DIA 24 (13-12-2019): DE FILIPINAS A PALAOS...EMPEIZA LA SEGUNDA ETAPA

Increíble pero cierto, he dormido del tirón hasta las 7.00….algo que hace semanas que no ocurre….que agradable sensación…

Era fácil con la cama y almohadas cómodas pero sobre todo con cortinas que quitaban bien la luz. 

Hoy no tengo mucha prisa porque el vuelo lo tengo a las 22.40 para ir a Koror, donde Kim ya llegó ayer y está explorando un poco la zona. 

Con toda tranquilidad miro el móvil, recojo algo la maleta, y a eso de las 9.00 bajo a desayunar. 

Menos mal que a lo largo del viaje, he aprendido que el orden de las cosas no es el mismo que tenemos nosotros o que tengo yo….a mi me gusta en el desayuno empezar por lo salado, seguir con la fruta y acabar con el café con leche y algo dulce….

Justamente hoy me lo trajeron al revés, primero el café con leche con dos croissants, después la fruta y el yogurt para acabar con los huevos y la salchicha….no obstante todo muy bueno.

Una hora más tarde paso por la sauna, por eso de matar algo de tiempo…..es agradable porque estoy sola.

Pero tras un rato de ducha fría, sauna seca, ducha fría, sauna…..me voy a la habitación a darme una buena ducha y aprovechar que por fin en un hotel tengo secador…..yupi!!!!

Como el check-out es a las 12.00, a las 12.00 estoy haciéndolo. Dejo las maletas en consigna y me quedo la mochila para tener acceso al ordenador.

Escribo dos entradas más y me pongo a ver un capítulo de Blindspot….cuando se acaba la batería del ordenador, decido dar otra vuelta por si como algo en los alrededores….pero no hay mucho…un McDonnals, un starbucks, y una par de sitios coreanos y chinos. Al final un sandwich en el Starbucks, un café y a las 18.00 estoy de vuelta en el hotel. 

Eso sí...la visita a la iglesia de al lado...se hace...

Como el vuelo sale a las 22.40….calculo que con estar 3 horas antes, tengo más que suficiente, pregunto la hora del transfer y me dicen a las 19.10……que tarda unos 10 minutos.

Tardamos 20 minutos y cual es mi sorpresa cuando el conductor nos deja en llegadas. Para poder ir a salidas, tengo que hacer una tremenda cola, para que mi equipaje pase por un scanner. 

Pasado el control, subo a la segunda planta para las salidas, busco la letra en la que puedo hacer el ckeck-in y cuando llego, me hacen un montón de preguntas, que quien m era hecho el equipaje, si me han dado algún bulto, que si llevo polvo….que donde voy y si tengo billete de salida…enseño la documentación y me deja pasar a facturar. 

Ya la maleta pesa 23 kg (los escarpines están casi secos). No me dicen nada de las de mano, me preguntan por el billete de salida de Koror, le enseño el billete y a pesar de ello, indica que debe confirmarlo 

Tras un rato confirmando mi reserva paso el control de pasaportes y control de equipaje de mano….y me voy a la sala VIP para cargar ordenador y móvil y picar algo. 

A las 21.45 me dirijo a la puerta de embarque y…..sorpresa….nuevo control de seguridad. Esta vez me hacen sacar el ordenador de la maleta, quitarme la chaqueta y las zapatillas y tirar el agua que acababa de rellenar en la sala VIP.

Embarcamos, y ya sentados (el avión va medio vacío y tengo los tres asientos para mi) y en pista para despegue nos dice el capitán que se va a demorar un poco la salida por una tremenda tormenta que tenemos.

Salimos casi una hora más tarde de lo previsto, con lo cual, dormir en Koror, lo que se dice dormir iba a dormir poco.

Llevo a Palaos, control de pasaportes, recojo la maleta, el taxi me está esperando pero no llego a la habitación antes de las 3.30. Kim está despierta, nos saludamos pero me voy directa a la cama, ya son casi las 4.00 y el despertador lo pongo a las 6.50

Ohhhh!!!! pero que penita me da meterme en la cama....con la fauna que tengo...un elefante y dos patitos (que ha comprado Kim porque....son tan monos)

Day 2: Koror Palau

Last I left you just as I stepped off the plane in Koror, Palau and was hit with the heat and humidity. Queue with all others for the immigration control. There is a man stating that we need to: 1) Speak English Only Please – check can do that! 2) Have immigration card all filled out – check have that done. 3) Have passport out – check as that holds the immigration paper. 4) Have out copy of return airline ticket – Shit!!! I did not print that out!! Okay….okay….okay….calm down……try to connect to WiFi…..no go on the WiFi….shit!! Okay…..you have your phone set up to back up emails to the internal drive so check to see if you have the email in the queue……email search…..more searching…..We are in Luck!!! Yes!! Have receipt from Delta for airline tickets and it shows the return flight to America. Will just have to explain to the immigration worker that I did not know.

