complementary color combinations with neutral anchors are always in style.

[9.Fashion Victim]
Aka Fashion Roadkill Any fashion magazine will show you the top trends of the season but it's more important to know what works for your body type and age. By all means, take risks and a modified version of the trends, if that trend is not particularly flattering on you. This season, try a little blazer with strong shoulders (Givenchy's padded shoulders are to die for!) but think twice if you're already broad on top.

[10. Showing Midriffs]
This one is more of a personal choice. I've seen perfectly sculpted abs that deserve to be exposed, but no matter how proud you are of your midsection, showing midriffs outside of the gym or beach is never attractive. We all did it in the early '90s (lucky if you missed that period), and let it stay in the past along with hammer pants, big bangs and side ponytails.

Remember: Fashion is general. Style is individual.

Vanessa Tung is a graduate of the Academy of Our Lady of Guam and has more than 10 years of fashion retail experience. She is currently living in San Francisco.

A Touch of Java

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 13:00:22 +1000

If you think you know where you can find anything you need to decorate your home, think again. Monika’s Furniture, located along Marine Corps Drive is sure to surprise you.

The store, owned by Monika Nugent, opened in 2007, carrying teak home furnishings from Java. However, Nugent’s retail experience spans more than 20 years, with a gift shop the family owned in Saipan, which eventually turned into Monika’s Furniture. The family made the move to Guam in 2007 and subsequently moved the shop as well.

According to Sandy Weaver, Monika’s daughter who manages the store, many people think that Monika’s is just a furniture store. “But it’s more than that,” she says.
It is, indeed.

Aside from offering solid teak furniture, the store also offers home furnishings, including pillows, blankets, curtains, wood carvings and more. Monika’s also carries local artwork, by Weaver’s husband, Jim, as well as hand-made jewelry.

Weaver says, “Our goal is to help the customer create a tropical oasis in his or her home.” She says that the company also educates its customers about the difference between solid wood and pressed wood: solid wood is one cut from an actual piece of wood while pressed wood uses a different, fiber core material, and then uses a thin layer of wood on the outside. While both look the same on the surface, the difference is in its durability. Fiber core material will tend to warp after a couple years or become easily damaged when wet. Solid wood is sturdy, and teak especially has natural oils that make it hardy enough to resist the
elements — excellent for the island humidity.

Of course, with quality comes the need for a bigger budget, but the prices are not as extreme as one would expect for good furniture. For example, with a budget of $5,000, Weaver says one can get a bedroom set, dining set, a few sculptures and a lot of decor. “You can furnish your house with $5,000,” she says.

Not Your Weekend Fiesta

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 12:00:46 +1000

After hearing rave reviews about Chamorro-fusion restaurant, Meskla, Sam convinced Shane and I to try out the place. Like always, the toughest obstacle we would need to overcome was determining the one night in our busy schedules when we could collectively find time to meet.

We were thinking of a Saturday night, but I just remembered I had a scheduled appointment to remove two of my wisdom teeth on Friday of that same week. I didn’t think I could enjoy the food and company as I usually do with vicodin-induced drowsiness, so I begged and pleaded with Shane and Sam to instead meet up on Thursday night. So we did.

As I drove to the restaurant, I couldn’t help but feel like I would be partaking in my own Last Supper — or my last meal before being executed. It was a strange feeling, but to this day, I believe it gave me an appetite for dinner. I also enjoyed Shane and Sam’s company even more so than ever, as if it were the last night I’d ever see them again. You see, dentists and I? Not a good mix — the combination spells out doom and gloom for me, especially since I was going under for the procedure.

In any case, for me, when I think of Chamorro food, I envision an endless helping of chalakilis, which, like the Mexican beer Bohemia, I can “pound” all day. I vowed to not order chalakilis if it were on the menu, only so I could try other dishes that I probably would not find anywhere else.

