Samoa Virgins

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel a lot, particularly through the Pacific, yet I had never been to Samoa. For some reason it had evaded our attention to date, so I was super excited to be heading there for the first time.
There was a lot I didn’t know about Samoa, for a start the modern-day Samoa suffered two major civil wars with three countries fighting for control of the Islands, USA, Germany and England. The first eight-year civil war, came to an end when a cyclone destroyed all the ships, thus ending the conflict. The second civil war ended with the USA claiming the eastern islands and Germany claiming the west. From 1900-1914 the area I was now visiting was known as German Samoa. With the onset of WW1, Britain then requested that NZ step in and seize the country from the Germans and we governed Samoa until its independence in 1962.
The history of the city itself is evident in the buildings and monuments that show a varied and interesting past. Robert Luis Stevenson made Samoa his home and is buried on Mt Vaea, overlooking the city, and the home he built is now a museum.
We left Auckland on a cold, grey windy day and arrived to blue skies, 30 degrees and palm trees swaying in the breeze. It’s amazing what a difference a few hours can make. We were staying on the South-Eastern side of the island, an hour and a half’s drive from the airport so we got to see quite a lot of the island on the way to our resort.
Like most Pacific Islands, the coast is littered with sandy beaches and as you travel across Samoa it does not take long to feel things slowing down, the lush green canopy and hills are in stark contrast to the scattered buildings and homesteads. Outside each homestead there was an open walled building, later we were to find out it was the meeting hall where families meet to celebrate or discuss important issues.
We arrived at Saletoga to a chorus of singing and an array of smiling faces. Samoans are a big people with smiles to match. Along the coast line and slightly inland, there are a variety of resorts all capitalising on Samoa’s beautiful beaches, clear water and blue skies. It is typical quintessential South Pacific – swinging palm trees, warm breeze and the hypnotise sound of waves crashing on the reef. Surfing is a big draw card for Samoa and watching the waves from our deck you could see why. We also watched the fishing boat charter head out each day and the lush reef make for both excellent diving and fishing.
But its not just beaches and palm trees scattered throughout Samoa, there are a range of natural attractions for the avid adventurer. We hiked to waterfalls and visited To Sua Trench where the sea has created a giant swimming pool accessible by a ladder built by the locals. Samoa also boast impressive rock pools and blow holes, as well as fresh water rivers.
Despite being a keen adventurer, this trip was mainly about rest and relaxation, a time to recharge our batteries after a busy few months, and Samoa was without a doubt, the perfect place to do just that. Internet was sporadic, which was perfect. We kept phones off and knew little about what was going on in the rest of the world, and it was perfect.
TIPS:
You need very little in Samoa, a pair of shorts and a bikini pretty much covered my attire for the week, so you have plenty of room in your suitcase, so fill it with snacks and drinks. Although these are not expensive in Samoa, the shops are not close by (unless you are staying in Apia) and some things you cannot get (Diet coke for example)
Do your research before you go as internet connection on the island is sporadic. So once you get there take the time to disconnect, both metaphorically and literally.