Just returned from a great trip to Angaur!  Could be my favorite island so far here in Palau - peaceful, beautiful, relaxing...

We hopped on this state boat/barge on Friday afternoon, expecting to return on Sunday, but after the 4 hour trip, we found out that the boat was rescheduled and not due to return until Monday...

 Back on December 20, 2008, I started the Great Basil Experiment of 2008. We bought a little planter box and followed the directions on the seed packet perfectly. I figured with the HOT, humid weather of Palau, that the basil would stand a better chance if kept inside. I got all excited when my first basil shoots erupted from the soil. I had visions of pesto in my head as I watched them grow bigger each day.

On January 1st the basil began to wilt. By January 4^th all the little basil shoots were lying face down in the dirt. It was time to order little teeny basil-sized caskets. It was evident that my basil plants would be leaving this earth for a far, far better place.

My dad came for a visit last week. He's not much of a water guy so we didn't do any stand up paddling or snorkeling, but we did do stuff. Here are just some of the highlights.

First we got a boat ride  from Koror, through the Rock Islands to Peleliu. Godwin, of Dophin Bay, is a great driver, guide, and all around good guy. We dropped us off at Giant Clam Beach while he took the rest of the folks on board over to Jelly Fish Lake for a swim.

Last week we arranged for a boat to take us and our buddy Fuanes out to the Rock Islands for a bit of paddling. Shauna and I hadn't ever been to the Western Lagoon so that's where we headed first.

We paddled around Soft Coral Arch and Natural Arch. The winds weren't as kind as we had hoped. They were kicking up the water a bit.