We were seated in a remote area of the restaurant, which had its pros and cons. My back was directly facing the window, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I didn’t want to change seats with either Shane or Sam, because the superstition about changing seats at dinner denoting an endless quest to find a spouse bugged me more than my back facing the window.

Either way, we all began to salivate a little reading the food descriptions on Papyrus-font scripted menu. Although we had to ask our server what certain Chamorro-named items were, I started visualizing a super-upgraded fiesta, only this time our tinala katne would not be buffet style.

To start, we decided to order the Chamoru Chesa Platter, which featured kelaguen (yum!), tinala katne and hinetnon tapon. Shane chose to be health-conscious by ordering the night’s special seafood salad and Sam ordered Salmon Wellington (Guihan Engles), which to our dismay, was unavailable that night. After a quick 30 seconds of looking over the menu again, not wanting another seafood dish, Sam opted for the Tuba-Marinated Lamb Chops. For me, it was the Fresh Laggua, or parrot fish, that caught my eye. We also ordered extra flour titiyas, which were prepared with fresh herbs.

It was tough to really share the Chamoru Chesa Platter, since we all found each item equally appealing to our palates. The tinala katne, although dried beef, was not as tough as Shane expected. In fact, it had that dried flavor, but was tender. We were all taimamahlao — none of us were ashamed to take the last piece. In fact, we all fought for it and ended up letting Shane have it before any violence escalated. The kelaguen, of course, went out fast. Dipping titiyas in the hinetnon tapon, or clam bake, was a surprise hit for all of us too. The appetizer could have easily been an entrée for either one of us.

Shane’s salad was refreshingly light, with a citrus-based dressing. Shane and Sam conversed animatedly about what flavors they tasted in the dressing. Sam thought there might have been hints of guava, while Shane insisted the dressing had some type of mango flavor. To our surprise, our server informed us that the citrus fruit flavor we tasted came from orange juice.

With all these rich flavors, Shane was a bit frightened that the lamb chops would have a strong tuba flavor. Again, to our pleasant surprise, the tuba flavor was relatively subtle, yet strong enough for us to have an impact. Shane didn’t like the gamey taste of the lamb chops and openly expressed her dislike. We assured Shane that lamb normally tasted like what we had been served.

The parrot fish dish came last. The fish, fried into a U-shape which housed vegetables cooked in coconut milk, made for an interesting presentation. Although I am accustomed to eating with utensils at fancy restaurants, I figured the best way to eat this whole fried fish was to, of course, use my hands — no shame. We all enjoyed the vegetables and the natural flavor of the parrot fish. The order came with lemmai wedges, which were a good complement to the fish dish.

Not to be outdone by the great appetizer and entrees would be our dessert choice — Manha Crepes. Manha by itself is a great snack — but to add ice cream? The whole time we enjoyed the dessert, I couldn’t believe that I didn’t think of that before. We chose to have strawberry and vanilla ice cream with our manha and didn’t regret a single thing.

We all agreed that Meskla isn’t one of those “one-time is enough” type of eateries. In fact, the next time I go, I’ll be eying the Grilled Ribeye Steak, which, according to the menu is served with a red wine-pugua (betelnut) reduction — medium rare, please.

Fast and furious

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 11:00:52 +1000

Autocross, or "solo" as termed by the Sports Car Club of America, is a contest that rewards the competitor's driving skills combined with the handling characteristics of the driver's car. Drivers are timed through a pre-determined course with slaloms, sharp turns and straight-aways marked by orange traffic cones indicating the racepath. Only one car is allowed on the course at a time, and the winner of different car categories is crowned based on the official times registered upon completion of a series of runs through the course.

Members of the Guam Region of the SCCA and other autocrossers have been setting up courses and racing at the parking lot of the racewaypark for years. I was referred to one member, who initially gave me information on race dates and times and necessary items to race.

