Palau - Part One

We had GREAT
service - though we
look a little lonely

The hard working man took a few days off, and we were off on a scuba diving trip with our dive masters from Manila.  Our little UN group - diver master, Hernel, Filipino, divers - Filipino, Singaporean, Spanish and three Canadians - all had a wonderful time diving in this little country in the middle of no where.  It was just after the busy season, so we had restaurants and dive sites to ourselves - which was PERFECT!

Streets were very quiet
and beautiful

Palau (find it on a map!) has only 21,000 people in the whole country,  but over 300 beautiful islands.  It is 459 sq km, roughly 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC.

 The little country is a fascinating mix of cultures - first owned by the Spanish after Magellan arrived in 1521, sold to the Germans in the late 1800s, then entrusted to Japan with the rest of Micronesia after WWI, was the site of many battles during WWII (as these remaining guns attest to), then given to the US as a Trust Territory when WWII ended.  After decades of development, Palau became an Independent State in Free Association with the United States in the early 1990s.  All of those languages, along with a few others, flow in the people's day to day speech.

Oh - and they do brew their own beer - appropriately named Red Rooster.  Two of the Canadians just had to try it!

Anne - a friend we met in Manila
who is wonderful to dive with!

Good Canadian boy with his beer!

 








Between the spectacular sunsets

 and full moon

Reflection of the moon

 












and beautiful scenery, you may think we just enjoyed the island above the water.....

however, we were there to enjoy what was under the water!  Boy, we were not disappointed!!

This video is just a teaser to finish off Part One of our Palau blog.  Since I learned about this place, I have wanted to dive with these jelly fish, and that dream has now been ticked off as completed on my life list.  They have been land locked for thousands of years, with no natural enemies, and over time has lost the ability to sting.  None of us were disappointed with this snorkeling opportunity.  Enjoy the video and stay tuned for Palau - Part Two when we will bring you even further under water!!