MVA, MWA welcome back Koala Wanderers

Koala Wanderers International Club of Germany were welcomed by officials of the Marianas Visitors Authority and a local walking group with a special luncheon yesterday at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Claret Restaurant.

MVA managing director Perry Tenorio thanked Koala Wanderers for visiting the CNMI for a third time and hopes they enjoy the islands’ warm weather and hospitality.

“Since signing the agreement with SAIWAI (former name of MWA) three years ago, your group has been visiting our Commonwealth and bringing a contingent of people to enjoy our island atmosphere and walking here in our Commonwealth,” he said. “I understand you just came from the walking Olympiad in Japan. I also recently returned from Japan and it’s really cold there. So I hope our warm weather here has warmed you up a little.”

Tenorio also wished Koala Wanderers an eventful trip to Tinian on Thursday, where they are scheduled to visit the atomic bomb pit memorial. He, however, asked them to consider including Rota in their itinerary the next time they visit the Commonwealth.

Koala Wanderers head Manfred Trettin, for his part, said that it’s always a pleasure returning to Saipan and be amongst friends of the former Saipan Walking Association, Inc.

As a token of his fondness to the island and its people, Trettin gave MWA director Mario Espeleta a green and yellow-colored flag signifying the friendship between the two groups.

He also passed along mini versions of the “friendship flags” to members of MWA and MVA officials.

To top it off, Trettin, in behalf of the 40-member group, presented MWA with a T-shirt from IVV Olympiad held in Japan.

In turn, MWA presented Koala Wanderers an event T-shirt and postcards courtesy of Dr. Jack Hardy .

MWA president Jesus Guerrero, in his closing remarks, reaffirmed MWA’s partnership with Koala Wanderers and said that the sister clubs will forever be bound by their commitment to promote public health through non-competitive walking.

In the afternoon, the Koala Wanderers, MWA members, and members of the community took part in the Saipan phase of the Koala Wanderers IVV Saipan and Tinian Walk.

Tomorrow, Koala Wanderers will hop into the ferry bound for Tinian for a jaunt around the island’s historical and scenic spots beginning at the old airport.

The members of the club, who are here on a five-day visit, hail not only from Germany, but also from neighboring countries with German-speaking populations.

Also attending the luncheon were MWA vice president, MVA director, and Pacific Development, Inc. president Yoichi Matsumura, PDI general manager Gordon Marciano, MVA’s Hiroko Tenorio, PDI’s Hiroko Tajima, and MVA director and Fiesta Resort general manager B.K. Kim.

Fiesta Resort went out of its way to play host to the 40 Koala Wanderers as the Garapan landmark served them German food that included Galbi Chem, Boiled Sausage with Sauerkreaut, Seafood Victoria, among others.