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> Pacific Islands of Micronesia
> Palau
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Social Profile
Food & Drink: Many restaurants offer an eclectic mix of cuisine. Fresh local seafood is the highlight of many menus and there are many exotic local dishes in addition to the ubiquitous pizza or traditional Japanese, Chinese or American fare.
Nightlife: There are several open-air cocktail lounges, some offering live entertainment or karaoke.
Shopping: Koror has a range of modern shopping facilities on offer. Several small gift shops offer a variety of unusual items, and the Belau National Museum and Ormuul Gift Shop offer authentic handmade local craft items. Palau’s best-known art form is the storyboard. These are carvings on various lengths of wood, sometimes shaped into crocodiles, turtles or fish and painted. The storyboards depict Palauan stories taken from about 30 popular legends or recorded events. In addition to the storyboards, models of bais (men’s meeting buses), canoes and sculptured figurines called dilukai are also carved. Other gifts include jewellery, etchings and baskets, purses, hats and mats woven from pandanas and palm. In addition to these local crafts, the Palau Pacific Resort has a duty-free shop which features locally produced items as well as designer and brand name gift products. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-2100.
Special Events: The following list gives a selection of the major festivals and special events occuring annually in Palau:
Apr/May Annual Fishing Derby (sports fishing event). Oct 1 Independence Day Celebrations.
Social Conventions: Traditional Palauan society was a complex matriarchal system. The people are now amongst the most enterprising in the region, though a version of traditional beliefs, Modekngei, exists alongside the imported Christian beliefs. The political system is modelled on that of the USA, and Western culture is being assimilated – not least because of the many Palauans who continue their education abroad. Tipping: Optional.
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