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What is your definition
of paradise?

Tall, swaying palm trees?
Warm summer breezes?

The rhythmic lapping
of the ocean waves

and abundant kaleidoscope of fish
in a pristine coral reef?

Or just a white sandy beach?

All of that and more can be found
virtually every day of the year

in the Micronesian islands
of Guam and Palau.

One a part of the US
and the other a special partner,

these unknown gems
are perfect getaways

for those that love history,
wildlife, scuba diving, great food,

and just relaxing by the surf.

So, it should be no surprise that
I have a quest to fulfil in each.

In Guam, I went to see the most
remote US historical site,

the War in the Pacific
National Historic Park.

And in Palau, I want to swim

with the famous stingless jellies
that live there.

So, let the dual adventures begin.

Since I was young,
I had an intense desire

to discover the world around me.

That hasn't changed.
Just the level of adventure.

Now every journey has a purpose,

and each time I venture out
to explore new destinations

around the globe,
I am following my travel quest.

The islands of Guam and Palau
are located in the Pacific Ocean,

north of Australia and New Zealand
and south of Japan.

They are part of a series
of islands known as Micronesia.

Politically,
there are six sovereign countries -

the Federated States of Micronesia,
Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru,

Palau and the US with Guam,

Northern Mariana and Wake Islands.

These islands share a similar history

with two other Pacific groups
of islands,

the Melanesians to the south

and the Polynesians,

arching around the other two.

The most populous island
within Micronesia is Guam,

which is coincidentally
the largest.

The 160,000-plus inhabitants
comprise 30% of the population

of all Micronesian islands.

Its size of 209 square miles

is over one third of all other
Micronesians' landmasses combined.

This is a particularly
easy visit for US citizens

since it is a US territory.

All of Guam's citizens
are US citizens.

No passport or visas required.

The language is English
and the currency is the US dollar.

There is, though,
a decidedly different feel

than the mainland or even Hawaii.

The US fought the Japanese in WWII
for control of the island,

winning it back after 2.5 years
under Japanese stewardship.

Ironically, the number one tourist
group visiting Guam today

is not Americans, but Japanese,

arriving by the planeful
each and every day.

Mainland US citizens account for
less than 10% of all visitors.

And when you eliminate
friends and family

of the US servicemen and women
stationed here,

that figure falls below 5%.

This was mind boggling to me,

considering the ease of travel
and the many attractions here.

As with many Pacific islands,
the sea is the focus.

But here
there is a very special way

to become a part of the sea -
by submarine.

If I told you that a submarine
was seen off the coast of Guam,

you wouldn't be too surprised.

I mean, there's a huge navy base
here and they have submarines.

But the submarine that I saw

was for the public,

where you can have a 20,000 Leagues
Under The Sea experience,

minus the giant squid
that eats people.

At least, I think.

If you're not a scuba diver,

there is no better way to see
the wonders of the coral reef

up close and in truly living colour.

This is no glass-bottom
or semi-submersible

that gets you close to wildlife.

This sub dives up to 140 feet deep

to observe the diversity of fish
that make Guam a diver's paradise.

I'm not a big fan of feeding wildlife
to bring them closer to travellers,

but Atlas Submarine does it

with as little behavioural changes
as possible,

only feeding them
a very limited amount,

forcing the gilled assortment

to find the majority
of their meals naturally.

I'm a scuba diver,
and even I had to admit

that this was a spectacular way to
see the varied wildlife of the deep.

From fish to coral to sponges,

this ride reveals one of
the wonders of the world to anyone

who can just sit
and look out a window.

Dolphins are seen almost every day
off the coast of Guam

and seem to perform for
the camera-toting tourists.

Some of the dolphin pods
number over 30 individuals.

They feed off these shores,
often working in unison

to corral the fish before diving
into the schools for a quick meal.

They are fast, sometimes reaching
up to 27 miles per hour,

and they love to play
off the bows of boats,

riding the waves like a body surfer.

After the dolphins swim off,

the open water experience
is not yet over.

One of the great things
about these dolphin cruises,

there's a lot more to do
than just watch dolphins.

You can go fishing off the back end
or you can go snorkelling.

And you know me - I never pass up
a chance to go snorkelling.

Though snorkelling cannot
compete with a submarine ride

or scuba diving,
it is not far behind.

