Melokeok, Palau.

The pacific jewel of Palau is very unknown. It' one of the most beautiful places I've seen so far. Especially diving with manta rays in the crystaline waters and the trip to the divesite is breathtaking. You can see some clips on the Streets Youtube Channel. But i'm here to take photos of streetlife in the capital. When I came over to Palau I thought the capital was Koror. Once here I found out that the capital had been moved to the rather obscure village of Melokeok. With my rented jeep I drove down to this place which to my surprise was nothing more then one street with a couple of houses by the sea. Without a doubt the quietest capital I've been to.

When you drive up the hill from Melokeok you bump into the newly built government office which is an exact replica of Capitol Hill. A not so modest example of the American influence on this island. Allthough the whole thing came about with funding from the E.U. a sign reads. We all want our voices heard on the pacific islands. Their locations are very strategic.

In this street of Melokeok these worldly politics seem far away. Only a bunch of schoolkids break the silence of the tropical heat. What will it look like in ten years? It is the capital now.