Samoa - Upolu

Samoa changed time zone on December 29th, so it is no longer one day behind New Zealand. For some reason this proves to be confusing and we spend some time figuring what day it is... Turns we arrive the same day we left, on December 6th, and not one day before as it would you have been before the time zone change... Once we're through the airport in Apia, we head for the bus - although the schedules here are unpredictable as they appear to be set by the bus driver... In the end we get a ride with the lady from the Information desk to the Outrigger Hotel in town. The hotel is very cute and we experience our first "fale" or wooden hut, which is actually very lovely. It is the rainy season, and that night it pours with rain but the fale holds up very well - not one leak!

Fales at Samoan Outrigger Hotel

This is for you Glyn: Mike spots a Ricoh dealership on our way back from dinner in Apia, Samoa :)

The next morning we're up early to catch the bus toward Maninoa Surf Camp on the South of the main island of Upolu (there are 2 islands in Samoa, Upolu and Savaii). We find out that the bus should pass by right outside the Outrigger so we cross the road and wait...and wait...an wait... We chat to some interesting people whilst waiting though so it isn't too bad. Someone suggests we go around the corner to the petrol station to make sure we don't miss it - and about 4hrs later, the elusive bus finally turns up, jam packed full of bodies. A Samoan lady we chat to manages to order us a cab at about half the usual tourist price, so we finally have a lovely ride down towards the south of the island. The Maninoa Beach Fales are beautifully located opposite the Coconuts break and near Boulders - another good surf break. The Fales themselves are not quite as lovely as expected but are sandwiched between two beautiful hotels, the Sinalei Reef Resort and the Coconuts Beach Club.

Coconuts Beach Club

Sinalei Reef Resort

Maninoa Surf Fales

Our fale at Maninoa

Having checked out the two neighboring hotels, we go for a swim and meet Josh & Tanya, an Aussie couple who've also just arrived. After dinner, we follow the sound the drums over to Coconuts for a fire show. The young girl you'll see in the video is only 12 years old, and performed at the opening ceremony of the Pacific Games.

 

 

The next morning we meet Harleigh and Abigail from New Zealand who arrived late last night. Since there is no surf, we all rent kayaks and paddle out to the break for some snorkeling, and spot two turtles amongst a multitude of colorful fish.