Show Me the Money...YAP Stone Money originated in PALAU...Did You Know?
Show
Me the Money...from PALAU to YAP
an amazing Journey
©
Gunther Deichmann - excerpts from a story
on Micronesia in Fins Magazine, 2007
Yap
The
island of Yap is notable for its “stone money” (Rai
stones), large disks usually of calcite, up to four
meters in diameter, with a hole in the middle.
There are five major types: Mmbul, Gaw, Ray,Yar, and
Reng, the last being only 0.3 metres in diameter.
Their value is based on both size and history, many
of them having been brought from other islands, as
far as New Guinea,
but most coming in ancient times from
Palau.
The islanders don’t necessarily move them when
ownership changes. Approximately 6,500 of them are
scattered around the island.You can find a large
example (approximately 2.4-metreshigh) of Yapese
stone money in the village of
Gachpar.
PALAUTOURS.COM presents a Culture Delight... visit the Museums of Palau...Books on Palau...& interesting articles.
We can help you to plan your trip prior YOUR departure from any destination in the world.
Providing you with articles written by writers who have visited Palau or from our own on staff Marine Biologist who is only to happy in providing YOU the information you might require on Palau’s amazing Marine Biodiversity.
Today we like to introduce YOU to the Belau National Museum and the Etpison Museum in Koror.
Both Museums are defently worth a visit or two, scroll through the amazing History and Culture of Palau. The Museums contain native work, past and present, shell and stone money, which is now used as family jewelry. Both places have excellent souvenir shops, a good choice of local handicrafts, T-shirts, Postcards and publications on Palau.
The Books below are available through out Palau's
major Retail outlets, Gift shops and Dive Centers,
at the Belau National Museum
and Etpison Museum.
“ PALAU ” Dive Sites, History & Culture
(Revised 2nd Edition)
“ PALAU BOOKLET ” – A photo guide through
Palau, Micronesia. Featuring some of the best
images on Palau by Gunther Deichmann world
renowned photographer.
Visit palautours Photo Gallery @
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html
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Below two articles on Palau…
Palau: Snorkeling and Diving Paradise
Pristine South Pacific Island Country Beckons
By Larry Taylor
Not a lot of American travelers know about Palau. But just ask avid divers or snorkelers. If they haven’t already been there, they will tell you Palau is at the top of their list of “must go” spots.
Palau is an archipelago of over 400 islands in the South Pacific with less than 20,000 citizens. About 90 percent live in Koror state, where tourists usually stay. The attraction–lying off Koror are the Rock Islands, approximately 300 islets, protected by a huge barrier reef. An underwater paradise…
read the complete article @
http://travellady.com/Issues/September07/4438Palau.html
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Dazzling Palau & its turquoise waters under the radar
The islands with dazzling undersea life are little known to Americans, or anyone else for that matter.
By Rosemary McClure, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Palau, Micronesia
An underwater armada sailed by my dive mask, turned as if on cue and sailed by again -- a dozen bright splashes of color sparkling in the calm, clear water. These yellow-tailed fusiliers were showing off for a clumsy human intruder, I thought, and I laughed.
Clumsy, indeed. I exploded to the surface coughing. I'd forgotten you can't laugh underwater; I'm always so excited when I'm nose to nose with a school of fish that I overlook the limitations of having a snorkel clenched between my teeth.
The fusiliers and I were swimming in aquamarine water off the coast of Palau, a tiny Western Pacific nation that's considered an underwater wonder of the world…
read the complete article @
http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-palau11jul11