Palau is a nation made up of several islands in the
Micronesia region of the Pacific Ocean. It’s located about 500
miles to the east of the Philippines. It became an independent
nation in 1994, which makes it one of the youngest sovereign
states on the globe. Palau has a population of just over 20,000
with the capital city being Melekeok, which is on the island of
Babeldaob.
Early settlers are believed to have come from Asia and
Polynesia around the year 2000 BC. Europeans discovered the land
in the late 1700s and Spain, Imperial Germany, and Britain all
laid claim to it. However, it was granted to Spain in 1885 and
belonged to the Spanish East Indies until being sold in 1899 to
Germany, but 15 years later the Japanese took it over by force.
This led to the influence of the Japanese culture until the
Allied Forces took over the islands in World War II.
The nation is separated into 16 municipalities and the
islands with the most residents are Angaur, Koror, Babeldaob,
Peleliu, with the majority of residents living on Koror, which
is home to the largest city of the same name. There are also
about 300 scenic uninhabited islands called the
Rock Islands. Taking a trip to Palau is ideal at any time as
it enjoys a tropical climate with average temperatures of about
82 degrees Fahrenheit. It can get pretty humid and the rainy
season falls from July to October.
Along with the natural beauty and rock formation of the
islands, you’ll find some interesting wildlife as Palau is home
to several jellyfish lakes and a shark sanctuary, as fishing for
them is banned. You’ll also find saltwater crocodiles on the
islands. The residents get by on tourism, fishing, and
agriculture. Most visitors to Palau come to snorkel and scuba
dive in the barrier reefs to view the many World War II
shipwrecks that are under water. The Blue Corner is one of the
most popular diving areas to see sharks.
You can reach Palau by air from Brisbane, Australia, Manila
in the Philippines, Japan, USA, Tapei, South Korea, and Guam as
they have flights to Koror. Ships also call in at Malakal
Harbour. Once there, you can use taxis in Koror and negotiate
your own rate or rent a car. The cars are a little odd, as
you’ll notice the islands has both left and right-hand driving
cars.
The island also has a bus service, but if you want to travel
island to island, you’ll need to take the domestic air service
or a boat. You shouldn’t have much of a problem finding people
who speak English as it’s an official language along with
Palauan. Japanese is widely spoken as well, especially by older
residents. However, the local currency is the U.S. dollar.
Some of the most popular sites to visit include the public
libraries in Koror, the Belau National Museum, and the Etpison
Museum, as they offer a selection of interesting cultural
artifacts. For sea lovers, a trip to the Palau International
Coral Reef Center, close to Koror, is recommended as it’s an
interesting and educational aquarium that features several live
exhibitions.
For a small nation, there’s quite a variety of food, such as
Asian, American, and local dishes, which feature a lot of
seafood. There’s a small brewery in Palau and enough bars to
make the night life interesting. There are quite a few
guesthouses and motels to stay in along with a couple of
resorts. The accommodations mare suited for all budgets.
Palau is an ideal spot to visit if you’d like to soak in the
interesting local culture and natural beauty the islands have to
offer. The beautiful weather is an added bonus.
About Palau