Palau Pacific Resort Arts and Crafts Exhibition

Starting July 13 through September 15, 2009, check out Palau Pacific Resort's local Arts & Crafts Exhibition.  This special lobby exhibit is in celebration of the resort's 25th Anniversary and will feature aspiring and professional Palauan artists, photographers and weavers.  

Snapshot

EXPLORING PALAU, MICRONESIA: RAINBOW'S END

BY JON H. DAVIS & IRIS BROOKS
A NORTHERN LIGHTS STUDIO PRODUCTION
© 2009

Traveling with the Stars: Jeff Probst

By Kelly Carter, special for USA TODAY

Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor since the show's inception in 2000, has traveled to every continent except Antarctica— "Not that I have anything against penguins," he quips — and dozens of countries. This season's finale from Tocantins, Brazil, airs May 17 onCBS. He shares his travel highlights and tips with USA TODAY.

Q: Where have you been recently that you liked or were surprised by?

A: Obviously I travel a lot internationally, but I recently took a road trip to Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon. I hadn't been there in years and I was reminded of how beautiful and massive it is in scope. Truly breathtaking. I sometimes forget that some of the greatest destinations are right here in my own backyard. They're also inexpensive enough to make them affordable even in these tougher economic times.

Q: What's your favorite vacation spot?

A: Survivor has taken me to some breathtaking spots around the world. I think the most beautiful is Palau in Micronesia. The water is so clear you can see 30-40 feet. It is home to some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. The most famous dive spot in Palau is called "Blue Corner" where the current is so strong that you must clip onto a rock and just hang out watching the entire sea world swim past. For something very different, try scuba diving ship wrecks and Japanese zero planes left over from WWII. Jellyfish Lake is one of the most amazing one-of-a-kind experiences ever. There is a section of fresh water where thousands of non-stinging jellyfish live. It's like swimming in a kaleidoscope. It's absolutely stunning and because they have lost their necessity to sting, there is no worry. Food tip: The Bem Ermii Hamburger stand is a fixture in Palau. Order a burger with the works.

Q: What's the best place you've ever visited?

A: Kenya, Africa, is probably the one place that spiritually moved me. We lived in tents in the middle of a game reserve while shooting Survivor, so I would wake up every morning to a different collection of wildlife. One morning it would be zebra, the next morning a pack of wildebeest. The sunsets in Africa are incredible and at night the stars seem so close you truly believe you can almost touch them. We were also able to spend time with some Maasai warriors from the Samburu tribe and learn about their culture and daily life. An African safari is an absolute "must do" for any semi-serious traveler. It's that good.

Q: What's the most surprising/unexpected place you're ever visited?

A: I was most surprised to discover that the Amazon rainforest is so fun! We all know that the Amazon provides more than 20% of the world's oxygen and is home to the anaconda. But you spend a few days there and you'll discover more mammals, lizards and bugs than you ever dreamed existed. We stayed at the Ariaú Amazon Towers (in Brazil), which sits atop 70-foot catwalks to allow for the incredible rising water levels that happen seasonally.

Q: Can you offer an insider tip for your favorite vacation spot?

A: If you find yourself in Guatemala, visit the city of Chichicastenango, where you will find one of the greatest flea markets in the world. The market is a maze of covered stalls with every kind of handicraft made in Guatemala. I spent an entire day working my way from one vendor to another. My favorite purchase: a pair of quilted pants that looked amazing in Guatemala and ridiculous when I got back home to Los Angeles.

Palau on Lonely Planet TV!

Check out Lonely Planet's Feature on Palau! CLICK HERE!

The ABC's of Palau

Alligators, aboard the River Jungle Boat Cruise

Betel nut, the nut of the betel palm that in small doses generally leads to euphoria and increased flow of energy

Coral Reef Center, an educational environment designed to inform guests of

 Palau about the destination’s rich marine biodiversity

Diving, of course, it’s the number one scuba diving destination in the world

Elilai, perhaps Palau’s freshest restaurant, featuring a bounty of locally caught fish and seafood along with organic vegetables

Fruit Bat Soup, other than the fish and seafood, this is Palau’s most bizarre dish

Giant clams, Palau is home of 7 out of 9 species of clams in the world

History, a matriarchal society, Palau is full of rich cultural heritage, architecture and folklore

Intriguing, everything about this destination has an intriguing tale, from the history and people to the adventures and eco-culture

Jellyfish Lake, the only place in the world where one can safely swim with jellyfish

Kiss of a dolphin at Dolphin’s Pacific

Live-a-boards, one of the most popular forms of accommodations for divers

Milky Way, this locale is nature’s spa and the source of a white “beauty cream” for which millionaires around the globe pay hundreds of dollars

Ngardmau Waterfall, the hike in may be a bit treacherous, but well worth the effort

Olechotel Belau Fair, annual cultural and arts & crafts fair in July

Palau, simply the best place on Earth!

Quiet lagoons, only accessible via kayak

Rock Islands, renowned iconic image of Palau

Storyboards, the native art form that illustrates cultural legends

Tons of underwater wildlife with over 1,300 species of fish and more than 700 species of coral

Underwater wonder of the world, according to CEDAM International, an American-based non-profit group for divers, dedicated to ocean preservation and research

Views…no matter where you are or where you go, above or below the water, the views are truly all over the place and the more stunning than any other place on earth

World War II history, visit Peleliu known as the home of one of the war’s bloodiest battle

X-clusive tours for families, divers, adventure seekers from the destination’s many tour operators

Yap Stone Money, neighboring island of Yap quarried their huge stone money from Palau’s limestone --- “Quarry in Palau and Bank in Yap”

Zero Fighter or “Zeke” was Japan’s most popular and lethal airplane during WWII and one is now anchored on a shallow reef in Palau, available for snorkel viewing at the Ngaremediu Reef

SHARK BYTE Competition

Throughout 2009, Sam’s Tours will conduct Shark Byte, a year long free competition for Sam’s Tours guests in search of the best digital image of a shark taken in Palau. Starting February 1, 2009, and every week until the end of the International Year of the Shark 2009, we will select a winning image for Shark Byte of the Week from entries received that week. Winners of Shark Byte of the Week will receive a Palau Shark Sanctuary T-shirt and have their image posted on-line. Weekly winners will automatically be entered in Shark Byte of the Year, with the results of the competition to be announced at the close of the International Year of the Shark.

The Grand Prize for the Winner of Sam’s Tours Shark Byte includes:
Round Trip Airfare from Manila to Palau
7 Nights Hotel Accommodation
5 Days of Diving (or other tour of the winners choice)

To reserve your place or for more information on Shark Weeks & Shark Byte please visit:

http://www.sharkweeks.com or contact: RESERVATIONS@SAMSTOURS.COM