ALII! That’s the equivalent to the bula in Palau and the amazing thing is that if said correctly one would always end up with a smile.
Palau is an archipelago of more than 500 islands, part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean, well known for its scuba-diving and snorkelling sites. Northerly island Koror is home to the former capital, the majority of the population and the islands’ main commercial centre.
Neighbouring Babeldaob has the modern capital, Ngerulmud, mountains and sandy beaches on its east coast.
The government of Palau calls the island Pristine Paradise and they have many reasons to say so.
The sea as clear as glass, that even at a depth of 20 metre you can see the ocean floor and a marine sanctuary encompassing almost 80 per cent of the countries exclusive economic zone.
As there are no direct flights to Palau, to get to these beautiful islands you will either have to come through South Korea or Honolulu in Hawaii.
This makes travelling a bit long as it takes nine hours to reach Incheon in Korea and then another five to reach Koror in Palau. That is not taking in the time spent in transit. But the length of the journey is soon forgotten once you get to Palau.
The natural beauty of the islands is still preserved. The greenery of the hills and the spectacular marine adventure will make anyone fall in love with this pristine paradise called Palau.
The Rock Islands
The Rock Islands are like nowhere else on earth. It’s no exaggeration to say that these unique island formations scattered across a 32km stretch of ocean southwest of Koror are the reason to come to Palau. From any vantage point?underwater, from the air, lying prone on a beach or aboard a boat – it’s a mesmerising fantasy-scape of limestone islets surrounded by crystalline waters.
The bases of the islets have been undercut by water erosion, fashioning them into peculiar mushroom shapes.
The surrounding waters contain some of the most abundant and varied marine life on the planet, small wonder it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. Unsurprisingly, the Rock Islands are a world-class destination for diving, snorkelling and kayaking.
My trip to the Rock Islands was on a 30-foot boat powered by two massive 250 horsepower V6 engines and although there was no need for that much power because the islets are surrounded by reefs making the waters around the Rock Island very calm.
The waters are very clear and give off a turquoise reflection making it a serene boat ride.
Milky Way
The Milky Way is an area which can only be visited at high tide. It got its name from the milky appearance of the water there, caused by the underlying white clay at the bottom of the sea.
It was once believed that the clay here had youth enhancing properties, and that if you covered yourself in this clay and let it dry before washing it off, it would be as good as a spa treatment for your skin!
However, in recent years, scientists have studied the clay and found that there are no properties in the clay that are good for the skin. This doesn’t stop people from having a little fun though!
Getting covered in white clay for that special Rock Island experience is all part of the adventure!
The water around the Milky Way also feels extra buoyant so taking a splash in the Milky waters is fun as well because the effort required to keep afloat is greatly reduced. I had fun.
Jellyfish Lake
Jellyfish Lake is quite simply one of the most unique places on earth. Imagine a huge lake filled to the top with millions of non-stinging jellies (actually they do sting, but the sting is so reduced you barely notice it).
All it takes is a a scenic boat ride and a 10-minute walk up and over Rock Island and you are back in time into a world that existed millions of years before ours.
Once you enter the water, you will be surrounded by the jellyfish but be sure to move carefully and slowly, as the jellies are extremely fragile and could get harmed by fast movements.
As you swim further into the lake, you will be surrounded by millions of pulsating golden globes. These are Mastigias Jellies and have evolved over millions of years into an animal that no longer needs its predatory stinging cells.
This experience takes the cake. For me it was like swimming in a cell pool and coming out on land as a totally evolved creature, but that is just my imagination.
Palau culture and tradition
Culture and tradition is very much alive in Palau despite much American influence. A drive around the main island of Palau would reveal many meeting places of chiefs with paintings on it depicting legends and myths of how Palau came to be or the relationship with marine and wildlife creatures.
Accommodation on Palau
There are several hotels on Koror in Palau and all cater for a different variety of budget and bookings can be made online.
If given another chance to go back to this pristine paradise I would take it up without giving a second thought. On a personal note, the second most beautiful place on earth after my Fiji.