Best of all,
it can be done by anyone

that can lay on their stomach
and breathe through their mouth.

It gives you an entree to the world
of incredible colours and life

that blows me away
each and every time.

Not all people chose to join me
in the water.

Some decided to try their hand
at fishing.

No licences are required
in Guam, so a bamboo pole,

some ham for bait
and a bit of patience

can yield a prized catch...or not.

As we head back to shore,
just like they expected us,

the dolphins appear again
to make sure we know

who is really in charge out here.

The most tragic period
in Guam's history

is also linked to the water,
but in a very different way.

Guam was the sole US holding
in this region of the Pacific

as World War II
loomed on the horizon.

The Japanese surprise attack
on Pearl Harbor

was quickly followed by attacks
in the Philippines and Guam.

On December 8th, 1941,
Guam was attacked and taken

by the Japanese,

and that occupation would last
for 31 months.

It was that tragic history

and seeing the park preserved
as a memorial to that time

that drew me here and was my quest.

The indigenous people of Guam
were subject to forced labour,

family separation,
incarceration and execution.

Nearly 2,000 people were killed,

which was about 10%
of the total population.

Within the War in the Pacific
National Historic Park

is a plaque engraved with the names
of those residents

who were brutalised or died
during the war.

The plaque also lists
the American casualties.

All told, there are 16,142 names
that stand as a silent reminder

of the civilian and military
costs of war.

The National Historic Park
has an excellent visitor centre

that can orient the World War II
enthusiasts to the park sites

and, for the less knowledgeable,
can explain the battles

and strategic importance
of this region,

and the history of Guam,

which changed forever
in one of those battles in 1944.

On July 21st, 1944, US Marines
landed on both sides of Guam

and attacked in full force.

It was a bloody and costly war,
but by the end of August,

the Japanese were defeated,

with only isolated pockets
of resistance.

The island was again
in American hands.

34 years later, on August of 1978,

The War of the Pacific National
Historic Park was created

to commemorate
the bravery and sacrifice

of those participating in the
campaign of the Pacific Theater

of World War II.

The recapture of Guam resulted
in over 7,000 American casualties

and nearly three times
the number of Japanese.

This victory, though,
foreshadowed the end of the war,

which was just a year away.

Today, the seven separate units
of the park

feature the landing sites, gun
emplacements and memorials

to one of the key and decisive
battlefields of the Pacific.

Though the war and the battles
fought here left a permanent mark

on the island and its inhabitants,

the people honour the sacrifice
of those that came before

and recognise the losses suffered
on both sides.

Near the National Park's visitor
centre is a private museum

dedicated to the battles
of World War II.

It has more of the war's
hardware from both sides

than the National Historic Park.

Created by late Marine John Gerber,

it chronicles the occupation
capture and battles that Guam faced

in the early 1940s.

The museum is now run by John's wife
after his untimely death,

and it includes historic photos,

vehicles and artifacts
found on the island.

The World War II history is an
integral part of the island's culture

and was my quest.

I found it not by far the
only aspect of history here.

The people I met visiting
the military area

suggested that I take a drive
around the island

to get a full picture of Guam

and the early history and traditions
of the local Chamorros people.

The first Europeans
came in the 1500s.

Magellan, sailing for the Spanish
crown, landed here,

claiming it for Spain.

It remained Spanish until the end of
the Spanish-American War in 1898.

The Spanish influence is
still strong here, though,

from the Catholic churches
to foods and place names

to old fort look-outs.

Fort Soledad is one such monument
to a time well past.

The short walls -
higher ones were not needed

when it was perched on a cliff -

are a tabby-like mixture
of limestone and shells,

strong enough
to last the centuries.

Not far down the coast
is an old village

re-emerging from poverty and neglect

to become a showplace
of Chamorros culture.

Inarajan Village residents
have pulled together

and begun to restore
the once beautiful homes.

Many already have been brought back
to life with meticulous restoration.

A former corporate
team-building compound,

abandoned due to downsizing
and the economy,

has been acquired by the locals

and is being lovingly restored
as a hotel

to further entice tourists
to this far side of the island.

And as a further tip of the hat

to reconnecting
to pre-European culture,

a stone woodfire oven bakery is
producing local breads and pastries

as they did centuries ago.

