Palau, Melekeok

Overview

Country Full Name: Republic of Palau.

Location: Palau is in Oceania, and consists of a group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines.

Country Climate: Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November.

Country Terrain: Varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs.

Major Languages: Palauan, English.

Major Religions: Christianity, Modekngei (indigenous belief).

Population: 0.002 Mil (2012 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Palau consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. Tourist activity focuses on scuba diving and snorkelling in the islands' rich marine environment, including its barrier reefs walls and World War II wrecks. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US.

Currency: US Dollar (USD).

Inflation: 2% (2011 est.).

Melekeok is a town in the State of Melekeok.

Republic of Palau's Capital Complex is located on a hill, northwest of the village of Melekeok.

Cost Of Living

The cost of living in Melekeok in Palau is low compared to other places. The overall cost of living is determined using the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across 13 Basket Groups. Melekeok in Palau is currently ranked 507 overall out of 768 places (rank 1 is most expensive: rank 768 is least expensive). The cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:

Alcohol & Tobacco costs are average compared to other places for items such as alcohol at a bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, wine (where alcohol is legally sold) and tobacco related products. There are 313 places that are more expensive, and 454 places that are less expensive for alcohol and or tobacco.

Clothing costs are average compared to other places for items such as business suits, casual clothing, children's clothing, coats, evening wear, footwear, hats, shoe repairs and underwear. There are 315 places that are more expensive, and 452 places that are less expensive for clothing.

Communication costs are high compared to other places for various communication costs such as call charges, home telephone rental, internet connection, mobile data costs, mobile phone contract and service provider fees. There are 235 places that are more expensive, and 532 places that are less expensive for communication.

Education costs are very low compared to other places for items such as creche / pre-school fees, primary school fees, high school fees and tertiary study fees. There are 750 places that are more expensive, and 17 places that are less expensive for education.

Furniture & Appliance costs are average compared to other places for items such as DVD player, fridge freezer, furniture, household equipment, iron, kettle, light bulbs, microwave, television, toaster, vacuum cleaner and washing machine. There are 386 places that are more expensive, and 381 places that are less expensive for furniture and appliances.

Grocery costs are low compared to other places for items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning materials, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs. There are 590 places that are more expensive, and 177 places that are less expensive for groceries.

Healthcare costs are low compared to other places for general healthcare, general practitioner consultation rates, healthcare/medical insurance, hospital private ward daily rate and non-prescription medicine. There are 610 places that are more expensive, and 157 places that are less expensive for healthcare.

Household Accommodation costs are high compared to other places for items such as accommodation, apartment, flat, house, villa, rent, electricity, household fuels, household gas, water, and local property rates / residential taxes / levies. There are 297 places that are more expensive, and 470 places that are less expensive for household accommodation.

Miscellaneous costs are very low compared to other places for items such as dry cleaning, general goods, general services, linen, magazines, maid, newspapers, office supplies, postage stamps and stationery. There are 654 places that are more expensive, and 113 places that are less expensive for miscellaneous items.

Personal Care costs are very low compared to other places for items such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer, nappies, pain relief tablets, shampoo, soap, sun block, toilet paper and toothpaste. There are 684 places that are more expensive, and 83 places that are less expensive for personal care.

Recreation and Culture costs are average compared to other places for items such as books, camera, cinema tickets, fitness/health club membership, sports goods and theatre tickets. There are 349 places that are more expensive, and 418 places that are less expensive for recreation and culture.

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs are high compared to other places for items such as a business dinner, dinner at a family restaurant (non fast food), 4 star and 5 star hotel rates and take away meal (fast food). There are 281 places that are more expensive, and 486 places that are less expensive for restaurants, meals out and hotels.

Transport costs are low compared to other places for items such as car hire purchase, car insurance, car lease, car maintenance, car rental, car service, diesel, petrol, tyres and public transport. There are 578 places that are more expensive, and 189 places that are less expensive for transport.

Personalized cost of living indexes for Melekeok in Palau are based on the basket groups and comparison location(s) selected in the Calculators.

In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Melekeok in Palau is ranked as extreme hardship with a hardship index of 40%.

Personalized hardship index premiums for Melekeok in Palau are based on the comparison location(s) selected in the Calculators.

Palau Travel Information

The Pacific Island nation of Palau is famous for its excellent diving. The hundreds of small islands of Palau are home to unspoiled coral reefs and white sand beaches, tropical forests and mangroves, pristine lakes filled with jellyfish, as well as Second World War battlegrounds and waterfalls. Palau is also a great destination for activities such as sea kayaking, snorkeling and game fishing.


