Palua
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Location
The Republic of Palau is absolutely sensational. Most tourists who come here like to spend their time underwater, for Palau is among the world's most spectacular diving and snorkelling destinations. It features coral reefs, blue holes, wartime wrecks, hidden caves and tunnels, more than 60 vertical drop-offs to play with, and an astonishing spectrum of coral, fish, and rare sea creatures. There are also some outright miracles of evolution: giant clams that weigh a quarter of a ton, for example, and a lake teeming with 21 million softly pulsating, stingless jellyfish.
But you don't have to get wet to enjoy Palau. On land the republic embraces Micronesia's richest flora and fauna: exotic birds fly around the islands, crocodiles slip through the mangrove swamps and orchids sprout profusely in backyards. The Palauan archipelago is incredibly diverse, encompassing the polyglot state of Koror; the marvellous Rock Islands; Micronesia's second-largest island, Babeldaob (the land that Pacific standard time forgot); Peleliu, once war ravaged, now just ravishing; tranquil, tiny Angaur; the coral atolls of Kayangel and Ngeruangel; and the remote South-West Islands.
Toss into the mix some of Micronesia's most sociable (and responsible) people, and it's no surprise that parts of Palau are known as the 'beginning of everything', a template the rest of the world would do well to follow.
About that responsibility: Palauans love a good, socially aware acronym, and you can see them everywhere on signs and billboards, like 'WAVE - Welcome All Visitors Enthusiastically' or 'STARS - Start Treating Alcohol Related Symptoms'. You might find yourself playing this game, too. And perhaps you'll come to the same conclusion we did, that the name of this country is itself an acronym: 'Palau's Archipelago: Lovely and Unique'.
People & Culture
Palau's early history is still largely veiled in mystery. Why, how or when people arrived on our beautiful islands is unknown, but studies indicate today's Palauans are distant relatives of the Malays of Indonesia, Melanesians of New Guinea and Polynesians. As for the date of their arrivals, carbon dating of artifacts from the oldest known village sites on the Rock Islands and the spectacular terraces on Babeldaob place civilization here as early 1,000 BC. What is known, however, is that Palau once sustained a population much larger than even that of today.
Palau's social organization is highly complex and competitive. The race for money, prestige and power, the main thrust of which used to be for political power within a clan or village, was the focus from which most events occurred, such as sports competitions and wars.
Palauan villages were, and still are, organized around 10 clans reckoned matrilineally. A council of chiefs from the 10 ranking clans governed the village, and a parallel council of their female counterparts held a significant advisory role in the control and division of land and money.
Men and women had strictly defined roles to play in the continuity of the village. The sea was the domain of men who braved its fury to harvest the fish necessary to sustain the village and wage battle. Inter-village wars were common, so men spent a lot of time in the men's meeting houses mastering techniques of canoe building and refining their skills with weapons. Women, on the other hand, held sway in the home. They cultivated vegetables and harvested shellfish and sea cucumbers from the shallow reefs.
Until the late 1800s Palauans were tattooed, with more ornate designs on women of high clan. Men wore their hair in tight buns and Rubak, the important chiefs, wore bracelets made from the vertebrae of dugongs./
Even today, despite the influence of generations of explorers, traders, soldiers and administrators from several nations, Palauans still maintain the cultural traditions that make it unique in the Pacific.
Population
21,000 (2008)
Climate & When to Go
Koror's average highest temperature is 30°C, with the average low 24°C; humidity averages 80%. The annual rainfall is 373cm (there are numerous heavy thunderstorms in June), with June to August the wettest months; February and March are the driest, although rain can seemingly strike at any time. As Palauan President Tommy Remengesau Jr said at the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games, 'In Palau you can guarantee that you can catch a fish if you go fishing, but you can never guarantee what the weather will be.' Although Palau lies outside the main typhoon tracks, it does occasionally get hit.
Currency
The official currency of Palau is the U.S. Dollar. Visa, JCB, Master Card, and American Express cards are widely accepted at stores and visitor facilities. There are FDIC insured banks and major hotels with limited foreign currency exchange. In addition, Palau has money transfers such as Western Union or through Bank Institution.
Banking
Palau's currency is the US dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted in Koror State but not at all in the smaller islands. ATMs are similarly found in Koror but not elsewhere.
Climate
Located near the equator, Palau's climate is maritime tropical, characterized by little seasonal and diurnal variation. The annual mean temperature is 28° C in the coolest months. There is high precipitation throughout the year and a relatively high humidity of 82%. Heavy rainfall occurs from May to November. The short torrential nature of the rainfall produces up to 381 cm of precipitation annually. Typhoons and tropical storms occur from June through November.
Electricity
On the land in Palau electricity is the standard north american 2-prong 110VAC (60 cycles).
Getting Around
Search for your transportation needs throughout Palau, via air, land, or sea. While Koror's roads are paved, Babeldaob Island is accessible by 4x4 vehicle. To travel to the rock islands and beaches, it is necessary to travel by boat charter or go with one of Palau's many tour operators. Belau Air, Palau's domestic airline, flies between Koror and Peleliu/Angaur. Within Koror, taxis services are abundant.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected.
Departure Tax
Effective on November 01, 2009, a US$15.00 Protected Area Network "Green Fee" will be collected upon departure in addition to US$20.00 Departure Tax, totalling US$35.00 payable upon departure. The "Green Fee" will help support Palau's natural resource conservation efforts.