Exploring Southern Samoa
Trip Start
Nov 18, 2009
1
15
235
Trip End
Jul 08, 2010
Where I stayed
Apia, Upolu, Samoa Western
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Always ask hotel staff to negotiate a taxi and driver for the whole trip, including waiting for you at places, even if for 2/3 hours. They get an agreed price for the day.
However when you arrange this the taxi driver may not be that familiar with where you want to go especially if it is to the other side of the Island…..therefore take a map with you that he can refer to. Our day out was also a new experience for our driver visiting places he had never seen before.
OUR BLOG
Its Saturday and a special message…….
Happy Birthday to Izzy, Helens God daughter. Have a lovely day and hope your Mum and Dad remembered that we did give them a present for you. Xxxxxx
….up, brekkie of toast and fresh fruit and then Hels a swim and Tony a shower….but why mention this, because just as Tony out of shower there was a knock on the door and one of the very friendly Samoan female staff said they were collecting towels for the wash…..Tony offered his there and then but Hels intervened, pushed Tony into bathroom while distowelling him at the same time. The Samoan lady's laugh and giggles could be heard for ages…..what a lucky escape (not sure for whom)
Wanted to go to South side of island today so choose a resort in middle of south coast. Hels thought it a good idea to ask the staff to telephone to check that resort open. However the owner of Outriggers asked what we were doing today and he said that the resort was closed and it was because of Tsunami damage which went ¾ of the way along the south coast with the south east corner the worst hit. Hels right again.
He sorted us a taxi and driver to take us to a different resort, Virgin Cove to swim and eat lunch for a couple of hours then further east to some waterfalls where we could dip in the pools at the bottom of the falls and then to stop for photos on the way home at the highest point on the island of Upolu. This was a 6 hour trip and only 150 Tala (£37).
We did all these things and had a great time with Pati our driver and he went to Virgin Cove resort and the Togitogiga Falls in the O Le Pupu Pue National Park for his first time ever…..should have charged him!!
At Virgin Cove we had a drink and quick swim in the sea when a huge storm rolled in and deposited its rain for 2 hours. Therefore just had to eat lunch and drink beer. Interesting talk to Samoan wife-to-be of Swedish owner of resort about Tsunami, government help, her forthcoming wedding in Sweden and the death of her baby who had been born recently but had complications shortly after birth with medical help too far away…sad story. Left there in tears….not really
Off to the falls but still raining so we did not swim as we were wet through when we arrived. Would have been great in the sun with a pic-nic. Lots of rain about overnight so all rivers flowing. One small river had burst its banks and was flowing over the main road which we had to travel along…..taxi in nearly ½ metre of fast flowing water….good fun! This was better on the way back as weather improving. Locals not phased at all just standing like lots of Samoan men seem to in the villages.
Stopped at Papapapai-uta waterfall on the way back we viewed this fall from a viewing point at highest part of island. Probably about 2,000 feet high. Met some medical students there, one of whom is staying at the Outrigger, One of them had fallen through a drain cover and had torn his legs to pieces…..luckily he works in a voluntary position at the hospital for 2 months as part of his training…..useful to practice on yourself.
Back to swim and a nice Welshman (yes lads from Lowestoft and Yarmouth Rugby Club they do exist) made Hels and myself a lovely cup of tea. Also met young couple from USA just starting on a years travelling together which gave us an opportunity to bore them with our travel stories……they were actually interested, can you believe that we had to travel ½ way around the world to find someone who would be interested to actually ask questions.
Got into conversation with really nice young American couple, Alison and Kent. They had just arrived at Outrigger having been staying at Virgin cove where we visited this morning. They are on their travels for a year….have great plans where they want to go.
Later chatted about sharing taxi to Sliding Rocks tomorrow (Sunday). Sort at breakfast tomorrow when they can decide if they want to spend time with an old and odd British couple! Who are they you are asking.
Out to Scallinis restaurant tonight if I can wake Helen up.
