Western Samoa. Europeans in Samoa. Mains voltage

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The Independent State of Samoa is an island state in the South Pacific Ocean, occupying the western part of the archipelago of the same name. It consists of two large islands - Savaii and Upolu, two small ones - Manono and Apolima and five uninhabited islets.

The islands of the archipelago are the peaks of an underwater ridge of volcanic origin. The relief of the islands is mountainous. On about. Savaii has an active volcano Matavanu. The highest peaks are Mount Silisili (1858 m) on about. Savaii and Fito (1100 m) on about. Upolu. The surface of these islands decreases from the central most elevated regions to the periphery and in some places passes into the coastal lowlands. There are many fast mountain rivers on the islands. The shores are mostly rocky and indented.

Samoa Airport

Apia Faleolo International Airport

Hotels Samoa 1 - 5 stars

Samoa weather

The climate is tropical, hot and humid. Average daily temperature approx. 26°С, temperature fluctuations are small (average temperature in summer - 27°С, in winter - 25°С).

The average annual rainfall ranges from 2500–3000 mm in the northwest of both large islands to 5000–7000 mm in the central mountainous regions. The dry season runs from May to October, and the rainy season runs from November to April. Tropical hurricanes often recur.

Samoan language

Official language: Samoan, English

The Samoan language belongs to the East Austronesian group of the Austronesian language family. Samoan writing is based on the Latin alphabet.

Currency of Samoa

International name: WST

The tala is made up of 100 sene. In circulation there are coins in denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 sene and 1 tala, banknotes in denominations: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 tala.

You can exchange currency at any branch of ANZ Bank Samoa Ltd, National Bank of Samoa, Samoa Commercial Bank or Westpac, as well as in specialized exchange offices and hotels.

Most hotels accept credit cards the world's leading payment systems, in other places it is somewhat difficult to use them - everywhere outside the capital, preference is given to cash. There are very few ATMs. Traveler's checks can be cashed in most large hotels, banks and travel agencies.

Customs restrictions

The transit of currency is free. Jewelry is declared.

It is not allowed to import products from coral, sea turtle shell, feathers and skins of tropical birds and animals, objects found at the bottom of the sea, artistically and culturally valuable, non-canned meat products - without special permission. It is forbidden to import and export: drugs and drug-containing medicines, weapons and pesticides.

Mains voltage

Tips

Tipping is not accepted and not particularly encouraged, bargaining is also not welcome. According to Polynesian tradition, tips are a gift and must be given away, so almost all establishments do not have them at all.

Purchases

Normal shop hours are Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 12.00 and 13.30 to 16.30, Saturdays 08.00 to 12.30, however many private shops operate on their own schedule.

Uniform government tax (VAGST, 12.5%) is imposed on the price hotel rooms, many types of food or drink and is usually included in the price of a good or service.

Office Hours

Banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 09.00 to 15.00, some banks are open on Saturdays, from 09.00 to 12.00, and even a little longer (although they usually do not work with private clients at this time).

Safety

Women traveling alone should expect increased attention from local men. Usually this is expressed in various oral comments and rarely turns into threatening forms.

Code of the country: +685

First level geographic domain name:.ws

Medicine

Vaccination against cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid and polio is recommended, as well as special precautions against filariasis and elephantiasis. There are no carriers of malaria on the islands, but there are occasional outbreaks of tropical fever, which are carried by mosquitoes.

Emergency Phones

Unified rescue service (fire department, police and ambulance) - 999.
Ambulance - 996.
Fire department - 994.
Police - 995.
Motootua Hospital (Apia, Upolu) - (+685) 21-212.
District Hospital (Tuasivi, Savaii) - (+685) 53-511.

The famous Scottish writer and poet Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of the famous adventure novel Treasure Island and other historical and adventure works, lived, worked and died here.

Widely known in Russia is Stephenson's ballad "Heather Honey", which is studied at school in the translation of S. Marshak.
Stevenson was an avid traveler, although he suffered from a severe form of tuberculosis since childhood. He settled on the Samoan Islands in 1890, in the village of Vailima (4 km from the capital of Samoa, Alia), his villa is currently the Stevenson Museum.

Independent State of Samoa occupies the western part of the Samoan archipelago. The state is located on two large islands (Savaii and Upolu) and eight small ones, of which only two are inhabited: Manono And Apolima. Samoa is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on all sides. The islands of Upolu and Savaii are separated by the Apolima Strait, in which the small islands of Manono and Apolima are located, on which only 1% of the country's population lives.

