Where in the World is Raquel?

Okay, do you know where Guam is? No?

Do you know where the Philippines is?

Still no?

What about Japan?

Yes? Okay, great! I am about a 7-hour flight directly south of Japan, in the middle of the ocean.

To my left is the Philippines, about a 2-hour flight west.

And finally, Colombia is about a 30-hour flight directly east.

Have any guesses?

A map with a purple marker on Palau.

I am in the Republic of Palau, a collection of islands in Micronesia located in the western pacific ocean. Before I moved here, I absolutely had no clue where Palau is and what Palau is all about. 

Have you heard of it? 

Folks may not recall Palau, but some may turn their heads when they hear "Peleliu." Peleliu is an island in Palau, and it was the site of some of the bloodiest battles during World War II. The island still contains wrecks and relics from that time, now rusted and part of the reefs, and continues to attract tourists who thirst for war history and wreck dives. Peleliu offers a World War II Memorial Museum, still intact caves, and numerous war remnants such as tanks, artillery, and abandoned posts. I've set foot on the island once, and it was astonishing to see so many traces leftover from the war. You are already met with your first shipwreck fused into the reef as you drive into the dock. 

A WWII Japanese communications post and tank in Airai state.
Not in Peleliu

I keep mentioning reefs. Palau is also known for its scuba diving, snorkeling, and countless opportunities to explore its reefs and marine biodiversity. And the best part is you don't have to go very far! One day, I went swimming in Long Island Park, a notable public park in Koror. I swam maybe two feet out when a white damselfish decided to introduce herself to me. By introduce, I mean she took a mean bite into my calf, about the size of a fingernail. This fish drew blood. I admit I screamed underwater. This fish is merely the size of my hand! After the panic settled, I quickly understood that I was trespassing on her carefully made nest. Like a child learning to not touch a hot stove.

After my encounter with Mama Damsel, I realized the ocean is...full of creatures! And also scary. It is crazy to think that we still do not know a lot about the ocean and its wonders, yet we are so inclined to destroy it because we once thought the ocean was an endless resilient pit no matter what we threw into it. Okay, I'll get off my high seahorse - a post about climate change and the ocean coming soon.

My next few posts will dive more into Palau, the culture, the chickens, the food, and anything else Palau shares with me.

Welcome to my Palau chapter.

Raquel