Time for the South Pacific!
Just as we were leaving New Zealand I had found out about the typhoon that was headed for the Philippines. Whilst it was still almost 3 weeks til I was due to head there it was still a concern. More about that later though.
We arrived in Samoa safely and were greeted at the airport with live music! Novel but fun.
It was around 10pm when we landed and we had a 2 hour drive to our accommodation. Whilst it was an uneventful drive and we couldn't see much as it was dark, I was amazed by the number of churches that we passed - literally one every hundred yards or so. I had been told that they were very religious in Samoa and Fiji, I guess it was true!
We got to our accommodation around midnight and just headed straight to bed. We were staying in what's called a fale in Samoa - their word for a beach hut. It was on stilts and raised up from the sand but it was right on the beach and you could hear the waves breaking, it took me a wee while to get used to it but I eventually got to sleep.
Next morning I woke early and was greeted with the first sight of our beach - it was lovely. The weather was beautiful and stayed that way until late afternoon when it started raining pretty heavily. This actually proved to be an indication of how the rest of the week would go - nice weather mixed with long periods of heavy rain. Where we were staying was very isolated, we were on the south eastern most tip of the island pretty far away from everywhere. The whole point of this week initially was a quiet chilled beach week with no plans to really go anywhere or do much, just lie on the beach and read. Unfortunately we ended up spending a lot of time in our fale reading and playing cards hoping for the rain to go off. Oh well, you can't win them all. Here are some pics of when the weather was nice.....
Staff clearing the beach
Sunrise
The beach fales
Nice shells we found on the beach
Dining area and bar
Katie with her evening cocktail
Me with my banana colada :-)
Sunset
Sea bug for dinner anyone?
Hello!!
Me going for a swim
and again
I just wanted to mention that although the fales were basic, they were spotless and had what we needed. The whole resort had been completely destroyed in a tsunami in 2009 and had to be built up again from scratch and they did a great job. The resort was lovely, the food was good and the staff were so nice and laid back.
Whilst we were in Samoa, it became clear that the situation in the Philippines was pretty bad. Whilst it was over 2 weeks at that point until I was due to arrive there, Becs (who I was to meet there) was due to fly there a few days later. After managing to get some very expensive internet access, I got in touch with Becs and we made the decision not to go there. As the insurance company wasn't willing to help (they were particularly unhelpful and even downright rude. It was a company called Campbell Irvine - please avoid them), we had to just book new flights at our cost. Becs decided to go to Bali for a week and I decided to go just go home instead of going to the Philippines. It was kept as a secret though as I was to surprise my mum, dad and Keira - but more about that in a later blog.
With the decision to go home made, I only had just over 2 weeks left of my trip - eek. I was excited though, I'd had a great time but was definitely almost ready to go home. I still had some time in Samoa left as well as Fiji and NZ for a few days, it was time to make the most of it.
On our last day in Samoa, we decided to go to the To Sua ocean trench. One of the other guests had recommended it and it had also appeared on a list of 27 surreal things to see before you die so I thought it was worth a visit. The ocean trench is set in some lovely gardens by the coast and you can go for a wander around and see the views, it was lovely......
One of the trenches
When Katie and I saw the trench, our first instinct was 'there's no way I'm climbing down that!'. However, we left all our stuff at the top and we made it down for a swim - it was lovely. At low tide you can swim under the trench and into the sea but we weren't that brave. It was pretty cool though.
steep ladders!
Anyway, despite the weather we did have a good time. Many books were read and more than a few cocktails were consumed! It was time for Katie to head home, it was lovely to see her and hopefully we won't leave it 2 and half years before seeing each other again Next stop Fiji!
Here are some pics of Samoa......
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