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Driving around Babeldaob: Palau’s Largest Island
Babeldaob is the largest island in Palau and home to tiny Ngerulmud, Palau’s capital city. Beautiful rolling hills blanket this dense, forested island. Despite being Palau’s largest island and only a stone’s throw away from Koror (the country’s largest city), Babeldaob is underdeveloped, sparsely populated and often relegated to an afterthought in visits to the country. After consecutive excursions to Jellyfish Lake and the South Rock Islands, Melissa and I spent our final day in Palau exploring Babeldaob, the archipelago’s largest island. Since joining a day tour to the island would…
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Snorkeling Tour of Palau’s Rock Islands
Housing everything from untouched coral gardens to docile reef sharks and from manta rays to WWII shipwrecks, the small Micronesian nation of Palau consistently tops the list of best dive sites in the world. I’d had my heart set on visiting Palau since I first saw video footage of the country’s underwater sanctuaries and pristine seas a few years ago. The only problem was, I’ve always been too afraid to go scuba diving. Throughout my travels, there have been many times in which I’ve had the opportunity to strap an oxygen tank to my back…
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Day Trip to Jellyfish Lake in Palau
Imagine floating in a real life lava lamp, surrounded by millions of gelatinous golden orbs that drift gently through the water. These orbs swirl effortlessly around you, in search of sunlight. They swarm around your fingertips, brush up against your body, and coast right in front of your incredulous eyes. It might sound like a dream, but such a place exists on the tiny uninhabited island of Eil Malk in Palau. It’s called Jellyfish Lake. And it’s extraordinary. JELLYFISH LAKE IN PALAU: AN OVERVIEW Jellyfish Lake lies amidst Palau’s…
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Tetiaroa Atoll: An Unforgettable Day Trip from Tahiti
While Moorea is famous for its crystal clear waters and Tahiti for its jet-black sands, Tetiaroa Atoll is the type of place that is most synonymous with my imaginings of the Pacific. Paradisiacal and remote, it is an isolated ring of white sand lined with palm trees and surrounded by coral gardens. Tetiaroa’s isolation gave me the feeling that I was journeying to the end of the Earth. Aside from Arno Atoll in the Marshall Islands and And Atoll in Micronesia, I’m not sure if I’ve ever been anywhere so…
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Driving around Tahiti: Top Things to Do and See
Tahiti conjures images of a far-flung tropical paradise. The largest island in French Polynesia, it has long been associated with crystal clear waters, soft white sands and luxurious overwater bungalows. Yet, in Tahiti, the sands are not white and the waters are not clear. And stepping foot on the island might make you wonder about the images you’ve seen in holiday brochures. It is a paradoxical place—one whose very name draws people to French Polynesia, and then ultimately becomes overlooked by travelers opting to visit other islands instead. Tahiti may…
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Budget Guide to Moorea, French Polynesia
French Polynesia is often regarded as paradise on Earth. You’ve likely seen images of its jewel-like islands plastered on tourist brochures and social media. The South Pacific archipelago is a honeymooner’s dream. Its crystal waters, lush mountainous interior and soft white sands have long been associated with the ultimate luxurious escape. There are simply few places on the planet that compare with French Polynesia’s exotic appeal. THINGS TO DO IN MOOREA ON A BUDGET Moorea is one of the most beautiful islands in French Polynesia. Though it often lies in…
