Blogs from Palau, Oceania

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Oceania » Palau August 18th 2023

This trip has been in preparation since November last year. It has actually been on top of my wish list for years. To do this trip required few stars to align properly. I call the availability of flights, this is actually the main challenge. Then there is the availability of time, to do this trip requires a minimum of a month. Well, I do have a month and not a day more this time! Next, the finance needed to be on your side, and we are working on it! First stop, Palau. This is my third visit to the small archipelago. I visited first for a week on a liveaboard back in 2006. I came back 2 years later, this time for four days of land base diving. Palau is a mecca for divers and easily ... read more
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The stunning lettuce hard corals of Ulong channel...
Crazy place, the Capitol of Palau... In the middle of nowhere...

Oceania » Palau » Koror April 11th 2020

In these times of environmental, climatic and health catastrophes, it was heart-warming to discover that paradise still exists. The Pacific – excluding Australia and New Zealand – is pretty much one of the only big expanses of the Earth that I have never visited. Along with Antarctica. I’ve always had in my head how special the Pacific Islands must be so I’ve been saving them for a special occasion. However, with sea-levels rising, typhoons and droughts strengthening, ocean temperatures increasing and global biodiversity plummeting, it is perhaps silly to delay visiting such places. It was my birthday in February and it was a significant one. Consequently, I could justify spending more than usual on a trip to go somewhere I’ve always wanted to. Also, living in Japan I would probably never be closer so, as expensive ... read more
Jellyfish Lake
Black tip reef sharks while snorkelling
Kayaking in Nikko Bay

Oceania » Palau » Koror November 9th 2017

PALAU WITHOUT FINS Diving and More Today is my down day; I slept in, then called some family members. I meandered up to the café for the breakfast special. The coleslaw was especially tasty. A pleasant faced man, Senator Reclai, chatted with me until his business associates joined him. He told me there was a library at the college right across the street. My room was dimly lit as was the motel common room and due to the heat and insects I opted for the library. I was able to type in a bright, clean college atmosphere. The librarians were very nice and helpful, but I still never got an internet connection. It has been so frustrating. On my way back to my motel I decided to get a massage. I stopped at the Anthias Café ... read more
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Oceania » Palau » Koror November 4th 2017

DIVING IN PALAU I slept soundly and was grateful I had no schedule so I didn’t have to rush off somewhere on my first day in Palau. At around 2 o’clock in the afternoon I set off to walk to the local café for breakfast. I mistook the hardware store for the café so I chatted with the owner and picked up a few things. (I really like hardware stores, especially small ones; you never know what you may find.) He told me the café, right next door could give me information about diving. After lunch I asked the waitress about a dive store and two young people at another booth gave me a brochure and said they would send a car at nine the next morning. On the way back to the motel I found ... read more
SHARK CRUISING
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
COLORFUL REEF

Oceania » Palau » Babeldaob November 13th 2014

Most people spend their lives looking for a place where they can spot the perfect sunset. I can personally say that I have found mine. I didn't have to walk far from my childhood home. It has always been there but is has taken me 23 years to finally appreciate it. I didn't start missing the sunset until I moved to Hawaii to attend university. I settled on the east side of the Island and in the 4 years that I stayed there I only saw the sun set over the horizon twice. Now I am back home and nothing is more satisfying than watching the sun sizzle into the majestic Pacific Ocean.... read more

Oceania » Palau » Koror March 27th 2014

The Republic of Palau is one of the smallest countries in the world and boasts some of the best diving and snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean. There are roughly 28,000 citizens spread out over 250 islands. Only 391 residents live in the capitol city, Ngerulmud, due to its remote location. Palau is in a special relationship with the United States and its people have dual citizenship. We were surprised to see a U.S. Post Office here. Several years ago Palau accepted six prisoners from Guantanamo in exchange for economic assistance from America. Tourism is the main source of income in this tiny republic and especially dive tourism. We went into the town of Koror and noticed many Japanese and Asian restaurants. Although English is the official language, most people speak a local patois. We were able ... read more
US POST OFFICE
SILVER WHISPER AT ANCHOR
CAPITOL OF PALAU

Oceania » Palau February 20th 2012

It’s spring 2010. Expo Shanghai is crowded and hot. Kirsten and I venture into the South Pacific pavilion to escape the crowds and get a taste of island life. Numerous little grass huts are scattered in an air conditioned arena. Tahiti, Fiji, Vanuatu, Guam,....and Palau?? Hmmm, what is this place, Palau? Pictures of swimming with jellyfish and beautiful azure waters tweak my curiosity. Flash forward to fall, 2011. Matt and I are seeking a warm February getaway. That jellyfish picture calls out from my memory. And now the discovery begins! Every twist and turn throughout our journey reveals to us a place of surprising ease of travel, familiarity, and yet exotic pleasures. First it’s location: a mere 5 hour direct flight SE of Seoul AND using frequent flier miles, free for Matt! Widespread use of English ... read more
Our beachfront cottage
North Beach Cottages beach
Matt's Tahitian beauty

Oceania » Palau » Koror March 11th 2011

17:30 we are at the Palm Bay Bistro – a worried waitress – there had been an earth quake in Japan. We order our dinner. Next time she passes by: there is a tsunami coming at 18:30. They turn their TV to a local channel. There is a Tsunami warning – all Palauan on coastal areas are to go to higher grounds. And it is a bit later - at 19:25 that it is coming. We had arrived back an hour ago from Carp island – an isolated island 1 hour away by speed boat. Thinking if we would have had the information if we had strayed there today. The staff are obviously nervous. The restaurant is right at the harbor with the serving area over the water. We quickly finish our dinner and halfway run ... read more
On an isolated island off Carp
Speed boat from Carp to Koror
Dive till you die - licence plate

Oceania » Palau » Peleliu March 10th 2011

The place of some of the fieriest battles of WWII pacific theatre – from Sept.-Nov.1944. The 10.000 Japanese defenders dug into the ridges and applied heavy casualties to the Americans. Episode 5-7 of the Pacific (Stephen Spielberg) is about the landing on Orange Beach, the fight for the airstrip and the long struggle to dig out the Japanese from the Bloody Nose Ridge. We had not really booked anything from Koror, thinking that since Peleliu was just across the channel, it would be easy to arrange from Carp. Writing with Amy, the organizer in Koror before coming, had said so. So I talked to Diana the night before, and she arranged a boatman to make the transfer, and she would do the land tour. The price was 2x30$ for the boat and 2x40$ for the tour. ... read more
Japanese HQ
Japanese gun
Orange Beach

Oceania » Palau » Koror March 7th 2011

Expectations were high for today – visiting one of the world’s wonders – the Jellyfish Lake – only found this one place in the World, a small lake in the rock islands of Palau. It was partly cloudy. We were picked up by a bus with Japanese and at the IMPAC office there were even more. Hmm. All equipment were included, and we supplied our stock. People were divided out in boats, by the activity they were going to. Our boat included Win as our guide and another Japanese guide for the 14 other. No problem. The boat slowly left the harbor and powered up the two big motors. The rock islands were right around you – lime stone rock with jungle, as small drops in the ocean. Similar to Halong bay in Vietnam? Passing a ... read more
Natural Arch - Palau Rock islands
Jellyfish lake, Palau
Corals, Rock Islands, Palau




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