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KOROR ISLAND INSERT Fish ‘N Fins Operating since 1972, some say this is the most
complete diving and tour service in Palau. The shop includes
Koror (Locally Called Oreor) Three islands connected by bridges photo services, a technical diving center, kayaks, outrigger ca-
and causeways make up Koror State. Nineteenth Century British noes, land tours, snorkeling trips, rock island tours, and fishing
influence made Koror the most developed part of Palau. The trips. Fish ‘N Fins can also set you up in their amazing liveaboard
Japanese overtook Koror in 1940, making it their World War II dive boats, the Ocean Hunter Fleet. See www.fishnfins.com.
Pacific headquarters. They paved roads and installed electricity,
although after the war, Koror struggled to rebuild as its build- Palau Aquarium Seventeen habitats and ten aquariums display
ings and bridges had been bombed. There was little foreign the fabulous beauty, diversity, and importance of Palau’s coral
interest until the early 1970s, when scuba divers and snorkel- reef environment.
ers discovered the magnificent underwater world and incred-
ibly scenic islets of Palau. The advent of dive tourism and help Grocery Shopping For all your grocery needs, stop in at WCTC
from the U.S. government helped Koror to have a better stand- or Surangel & Sons. Both are great, but Surangel & Sons caters
ard of living. Now tourists come mostly from Japan, Taiwan, more to American or Westerner tastes, and WCTC caters more
Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, the U.S.A., and Europe. to Asian tastes. Both have shopping center locations with other
Although the capital of Palau has been moved from Koror to fine stores.
Melekeok, Koror still has the majority of the population, plus it
has most of Palau’s finest hotels and restaurants, an aquarium, Bandido’s Mexican Cantina & Restaurant Yes, you can indeed
local handicraft stores, and museums. All of Palau’s major dive get authentic Mexican food and margaritas in Palau. The food is
operators have a base in Koror. Visitors find that Koror (and all great and the atmosphere is fun.
of Palau) has no street names. The road through town is called
“The Main Road”. and all other streets are described for where The Prison Shop Convicts spend their prison sentence crafting
they go, such as, “The Road to the Aquarium”, or “The Road to artwork out of wood in the form of Palauan storyboards. This
PPR”. The road around Babeldaob is simply called “The Compact is a favorite store in Palau for gifts and genuine made-in-Palau
Road”. artifacts.