State symbols of Samoa

Flag- is a red panel with an aspect ratio of 1: 2 with an upper left quarter of blue, which depicts the white stars of the Southern Cross constellation. Flag adopted 24 February 1949

Coat of arms- the foreground of the coat of arms is a stylized image of the constellation Southern Cross. The shield, which has a silver base, depicts green-white sea ​​waves, silver sky and coconut tree with golden coconuts. The side of the shield has a dark blue and white color. On the background of the shield are radial patterns connected by red concentric circles, on the sides of which are depicted branches of an olive tree. Above the shield is a dark blue and red and white Latin cross with red rays. At the bottom of the coat of arms is the motto: "FA" AVAE I LE ATUA SAMOA "(translated from the Samoan language:" God is the foundation of Samoa "). The coat of arms was approved in 1962.

State structure of Samoa

Form of government- parliamentary republic.
head of state- O le Ao O le Malo (leader), elected for 5 years. In fact, his position is presidential.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Legislature a unicameral parliament.

Territory- 2832 km².
Population– 188 540 people 92.6% are Samoans and only 0.4% are Europeans. More than 70% of the population lives on the island of Upolu, 28% - on the island of Savaii. The country is experiencing massive emigration, mainly to New Zealand, because young people have practically no opportunities for self-realization.

Religion- 98% of Samoans are Christians.
official languages- Samoan and English. The Samoan script is based on the Latin alphabet.
Economy. Industry: timber, light industry, food industry. Agriculture: cultivation and export of taro, coconut oil and milk, cocoa, bananas and copra. Only 35% of electricity is generated in the country.
Tourism is actively developing.

Currency- tala.
Education– literacy of the population is 98.6%. Primary state and private church schools operate in the country, created by missionaries back in the 20th century, in which 3/4 of children aged 7-12 study. Compulsory education. Teaching is conducted in Samoan, but English is intensively studied.

There are secondary schools (optional).
Special education is available at the College of Tropical Agriculture, the College of Commerce, and several trade and trade schools. Many are pursuing higher education abroad, mainly in New Zealand.
Higher education in the country can be obtained at the National University of Samoa, the University of the South Pacific, the Samoan Polytechnic University and the Ocean Medical University.
Sport- The most popular sports in Samoa are rugby and Samoan cricket. Professional wrestling, boxing, kickboxing and sumo are also popular. The country performs at all summer Olympic Games ah since 1984

Notable people of Samoa

We have already mentioned the Scottish writer Robert Lewis Stevenson.

Malietoa Tanumafili II Susuga (1913-2007)

Chief, head of state of Samoa. In 2007, Malietoa Tanumafili II was the oldest head of state in the world. He led Samoa for 68 years.

David Tua (b. 1972)

Samoan professional boxer who competed in the heavyweight division. Bronze medalist at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Mark Hunt (b.1974)

New Zealand mixed martial artist and former kickboxer of Samoan descent. He is famous for his outstanding physical strength, knockout punch and "iron chin" - the ability to withstand the hardest blows to the head.

Nature of Samoa

The islands that make up Samoa are of volcanic origin, but only the island of Savaii is volcanically active. The coastline is all indented with lagoons and coastal reefs.
Climate- humid tropical. Periodically, the country is exposed to tropical cyclones. The most terrible and destructive for the country was the "hurricane of the century" in January 1966, when the wind speed reached 200 km/h.
The country has a water supply system, but due to the poor maintenance of water pipes, a lot of water is lost. There are many small rivers and waterfalls, except for the western part of Upolu and most of Savaii. Here the main sources of fresh water are groundwater and rainwater, although during the dry season the reservoirs often dry up. In many areas, the amount of water supplied is insufficient.

Flora of Samoa quite diverse and has about 775 plant species. Two-thirds of the surface of the islands is occupied by tropical rainforests: an abundance of tree ferns, valuable species with very hard wood. Large-leaved myrtle (myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, tea tree and eucalyptus) and orchids are common.

Forests are located mainly on mountain slopes, and cultivated plantations predominate along the coast. At the tops of the most high mountains forests give way to undergrowth and shrubs. 150 species of Samoan plants are used for medicinal purposes.

Fauna of Samoa relatively poor. Before the appearance of humans on the islands of mammals, bats lived on land, and dolphins lived in coastal waters. Polynesian sailors brought dogs and pigs here, and Europeans brought cattle and horses. Well, rats, of course, entered here with ships and settled throughout the archipelago.
Birds in Samoa are much more numerous: honey plants, weed chickens, pigeons, small parrots - in total, 43 species of birds live on the island, of which 8 are endemic, for example, the toothed-billed pigeon.

Poultry was introduced by Polynesians and Europeans.
Especially a lot of butterflies: 21 species. There are turtles and crabs.
IN ocean waters a lot of fish, including valuable commercial fish (mullet, conger eels). And further from the coast sharks, tuna, mackerel, swordfish are found. Coral reefs are rich in shellfish.

