SAMOA
Samoa is located halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, in the South Pacific Ocean and just east of the International Date Line. Two large islands—Savai'i to the west and Upolu to the east—and several smaller islands constitute the country. Samoa covers a land area of 2,850 square kilometers (1,100 square miles) and a coastline of 403 kilometers (250 miles).
CAPITAL
Apia, the capital city of the Independent State of Samoa, has a population 58,800 (2001). Apia is located on the northern coast of Samoa’s second-largest island- Upolu. Apia is known by two names- the first one- Apia- is the name of the Village that the city took its name from. The village has its own chief and also its faalupega. The second name Apia is referred to by is- Apia Urban Area. Apia Urban Area actually refers to the city of Apia, where the 58,800 people live. Apia is the country’s chief port and only city. Fish and copra are the country's major exports, and cotton goods, motor vehicles, meats, and sugar are the major imports.
MONETARY UNIT
Tala (WST) is the official currency of Samoa. One tala is made up of 100 sene.
CLIMATE
Western Samoa's climate is tropical. Although it is in the southern hemisphere, because of it's proximity to the equator there is no major seasonal difference such as the summer and winter that occurs in more temperate regions. There are mainly two seasons, a rainy and a dry season and a slight difference in temperature associated with these. The days and nights in Samoa are of almost equal length due to it being located in the tropics, so if you want to get the most out the day you should really be an early riser. Occasionally Samoa is affected by a cyclone, most recently in 1993 the damage from that cyclone still being visible in some of the more remote areas such as Falealupo on Savai'i. The islands of Samoa are volcanic and there is an active volcano on Savai'i and the region has occasional small tremors.
THINGS TO SEE
Just traveling around the islands is an experience., and It is not an unusual sight to see groups of villagers along the road, tending plants and picking up litter as the villagers take a great deal of pride in the appearance of their villages. As an added incentive, the best kept village is awarded with a prize.
It should always be borne in mind when traveling around Samoa that local customs are very strongly adhered to. If you wander around a village in shorts or a swimming costume, it may not go down well with the locals, so the best way to dress is in a lava lava and tee shirt, that way you will not offend anyone and it will please Samoans to see palagis wearing a lava lava, which is arguably the most comfortable item of clothing to wear in the tropics.
The Samoans have realized that tourists are fair game, so expect to pay where ever you go in Samoa. While driving along some of the roads that lead to areas of interest, you may have to pay and then pay again when you reach your destination. However, the charges imposed are not excessive, and it seems a fair way of distributing tourist income to the people of Samoa.
Fale Fono
Opened in 1972, this is the new Samoan Fono (Parliament). Its design is loosely based on that of the traditional Samoan fale, although frequently likened to a beehive, by those who are not familiar with Wellington’s new parliament buildings in New Zealand.
Vailima Museum
Vailima is the house that Robert Louis Stevenson and his family lived in up until his death.
Piula Cave Pool
The pool at Piula is very unusual. It is located on a rocky beach, separated from the sea by about two meters of beach. Stretching back into a cave that goes some way under a cliff, this is pool a fresh water pool. Swimming is allowed here, although it is requested that you make a small contribution.
Papaseea Sliding Rock
These pools at the bottom of a waterfall are a short detour from Alafaalava road, on the outskirts of Apia.
Lefaga
This is the beach that was featured in the 1952 film, Return to Paradise Beach, starring Gary Cooper.
Falealupo
Falealupo was the most remote village in Samoa, deep in the choir backs of Savai'i, until the cyclone of 1991 destroyed it. This is place around which many legends revolve and also the place where 'the sun sets' in Samoa.
Mosso's Footprint
Mosso's footprint is an indentation in the ground that resembles an oversized and horribly deformed foot. This foot is allegedly the point in Samoa from which the giant Mosso took his departing step on his way across the Pacific to Fiji.
Bars and night clubs
Because of recently introduced legislation all bars and nightclubs in Samoa have to close by midnight. Because there is no public transport in the evenings Samoan's were drinking and driving in the small hours of the morning and apparently accidents were going unreported. Therefore, in order to make the most of an evening out in Samoa you have to start early.
THINGS TO DO
Several large cruise ships call into Apia Harbor in Samoa, perhaps six in total during the year. It would be interesting to try taking a day tour around Upolu Island or enjoy a day in Apia Town with a half day sightseeing tour of the mountains surrounding Apia including a stop at Robert Louis Stevenson's house and museum.
Many of the beach locations have only average snorkeling as the fringing reef is either too far from shore or too the lagoon is too rough. At the protected Palolo Deep Marine Reserve in the heart of Apia Town, you will find one of the best snorkelling sites in Samoa. This place abounds in colourful marine fish drawn to the big blue hole that sits in the middle of the Reserve.
At Namua Island off the east coast of Upolu and off the beaches of the south west coast of Upolu, some good snorkeling can be enjoyed.
The beach locations of Samoa are amongst the most exquisite in the South Pacific, although few have facilities (not even drinking water), none have lifeguards and most are almost totally secluded except those alongside a local village. Since the land in Samoa is family owned, don't be surprised if a local turns up asking for money for use of the beach.
GETTING AROUND
By Plane
Polynesian Airlines used to fly several times a day between Faleolo Airport and Maota Airstrip, near Salelologa on the southeastern corner of Savai'i, but recently it is down to one plane, shuttling between Faleolo and American Samoa.
By Ferry
Two passenger-automobile ferries run between Mulifanua Wharf on Upolu and Salelologa on Savai'i every 2 hours Monday to Saturday from 6am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.
By Bus
Samoa has a system of "aiga buses" which take passengers around the islands.
ACCOMMODATION
Western Samoa accommodation is concentrated around Apia, the picturesque capital on the north shore of Upolu. Here there are over a dozen hotels, from the large and internationally acclaimed Aggie Grey's with its rich history, to small inns and self catering motels.
In Samoa the majority of hotels and backpacker hostels are in Apia Town centre along Beach Road but a few are in the quieter coastal regions of Vaiala Beach and Mulinu'u Peninsula a short walk either side of the town centre. For eating out, there are plenty of excellent restaurants, round Apia and most tour activities originate from here.
There are only a handful of hotels outside of Apia around the entire country, of which only six are holiday beach resorts. However, there are Beach Fales (traditional bungalows), over 20 in number, around the island, which are owned and operated by local families.
American Samoa caters mostly to the business traveler and offers less to the tourist. Near the airport one can find a couple of international hotels and in Pago Pago Town with a couple of nice guesthouse lodges along the spectacular south coast of Tutuila Island.
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