Coconut Crabs: the color of the sky

Sadly, you can't really make out the incredible color of this coconut crab. But imagine an almost lobster-like crab that is a remarkable sky blue color. (If you look closely you can see it.)

Coconut crabs are relatives of the hermit crab, but are significantly larger. They have incredibly strong claws, and in Palau primary live on ...well..you guessed it, coconuts. The fun-facts surrounding their coconut cravings: The crabs use their incredible claws to remove part of the outer husk of the coconut, then carry it high into a coconut tree and drop it in order to crack open the fruit for its succulent meat. - And how do they get back down? They are able to withstand a drop of about 15 feet, so often then just jump.

Yummy, yummy, yummy - shaved ice

The shaved ice in Palau is not your usual state fair variety, covered in blue food coloring and corn syrup. The Palau shaved ice primarily comes in two popular flavors, coconut and Calpico. In the case of coconut shaved ice, coconut milk is poured over the ice as it is shaved into a bowl. It usually comes with a side of coconut jellies, a thick gelatin made with coconut milk. The Calpico version is made the same way but uses a popular Japanese soft drink as the flavor base. Calpico is a tangy-citrus, somewhat yogurt-like flavor. At Rar in downtown Koror they serve it with mango jellies on the side (pictured). - Not only yummy, but it replenishes some of the liquids that you have no doubt sweat out during your time walking around.

More Japanese Influence: the Bento Box

In Palau, most lunch offerings include bento boxes. Restaurants, home cooking, event fast food takeout comes in bento style containers and always includes a hearty serving of rice. In this case, lunch on the dive boats came in bento boxes and tended to include a mix of the standard rice side, fish or chicken, and a vegetable. Be sure to practice your chopstick handling before visiting Palau, because while forks are available, chop sticks are the main feeding instrument.

Definitely not Minnesota in February

For those who could use a little soul warming in the winter season, here you go....

Remnants of WWII

The battle for Peleliu (PEY lay loo) is one of the most known from WWII, but remnants of the war can be found throughout Palau. I stumbled across this structure during my very first days on the island of Babeldoab, blocks from my apartment in Airai. I was told it was a US hospital, but given the size of the structure, the location and the long history of the Japanese military in the area I believe it may have been misclassified by the other foreign transplant who was giving me the back story. These guns were likely relocated to the location, but there is an enormous anti-aircraft gun at the front of the building (the length of three full grown men) that was clearly a permanent part of the building's defense. Bullet holes are still clear across the facade.

2 cockroaches - 2 kills

Yeah, ...big....scary. 'Nuf said.

The Love of the Betel Nut - Chewing in Palau

Betel nuts are the cigarettes of many countries of the area, and each country has their particular way of preparing the nut. Cigarettes are actually an ingredient in this nut-chaw national habit. First you cut/bite off the stem of a green betel nut (and remove the exterior shell if you like). Then cut it in half and scoop out the center pulp. Sprinkle some powdered lime in each half. Split a cigarette in two and place it in one half. Take a piece of piper leaf and stuff it in there like a bit of lettuce on a sandwich. Close the two halves and stick the whole thing in the pocket between your gums and teeth. Have a spit bottle handy. You’ll notice orange splatters along many roads along with the fibrous remains of the nut from daily commuters getting their morning/afternoon fix.