Attractions Samoa

Apia city

It is the capital and only city and port of the Independent State of Samoa. The city is located on the northern coast of the island of Upolu at the foot of Mount Apia. It stretches along the shores of the bay, separated from the open sea by a wall of coral reefs. The center of Apia is built up with European-style houses: with loggias, verandas, shaded windows.
There are many churches in the city.

In the coastal region built the most big church Apia is Catholic. Its height is 90 m.
Slightly smaller than her Anglican Church with beautiful stained glass windows and the Congregationalist Christian Church, where the relics of the Reverend John Williams, one of the first missionaries on the island, are buried.

The clock tower in the center of Apia is a memorial to soldiers who died in World War II.

The government building was built in accordance with European standards.

National Museum of Samoa

Here is a large collection of trade and household items of the natives: fishing boats and nets, ceramic dishes, stone hatchets and knives, various decorative items, mats, clothes and other samples cultural heritage Samoans.

Of particular interest are Aboriginal tattoos, which are still popular among the local population.

Culture of Samoa

Most of the country's population lives in traditional oval huts (fale) - a roof made of pandanus or coconut palm leaves on wooden poles. There are no walls, but the openings between the pillars, if necessary, are hung with mats, which are stored rolled up under the roof.

The floor is paved with even large pebbles. Now there are halyards with an iron roof.
The basic socio-economic unit of Samoan society is the community ( ainga), which consists of three to four generations of the closest relatives in the male line and women who came to the community by marriage (40-50 people on average). The members of the ainga jointly own the land and jointly carry out all labor-intensive work.
tattoos is a cultural phenomenon of the country. They differ: for men - tatau, they consist of complex geometric patterns placed from the knees to the ribs; for women - small, they are located from the top of the hips to just below the knees.

Traditional female Samoan dance siwa. It is similar to the Hawaiian hula: the dancers “tell” their “story” with smooth movements of their arms and legs to the beat of the music.

- male Samoan dance, in which rows of dancers make fast synchronized movements to the beat of drums or rolled mats. Its name is translated from the Samoan language as "slap", because it is accompanied by slaps on different parts of the body.

History of Samoa

Oldest artifacts found in Samoa archipelago Lapita cultures. This culture, according to many archaeologists, is the progenitor of several cultures in Polynesia, Micronesia and several coastal regions of Melanesia. More than 2,000 sites have now been unearthed over more than 4,000 km from the coasts and islands of Melanesia to Fiji and Tonga, the easternmost area is located in Samoa.
The Lapita culture is characterized by ceramic products - flat-bottomed or round-bottomed open bowls or goblets. Some of them had an ornament in the form of rectangular meanders, ribbons, connecting broken lines, triangles, crescents. The ornament was applied with the help of stamps, which have not yet been found. There were also images of eyes, concentric circles, moldings from clay lumps, ribbons, notches on the rims. The firing temperature of ceramic products was less than 850 °C.
The main type of economy was sea fishing and collecting shellfish.
At the end of the 1st millennium BC. e. and in the first millennium A.D. e. the islands of Wallis, Futuna, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Pukapuka and other Polynesian islands were settled from Samoa. There is an assumption that it was Samoa that could be hawaii- the legendary ancestral home of the Polynesians. The end of this culture is considered to be between 200-400 BC. AD, after that the non-ceramic period began.

This period is characterized by the absence of compact settlements; they arose during the period of contact with Europeans. The buildings consisted of dwelling houses, public buildings(large communal houses (fale tele) on platforms, open ceremonial sites (malae) and houses of the gods (fale aitu). Residential and public buildings had rounded corners or were round. No burial mounds and open temples were found in Samoa.
At the turn of the 1st and 2nd millennium A.D. e. active contacts were established between Samoa and the surrounding islands. The ruling elite of Samoa, Tonga and Fiji entered into mixed marriages.
In the middle of the XVII century. Samoans traded in the region with Polynesians and Europeans.

Europeans in Samoa

The European discoverer of the islands was a Dutch traveler in 1722.

In 1768, a French navigator visited the archipelago Louis Antoine de Bougainville who called it the Navigators' Islands.

Jean-Pierre Francque "Portrait of Bougainville"
In August 1830, he began missionary work in Samoa John Williams. The Samoans were then considered a wild and warlike people, they had frequent clashes with Europeans, who until the end of the 19th century. used Samoa as a refueling station for the shipping company.
Gremania, the USA, Britain began to be interested in the islands. In 1881, these three countries agreed to recognize the supreme leader of Malietoa Laupepa as the Samoan king, but the locals did not put up with colonial oppression. King Laupep in 1885 came into open conflict with the Germans, they overthrew him in 1887 and sent him into exile, and proclaimed Tamasese king. The Samoans were heavily taxed. At the head of the dissatisfied stood chief Mataafa, which was very popular on the islands. The German consul ordered an attack from the sea on the villages of Mataafa's supporters.

