MICRONESIA

MICRONESIA 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. Dolphins Pacific Palau is known for its undersea wonders and Dolphin Bay is nestled amongst beautiful rock islands just minutes via boat from the main town of Koror. Dolphins Pacific's philosophy has three major aims–environmental education, a facility where everyone can have fun and to develop tourism in Palau. The centre believes in the importance of environmental education and the facility provides world-class educational lectures for the children of Palau that are incorporated in school programs. With tourism the main industry in Palau, new ventures are vital to its economy and the dolphin centre hopes to attract even more tourists through its wide-ranging programs. There are several opportunities to learn about and interact with the dolphins including diving with them in their natural habitat. The Close Encounter is approximately a one-hour program that includes an educational tour of Dolphin Bay with a lecture about the ecology of dolphins and the importance of preserving the environment. Guests will be directed to a platform where they will begin interacting with the dolphins. Dolphin dives allow you to enjoy the magnificent underwater wonders of Palau with dolphins, using a scuba tank. Dolphin lovers can even be married at a one-of-a-kind ceremony at Emerald Lagoon. The staff will arrange various dolphin performances for you and your friends to celebrate your special day. Dolphins Pacific invites you into their world—a world of wonder and learning with these playful mammals. PO Box 10044 Koror 96940 PALAU Tel: +680 488 8582 Fax: +680 488 4562  Email: e-dream@dolphinspacific.com  www.dolphinspacific.com www.paradisesonline.com  147

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