Queue goes slowly. I start to observe how things are going. Most of the people from the plane are from the Asia region of the world. Most seem to have issues with understanding and being ready. I watch as the immigration people make them get out of line and get their items in order and then get back in line at the back! We all shuffle forward slowly. Most of the people in line have no patience so they are hurrying people to open immigration booths. Shuffle slowly up. Get pushed by the people behind me – I will never understand this – we are all in the same queue with the same end so why crowd and push the people also in line with you when there is no place to go – breathe deep…..breathe deep again….sigh…..just wait and do not say anything!! This is what is screaming in my head. I am standing a few people behind one of the couples from Florida. I watch them approach immigration…..they are basically waved through…..interesting.

Finally, my turn has come!! I go up and greet the immigration officer with a smile and a “Hi”. Hand over all my papers and attempt to give them my phone with my return flight information as I have it all queued up and ready. He waves it off and smiles. Stamps my passport, has me sign the passport – Palau has everyone sign a pledge stating that they will protect the environment here and that is the stamp in the passport. He smiles and thanks me. I smile back, grab my items and bags, thank him for his service and I am off to gather my bag.

All bags are standing and waiting for their owners. I grab a trolley, drop all bags on it, and push forward to the custom lines. I watch as people are going through the lines…..they are checking all the bags and literally removing items from the bags!! The horror!! Okay….unlock all my bags and get mentally prepped to have to repack my bags! I am once again close to the American couple and I watch as they approach the custom agent…..and are waved through with no bag check! Can I be so lucky??

I approach the same custom agent….hand over my paperwork….go to grab my big back for the check….I am waved through!! Yes!! Once again it is people from this region that seem to be having issues….and things thrown away from their luggage!

Out to the public area to find my transfer……scan signs…..scan signs more…….I cannot find my name or the name of the hotel!! Shit!! Where are they? Another transfer person asks me what hotel…I say Palau Hotel…they say they saw him and suggest that I ask the tourist information booth. I go to the booth. Talk to the nice lady….he is here…she will find him for me. There is another person too. She finds him and he has me wait as he needs to possibly collect others. I wait with a lady from my plane traveling alone.

After about 10 minutes, the goes to get the van. We load up and are off to the hotel. I talk to the lady…she is from Hong Kong and her to dive for the week on a liveaboard…not the Aggressor.

About a 15 minute drive to the hotel, quick check in, and I have to walk up 4 flights of stairs…no elevator!! Luckily there are people to carry my bags. I am very tired by now and in need of a shower. I take photos as if I am Cris – do not want her to not have the first time in the room photos as we all know she desires! 

Quick shower and I land in bed. Hope for some sleep – and it comes quick!!

After about 3 hours of sleep I wake up refreshed. Dress and head down for breakfast. Nice little buffet with good coffee. Eat some food, drink some coffee, look through Google maps for things to do……A museum….another museum…..these are good things to do without Cris as we all know that “Kim, I do not like museums.” Both are in walking distance. There is an aquarium close too and a gelato shop. There are 2 shopping centers close and I decide to also check them out as we are to gather food and water for the camping portion of this trip soon.

The shopping center across from the hotel is nice and has things that will work for food for the trip. Off to the first museum. Here there are no sidewalks – at least not traditional ones. There is a small concrete slab with holes in that runs along the road but it is mostly used to park the car on so I decide to walk facing traffic and just be careful. Good thing I am use to being around moving vehicles so just walk on in the heat. 

I spy the gelato shop on the way….no, must wait for that I tell myself…..first, the museum then the other shopping center then the other museum. Must earn the gelato!!

First stop is the Etpison Museum. $10 fee to enter. No pictures allowed! 

Some Palau history, some culture information on the native peoples and what was done to them by the invaders. History on how storyboards have been part of the cultural and how some people are attempting to keep it alive. A storyboard is a wood carving done that tells a story from the Palauan people. They are beautiful and amazing!! Sorry no pictures but I try to respect the wishes of the places. Information on the native canoes and they have several for viewing. Information on the glass beads used for money. A display about the herbal bathe given to a new mother and how the ritual was done and how it has been adapting to today. Lots of information on the Palauan people and their customs and cultural.

Start my walk back and go through the second shopping centre. Grab some water for the room. Go back to the room for a quick stop to cool down a bit and get some WiFi and a few minutes to add a charge to the phone. Also, to plan the trip to the next museum. It is the other way and I map out the roads to get there.  

