May 7th, 2014 – Wednesday

Tinian
Chopped up Lemai

Chopped up Lemai

Pre Cybuk Le’mai (Breadfruit) preparation on the island of Tinian. This type of tree was crucial for the existence of the Chamorro people because it was their “carbohydrate” to fuel and nourish their bodies every single day. There are different ways to prepare this specific stable crop. One way is to simply put it into a fire and let it cook on the outside. Once cooked, its almost like a baked potato but much more tasty. Another way to prepare Le’mai is by cutting off the exposed skin of the crop then chopping it into cubes (as shown in the picture). Boil it in water and coconut milk and then you’ll end up with cybuk. Stay tuned for the finished product!

May 6th, 2014 – Tuesday

Tinian
Fire Preparation

Fire Preparation

I recently made a trip to the island of Tinian to hang out with some friends during the 2014 Tinian Fiesta. Immediately upon arriving at the dock (took my cousin’s boat which was an hour boat ride), we went straight up to the ranch to begin preparing for the evenings feast. This was the fire that was prepared to roast a small-medium sized pig. One of the “local” delicacies is roasted pig. Once the fire is prepared, it is spread around in a circle, surrounding the pig on a spick. The pig is then evenly roasted by turing the spic for several hours. Stay tuned for more pictures!

May 2, 2014 – Friday

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May 2, 2014 - Friday

One of the indigenous creatures of the Northern Mariana Islands is the Coconut Crab (Birgus latro), known in the Chamorro language as the Ayuyu. These creatures reach up to 9 lbs and can literally husk a coconut with their massive claws.