A few days preceding my actual venture to the raceway park, I could hardly contain myself. Would I drive fast enough to be decent? How many cones would I knock over by accident? Should I keep the air conditioning on in my car? Should I race with a full tank of gas or will that make my car too heavy? Will I get two wheels off the ground like in the photos I saw on the Internet? What if my car doesn't even get approved to race? I just really did not know what to expect or how my car would react to the course.

The day of the race, I decided not to eat anything in the morning in case my car agreed with the course and my stomach did not. At the course, I met two of the race coordinators who accompanied me in a walk through the course prior to the practice runs. I became acquainted with the course's gates, slalom areas and the overall path.

One tip I was offered was to look ahead a couple of cones to know what to expect while driving, so as to avoid making last second maneuvers with the car, which may cause me to either hit the cone or not follow the course properly. It was good advice, as it is something I generally practice
navigating around imperfections along Marine Corps Drive.

One other intimidation factor I faced at the course was the line of suped up 350Zs, Imprezas, Eclipse Spyders, and others waiting to practice on the course. If their nice paint finishes didn't catch my attention, the roars of their engines did. The beauty of autocross is that regardless of the car you choose to race with, gaining the fastest times is more so based on the driver's skill in handling the car and the course than the power packed under the hood and other installed add ons for better handling. Cars are also separated into different categories based on degree of modification. Some people, like me, brought their daily drivers out to the course.

After filling out a few forms and paying a fee, I opened my hood for the engine check and overall car check. With approval granted, I made my way to the line of cars waiting to practice the course. I donned my loaned white speed racer helmet, complete with the red stripes.
When the car before me completed the course, I approached the starting gate and decided to first get intimate with the course – to determine when I would be able to literally put the pedal to the metal and where I might want to take the speed down a notch.

Next time though – there'd be no reason to be overly cautious or slow. As I approached the starting gate again, I turned on the camera mounted on the passenger's seat of my car, which served a dual purpose – a remembrance of the view from my windshield of my crazy car adventure and also to take my unofficial time on the course. Even as the rain poured, I sped through the course, maneuvering through the slalom area and navigating the turns eventually leading back to the starting gate where I'd exit the course. The footage revealed I completed the course in 1 minute, 29 seconds, considered embarrassingly slow to seasoned autocrossers, who
finish a course in under one minute.

In my next run, I changed the song in my car, approached the starting gate with an increased determination and shaved off about six seconds from my unofficial time. Mother Nature helped me out, too, since it wasn't pouring rain during this run.

With increased confidence, I went one last time determined to shave off more time. Completing the course this last time around, I clocked in unofficially at 1 minute, 21 seconds. And that's with my air-con on, too. With more practice, maybe I'll eventually get under that one-minute mark.

Breaking Dawn in the Pacific Northwest

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 10:00:30 +1000

Most people would agree that when they travel, they’d like to hear a local’s perspective about what places are absolute must-sees. Lucky for me, when visiting Seattle, I have several friends who live there who can recommend sites a visitor shouldn’t miss.

Lately, Seattle tourism offices have pushed marketing due to piqued interest in the area brought by the release of the Twilight book series. According to Seattle’s tourism offices, Twilight promotion is particularly focused on Germany, Japan, France and the U.K. to lure fans of the romantic vampire tales.

However, this isn’t the first time its local tourism groups brought overseas visitors because of a movie. Feature films, including Disney’s Brother Bear and Sleepless in Seattle, as well as TV shows Twin Peaks and Northern Exposure continue to draw visitors to Washington.

Though today’s tourists to the Pacific Northwest seem less interested in the Space Needle than a hospital parking lot in Forks, Washington has a great deal to offer its visitors.

Seattle is also one of the destinations easily accessible from Guam via Northwest Airlines, with a brief layover in Japan. Here is a list of 10 places — a mixture of tourist spots and off-the-beaten-path attractions — that travelers to the Pacific Northwest should pencil in their schedules.

