Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
WHEN IN PALAU DON’T MISS… PRISONERS’ ART FOR SALE
THE BAI
Traditionally, every village in Palau had meeting long-houses called bai.while present throughout Micronesia, the Palauan
bai er a rubak, is highly elaborate; they are built of fine hardwoods and ornamented with traditional designs and colours. The bai served as community hubs and also hosted the meeting of the governing elders; inside, there are no dividing walls, no furnishings and only two fireplaces to break up the expanse of the hardwood floor. There are four fine examples to visit spread across Palau – a reconstructed bai at the National Museum in Koror, and in Airai (the oldest, dating back two centuries ago), in Melekeok and in Aimeliik State.
THE MILLION JELLYFISH LAKE
Palau’s Jellyfish Lake is a unique curiosity in the island of Eil Malk. Through a quirk of evolution, jellyfish in this isolated marine lake have lost their sting, enabling snorkellers to swim amid clouds of the astonishingly harmless invertebrates. Scuba diving is forbidden and visitors have to wash thoroughly before swimming in the 12,000-year-old lake, while use of suncream is prohibited to protect the population of more than one million jellyfish.the jellyfish underwent a massive decline in 1998 but their population has been steady in recent years, with local authorities enforcing the strict conditions for entry. Once you’re in, it feels like an experience on another world. For visitors to Palau, the wooden storyboard has become one of the most sought-after keepsakes.the practice of carving these storyboards was revived on the island in the 1930s by Japanese artist and folklorist Hisataku Hijikata. Palauans have traditionally carved the interiors of bais with mythical, erotic and humorous stories. In the last few years, demand has skyrocketed, especially with growing exports to other Micronesian nations. Inventively, the local prison inmates joined in the action: one of the best places to buy storyboards is Koror Jail, where a dedicated shop is well stocked with the creations of Palau’s incarcerated artistic souls.
BADRULCHAU STONE MONOLITHS
A scenic drive to the northernmost point of Babeldaob Island brings you to Palau’s enigmatic megalithic site of Badrulchau. Dating from approximately AD160, archaeologists believe the existing structures were the foundation for a larger bai-style building. However, there are plenty of questions still left answered, including why a number of the 52 basalt monoliths possess human-like facial features? Palauan legend ascertains construction of the site to eight gods; the spectacular setting and vistas towards the aquamarine lagoon are certainly fit for one.
PALAU NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
In 2015 Palau passed a law creating a ‘no-take’ Marine Sanctuary covering about 80% of the country’s territorial zone, with the view of not only shielding Palau’s vulnerable marine resources but also at protecting declining global tuna stocks. The tradition of managing fishing waters sustainably goes back many centuries; the practice of bul has preserved the livelihoods and strengthened food security of the Palauan people for generations. Many of the diving and snorkelling sites you are likely to visit will be part of the Sanctuary. Knowing this will hopefully make you feel better when confronted with the steep fees required to access the sites.