The result was an 8-year-old Civil War, in which the inhabitants of Samoa, Germany, Britain and the United States defended their interests. Under the Berlin Agreement of 1899, the Samoa Islands were divided into two parts: the eastern group, now known as "American Samoa", became US territory; the western islands were called "German Samoa", and Britain ceased to claim the islands in exchange for the return of Fiji and some other Melanesian territories.

Samoa in the 20th century

On August 29, 1914, control over the islands was seized armed forces New Zealand, and from the end of World War I until 1962, Samoa was administered by New Zealand.
In the early 1920s The patriotic organization "Mau" ("Opinion") was founded with the slogan "Samoa for the Samoans", against the mistreatment of the New Zealand administration with the people of Samoa. The organization was led Olaf Frederick Nelson, by origin half Samoan. They used the following forms of protest: non-payment of taxes, cessation of work on plantations, failure to comply with the decisions of the colonial court, the creation of their own government, etc. Nelson was expelled from the country during the 1920-1930s, but continued to support the organization financially and politically.
Day December 28, 1929 is called "black Saturday", because. newly elected leader of the movement Tupua Tamasese Lealofi led the Mau to a peaceful demonstration in Apia, which was shot by New Zealand police. Tamasese was also killed. But the movement grew.
After the Second World War, Western Samoa was turned from a mandate into a trust territory of New Zealand, and reforms began. In 1961, a referendum was held - the inhabitants of Western Samoa spoke in favor of granting independence. By agreement with New Zealand, she took over the defense of Western Samoa and its representation in relations with foreign states. January 1, 1962 Western Samoa became the first Pacific island nation who gained independence.
In July 1997, according to the country's constitution, the state from "Western Samoa" was renamed "Samoa". American Samoa protested against the renaming and still uses the terms "Western Samoa", "Western Samoan" to refer to Samoa and its people.
Thus, the two Samoans belong to the same nation and have the same language, but there are cultural differences between them. Residents of Eastern Samoa are more likely to emigrate to Hawaii and the US mainland, adopting some of the American customs, such as American football and baseball. Residents of Western Samoa are more likely to emigrate to New Zealand, where rugby and cricket are more popular.

Reference

American Samoa(formerly Eastern Samoa) is an unincorporated unorganized territory and not included in the United States in the South Pacific. The main island of Tutuila is part of the Samoa archipelago. The population of American Samoa is approximately 65,519. The area is 199 km².

Today, Samoa is a small island state, which is located in the Pacific Ocean, in the west of the archipelago of the same name. It consists of two fairly large islands ( Upolu And savaii), which accounts for about 96% of the total area of ​​the country, and eight small islands that are concentrated in the western part of the archipelago ( Manono, Nuutele, Apolima, Nuulua, Fanuatapu, Namua, Nuulopa And Nuusafee). From 1900 to 1914, the islands were called German Samoa, from 1914 to 1997 - Western Samoa, and from 1997 they received the name of the Independent State of Samoa.

According to the Constitution of 1960, the republican form of government is established in the country, but here it is combined with local traditions and customs. For example, local authority belongs to the matai chiefs, and almost all the land is distributed among villages and families. Unlike American Samoa, this country is still little affected by civilization and is practically a pristine corner of the Earth. This place attracts tourists with high mountains and first-class beaches, which are ideal for active rest, as well as colorful festivals and colorful Polynesian villages, allowing you to get acquainted with ancient traditions. No wonder even R. L. Stevenson, author of the famous novel Treasure Island, spent the rest of his years in Samoa.

Climate and weather

Samoa is dominated by a trade wind tropical climate, so the weather here is quite hot, humid and windy. Winter on the islands falls on the period from May to October, during which southeast trade winds dominate here. In the summer season (from November to April) they change their direction to the northwest. Also during the year there are powerful tropical typhoons that bring storms. Most of them are in the summer. Precipitation mainly falls from December to April.

The average annual air temperature is stable and keeps within +25...+27 °C, the water temperature is always warm (not below +24°C). best time to visit Samoa is the dry season (May - October).

Nature

Western Samoa is an island nation in the South Pacific. It consists of two large islands ( Upolu And savaii) and eight small ones, of which only two are inhabited ( Manono And Apolim A). The islands of Savaii and Upolu, which are separated by Strait of Apolima, are the tops of underwater volcanoes, so they have a mountainous landscape. Volcanic cones rise in the center of both islands. Silisili And Phyto. The northern slopes of the islands are more gentle than the southern ones, and their western parts are covered with plains. Coastline quite narrow and all indented with lagoons. A significant part of the islands is occupied by forests and tropical rainforests. The flora on the islands is diverse: there are approximately 600 plant species. Animal world represented by bats, several species of lizards, many birds and insects. Dolphins live in coastal waters.

