Koror, Palau — October 21, 2025
Sometimes, dreams take time — even a lifetime. For Austrian traveler Mr. Wolfgang Weitlaner it took exactly 40 years to fulfill one inspired by a simple letter from the Palau Tourist Commission back in 1985.
In September of that year, Mr. Weitlaner had written to the Commission requesting information about the islands he had only read about in books. He soon received a heartfelt reply from Ms. Angeles T. Yangilmau, then Administrative Assistant, who described Palau as “a land of history and cultures and home to some of the world’s most spectacular marine life.”
That letter, neatly typed and signed in blue ink, became a treasured keepsake, a symbol of warmth and welcome from a place he had never seen but always dreamed of visiting.
“I kept that letter all these years,” Mr. Weitlaner shared upon his arrival in Palau. “It reminded me that someday, I would see this paradise with my own eyes. To finally be here after 40 years feels surreal like reconnecting with an old friend I never met.”
During his long-awaited visit, Mr. Weitlaner plans to explore Palau’s famous Rock Islands, and historical sites across Babeldaob - The very experiences once described to him in the letter that started it all.
The Palau Visitors Authority (PVA) welcomed him with open arms, calling his story a beautiful reminder of Palau’s enduring charm and the kindness that transcends time.
“Stories like Mr. Weitlaner’s remind us why Palau is more than just a destination,” said the PVA Managing Director. “It’s a place that touches hearts even from miles away and decades apart.”
As Mr. Weitlaner finally sets foot on the islands that have lived in his imagination for four decades, his journey reminds us all that some dreams are simply worth waiting for.
Plan your dream getaway. Visit www.pristineparadisepalau.com for more information.