As we were treated to pastries,
breads, and more modern pizzas,

two local high school seniors
demonstrated traditional dances.

Guam is situated between
the Polynesian islands

of New Zealand and Hawaii,

and the dance steps remind me of both
of those very special cultures.

Guam has become the commercial
and transportation hub

of all of the Micronesian islands.

With the only large population
able to support chain stores,

other islanders come to Guam
a few times a year

to make both soft-
and hard-good purchases.

Many of the American department
stores and fast food chains

have outlets only on
this Micronesian island.

Other islands were, I was told,
much more primitive

with few, if any, amenities.

My next destination, Palau,

is one of the smallest countries
in the world,

but it has one of the most unusual
wildlife phenomena -

the stingless jelly lake,

and my other quest for this trip.

Well, as it turns out,
while Palau is out there,

it is tourist friendly,
especially to Americans.

Palau is an independent country
with special ties to the US.

The US provides defence,

some social services and monetary
stability for this tiny nation

of 21,000 people spread
over an archipelago of 250 islands.

Like all sovereign nations,
it makes its own laws,

alliances and treaties
and has full voting membership

in the United Nations.

Surprisingly,
Palau's most populated

and commercially strong island
is not its largest.

Most of the hotels and tourist
facilities are located

on the smaller island of Koror.

Like most visitors to Palau,
we use that island as our base.

There are a couple more
upscale lodges in Palau,

but most are basic,
oriented towards divers, but clean.

Most of the sites are either
north or south of this island.

The most famous of those, and the
main reason I wanted to visit Palau,

is the chain of mostly uninhabited
islands known as the Milky Way.

These unbelievably gorgeous
islands got their moniker

from their large numbers
scattered throughout the Pacific,

resembling an oceanic Milky Way.

These limestone islands
rise out of the sea

like a mushroom
capped with a tropical forest.

They are sanctuaries for birds
and fruit bats

and the coral
growing around the shallows.

Emanating from the islands are a
treasure trove of undersea wildlife.

That wildlife diversity has earned
the island's top ratings

from divers and dive publications,
as well as one of the spots

on the Seven Underwater Wonders
of the World

alongside other great waterways like
the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea,

Galapagos and Lake Baikal.

I was anxious to get below the waves

and see this wonderland for myself,
but my guide suggested

that we start with the terrestrial
sites and learn more about Palau.

On her word, we headed to
the North Island, Babelthuap,

which is the largest island
in the Palau chain.

Travel on the island is much easier
than you'd think

because the US
constructed a paved road.

In exchange for the road,

the US has the right to use it
for military purposes

should the need arise.

Luckily, that has not happened.

There are two big must-sees up here -

the Easter Island-esque monoliths
and the capital.

The main road takes you to each
of these amazing sites.

The first big cultural draw
on the island is the monoliths.

Not anywhere as big or numerous

as their Easter Island
counterparts,

but they may well have had the same
spiritual meaning to their carvers.

The more you travel,
the more you realise

there are similarities
across all civilisations.

One of those is large carved
stone monoliths.

From China to Ethiopia to Easter
Island, Stonehenge in England,

all of them represent time,
a message to future generations

or maybe just plain power.

Here in Palau is no exception.

These large monoliths
were left generations ago,

but are looked today
in a very traditional sense.

I think that is one of the aspects
of travel I love the most -

seeing the connections
between people,

what makes us the same,
and yet what makes us unique.

The carving and placement
of these planted rocks is amazing

with no modern equipment.

It is hard to imagine
how it was done.

Not all wonders have to be ancient.

The capital of the country
is a special kind of wonder.

With the whole country of Palau's
population about the same

as a small US suburb, 20,000,

the capital seems a bit excessive,

especially since there are only
9 senators and 16 legislators.

In a country this small,

if someone wants to be in government,
they can be,

given city, island
and national positions.

Every local I asked told me
that when the president is in,

you can come into his office,
sit down and talk to him.

From a US
or Western world perspective,

it is impossible to imagine.

I had imagined for years
what it would be like

to scuba dive
in Palau's crystal clear waters

and also swim with the jellies.

Now it was about to happen.

I learned to dive over 25 years ago
when I first vacationed in Australia

and planned to visit
the Great Barrier Reef.

I wanted to see it as close
as I could,

and scuba was my vehicle
to do just that.