Tropical islands of Palau are located in Western Pacific Ocean in the region of Micronesia. Palau Islands belong to the archipelago of Carolines and the state of Palau consists of more than 300 islands. Populated by native Palauans and immigrants from the neighboring Philippines as well as elsewhere in Asia, Palau is one of the world’s youngest nations. It is divided into sixteen states that enjoy a large autonomy. The main islands of Palau are Babeldaob, Koror, Peleliu and Angaur. Ranked as one of the best underwater wonderlands in the world, Palau has become a popular diving and snorkeling destination.
Sights and activities in Palau: diving, kayaking, fishing and trekking
Most foreign visitors come to Palau to scuba dive and snorkel in the islands' clear waters and rich marine environment full of underwater attractions. Diving in Palau has ranked among the best in the world, and there is a wide range of excellent dive sites in Palau. The popular attractions in Palau include also the Rock Islands south of Koror, the Floating Garden Islands to the west of Koror and the famous Jellyfish Lakes, all popular for snorkeling in Palau. The Second World War battleground on the island of Peleliu is a popular historic site to visit. The mostly uninhabited Rock Islands between Koror and Peleliu are famous for their great beaches, blue lagoons and lakes, and contain many of the best dive sites in Palau. They are also a popular place for kayaking in Palau. Other activities in Palau include fishing, trekking, sailing and visiting local cultural centers.

The capital of Palau, Melekeok on the island of Babeldaob is a small place with less than 400 inhabitants, whereas the former capital Koror is the largest town in Palau and the best place to find accommodation, restaurants and shops. However, the island of Koror does not have sandy beaches or dive sites. The newest attraction in Palau, the Palau Aquarium is located at the Palau International Coral Reef Center. Koror also has two museums. Babeldaob is the largest island in Palau, offering nice trekking and kayaking in the mangrove lagoons of its coasts, whereas the remote Southwest islands including Sonsorol, Fana and Hatohobei offer places to visit far away from everything.Palau travel information and practical tips
Palau has a hot and humid tropical climate that has very constant temperatures around the year. There is a wet season in Palau approximately from May to November, but rainfall occurs throughout the year and so does sunshine. Palau is located outside the typhoon zone in Western Pacific Ocean, so although typhoons hit the nearby Philippines regularly, they are very rare in Palau.
Traveling to Palau can be done by plane or by your own yacht.

 There is an international airport in Koror, receiving flights to Palau from the nearby Guam that offers good flight connections from the US, or from Manila in the Philippines. You can also travel to Palau by a private yacht, but it is quite a long way. Once in Palau, there are several transport options. There are local boat transports available, and taxis are abundant on the main island of Koror. Helicopters can also be chartered. Many local tour operators provide boat transportation to the popular Rock Islands. Car rental in Palau is available in Koror. The remote island groups in Southwest Palau can be reached by a supply boat or by your own yacht.

Services & safety. You can find a good variety of hotels in Palau from high quality dive resorts to beach bungalows and cheap motels. Restaurants in Palau can be found in the main town Koror and within the resort hotels. A few bars are also available, but Palau is not really a place with abundant nightlife. English is an official language in Palau, and all local people can speak it. Palau is a safe country to visit with very little crime to worry about.
Short history of Palau
Palau was inhabited between 2500 BC and 1000 BC. The local people, who are usually considered Micronesian, developed a matrilinear society and lived on subsistence farming and fishing. The Spanish explorers arrived in Palau during the late 1500s and claimed all the Caroline Islands to Spain. Spain did not develop the islands and later sold them to Germany. Germans developed mining in Palau but lost the islands to Japan after the First World War. The Japanese expanded the mining and settling of the islands. During the Second World War, Palau witnessed intense fighting between the Japanese and Americans.

After the WWII, The United Nations gave Palau to the USA to be administered as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. In 1979, Palauan people voted for independence in a free association with the USA and against joining the Federated States of Micronesia. After a period of transition in the 1980s, Palau became officially independent in 1994.

Muscat

Oman's capital

Modern day Greater Muscat is made up of three cities, Muscat, Ruwi and Mutrah, separated by hills and ridges.
Each has its own distinctive identity, Muscat is the old port area, a walled town with four gates, characterised by ancient houses, narrow streets and steep alleyways. It is dominated by two great stone forts, Al Jalali and Al Mirani, which were built by the Portuguese in the late 16th Century on Arab foundations, turning Muscat into an impenetrable stronghold.
On the waterfront stands the Sultan’s imposing palace.
The beautiful Omani houses have been built in a combination of Arab, Indian and Portuguese styles.
They have fabulously carved doors and their high walls are at least three feet thick to ensure that the air inside is cool.
The bright sunlight on white walls is dazzling, and flowing pink bougainvillea provide an occasional flash of colour among the buildings.
Muscat has few shops and sights but it is a lovely place to wander round and immerse yourself in the culture and heritage of the Omani people and their country.
Mutrah is just north of Muscat and is the main trading and residential port area while Ruwi is the modern commercial district.

Muscat Travel Guide

Muscat , the capital of Oman, is often called the "Jewel of Arabia" - its quaint gardens and modern children’s parks, the gorgeous beaches at Al Bustan, Al Qurum and Qantab beckon the tourist. Modern Muscat is beautiful with its sparkling waters and golden mountains, its historic past and their remnants. For all its beauty, there are not many sights to see in the city.

Muscat, Mutrah and Ruwi are the core districts of the capital of Muscat. The city rose to prominence in the 14th centuries as a small but important trading post, trading with places as distant as Africa and the Far East. The present day Muscat is the old port area and the Sultan’s palace is located here. Mutrah, about three km North West of Muscat, is the main trading and residential area. A few km inland from Muscat and Mutrah is Ruwi, the modern commercial district of Muscat.