The graciousness of this island prepared us slowly for the impact of the typhoons. On Friday, September 8 we had plans to go north to the white beaches and spend the day with a picnic and some new found friends. When we got up Friday morning, the winds were blowing and we learned that typhoon Bobpha was on its way. We canceled our plans and got ourselves ready for the typhoon. Per the instructions from people whom we have met, we filled the bathtub with water, put together the large flashlight we bought, learned how to put our typhoon shutters on our front sliding glass doors and we made sure we had plenty of bottled water in the refrigerator. Since we had gone grocery shopping a few days before, we didn't worry about having enough food to eat. Then we sat and waited. The winds blew and blew some more. The skies got dark and the water on the Pacific Ocean kicked up a few white caps. The rains came and went most of the day. By Saturday morning the sun was out and the storm has passed on.

We called our friends and decided to try our beach trip north. About 45 minutes drive north we discover a beach with the turtle back tombs all along the water's edge. The large concrete tombs are built with patios on the entrance. Family members come for picnics on the patios. The tombs are large structures, almost like small buildings, with sealed concrete doors on the front. Families bury all their ancestors in the same tomb.

We walked along the beach past the tombs. At the end of the row of tombs we saw a set of steps leading up the hill through some overgrown trees and vines. We decided to climb the steps and see what was at the top. We discovered another tomb with urns that were broken and spilling out with skulls and bones of some that had been buried there. It didn't take me long to decide it was time to find another beach where I could get some sun and soak my feet in the turquoise water.

We left the gravesites and found another beach with a picnic table overlooking the China Sea. We had our picnic lunch and climbed down to the beach where we spent the rest of the day in the sun and sand.

On Sunday, September 10 we learned of another typhoon on its way to the island. This one, named Saomai, was classified a super typhoon with winds of 180 to 200 miles an hour. We purchased a TV so we could get the local AFN channel and hopefully get some news. The military have a system of warning that is broadcast by letters displayed on the upper portion of the AFN channel. They classify the typhoon conditions by letters designating the strength of the wind.

The following are the categories of Tropical Cyclone Conditions of readiness:

• TC-4 means that destructive winds of 50 knots or greater are possible within 72 hours;
• TC-3 tells you that destructive winds of 50 knots or greater are possible within 48 hours;
• TC -2 you have 24 hours before the possibility of destructive winds of 50 knots or better;
• TC-1 gives you 12 hours;
• TC-1C lets you know that winds of 34 to 49 knots are now occurring and the military bases close;
• TC-1E is emergency status and winds of 50 knots or greater are occurring;
• TC-1R indicates that the winds are decreasing to 34 to 49 knots but everything is still closed and if you live on base you cannot leave your quarters;
• TC-SW or Storm Watch means that the storm is moving away but there could be hazardous areas caused by the storm damage; and finally
• All Clear lets you resume normal activities and indicates the storm has passed.

Other then the letters posted on the TV channel it is hard to get information about the storms locations, the velocity of the winds or the predicted direction the storm is going to take. We learned that people in the States had more information about the typhoons than we did. Tropical weather watching site.

A typhoon is a strong tropical cyclone occurring west of the international dateline in the Northern Pacific Ocean. A hurricane is a strong tropical cyclone occurring east of the international dateline. A super typhoon is a typhoon with winds of at least 175 miles per hour. We were in the path of a super typhoon!!!

We "hunkered down" for over 36 hours while the storm blew through the island. We are in a very solid building that is made of concrete and has wonderful typhoon shutters that we slide across the front sliding glass doors. The winds from the storm gusted to over 90 miles per hour and the rain came down sideways, parallel to the ground. We had about 4 inches of water on our front balcony and the same amount at the front door.

The winds from the typhoon change direction as the storm whirls around. For several hours the winds were coming from the front of our place or from the northeast. We could keep the back windows open and even walk out on the back balcony. When the storm moved around the winds came from the back of our place and we had to close the back windows but we could open the front sliders. It was the strangest storm I have ever experienced. To think, in the middle of a typhoon we could stand outside and not feel the winds or rain happening all around us.

Before the storm came, I admit I was a little concerned about how we would fare during the winds. I now feel we can get through this typhoon season ok. I wasn't afraid during the storm and I felt very safe in our apartment.