Palau’s inland and underwater wonders

Mention Palau to any seasoned traveler and he or she will automatically think of underwater wonders. Palau is undisputedly the paradise for diving and underwater activities. One will have the illusion of being one with all the creatures of the sea.

Though Palau is more popularly known for its underwater action, it does offer a variety of stunning biodiversity above water. And these land-based activities are attractions one ought to experience.

The Jelly Fish Lake draws visitors yearly. In this lake, the invertebrates act rather weirdly. Why? They don’t sting! They have completely lost their sting because there is no need to fight off predators. Confined to the lake for hundreds of years, these millions of jellyfish simply bask in the sun and feed on the algae-rich lake.

There is also the incomparable Seventy Islands Nature Reserve, a group of islands with maze-like channels and aquamarine water that possess the soft white sand conducive for sea turtles to lay their eggs on. Because of this, we can be assured that sea turtles will be with us for a long time.

The Palau Pacific Resort, the most fabulous place to stay on the island has also become a landmark. The late John Kennedy Jr. and actress Daryl Hannah stayed in this 64 acres of lush tropical gardens on the western shore of Arakabesang island. This gorgeous 5-star luxury resort offers 160 elegant and spacious rooms. Guests can snorkel directly from the beach to the lagoon and marvel at the colorful tropical fish and coral, giant clams and other marine life. Water sports are available including windsurfing, sailing and kayaking. For the golf enthusiast, there is a driving range featuring floating golf balls. There are tennis courts equipped for night play and nature trails perfect for hiking. There are also special activities by the pool and on the beach for children.

The resort has four restaurants and bars that serve delectable cuisine and lively music. Splash, the resident 5-star PADI diving center, offers guided scuba-diving tours, snorkeling trips and a complete PADI instructional program including courses for beginners.

At the Palau Aquarium, a learning experience awaits environmentalists. The goal of the aquarium is to stimulate interest, increase knowledge and promote stewardship of Palau’s coral reefs and the world’s ocean environment through innovative exhibits, creative education and awareness programs, and ongoing scientific research. Based on the thematic coral reef habitats of Palau Aquarium, the visitors’ program offers an intimate first-hand look into the world of the diverse coral reef ecosystem. The Palau Aquarium seems to be the microcosm of the island’s underwater spectrum. Here, one can find sting-less Mastigia jellyfish (rare and exotic creatures that use camouflage for survival; amazing and rare deepwater creatures such as the deepwater Butterflyfish, colorful Dartfish and fan corals, Palau’s own chambered nautilus and cave dwellers that can produce light. One can also observe the symbiotic relationships that exist between sea anemone and anemonefish, corals and coral crabs and shrimp goby and pistols shrimp. The outer reed exhibit, one of the largest in the world is home to a diverse collection of fairy Basslets, angelfish, Butterflyfish and wrasses along with an array of hard corals, soft corals, leather corals, gorgonians and many other extraordinary and unique creatures. There are also the giant clam and crocodile exhibits.

Another must-see place in Palau is the Dolphins Pacific, a recent addition to the waters just off the main island of Koror. This is the world’s largest habitat ever created for dolphin research, designated to enable interaction between those wonderful mammals and people with physical and mental handicaps. The $2.5 million brand-new facility offers a range of hands-on experiences including swimming with the dolphins, something everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

According to Billy Watson of Dolphins Pacific, these dolphins were plucked from almost-certain death. Beached on the cold shores of Taiji, Japan, they were part of a huge pod that had been driven to the shallows for slaughter during hunting season for Japanese fishermen. Piled one on top of the other in the shallows, many dolphins were hauled ashore and butchered. Such bloody scenes of carnage are not uncommon in Taiji, as the seaside town is one of Japan’s main dolphin hunting areas. Commercial fishermen are allowed to hunt 20,000 dolphins a year for their meat and oil, something sanctioned by the Japanese government.

However, two female bottlenose dolphins were spared, along with eight others, through the intervention of a company called Dolphin Pacific, a Palau-based non-profit organization specializing in dolphin parks. The 10 were then nursed back to health and kept in a Japanese care facility for a few months. In July 2001, they were transported from Japan to Palau aboard a 727 aircraft.

Palau’s culture is best understood by visitors when they go to the Belau National Museum which houses a treasure chest of historical and cultural artifacts. The more than 1,000 objects contained in the museum include storyboard woodcarvings, antique paste beads, shell money, costumes, domestic utensils, weapons, tools and ornaments. Together they offer a glimpse into Palau’s past, as well as provide an insight to what is transpiring in the present.

The Etpison museum on the other hand was built on land donated by the late President Ngiratkel Etpison in 1996. Founded and constructed by Shallum and Mandy Etpison, this private, non-profit museum opened in 1999. The beauty of the natural environment of Palau, and the rich cultural traits of a unique people are felt throughout the building, which also houses a gift shop, and Kramer’s Café Restaurant. Guided tours (with English- and Japanese-speaking tour guides) are provided in Palauan.

Mandy Etpison shares, "We feel that our purpose with this museum is to teach and share the history, nature and disappearing culture of these islands. History needs to be taught to Palauan children, who grow up in an Americanized society these days. We also hope to introduce visitors to the still active culture of Palau, which is fascinating, but barely visible to outsiders due to the secretive and reserved nature of its people."

Sightseeing is also a must in Palau, with hundreds of attractive destinations. There are steep limestone cliffs that hide ancient archaeological sites and caves, and World War II planes, tanks and war paraphernalia scattered around the islands. If you trek in the jungle, you will find large limestone discs, which are Yapese stone money. In the 1800s, the money was transported from Palau to Yap in Chinese junks in exchange for copra from the Yapese chiefs.

Indeed, Palau is fascinating from any vantage point. The underwater world of the island is truly magical. Above the waters, one’s senses are treated to equally magnificent discoveries.

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Continental Airlines flies directly to Palau twice a week. For more information, call Continental Airlines at 818-8701. This year, Continental is celebrating its 35th anniversary in the Micronesia Islands. Currently, Continental operates 13 flights a week from Manila to Guam, with immediate flight connections to Micronesia, Honolulu and the Mainland US and Canada. E-mail the author at Miladay@pacific.Net.Ph.