Palau: Airai Bai

Airai Bai is one of the most significant cultural and architectural landmarks in Palau, it is the oldest traditional meeting house (bai) in the country, with portions of it dating back over 170 years. In Palauan culture, the bai served as the center of village life, where chiefs met to govern. It was built entirely without nails, with the interior and exterior gables adorned with intricate carvings and paintings – not just decorative but literal storyboards of Palauan legends an history.