May 28, 2013

Today we head out back to see a place that is very familiar to us (although we understand that it has changed greatly!), Palau.  We will be diving with our standard favorites, Sam’s Tours, where we hope to be teamed up with our favorite pair, Joedyn and Arson, dive guide and boat driver extraordinaire.  We are staying at a new location, the Sea Passion, which was under construction when we were there last, 2008.

Palau is part of the larger island group of Micronesia, and there are about 20,000 natives and 8,000 foreign nationals spread among over 250 islands.  The country was initially settled by migrating Filipinos, but was eventually made part of the Spanish East Indies in 1885.  Palau was sold to the Germans in 1899 after the Spanish American War, and the islands were conquered by the Imperial Japanese Navy in WWI.  As part of the League of Nations South Pacific Mandate, Palau was ruled by Japan.  During WW II, Palau was the center of many battles between the Japanese and Americans, and afterwards it was made part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947.  In 1994, Palau became a republic under a Compact of Free Association with the United States after voting to not become part of the Federated States of Micronesia.  It is still under US military protection, and its citizens can migrate freely to our shores (they even are a part of  our military). 

The main populated islands are Angaur (although a large part of their population is monkeys!), Koror (which houses about 2/3 of the population), Babeldaob and Peleliu.  All the islands have their own elementary schools, but when the children are ready for junior/senior high school, they have to go to Koror, which has the country’s only high school.  And the country’s community college as well.

One of my favorite facts is that Palau is the world’s first shark sanctuary - all commercial shark fishing has been banned.  The sanctuary protects about 230,000 square miles of ocean. 

We take with us Jodi & Matt Zajac for their first visit.  We have had a nice 5 days with them here in Hawaii getting ready for our vacation away from just about everything!  This is Wayne’s 13th visit, and my 8th, so I’m hoping for a little more luck in seeing mantas in German Channel.

I will be writing the blog daily, but not too sure about our connectivity, so there may be a mass upload at the end, or it may work out while we are there.

Have a great week!!!

And for those who want to know:

Hello, Look out!                  Alii. (a-LEE)

Stop, that's enough!            Merkong! (Murr-GONG)

Don't forget.                        Lak mobes! (Lokko-mo-BESS)

Let's go.                                Dorael. (do-RILE)

Go away!                               Bom cheroid! (Bom-a-ROYD)

Have something to eat!       Bo momengur. (Bo-mo-mung-OOR)

Come in.                               Bemtuu. (Bem-TOO)

Come!                                    Mei. (MAY)

Like that.                              Ng uai sei. (WIGH-SAY)

No.                                        Ng diak. (In-dee-AHK)

Yes.                                       Choi, O' Oi. (OH-OY)

Thanks.                                 Sulang. (Soo-LAHNG)

Thank you.                           Ke kmal mesaul. (Kuk-MAHL-ma-SAHL)

What happened to you?      Ke K'lsakl? (Ke-K'LSAKL)

What are you doing?            Ke mekerang? )Ke-mugga-RAHNG)

What's the latest?                 Ngera chised? (N-RAH-ee-SEDD)

How many?                           Ngtelag. (ngtel-AHNG)

What is the price?                Ngtelang a cheral? (ngtela-ah-RAHL)

My name is _____.                 A ngklek a ____. (Ahng-KLEEK-a ____)

What is your name?              Ngtecha ngklem? (ngte-AHNG-KLEMM)

I'm fine.                                 Ak Mesisiich. (Ahk-mess-ee-SEE-uh)

How are you?                        Ke ua ngerang? (ka-wanna-RAHNG)

Come again (goodbye).         Mechikung. (may-ee-KOONG)

I am leaving (goodbye).        Ak morolung. (Ahk-more-oh-long)

Where are you going?          Ke mo er ker? (ke-MORE-GARE)

Good evening.                      Ungil kebesengei. (ong-EEL-kebba-sung-AY)

Good afternoon.                  Ungil chodechosong. (oong-EEL-OTH-o-O-Song)

Good Morning.                    Ungil tutau. (oong-EEL-too-TOW)