Diving Ulong Channel and Siaes Corner

Saturday was our first dive in over 2 months. We almost did not go because the weather report said 7-8 foot swells, but it was beautiful. Nothing like gliding out over the glass like blue waters. Especially when it is November and you know everyone back home is trying to stay warm. Although when we came up from our second dive it started to close in and rain. Thank goodness for GPS!!



I like these fat little starfish. They must be well fed.





Time to go to school!!










A very big Grouper!! How would you like to pull that one in Jeff??




We ran into the Napolean family. Unfortunately they would not get together for a group photo.



Sue enjoying the rays!!







See that island ahead? That's lunch!!




Cool clam!!

The Uighurs arrive in Palau

The Uighurs have finally arrived in Palau. Probably the most press Palau has received since "Survivor" was here. Apparently Sue was part of the welcoming committee. She saw them downtown and waved to say hello!

The first article below is by one of our friends here in Palau. His wife is working for the courts and he is doing free-lance jounalism.

The second article is from one of the local papers.



Tuesday, November 03, 2009

By Jonathan Kaminsky, The Associated Press

KOROR, Palau -- Six former Guantanamo Bay detainees brought to Palau for resettlement have received a warm official welcome, but a plan to deport Bangladeshi workers could halve this Pacific Island nation's already-tiny Muslim community, making integration harder.

The ex-detainees, who are Muslim ethnic Uighurs from a region in China's far west, already face tough challenges to adapt to their new lives in Palau after eight years in the U.S. military camp in Cuba, although they will be provided housing, job training and a full-time interpreter.

President Johnson Toribiong himself welcomed the group when they arrived before dawn Sunday on a secret flight, and he will treat them to a personal tour of the Rock Islands, a diving attraction that is country's top tourist destination, later this week as part of their orientation.

But Mr. Toribiong has also announced plans to send home between 200 and 300 Bangladeshi Muslim migrants whose work visas have expired, and last month he banned anyone else from the South Asian country from entering Palau. No timetable has been set for deporting the Bangladeshis.

Palau's Muslim community of about 500 is made up almost completely of Bangladeshi migrant workers. Reducing their number by half could make the Uighurs' transition to island life that much more difficult.

"They need a community of Muslims," Mujahid Hussain, the only Pakistani in Palau, said of the Uighurs.

Announcing the decision to repatriate the Bangladeshis whose visas have expired, Mr. Toribiong said last week it has nothing to do with the Uighurs but is a reflection of his administration's commitment to the rule of law.

The Uighurs (pronounced WEE'-gurs) have been kept out of the public eye and away from media since they arrived.

They hail from one of the most landlocked regions on earth and are making the jump from the prison-like conditions of Guantanamo to another alien environment -- the leisurely pace of a palm-fringed tropical island.

Muslims here say they will accept the newcomers.

"All the Muslims, they are our brothers," said Mohammed Main Uddin, 26, as he gathered with about 50 others recently for traditional Friday prayers at the small tin-roofed building sitting atop bamboo stilts that serves as one of just two mosques in Palau.

The Uighurs will be welcome as long as they "follow the Muslim rules" on tolerance and peace, said Uddin, a sweet potato farmer who moved to Palau from Bangladesh four years ago.

The Uighurs brought here were among 22 Chinese Muslims picked up by American forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2001 on suspicion of terrorism. They were taken eventually to Guantanamo, where they were held without trial as "enemy combatants."

The Uighurs were approved for release after a federal court ruled they were not enemy combatants, but they spent months in legal limbo as U.S. officials tried to find somewhere to send them.








KOROR (Palau Horizon) – Six Uighurs, who have spent eight years locked up at Guantanamo Bay, celebrated their first day of freedom by walking around the shops in Koror, the main city of Palau.