Due to their volcanic origin, the islands abound in small rivers and waterfalls. The exceptions are the western part of Upolu and most of Savaii.

Attractions

Western Samoa is a beautiful corner of the Earth, which has not yet been greatly affected by civilization. For this reason, the main treasures of the country are its mountains, forests, beaches and picturesque villages. If we talk about man-made sights, then the largest number of them is concentrated in the capital Apia on the island of Upolu. For example, in its western part is the old ceremonial capital Mulinuu. In this area, the most interesting buildings are the old observatory and the Parliament House. In the central part of Apia, the most interesting is the memorial Clock Tower. Also, old colonial buildings are scattered throughout the city, among which the courthouse, which houses the Historical Museum, is the most colorful. In addition, many churches were built in the capital and its suburbs: Catholic Church, temple complex Apia Samoa Temple, the Church of the Congregationalists, etc. Just 4 km from the center of the capital, on the outskirts of Vailim, is the estate of the writer R.L. Stevenson, and next to it - his tombstone.

There are other interesting places on the island of Upolu. So, in its northern part there are picturesque waterfalls Falefa, forest reserve Wafato and the lake Lanotoo, next to which the temple rises Baha'i Temple. On the southeast coast, the most interesting cascade of five-meter waterfalls Papassea Sliding Rock. Well, the main attractions of the south coast are the national park O-Le-Pupu-Pue and the beach Paradise Beach.

Savaii Island is an almost untouched place. Its main attractions are the Peapea and Paia Dwarfs lava caves, the ritual embankment near Cape Mulinuu, the Alofaaga volcanic cavern, the Tia Seu embankment, ancient village Fagaloa, Falealupo lava tubes and Satihuatua beach with a colorful church. Also worth mentioning separately is the island of Manono, the main historical monuments of which are "Mound of Stars" and mound "Grave of 99 Stones".

Nutrition

The national cuisine of Samoa is distinguished by not too spicy dishes, consisting of individual components, which are served separately and mixed directly during the meal. Here you can also try dishes cooked in umu earthen ovens. Some of the most important components of the local menu are coconut, sweet potato, vegetables and root vegetables, cereals, fresh fruits and seafood. Among fish dishes, the main place is occupied by eye, which is a finely chopped and especially pickled fish, which is then subjected to heat treatment or eaten raw. Prepared according to similar recipes faiai-eleni(herring in coconut milk), faiai-fee(octopus in coconut milk) and other seafood (clams, shark meat, crustaceans, sea snakes, etc.).

In restaurants, among the most popular dishes, it is worth noting paluses(pickled taro leaves, in which fillings are wrapped), taishi moa(fried chicken in banana leaves), supoeses(coconut milk and papaya soup), fia fia(a mixture of meat and vegetables, fried in mind), lupe-tunuvilivili(fried dove) and puaa-tunuvilivili(mind fried pork). All meals are served with soy sauce, spicy tapa and breadfruit.

As a dessert, local restaurants offer fruit, fausi(a dish of coconut milk and baked pumpkin), coco-arasa(cocoa with rice) and a variety of flour products.

Among the drinks, the most common are nui (green coconut fruit juice), kava (an unusual drink made from the root of yangona) and strong cocoa, as well as local sodas. Alcoholic drinks in the country are mostly imported, and Vailima beer is the most popular among locals.

Accommodation

To date, tourism in Western Samoa is only developing, so the choice of hotels here is not too great. At the same time, Samoa is one of the cheapest countries in the world. southern region Pacific Ocean. For this reason, the cost of living in high-level hotels here starts from $130-150 per day. In establishments of the middle price category, you can count on $50 per day, and in motels and small private boarding houses - $35-40. In addition, many village communities offer rental houses with full meals. In the case of such accommodation, the cost of living will be only $ 20 per day.

Most of the hotels are located on the island of Upolu, on the island of Savaii their choice is an order of magnitude lower.

Entertainment and recreation

Due to its rich nature, Samoa is a great place for outdoor activities and hiking. The best way to explore the islands is by boat or canoe. Cycling is also quite popular among tourists, especially on the territory of the picturesque island of Savaii. There are many on the islands beautiful shores, which are suitable for both simple beach holiday, and for snorkeling, and in some places for exploring the underwater world. The best dive sites are located near the marine reserve Palolo Deep Marine Reserve and in the area Maninoa Beach(Upolu island).

Surfing in Samoa is quite difficult, as many of the suitable places for this are replete with unstable currents and reefs. However, there are currently resorts on the islands that specialize in « playing with the wave » (Maninoa Beach, Ananoa Beach, Salouafata Harbor And Samoana). Fishing in Samoa is quite affordable, but expensive. The fact is that local residents often consider sports fishermen as their direct competitors. For this reason, tribal leaders charge tourists quite large sums for harmless fishing.