[The Space Needle]
If it’s your first time to Paris, you don’t skip out on the Eiffel Tower. And when in Seattle, you definitely should visit this Seattle landmark. The Space Needle features an observation deck at 520 feet, and a gift shop with the rotating SkyCity restaurant at 500 feet. From the top of the Needle, one can see not only the Downtown Seattle skyline, but also the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands.

[Seattle Duck Tours]
The DUKW or “Duck” was an amphibious landing craft developed by the United States Army during World War II designed to deliver cargo from ships at sea directly to the shore. Although DUKWs were used predominantly for the military, many were used by civilians: police departments, fire stations and rescue units, just to name a few, and of course, the Seattle Duck Tours, in which visitors will be able to see Seattle’s major sites via land and sea.

[Pikes Place]
Have you ever caught a fish mid-air? Pikes Place is the home of the world famous Pikes Place Fish Market that everyone talks about. It is a place of business for many small farmers, craftspeople and merchants named after the central street, Pike Place. It runs northwest from Pike Street to Virginia Street, and remains one of Seattle’s most popular tourist destinations, and is also home to the first Starbucks coffee shop.

[San Juan Islands]
San Juan Islands are an important tourist destination, with sea kayaking and orca whale-watching by boat or air tours, two of the primary attractions. Part of the charm that attracts tourists and residents to the San Juan Islands is that each island seems to have a character of its own, both in terms of geography and of the lifestyle of the people who live there. The islands are reachable by ferry.

[Leavenworth]
With only a two-hour drive, you can get a little piece of Europe right in the Pacific Northwest. Leavenworth is a small Bavarian town full of festivals where lederhosen is in vogue and Schweinshax’n is a’ plenty. In November 2007 Good Morning America went to Leavenworth for “Holiday Gifts for the Globe” and the city was also named the Ultimate HolidayTown USA by A&E.

[Olympic National Forest]
Did you know that Washington is the home of the only rain forest in the continental U.S.? The forest is located on the Olympic peninsula in the upper northwest corner of Washington. If you like nature and the outdoors, this is the place to be. Take the ferry or take the scenic route and discover how this small part of the world is changing and what you can do to help the environment.

[Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame]
The EMP|SFM is a museum dedicated to the history and exploration of both popular music and science fiction. The Frank Gehry-designed museum building is located on the campus of the Seattle Center, adjacent to the Space Needle and the Seattle Center Monorail, which runs through the building.

[Seattle Underground]
The Seattle Underground is a network of underground passageways and basements in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States that was ground level at the city’s origin in the mid-1800s. After the streets were elevated these spaces fell into disuse, but have become a tourist attraction in recent decades when, in 1965, local citizen Bill Speidel realized there might be interest (and profit) in the subterranean ruins.

He established “Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour” and took customers on a tour of what was left underneath Pioneer Square. In 2004, the Underground Tour organizers began the adults-only Underworld Tour, incorporating discussions of prostitution, the opium trade, and other less family-friendly elements of Seattle’s early history.

[Museum of Flight]
Ever wondered what it was like to fly in Air Force One or the Concorde? At the Musuem of Flight you can take a tour of both planes along with a other modes of flight. The Museum of Flight is a private non-profit air and space museum at King County International Airport/Boeing Field in Tukwila, south of downtown Seattle. Visiting the Museum of Flight is both educational and awe inspiring. Take a walk through the history of humanities many accomplishments in the science of flight and space travel.

[Grand Coulee Dam]
If you are able to make the long treck, check out the remarkable great-walled wonder that is the Grand Coulee Dam. The dam is a hydroelectric gravity dam on the Columbia River and is the seventh largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world as of last year. The visitor center contains many historical photos, geological samples, turbine and dam models. Since May 1989, on summer evenings, a laser light show at Grand Coulee Dam is projected onto the dam’s wall, that includes full-size images of battleships and the Statue of Liberty, as well as some environmental comments. Visitors are also able to ride a glass elevator 400 feet down to view the generators.