Mampimin Ala, the Uighur translator who flew from Australia said yesterday the six Chinese Muslims have been taken out of their temporary residence to walk around the shops and shake hands with some of the locals.
“They are happy to enjoy the beautiful environment of Palau,” Ala said. Ala said that the Uighurs have also started to shop for their basic necessities.
He added that the reception of the people in Palau for the Uighurs have been positive.
Palau has no local mosque, Ala said the Uighurs prayed first at their home and will be meeting with some of the Muslim leaders in Palau tomorrow.
President Johnson Toribiong is also scheduled to take out the Uighurs to the beautiful Rock Islands on Wednesday.
George Clark, one of the lawyers of the Uighurs said that “they are happy that the Palauan people have accepted them and relieved that they have finally been released from jail.”
Clark said the Uighurs “ have not touched the waters for eight years.”
Gitanjali Gutierrez , one of the lawyers said that it is important for them for the next few days to be able to shake the hands of the locals.
The decision to place the Uighurs in Palau, one of only 23 nations to recognise Taiwan, is likely to rile China which views Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification after splitting from the mainland in 1949.
However, Palau President Johnson Toribiong is not worried about this because of the countries close relationship with the United States who will come to their rescue if there is any security threat.
Six Chinese Muslim Uighurs held at Guantanamo Bay were released to Palau Sunday
The men, who had been held at the US naval base in Cuba for eight years despite being cleared of all charges, arrived on Sunday 3 a.m. via a C-17 U.S. military plane.
The men were Ahmad Tourson, Abdul Ghappar Abdul Rahman, Edham Mamet, Anwar Hassan, Dawut Abdurehim and Adel Noori.
President Toribiong greeted the Uighurs at the airport and shook their hands.

A Very Hot Halloween

Another hot Halloween has come and gone. I think this year was hotter than last year. I had a fan on me and I was still sweating up a storm. We had a little kid party before the trick or treating at our house. Lots of good games and good food. I also figured out we had 7 different nations represented (India, Japan, Scotland, Australia, United States, Phillipines and Palau). It may be a small island but it attracts people from all over the world.



Everyone waiting to enter the haunted house the night before Halloween.





How do you have a pumpkin at your house in Palau? First, you go to the store and spend $.85/pound on a pumpkin. Someone needs to remind me of the U.S. prices. Then take it home and store it in the fridge so it does not get mushy in the high humidity. Then carve it the morning of Halloween and keep it in your airconditioned bedroom until right before trick or treat.







Bobbing for apples is harder than it looks!







The "Zombie" transferring M&M's from one bowl to another.






Who says they do not know how to celebrate Halloween in Palau!!!!





Our friends from Japan, where they do not celebrate Halloween, have caught on fast.




Mummy, Mummy where is my Mummy???










Toribiong our next door neighbor is looking for bad little boys and girls.



Coloring Contest!!

Blogless

Well I see we have not posted a blog in a while. I guess life has been a little slow. Outside of typhoons coming close and tsunami watches that get canceled in an hour life just keeps on going in Palau.

So I thought I would update you on what each of us has been doing.

Helen: Helen is busy, busy, busy. She is bellydancing twice a week, swimming 3 times a week and singing in the school choir. How does she get it all done? She had her second choir concert on Friday night and did very well.

Alex: Alex is swimming also and has a near perfect dive off the side of the pool. He rides his bike all over the neighborhood and loves 1st grade. We are working on reading at home and he is doing pretty well. I should not put this on the blog but he has changed girlfriends. Older woman same family!! Alex was "dating" the younger daughter who is in his class. Apparently a couple of weeks ago he kissed the older daughter(Helen's age) underwater in the ocean. The younger one came home that day and told her mom, "It's over!" Not sure where he gets his talents with women.

Sue: Sue has now lost 30 pounds since we got here. She is up to running 5 miles and is still planning on a 1/2 marathon in the spring. She keeps up her fitness with morning runs, yoga and boot camp.

Joe: Just picked up two education classes for the rest of the semester so my schedule just got much busier. One class is human growth and development from conception to death in only 8 weeks!! I am also registered on a couple websites for international teaching positions. Our time in Palau will be up in June and I have been elected to find the next job. What are my two top countries? Japan and Turkey!

Due to the nasty weather here Sue and I have not gone diving in 2 months. Hopefully the typhoons will move through and we will get out soon.

Helen Sings!!!

Helen is singing with the choir at school. Here is her first performance.

Palau's 15th Independence

October 1st was Palau's 15th Independence Day. It was celebrated by a large fair at Bethlehem Park.












Susanne, Moira and the girls pose for a quick picture. It was a very hot day.













A petting zoo in Palau???













The boy dancers put on a great show, even the littlest ones!!

Rugby and some Karaoke

Last Saturday we went to the home of our Australian friends, Bear and Sharon to watch some rugby and sing Karaoke. Rugby is very big in Australia like American football is in the States. We decided though that American football players are kind of wimpy with all their pads and helmets.


Katrina, Veronica, Sue, Jaime and Moira have a "girls" moment!





Joe and friends enjoying the good food and atmosphere.





Helen and friends being serious and goofy.









Sue and Katrina singing their hearts out. Did they receive a good score??




Helen and the girls singing some Britney Spears!