Once the rains stopped Samoa was to be the perfect south pacific destination for relaxation, beaches and interesting sights...a holiday ! There are two main islands Upolu and Savai'i and I managed to get around both of them enjoying most of what they had to offer.By the end of the week as the sun came out to play I was wishing that I had a week to spend relaxing on the beach before the inevitable return to real life and the cooler climate ! Samoa has much more of a tourist industry than Tonga but it is also much more aware of its traditional culture and sustaining that way of life utilising all local produce through careful farming. People of Samoa are warm and friendly and invite you to join them at any opportunity they have a huge and refreshing respect for family values and I found myself on a number of occasions as an honoured guest in Samoan homes. Island time prevails as in Tonga but I was actually starting to enjoy the freedom of the concept and was dreaming of starting an 'island time' campaign for England...
'the clubs' where all the night life in Samoa goes down on the main street in Apia. I enjoyed some all nighters with locals including a fa'afine night...which ended in handbags at dawn. A fa'afine is a man who dresses and behaves as a woman, they are tolerated with a teasing jester like attitude in Samoa. However the Fa'faine are great fun to be out with and a source of great entertainment...and they can really really dance !
More impressive blow holes, Alofaaga on Savai'i
extracting coconut cream for dinner
In 1911 the island of savai'i was struck by massive volcanic activity and earthquakes the remains in the villages are spectacular. I walked for a couple of hours through some of the remains with a local villager who showed me the 'best bits', it got really hot as the black lava flows store lots of the suns heat and reflect it back at you !
The lava flowed through the church door and down the hill, through grave yards and villages fossilising everything in its path and strange and spooky sight.
May peace be with you... The Catholic Cathedral was my Sunday entertainment I sang like a trooper ... then went to McDonald's for a brew 9the only place open on a Sunday...nice to see they are eroding the culture in every country they infect !
Amazing waterfalls cascade down huge vine covered ravines all over both of the islands...lost count of the number of spectacular waterfalls I experienced in Samoa.
Lifes a beach, local kids play and sleep with inflated tyre inners on the beach
A visit to the beautiful Robert Louis Stephenson house, Villa Vailima where he spent the last few years of his life. He and his wife are buried at the top of a big hill behind the house.
The 1950s style buses of Samoa are crazy they are painted in a variety of colours all individually named...its impossible to tell where they are going or when they will arrive but they are great fun and fully of fantastic characters, the drivers belt out some massive tunes as they hoon along the island roads.
The open fale is the home of choice for most Samoans a simple construction of palm tree trunks and thatched palm leaf roofing makes a cool and comfortable home.
Giant sea turtles grace the shore at Savai'i island.
Local guy sells Kava bowls and traditional 'weapons' on the market at Upolu
At 'the bar' on Lalomanu beach
...the best beach I have visited on my 6 month trip hands down...Sorry Australia but its true !
Lalomanu Beach Taufua Fale village was paradise on earth.
Apia town centre full of colonial style architecture and happy people...and a McDonalds which is even open on a sunday compleate with radio church service.
Local men gather at the market for day long Kava and domino sessions.
'the clubs' where all the night life in Samoa goes down on the main street in Apia. I enjoyed some all nighters with locals including a fa'afine night...which ended in handbags at dawn. A fa'afine is a man who dresses and behaves as a woman, they are tolerated with a teasing jester like attitude in Samoa. However the Fa'faine are great fun to be out with and a source of great entertainment...and they can really really dance !
More impressive blow holes, Alofaaga on Savai'i
In 1911 the island of savai'i was struck by massive volcanic activity and earthquakes the remains in the villages are spectacular. I walked for a couple of hours through some of the remains with a local villager who showed me the 'best bits', it got really hot as the black lava flows store lots of the suns heat and reflect it back at you !
The lava flowed through the church door and down the hill, through grave yards and villages fossilising everything in its path and strange and spooky sight.
May peace be with you... The Catholic Cathedral was my Sunday entertainment I sang like a trooper ... then went to McDonald's for a brew 9the only place open on a Sunday...nice to see they are eroding the culture in every country they infect !
Amazing waterfalls cascade down huge vine covered ravines all over both of the islands...lost count of the number of spectacular waterfalls I experienced in Samoa.
Lifes a beach, local kids play and sleep with inflated tyre inners on the beach
A visit to the beautiful Robert Louis Stephenson house, Villa Vailima where he spent the last few years of his life. He and his wife are buried at the top of a big hill behind the house. 
The 1950s style buses of Samoa are crazy they are painted in a variety of colours all individually named...its impossible to tell where they are going or when they will arrive but they are great fun and fully of fantastic characters, the drivers belt out some massive tunes as they hoon along the island roads.
The open fale is the home of choice for most Samoans a simple construction of palm tree trunks and thatched palm leaf roofing makes a cool and comfortable home.
Giant sea turtles grace the shore at Savai'i island.
Local guy sells Kava bowls and traditional 'weapons' on the market at Upolu
At 'the bar' on Lalomanu beach 
...the best beach I have visited on my 6 month trip hands down...Sorry Australia but its true !
Lalomanu Beach Taufua Fale village was paradise on earth.
Apia town centre full of colonial style architecture and happy people...and a McDonalds which is even open on a sunday compleate with radio church service.
Local men gather at the market for day long Kava and domino sessions.
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