Off again! Boy it is hot and humid!! I start to feel like I am melting!! Reach the Belau National Museum. This is the national museum for Palau (original name is Belau). It gives the information of how the cultural was before non-natives came.

First outsider to arrive was the Spanish with their missionaries back hundreds of years ago. In the late 1800’s, Spain decides to rule the island group. Then Spain decides to “sell” the islands to Germany….still attempting to figure out how you sell islands that do not really belong to you but back then that was the thought. So Spain sells the islands to Germany in the late 1800’s. Germany rules until World War I. Japan has long influence here and during WWI Japan was an allied with the UK so Japan declares war on Germany and invades the islands. After WWI, Germany is stripped of all its territories, including Palau. Palau islands are given to Japan once they join the League of Nations (started by President Wilson of America). Japan rules the islands and many more and places the headquarters for the South Pacific ruling in Koror Palau. Japan leaves the League of Nations on 1933. World War II starts in 1941 with Japan bombing America. In 1944, America invades the islands and the surrounding island countries (Yap, Truk, Chuuk, etc.). With the end of WWII, American gains control of the islands as they are deemed a “strategic location”. Palau remains under American military control until 1951 when they start the process to hand the country back to the Palauans. In 1951, America ends military control and changes to the Department of Interior to aid in the transition. Over the next 4 decades, Palau gains a constitution, governing law, elections, ….. the whole process of becoming a “country” as the world sees it. My thought is that they were already a country just with different standards. In 1994, America has completely withdrawn any control. America gives support only in many forms. 

That is a quick history lesson for the region. They drive on the right side of the road, speak English (most people also speak Palauan), and use American money. 

There are displays and information on how Palau does climate research and was the first country to sign a non-nuclear agreement (they put it in their constitution). Some information on the Palau cultural as well. 

Outside the building they have a Bai, traditional Palauan house. Very beautiful!!

There is a short Botanical Garden Trail too.

All this does not take much time, so I look up where the aquarium is….not too far away. So I head off to find it. The reviews say it is small….would not expect much in a small country. As I am walking down the road that leads me to the aquarium, I pass the landfill. Now, I normally would not mention this but they have a wall with paintings on it about recycling and that it is important to do so!

I get to the aquarium and pay my $10 to enter. I turn to find the couple I was talking to from Florida. They have found the place informative but small. I get ready to start the tour when an employee tells me that they are about to feed the squid!!! This I would like to see!

The employee tells the other visitors about the feeding so the glass is swarmed by Asian tourists! No worries as I have a piece of the glass! She drops in 2 fish and the squid is like lightening for the bigger fish! It grabs it and starts to devour it. For all who do not know, squid eat slowly! They have a hole and something that looks like a parrot beak. They have to break the fish into small pieces to go through the hole. The other tourists get impatient and leave 😊 So I stand there for a few minutes and watch the squid go to town and watch the second fish attempt to hid behind a rock.

After the squid has finished its first fish, I start my tour of the aquarium. It is geared toward information on why reefs are important and the ocean ecology for the area. A few small tanks with animals you are likely to see in the coral reefs there. Very small but I feel worth the money as it also goes to reef research and protection.

I start my walk back and notice the time….it is almost 1500hrs….where has the time gone! I start to feel hungry…and tired. I decide I have done enough to deserve the gelato! I start walking down the major road…..and I notice that I am walking faster than the cars are moving!!! Too much traffic!! It is only temporary but still….too much traffic. As I pass the hotel, a light rain starts….then it gets heavier! No worries as it is a warm rain and it is helping to actually cool things off a bit.

I spy the gelato shop!! It is very busy but I go and wait my turn. When I see the selections, I am happy they are busy as I do not know which to choose!!

I get a double scoop on a homemade small waffle cone – Sea Salted Caramel and Chocolate! Delicious!! Just what I needed as a pick me up! I sit and enjoy my cone!

I leave to start my walk back to the hotel and possible a coffee at a nearby shop. I do take a coffee at the local place just a block or so from the hotel. Good coffee and relaxing. I start to get tired and feel the sweat from the day events.

Back to the hotel for a bit of a nap after a quick shower. I intended to have a quick nap….but did not set an alarm…..so…….about 5 hours later I wake up! Shit!! Now the restaurants are closed and I am completely rested and Cris is due in about 03:00. 

Set myself to repack gear for the next adventure. We are to take a quick hop to Peleliu – another island in the Republic of Palau. We can only take a single bag that is limited to 30 pounds (13.6kg). Not much and we are to take some snorkel gear. 

As the restaurants are closed, I dip into my emergency snack supplies and some of the food I have bought for the camping portion – I know I have packed too much food for that so I am okay with getting into it.

Now I just need sleep to come again….maybe if I read a book!!