An interesting way to spend time can be participation in one of the local holidays and festivals. Among them, the largest is the weekly tehuila festival which takes place in early September. The program of this event includes competitions of dance groups and choirs, traditional dances, kirikiti competitions, fautashi boat races and flower parade. Among other events, the most interesting are:

• international fishing tournament,
• Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival,
• South Pacific Games (rowing)
• Birthday of Tanumafili II Malietoa,
• International rugby competitions and a celebration in honor of the palolo turtles.

Purchases

Samoa's largest trading establishments are located in Apia- this is big Flea Market and two supermarkets Frankie And Farmer Joe). On the market you can find almost any product - from cheap electronics to jewelry. In supermarkets, the choice of goods is slightly smaller, but their quality is better. In general, almost every city and town in the country has its own market, where you can find very interesting souvenirs and just make useful shopping. Most often, tourists purchase bags and baskets made from ramp fibers, exquisite fabrics made from paper mulberry bark, wooden weapons, model canoes, wooden bowls, avocado oil and local honey. Local handicrafts such as wicker fans, small figurines, vases, etc. are in particular demand. Women are advised to pay attention to original coconut shell jewelry, as well as amazing precious shells. The rugs, which are woven by local craftsmen, amaze the imagination. Their amazing pictures and bizarre ornaments are fraught with a piece of Samoan culture.

Most retail establishments are open from 08:00 to 16:30 and on Saturdays until 12:30, although many private shops operate on their own schedule. On Sundays all shops are closed.

Transport

Located in Apia largest port country through which Samoa maintains regular maritime links with New Zealand, Great Britain and Fiji. Less significant ports are located in Asau, Saleologia And Mulifanua. Between the islands savaii And Upolu, as well as with the island pago pago, which belongs American Samoa, there is a regular ferry service. international Airport located in Faleolo, 34 km from the capital.

Samoa has over two thousand kilometers of roads, mostly rural. The main intercity and urban mode of transport are old buses with wooden seats. In addition, they run very irregularly. For example, if the driver feels that he is tired, or decides to play rugby with friends, then the bus will no longer work. There are no stopping points. For the driver to stop, you must vote. Well, in order to get out, it is customary here to knock loudly on the roof. It must be borne in mind that Samoan buses have their own seating arrangements for passengers. According to him, unmarried girls must sit together, and foreigners and the elderly - at the front of the bus. If the bus is full, the locals sit on each other's knees.

Taxis are available in the capital and major settlements, car rental is available only to persons over 25 years of age.

Connection

The islands have a quite modern telephone system, which is developing rapidly. Payphones are installed in all major settlements. They work with prepaid cards, which are sold in stores, post offices and kiosks. You can also make a call from most hotels, however, its cost will be 15-20% more expensive.

Mobile Samoa has an analogue system (TDMA): only phones that support this standard can be used here. If necessary, such a phone can be rented at the offices of cellular companies. The coverage area mainly covers the capital, as well as nearby areas. At the moment, a system of repeaters is being built, which allows to provide high-quality communication between all points of the country.

Network services on the islands are developing at a rapid pace, so there are Internet cafes in the capital and other settlements of the country. Local mobile operators support WAP and GPRS.

Safety

Samoa is considered one of the most quiet places V this region. The crime rate on these islands is extremely low, so there will be no problems with personal safety here. Still, it is not recommended to neglect simple precautions. Women traveling alone should be prepared for increased attention from local men. As a rule, it is expressed in various oral comments, but a little caution obviously does not hurt.

Tap water in settlements is chlorinated and therefore safe to drink. Although in the first week of your stay, we recommend using bottled or boiled water for drinking and brushing your teeth.

Before traveling to Samoa, vaccination against hepatitis B, cholera, typhoid, polio and Japanese encephalitis is recommended. In addition, outbreaks of tropical fever sometimes occur on the islands, which are carried by mosquitoes. For this reason, you should have insect repellent with you.

Business climate

The financial system of Samoa is almost completely integrated into the world economy, and the stable financial, economic and political structure of the country attracts investors here, and their activities are encouraged by the government. In general, government policy is aimed at turning Samoa into a powerful offshore center in the Pacific Ocean. Today, light industry is very developed here. A promising industry, of course, is the hotel business and tourism in general.

On the islands, most of the land, including the coast, is communal property, the rights to which belong to families or villages. Rural communities consider their shores as a protected area, so they watch them very jealously. This means that you will need to pay $ 1-3 for swimming on the coast that you like. It is not worth bargaining and sparing this money, as they go to the needs of medicine or the education of the community. In addition, in some communities it is forbidden to go to sea on Sundays, and surfers and windsurfers are charged a small daily fee (1-1.5 $). The money goes to support the local school education program.

