Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Photos

マリアナスカップの浜のバレーボールの写真

今度殆ど全部は英語だけど、下の写真に行くのリンクと説明は日本語です。

Sometimes every day is so busy, so many things we want to accomplish, that actually leaving home is necessary to reconnect within the family.  Just this year, Martin's travel schedule has been quite challenging, with multiple trips to the US, Europe and Asia.  Still, a trip to Saipan is a welcome respite. 

Yes, we love Saipan.  The Pacific Island Club is the perfect place to take the family.  It's only a 3 1/2 hour flight from Tokyo, and since we've been there several times, the staff always welcomes us back.  It's very safe for the kids, and relaxing for poor overworked Martin.  We got lucky two years in a row when the school's winter break coincided with the Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Tournament which is held right there at PIC.  Martin recently got a new camera, and he really enjoyed taking pictures of VB players.  (especially ones wearing bikini's.)

Monica plays on the High School Volleyball Team, but Beach Volleyball is very different.  For example, in the gym there's a six person team, on the beach its two.  I think the net is quite a bit higher, and the sand makes for a way different play.  It's really fun to relax in the sun and watch the action.  The players are attractive in their swimsuits and muscles, and the scenic ocean backdrop is delightful.  Monica joined a VB clinic taught by the pros on the first day, and befriended some of the players, especially Jenn Snyder, pro from California, and Sonny, a very cool dude (semi-pro, I think) who we knew from last year, and of course, Marino, Monica's friend who has been a PIC clubmate since we first started going to Saipan.  The Marianas Cup is quite a big deal, with over a hundred players on the roster, so besides pros from the US, Korea and Japan, there were lots of Japanese players to chat with and watch, and the locals were all very enthusiastic players.  Everyone was a good sport.

So, as Volleyball was the main event, we got an ocean view room and could watch games on the beach as well as sunsets from the balcony.  But even when there's no tournament going on, Saipan PIC is a great place to visit.  Besides putting in plenty of time as "Ball Boy" for the tourney, Jonah had a lot of fun on the boogie board, went snorkeling, played baseball, archery and of course, swimming.  As you know, Martin and I enjoy frisbee so we did some of that, and while he was running after Marianas girls with his camera, I enjoyed reading my book and watching the action at the net.

  This link, GROUP 1,  goes to Martin's best volleyball pictures. 

Some were taken with his Cannon D20, and some with his newer D40, using a couple of different lenses.  Before coming to Japan, he had many hobbies, but now, as he's so busy with work, photography has become more important as a hobby. 

このリンクはマーティンを撮ったの一番いいの写真につないでいる。彼はキャノンD２０と新しいD40を使いました。

日本に来た前に彼はいろいろ趣味があったが、今仕事から急がしなので、写真術は一番趣味になりました。

But he took so many good volleyball pictures, that we made a second group.  　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　This link, GROUP 2, leads to yet more good pictures of hunks playing volleyball, and powerful lady players in bikinis.

たくさんいい写真を撮ったと思うので、これも乗せました。これもハンサムボレボールのプレアと元気なビキニを着ている女性ボレボールをしています。

Group 3 are just a few pictures that Monica and I took while in Saipan.  Not as good technically as Martin's, but we girls tend to take different pictures than he does. 

このグルプはモニカと私がサイパンにいる撮ったの写真です。私二人の写真はマーティンのより下手ですが、たぶん違ういろいろ面白い主題です。

      Group 4 are Martin's pictures of the family on the trip, not necessarily  having to do with volleyball.  Though there are some of Monica participating in the clinic run by US Pro players, Jenn and Janelle.  But there are also some nice sunset and beach photos.

このグルプもマーティンは撮ったの写真ですが、いろいろ家族について、必ずしも ボレボールについてじゃない。でも、この写真はモニカはクリニクを参加するです。アメリカ人二人、プロージェンとジャネルはボレボールのツリクを教えました。

And finally, Group 5, are a few flower pictures there at the club.  最後ノグルプはサイパンの花の写真です。

Just a quick note here.  My computer had major problems, which wastes a lot of time, and I'm afraid to try to update my main website for fear it will disappear altogether.  (It currently shows the ski slope picture, while here in Tokyo the plum trees are blooming.) My class on website design at Temple is almost over, and I'm still trying to make the most of it.  I'm planning to very soon change my main website over from Frontpage to Dreamweaver, but I haven't yet reached that level of assimilation.  Stay tuned.