Orange Jellyfishes: Palau's Mystical Creatures

Mention 'Palau' to an ordinary individual and mostmiddle of the islands are saltwater lakes. How these
probably he or she will mention of an island in thelakes came to be are beyond me. Leave the prying
Pacific Ocean. Mention the same word to scubato scientists and the native storytellers. But it is not
divers and adventurers and you will get mountains ofthe lake that holds the surprise. The appropriate
metaphors and similes and personifications. All ofquestion should be, "what's on the lake?"
them bringing Palau into good light.Straightforward answer, jellyfishes. Tons of
And who could blame them? One can bask in Palau'sjellyfishes. And not the ordinary, poisonous kind of
glory with or without the scuba diving equipment.jellyfishes. Orange jellyfishes. The non-stinging kind.
Palau has some of the world's finest beaches andAnd if these creatures does not freak you out, then
diving spots. The scenes under the waters of Palaujump it on to the lake and swim in their midst. People
offers divers and snorkel swimmers the beauty nowho have experienced swimming among these
one can find elsewhere. The corals, the fishes, themystical lake creatures have one common thing to
ecology of that makes Palau's underwater scenes aresay. Being in that lake seems to take them to
truly a sight to behold.another place. Some say that swimming in the lake
But if you think that Palau's magic can be found onand sharing the waters with its creatures have given
the ocean, then clearly. You do not know Palau.the calm and inner peace they could not find or get
There's more to Palau than diving spots and finefrom someone or somewhere.
beaches and World War II shipwrecks (yeah, theySo the next time you think you need to be at ease
have sunken battle cruisers, destroyers, fighterwith yourself, need to get away for a while, or just
planes and other war vessels from the Second Worldwant a worthwhile vacation, then try Palau. Who
War scuttled and shot down in their waters). In theknows, an orange jellyfish might touch on the inside.