Visa information

Samoa visa is issued directly at the border crossing. For its registration, you will need tickets and a passport, which is valid for 6 months after leaving the territory of Samoa. Sometimes customs officials are asked to show evidence of sufficient funds for the duration of their stay in a given country.

At the border, a visa is issued for 30 days, but if necessary, it can be extended for 60 days. For this you need to contact Immigration office in Apia and present a passport, tickets, evidence of sufficient funds, reasons for extending the stay, hotel reservation or confirmation of another type of accommodation, and pay a fee (about $ 45).

Settled by Austronesian tribes approximately 2,000 years ago, the Samoan Islands served as one of the centers of the formation of the Polynesian culture, from where the development of numerous islands and atolls of the central Pacific Ocean took place. By the middle of the 17th century, these exotic islands turn into a large shopping mall, connecting the Polynesians who settled in the entire region and European explorers actively penetrating the waters of the Great Ocean. Much of the early contact escalated into bloody clashes between the aliens and the islanders, so the Samoans earned a reputation for being hostile and aggressive warriors. However, the Christian missionaries who arrived on the islands discovered the amazing loyalty and tolerance of the islanders, which they themselves explained by the fact that local sacred texts predicted the emergence of a new religion that would be more powerful and stronger than the old gods. The power and wealth of the "palagi" (literally - "set fire to heaven", as the Samoans called the Europeans) were quite obvious, and Christianity quickly took root in the souls of the locals. Even today, Samoa bears the unofficial title of the "Bible Belt of the Pacific".

By the end of the 19th century, great efforts were made by Great Britain, the United States and Germany to gain control of these strategically important islands. However, at the same time, the warships of the three sides that gathered in the harbor of Apia were hit by a powerful typhoon, whose waves simply sank them all, except for the British frigate Calliope. As a result of the negotiations that followed, the archipelago was divided into two parts - its western part - modern Independent Samoa, went to Germany, Eastern Samoa fell under US rule, and the British, oddly enough, returned home empty-handed.

Germany made the classic mistake of the colonialists and ignored local customs and the power of tribal leaders, and soon the locals formed a powerful resistance movement - "Mau", whose ideology was not political independence, but the preservation of traditional culture and way of life. The outbreak of the First World War added to Germany many other problems besides the rebellious islands, and after its defeat, Western Samoa falls under the control of New Zealand. The change of metropolis meant little to the Mau movement and most of the western Polynesians who continued to fight for independence. Finally, in 1961, the islands come under the trusteeship of the UN, and on January 1, 1962, they receive full independence.

Unlike its neighbor - American Samoa, which remained under the protectorate of the United States, Independent (Western) Samoa is a corner of the Earth little affected by civilization. Here, among high mountains and small reefs, you can find first-class beaches, see colorful Polynesian villages and get acquainted with many ancient traditions. No wonder the so-called "Paradise Beach" was where the film "Return to Paradise" was filmed, and R. L. Stevenson, the author of the immortal "Treasure Island", already a great writer, left civilization to spend the rest of his years in Samoa.

Apia

The capital of Independent Samoa, its largest port and the only place on the islands that can be called a city, Apia lies on the shores of the harbor of the same name on the northern coast of Upolu Island, at the mouth of the Waisigano River. Mount Vaea (472 m) and two mountain range on both sides of the river valley, and from the north, a long cape protrudes into the water area of ​​the bay, built up with quite modern shopping complexes and offices. For all its modern features, such as banks, offices and American-style eateries, the city still clearly retains the charm of its long history.

Mulinuu, the old ceremonial capital of the islands, still occupies the western part modern city. Fale Fono (House of Parliament) and the old observatory, which today is the office of the local weather station, are located here. The clock tower in the center of Apia, which is a memorial to the victims of the Second World War, is considered a landmark for all walks in the city center. To the west of the tower is the large Flea Market, which sells all sorts of goods from around the world, from cheap clothes and electronics to traditional local "siapo" (dyed with leaf juice and bark cloth), precious shells and coconuts. Directly opposite it, at the very coastline, stretches a small Fish Market, where fishermen bring their catch, and to the south-west, among city blocks, there is Fruit Market, whose specialization is also clear from the name. The new Maketi-Fou market is located in the Fugalei hinterland, where it is believed to be much more protected from typhoon strikes than the old markets located off the coast.

The center of Apia is built up with one-story and two-story houses of the European type, above which church bell towers rise. The city has three hotels, many small businesses, numerous offices of foreign companies and banks, as well as government offices of the country, which, by the way, look quite modest. One of the traditions of the capital is the morning Police parade that precedes the lifting ceremony national flag on government buildings. Almost all traffic on the streets stops at this point, as the Samoans take their sovereignty quite seriously, and many of them line up along the sides of the Beach Road and sing the anthem (however, this is not uncommon in homes or right in the workplace).

