Mantas at German Channel and Blue Holes(12/12/2009)

A couple of weeks ago we finally got to see some mantas hanging out at German Channel. November and December is manta season and we had only seen one manta before this dive. Most of the good footage is on video and the internet is too slow to upload it here. But there is a nice picture below of the largest manta we saw. Probably close to a 20 foot wing span. You never hear them coming as they glide through the water without a sound. They are a very cool animal to watch in motion.


Ashby, Christine, Laura and Amy ready to go.





Giant manta!!





Lunchtime view from the boat.



Sue "falling" into one of the Blue Holes.



Dropping down through the Blue Holes. Once you are at the bottom, you are about 80 ft. below the surface of the ocean.



Views up through the Blue Holes.

Christmas 2009

As with Thanksgiving, Christmas this year was very wet. We spent most of the day inside listening to the rumble of thunder and the pounding sound of rain on the roof. Luckily Helen and Alex had new toys to play with and lots of new movies for all of us to watch.

A Christmas Eve rainbow at the Port of Palau.







The calm before the incoming storm.




Helen and Alex getting gifts from Santa on Christmas Eve at Kraemer's Restaurant.








Got to have more than one Santa for all these kids!!



Helen, Alex and Sue's boss David Pugh.




Merry Christmas to our mates, Bear and Sharon, from Australia.




Opening that one present on Christmas Eve. Helen and Alex secretly bought Sue and I gifts this year. I got a cool PPR t-shirt and Sue got some nice earrings. Aren't they just the sweetest kids!!



Christmas Day present opening.












Mad Scientist Helen and her assistant Alex at work.









Helen and doll Natalie got matching dresses from Grandma Baxter.




"Hey Jaime, do you have a present for me?"



Too much sugar!!!



Bear sings one of his many tunes of the night.



Do you think Sue is singing a Duran Duran song??









Helen and Sue doing a duet.



Aren't they cute together.




99 Red Balloons in English and German.



"I'm too sexy for this blog......."

Santa comes to town!

Joe got the opportunity to play Santa again for Palau Community College. Nothing like getting to put on a Santa suit in 85 degree weather.


Helen's choir got another chance to sing Christmas carols.



The first Santa Claus arrives. Our friend Bear from Australia had a much better ride than Joe did.



Alex with Santa



Is Santa pregnant?



Santa is ready to hand out some candy



Helen and Alex with Santa(Daddy)



Santa and his helpers



Helen and Alex in their new tropical wear. Courtesy of one of Sue's clients.

Happy 200th Blog!!

Our 200th blog! That is a lot of writing and pictures. We have now been in Palau almost a year and a half. This is our second Christmas here so bring on the Christmas Program from Helen and Alex's school!! OK the show was a little strange. The narrators spent most of the time roaming the "town" talking about how cold it was, would it snow and lets get some hot chocolate. Maybe the heat has gone to their heads!!


Alex and one of his teachers, Coach T, who is from Battle Ground, Washington.




Helen giving the Palauan sign for: "Take my picture!"



The stage is set.




Alex singing "The A,B,C's of Christmas.



Helen and the rest of the choir did a medley of songs.



Alex's class picture after the performance.



Helen's class picture after the performance.

Christmas Cookie Making

It may be 85 degrees outside, but inside with the A/C on it is nice and cool. Cool enough to keep the icing on the Christmas cookies from melting. We all met at Copelands apartment in Arai for some Christmas festivities.


A little pizza and Heat Mizer and Snow Mizer to kick things off.





Moira wonders if Sue is going to slap her hand for getting into the M&Ms????




"No decorating until your hands are clean!!!"



Helen and Alex had a lot of fun decorating cookies.











Yummy and beautifully decorated cookies!!



Alex in his Santa hat with Kenta.



Head Cookie Cutter, Cindy Harrow.