MICRONESIA

MICRONESIA custom to remove your shoes before entering a home. Koror has breathtaking views of the islands and the only Shinto Shrine outside of Japan—a reminder of Japanese occupation during the war. There are two museums on the island, the Etpison Museum and the National Museum that was founded in 1955, and the oldest museum in the Mirconesian region. These museums display many island treasures and on special occasions you can see Palauan women dressed in grass skirts perform ancient native dances on the museums' grass. Overnight accommodation in Koror ranges from budget to luxury hotels and resorts with private beachfront views. Koror also has a range of restaurants that cater for all tastes. Getting around in Koror is easy. Taxis are readily available, however they are not metered so it is worth checking the rate card before starting your journey. For independent travel, cars are available to rent. From Koror you can take a tour boat to one of the many islands in the Southern Lagoon for an all-day picnic or a scenic drive. Three ocean currents span Palau waters, bringing with them marine life that is four times as rich as that in the Caribbean. There are over 1500 species of fish and more than 700 species of coral. Divers can scale the 18–metre vertical drop-offs including the Ngemelis Wall descending some 305 metres. For the adventurous there are underwater catacombs filled with massive, ancient stalactites and stalagmites, the best being the Blue Corner and Blue Hole. In the Mecherchar Island group is an attraction most can only dream of— the daring and unusual experience of swimming in Jellyfish Lake. Trapped in an enclosed body of water, the jellyfish have completely lost their sting because they have not had to repel predators. Instead, they spend their days in privileged leisure, pulsating gently from one side of the lake to the other while catching the sun's rays and farming their own food supply of algae. Snorkelling surrounded by them is fascinating and surreal. Fourteen kilometres southwest of Koror is Ulong Island with its ancient rock paintings. Travel by boat further south and you reach Peleliu. The well developed road system on Peleliu allows for extensive exploration by land to beautiful sandy beaches and the many remnants of WWII including the monuments and shrines on the island. Venture further south to Angaur which is a quiet relaxing retreat with spouting blowholes and stunning sunsets that should not be missed. Palau enjoys a pleasantly warm climate all year round with an annual mean temperature of 27°C. Rainfall occurs throughout the year although it is more frequent between July and October. Typhoons are rare as Palau is located outside the typhoon zone. The official currency of the Republic is the US dollar and major credit cards are widely accepted at stores and visitor facilities and major hotels offer limited foreign currency exchange. Tipping is optional, but appreciated.

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