Banana and breadfruit also offer food stuffs, but the tree most are familiar with is the pandanus. These are the trees which weavers and crafters take branches from to create everything they need to live on Guam - except maybe a car. Hats, baskets, sleeping mats, bowls,- in the hands of a talented weaver, these leaves can be made into almost anything! 

One of the things you'll notice about Guam right away is a certain fragrance which wafts through the air in the evening. These are the beautiful frangipani flowers. Reminiscent of the magnolias of the deep South in the US, this heady perfume drifts by and really puts you into a paradise mode of thinking. 

Of course, there are many other flowering bushes and trees all over the island. There are small pine trees, sword grasses, cactus, tangantangan vines and a wonderful wood called ifit - but someone else gets to talk about those ... keep reading. 
 
 

Animals

The first thing you need to know about animals on the island is that there are strict quarantine laws. These will be talked about in depth later. If you plan to bring your pets with you, Guam has a four month quarantine rule. There are no rabies on this island and, quite frankly, we are rabid about keeping it that way (couldn't resist the pun!) There are not many quarantine places and there is no way of getting around the quarantine laws. 

Guam also abounds with boonie cats and dogs which have been abandoned and are badly in need of homes. Maybe, instead of bringing an animal, it would be wiser to adopt one here. 

There are no animals which are indigenous to Guam. Everything has been brought here. The carabao is a large water buffalo which was brought here from the Philippines to do heavy hauling. These gentle creatures, who sniff at a new person just like a dog would, have been used as cart pullers and heavy haulers for years. There are pictures of many old parades where the carabao carts were on display. Even now, one of the biggest attractions at a parade, festival or any kind of gathering is a carabao ride. A large herd of wild carabao has freedom of the protected lands on the Naval Magazine in the center of the island. Its not rare to drive by and see these huge creatures grazing near the fences. 

There are cattle on Guam. A few. One of my favorite stories of the occupation of Guam during WWII was told to me by a woman who was a small child then. Her father owned the only Holstein cow on the island. The family not only had to hide themselves but they also had to protect the only source of milk for their village -the little girl's best friend, her cow. 

Horses have also been brought here. There are a couple of riding stables on the island which rent horses for trail rides and other diversions. 

There are also pigs. Most of the time, you'll only see one laying in the middle of the table with an apple in its mouth at a fiesta. Roast pig done over an open pit is a great favorite around here. But you must take care when walking in the jungle area. Many of the pigs have escaped and gone feral. Anyone who has been around pigs knows they can be dangerous. Of course, according to Chamorro legend, there are worse things in the jungle but we have to save the legends for later. 

Chickens! You will never see so many chickens in your whole life as you will here. I've lived all over the world, including on my grandfather's farm in North Dakota and ranches in Montana. I've never seen so may chickens. Many are wild. They go where they please and they lay their eggs as they please. It is not likely you'll find the eggs as they're very careful about where they choose to lay them. 

One of the best chicken stories I've heard lately was from a woman who came to the public library one Saturday morning for story hour. This branch of the library is in the main village of Agana - downtown Guam, if you will. She was walking from her car when she noticed a rooster strutting up the sidewalk in front of her. This arrogant young rooster turned up the sidewalk to the library, walked to the front door and began pecking on the glass. When no one let him in, he calmly strolled back down the side walk and crossed the street on his merry way. I tell you ÷ they are everywhere!