Western Samoa
Trip Start
Feb 13, 2005
1
23
25
Trip End
Jun 01, 2005
Apia, Samoa Western
Monday, May 2, 2005
The next morning the hire company dropped of the car and we then proceeded to spent the best part of the morning attempting to track down the Driving Licence Office to get a Samoan license issued. After a trip to the police station who directed us nowhere. We then pulled over who then gave us directions somewhat in the vein of 'You go down the small of the two small roads you'll then get to a left off a round-about where you get to a tree which my wife says looks like a tortoise, now don't take that road!" Eventually we find it and start are adventure round the beautiful island of Upolo, and that it truly is! Driving along the palm tree lined coast, the sun shining, rolling green hills to our right. My literary skill cannot describe the perfection of the scene, and the bliss i was feeling. Totally over-awed. That day we drove past many churches, and as a dovetail from travelling round Tonga, we pointed out to each other, every Mormon Church we saw, all with clone like similarity. Driving passed a Congretional church, Maike says she would like to stop as it was supposed to be nice. When we got there, inside, a school of about 40 children practicing a song for upcoming mothers day. This song was so heart felt and passionate, it really became a highlight of the day, more than anything that we had just stumbled upon this place. The rest of the day consisted of stopping at Paradise beach which was nice, but not worth the fuss about it in the guidebook. Matareva beach for lunch, where we snorkeled and lay in the sun. Moving on, we found a flash resort, Sinalei, where we treated ourselves to a cocktail at sunset.
Day two of touring and we visit the Robert Louis Stevenson home/museum climbed a small hill where Stevenson is buried, overlooking Apia and the coast. Next we went to a waterfall. Now when we arrived having heard you could jump off it we had a look around. Surveying a 4m waterfall Tom and I both psyche ourselves up and jump. Jumping off the second 2-3m waterfall we joined Maike in the bottom pool, happy with ourselves that we had jumped. Then a Samoan guy rocks up and does a flip off a nearby 8-9m waterfall. It hadn't even crossed our mind, but that was it I had to jump. After over ten minutes off looking over the edge at the protruding rocks half way that I had to clear and therefore need a run up, i looked inside myself and jumped. Only once, but i did it.
Next stop, Lalomanu, beach. Beautiful, white sands blue water. We were only here half an hour, but i would return. As we continued round we drove passed a village where 30plus men we carving a canoe under an open fale. With the luxury of the car we pulled over,where the chief welcomed us in, taking photos, speaking with the men, seeing a funny sight of some of the men trying to train in a small rowing boat off shore. Oars were going everywhere, and the cox (if thats what there called) screeching orders. In the village many of the children ran around us loving having their photos taken, so hopefully i have some great shots, on my SLR. That night we returned to Apia, for dinner ready to leave to Savaii ( Samoa's 2nd larger island).
