Journey to Apia & Savaii...
The "big islands" of Western Samoa.
Our plane: Prior to boarding Kelly and I were weighed with our luggage and then told which seats we were assigned to based upon our weight. Let's just say based on where we were sat, the front of the plane both going and coming, and on the fact that we were paired opposite one Samoan, looks like the equation was:
Kelly + Denise=1 Samoan Our view from inside the plane and outside approaching Apia.
The Apia LDS temple. So gorgeous, and seemingly empty based on the fact that there were no cars in the parking lot. Turns out the sessions were full, the people walk or ride the bus.
The market in Apia was a hustling bustling place full of taro, breadfruit, and food of all kinds. You could get wood for your umu fire, as well as flowers for church, clothes for the kids, and most of what you might need for Saturday nights preparations for a Sunday of church, rest and eating.
Our outing started in Apia, a visit to the temple grounds to see the missionaries, and a stop at the market. We spent a night in two, make that one, lodge room just down the street from the temple. Kelly's room was so ant infested (thousands of ants all over the bed and floor), and our lodge attendant was suddenly missing, so we both ended up sleeping in my room, on top of the sheets since they were actually dirty, fully dressed since we both were trying to touch as few things in that filthy room as possible. A less than ideal stay, but we survived with only a few ant and mosquito bites.
Day two: off to Savaii.
The ferry over to the island of Savaii. This was the fast ferry, nice seating both inside and outside, a snack bar etc. It took us 1 hour. On the way home we were not as fortunate and ended up on the slow ferry taking 1&1/2 hours sitting on basically park benches on the back of the boat outside staring into the grill of a diesel truck and the other cars that had been loaded on after we were herded in.
On the way to Savaii we had some excitement. Although there were blue skies above us, in the not so far distance the weather was much more menacing. Glad we weren't sailing through that!!
This blog is my only real attempt at being a journal keeper. Good thing I had a trip historian with me! Not to worry Candace, Kelly has it all logged for posterity.
The first night in Savaii we stayed in a beach falle next to the missionary couple located there. Gorgeous sunset and fabulous food! Other than the missionaries there was only one other couple there so we had the place to ourselves.
The second day we decided to venture further up the island, and settled on a gorgeous hotel. Hot water and everything. This is the view from the private deck at our second hotel in Savaii.
My favorite meal of the whole trip. A whole lobster and sticky coconut rice. Yum!!
This is the view from our deck looking down the beach. I am not sure I have ever seen a more beautiful place than this. We snorkeled this area and were the only people for as far as one could see. It was so unbelievably gorgeous and unspoiled. Fish swimming all around and coral just below.
We found ourselves asking over and over 'why are we leaving here...EVER?'
The view from Vatia of the "Cock's Comb."
This is the view of Pago Pago Harbor from the top.
This is the view of Pago Pago Harbor from the top.
The view from Vatia of the "Cock's Comb."
