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With less than 500 residents, Melekeok is the world's smallest national capital by population. Stuck on the east coast of Babeldaob, the largest island, Melekeok is a rare surfing site in the dive site-dominated Palau. The Japanese-funded Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge is Palau's Golden Gate Bridge that connects Melekeok State to its predecessor, the former capital, Koror. The neoclassical Presidential Office or "Palauan White House" is the state's most famous landmark, built at the heart of a tropical forest. Outside the Presidential Office or Capitol, cars and taxis run through concrete roads lined with coconut trees, which are just beside the deep blue North Beach, where surfers challenge the waves braking on the reef between the ocean and a shallow lagoon. Surfing and body boarding in Malekeok is a all-year-round activity due to the country's tropical climate. Luckily, it is outside the Pacific's typhoon zone.
Melekeok's Lake Ngardok is the largest natural body of fresh water in Mirconesia. The lake and its surrounding marshes form a breeding sanctuary for the country's endangered saltwater crocodiles, which are smaller compared to their Pacific counterparts. Near the lake is a natural reserve cradling an array of wildlife unique to Palau such as the Palau Fruit Dove, Palau Fantail, Micronesian Imperial Pigeon, Pacific Black Ducks, and Palau Flycatcher.
In Ngeremlengui, a beautiful waterfall beguiles tourists and locals for a cold escape from the Pacific heat. Archaeological highlights include Ngerchelong's Stone Faces, ancient stone monoliths, and mysterious terraced hillsides found in different places around Melekeok and Babeldoab.
Guest houses or cottages are Melekeok's usual way of housing its guests. The traditional bai, or coco palm halls, is where men in colorful woven clothes meet to tell stories about Palau's legends and history, which are also carved in their handicrafts like dilukai or sculptured figurines and etchings and purses woven from pandana leaves and palm. After the meetings, the locals indulge in common Palauan fare like taro leaf soup and beef steamed in titiml leaves. Fish, lobsters, and even fruit bats, are also turned into dishes and soups using coco milk as the base.
User blogs:
Cheaper galactic spaceliner unveiled
News from http://news.ph.msn.com/top-stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3737940 Richard Branson unveiled Monday a commercial spaceliner offering tourists a cheaper chance to experience the thrill of weightlessness and view the splendor of the Earth from space. The British billionaire hopes to offer tickets aboard his spacecraft at a cost of 200,000 dollars each, giving adventurous ... Read full Blog post
Indonesia Eco Tourism
Tour Itenaray Day 01 BALI - LABUAN BAJO – RINCA ISLAND – KOMODO ISLAND (L.D) Pick up from your hotel in Bali and transfer to the airport, for flight to Labuan Bajo (West Flores) for approximately one and half hours. On arrival in Labuan Bajo airport, will be welcomed and met with our local representative or tour guide. Than transfer to the harbour to catch a boat cross to Rinca ... Read full Blog post
San Gimignano and San Pellegrino
Night falls on the flourishing and industrious San Gimignano, its 72 towers stand on the low roofs of the houses lit by the moon. This is not a luxury travel spot but is something you don't see every day. In the distance the clatter of hooves echoed tired in the Via Francigena. The hand of the blacksmith stops beating, the frame of the weaver becomes silent, the streets of the tank only a concert ... Read full Blog post
An Aerial fiesta in Clark Pampanga
Its a party in the sky as multi colored hot air balloons piloted ny different pilots from various partso of the world participated in this annual gathering. As early as 5am, the 2,500 hectare aviation complex at Clar Economic Zone in Pampanga was already crammedi with excitement. Clusters of hot air balloon participants busily prepare their own balloons for liftoff as they need to take advantage of ... Read full Blog post
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