Today we are on a Rainy-Day-Schedule. Since we couldn't go paddling today, and we had already played several rounds of Heads Up, 7-Up, Simon Says, and Duck, Duck Goose, we decided this was a good day to take care of some other business. Little did we know what adventures awaited us.

On the walk home from our workout, we saw there was a normal looking (aka: western looking) hair salon that opened at 11. We decided, against, our friend, Erin's advice , to go  and get our haircuts done here today instead of going all the way out to PPR. After lunch we headed out. Interesting experience.

First, the lady seemed hesitant to really cut Shauna's hair. Shauna had to keep telling her to take a little bit more off. That was until the lady pulled out a straight-edge razor. She used it to cut above Shauna's ears. Shauna wasn't going to dare ask her to tidy up the back side - not with that thing in her hand. We're still not sure what the baby powder spread over Shauna's ears as a finishing touch was all about.  In the end, Shauna's hair looked pretty decent so I deemed the hairstylist safe. My bad!

She asked what I wanted. I said I wanted my same hair cut, just shorter.

We're still in the middle of a bunch of less than perfect paddling weather, but we just couldn't take it anymore. We took our chances and headed out to explore the far end of Nikko Bay on a couple of cloudy, wet days.

The first day, Christmas Eve, was all about  . . .

exploring caves - some so small we had to paddle on our bellies,

It's been a bit windy for the last few days so we haven't been out paddling. Yesterday we went in search of Ngatpang Waterfall. I say "search" because we went out looking for it a few weeks ago and it eluded us. Not so yesterday. We found it.

Our last time out paddling, a few days ago, we went out to Pinchers lagoon. It's about an hour's paddle past Sam's Tours, at a really leisurely pace. It was a beautiful day for a paddle. I love getting into rhythm with the water as I paddle.

Ok everyone.  We've been shopping here in Palau for the last month and there are just  few items we need help identifying.  And if you can identify them, perhaps you can share a Vegan recipe for said item.  I've numbered them to make it easier for you.. Just add a comment here with what each one is and the best way to prepare it (vegan-style).

 Picture 1

... That Standup Paddling was to be done on your feet.  Here are a couple of examples of Rachel and her attempts to StandUp Paddle here in Palau.

 I keep getting asked, "So what's the difference between kayaking in Palau and stand up paddling?" During our last paddle out toward Pinchers, it was one example after the next showing what the differences are between the two water sports.

I love kayaking in general, and had the best kayaking experience of my life here in Palau. I still kayak and love as it much as ever. So don't take what I'm about to say as though I were putting down kayaking. Stand up paddling isn't a replacement for kayaking. It's just a whole other way to enjoy the water. There are some real differences between the two activities. Stand up paddling definitely has some advantages that you don't get in a kayak. Here are the ones I really took note of during our last paddle.

The variety of positions available on a stand up paddle board are so much greater. You can stand, kneel, sit, or lie, belly-down, while you paddle. You can sit straddling the board, feet in the water. Unlike being in a kayak and doing this, it doesn't cut off your circulation or dig behind your knees.  You can lie back and totally stretch out, flat on your back on a paddle board.

If you are looking for things to do in Palau, certainly you must try standup paddling.  There is ABSOLUTELY no way you can fail here.  The flatwater conditions here are amazing.  Every day we venture out, people see us and wave and ask what we're doing.  People haven't seen Standup Paddling here in Palau before, so it's been really fun to show off the sport.

So, yesterday we headed out from our hamlet - Ngerbeched - towards Nikko Bay.  Once again, the conditions were perfect.  We could not have asked for a better day.  Here are a few photos of the excursion...

Just a couple of pictures from our first sunset paddle in Palau...

 What do you see when you look out into your front yard? I bet it's way different than what we see ON A DAILY BASIS. First of all, let me paint a picture of what looking out front means to us. Picture this . . .

The front door wide open, no screen door on it. It gets opened first thing in the morning, along with all windows, and curtains pulled back. It's hot here every day so it's that or run the air conditioning non-stop . And that's just a no.  

We do as the Palauans and leave the door open all during the day, when we are home. We don't have neighbors across the street. It just drops down into tropical jungle, so the view is pretty great.

This was it. Our big day! This was our first day to get out and do some stand up paddling in Palau. Let me cut right to the chase and tell you ---- it was everything we had hoped. It was utterly fabulous, wonderful and I feel like I'm living a dream.

We Mickey-Moused a way to secure our boards to our roof. We stuck a couple of boat fenders underneath and made our own tie downs (bought straps and cams and put them together).