MICRONESIA
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
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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. Most inhabitants of
the island concentrated on the west coast
in the villages of Rois and Mgaramasch.
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.