Over the years I have had the
privilege to dive around the world

and in five
of the Seven Wonder sites.

I was now getting my shot at one
of my two remaining superlatives.

I had time for one dive only,

so we chose the German Canal site.

It's got its name after the Germans
dredged this navigable route

between the islands to move people
and goods more efficiently.

At the end of the Spanish-American
War in 1888,

Spain's prized
Pacific island colonies

were either given to the US
or sold to Germany.

Palau was one of those that was sold.

Spain, having controlled
these islands since Magellan

in the 16th century,

had done few improvements,

emphasising instead religion
and cultural change.

The Germans were more practical
and focused on commercial,

educational, health issues
for the locals.

So, here
in this German-widened canal

is where politics
and diving intersect.

As I swam through
the dark blue water,

I was amazed at the number
and variety of wildlife -

everything from colourful reef fish
to barracudas,

large reef sharks and the biggest
rays in the world, mantas,

can be seen in one single dive.

My dive partner told me

that this wasn't even
the best dive site in Palau.

I could only imagine
what the others would yield.

Astonishingly,
this was only one reason

for a boat ride
through the Milky Way.

The main and quite unique reason
for this trip was yet to come.

Before we reached it, though,

we had a fun and potentially
quite healthy side trip.

It is said, and I can't prove it,

but hundreds and I do mean hundreds
of Japanese come daily to Palau

to partake in the skin-healing
powers of the mud in this lagoon.

All you have to do
is pack the whitish grey dirt

on your face and body,
and it makes your skin look younger.

Well, you be the judge.

Now that I look younger,
I can take my newfound youth

to the ultimate attraction
in the Milky Way,

and my quest, Jellyfish Lake.

This saltwater-trapped lake

has a population of thousands and
thousands of stingless jellyfish

that you can swim with.

It is an ethereal experience,

one of my best
wildlife encounters ever,

to snorkel among the hordes
of orange jellies.

As they pulsate around you,
a feeling of inner peace wells up.

It was like nothing
I had ever done before.

This had been one of my
big dreams for years.

These jellies have a symbiotic -

meaning both creatures
benefit from each other -

relationship with algae.

Algae, through photosynthesis,
supplies nutrients

and the jellies follow the sun

so the algae can maximise
the food production.

This had been on my bucket list
for a long time.

I had imagined
what it might be like,

but I had underestimated
the magnificence of it by scores.

This was truly one of the most
surprising quests I have had.

Nothing could have prepared me
for this incredible experience.

As we flew through the water
back to our base,

I couldn't help but marvel at the
underwater wonders I had seen.

They didn't exist by accident,
though.

As the modern world
intrudes on nature,

strict conservation plans
must be employed.

Palau was the first country
to set up a shark sanctuary,

and that has cascaded into

some of the best marine conservation
standards in the world.

I wanted to meet the man that started
that ball rolling, Dermot Keene.

Well, tourism in Palau
over the last number of years

has slowly been creeping up

and it's being recognised
more and more

as a very, very important part
of our future.

In fact, our whole economy
is built around tourism.

You may have may not have
heard the discussions

going on in the community

about commercial fishing
and doing away with that

and really focusing on tourism
as our bread and butter.

So, it is going up.

Overall, I think in the last
probably 10 years probably doubled.

But it still pales in comparison
to large destinations.

We get about 100,000
visitor arrivals a year.

After an adrenaline-pumping day
on the water

and one of my most
satisfying quests ever,

our guide had invited me to try
one more unique experience -

an island delicacy that she eats
on special occasions.

Nothing in all my years of travel
could have prepared me

for what the waiter set down
in front of me.

(LAUGHS)

I found fruit bat is actually a menu
item in some local restaurants.

So, with everyone I know in Palau
watching, what would I do next?

Well, you can guess what I did.

It does taste like pork.

Guam is a gem with many attractions
geared to its undersea wonders,

like a submarine ride.

But the real testament to the island
and its people

was surviving the horrors
of World War II

so aptly documented

in the US War in the Pacific
National Historic site,

and my first quest.

Palau is a diver's paradise,

making it one of the Seven
Underwater Wonders Of The World,

but the star of the wildlife scene
are the stingless jellyfish.

A snorkellers' Valhalla,

and my most fun quest on this trip.