Many old colonial buildings are scattered throughout the city, but the most colorful of them is the courthouse, which today houses a good historical Museum. the main street Apia - Beach Road, which follows the quaint curves of a wide, neat harbor. The Little Museum of the Samoan Islands on Beach Road contains a collection of Samoan culture and relics from the past.

Scattered throughout the city and around it a large number of churches, the largest of which is Catholic Church, located right on the city shore. The Anglican Church, although smaller, has beautiful stained glass windows, and the Christian Congregationalist Church houses the relics of the Reverend John Williams, one of the first missionaries to come to the islands. In 1977-1983 in historical center capitals erected another cult object, which is the legitimate pride of the islanders - temple complex Apia Samoa Temple.

The only beach area of ​​the capital lies 200 meters from the city center in Vaiala. There is also a small marine reserve Palolo Deep Marine Reserve where snorkeling is allowed. His main point attraction - a deep blue cave between two coral reefs inhabited by countless tropical fish. Also worth visiting is the oval pond and the spring that feeds it near the Piula Cave, which lies on the territory of the Theological College and the Methodist Church in Fatumea.

From the center of the capital to the west stretches a series of neat villages of the coastal region, rising up the valleys and hillsides. Just 4 km from the city center along the Beach Road lies the suburb of Vailima ("vallima" or "vailima" - the Samoan name for one of the varieties of jumping spiders), in which the local shrine is located - the estate of the famous English writer Robert Louis Stevenson, who lived on the island for the rest of their days. Lying at the back of the estate, almost at the top of Mount Vaea, the tombstone of the famous writer looks out over the town, the white edge of the reef and the distant horizon. After the writer's death, the islanders worked non-stop for 24 hours, cutting a path to the top of the hill so that the body of their beloved "tusital" ("narrator", as they respectfully called Stevenson) could be buried the next day with full ceremonial honors. Stephenson's elegy is carved on the tombstone, his favorite two lines: "The sailor's house is in the sea ... And the hunter's house is in the hills."

Upolu Island

Upolu Island (1120 sq. km) is located 13 km southeast of Savaii Island, on the other side of the Apolima Strait. The island is quite mountainous, with the Upolu Range stretching along its entire length, formed by the slopes of numerous extinct volcanoes. The northern and eastern parts of the island are elevated and strongly dissected by numerous mountain ridges and gorges, and wide plains extend in the northwest. It is quite easy to explore Upolu, as there is a good road around its entire coast, and several others scatter radially through the center of the island, connecting Apia with the southern coast (the entire island can be driven around in just 4-5 hours by car). Here you can visit the Stevenson Museum, numerous centers of traditional Polynesian art and the Samoan Village Museum, relax on the famous "Paradise Beach", go scuba diving, take part in ocean fishing or get closer to the nature of the island's hinterland.

North of the island

The road along the northern coast runs along numerous bays and mountain ranges. The many valleys and waterfalls in this area form a breathtaking scenery, and there are even some good coasts and beaches. The breathtaking and remote region of Fagaloa Bay with its tiny Albatross Island, isolated valleys and traditional villages - perfect place to immerse yourself in the local culture. After the picturesque waterfalls of Falefa (65 km from the capital), the road again goes to the coast at Utuloa Point, considered one of the most beautiful places in Samoa, passes through colorful villages Taelefaga and Wafato and ends in the equally pretty village of Salele. The Wafato Forest Reserve is considered to be one of the last natural rainforests in Independent Samoa and one of the best places for birdwatching. The region is also famous for its woodcarvers, so the village of Loi in Sinas Beach Thales is well worth a visit. The main highway bypasses this remote area and goes inland through the chaos of mountains around the La Mafa Pass, from where excellent panoramas open up. mountainous areas and coast.

Lake Lanotoo(or Goldfish Lake), which lies near the capital, is currently quite little known, although this was not always the case. During the German occupation of Samoa, the lake was popular place for picnics and entertainment. Entire processions of young women covered by the fashion of that time with beach umbrellas were escorted to the lake by German officers or exquisite European gentlemen - Lanotoo was something of a promenade, a favorite place for relaxation and flirting for many wealthy Europeans. Today, the waters of the lake have a strange green color and are full of wild goldfish, which still gather around the shores of the lake, still waiting for handouts from people. The lake has a strange charm, partly because of its amazing green color and hordes of goldfish, and partly because no one has managed to reach the bottom of the lake despite many attempts. Nearby rises the Bahai Temple, which serves as a guide when moving to the lake - the old road is almost overgrown, and today you can only get here on foot. And 2 km to the south you can see the hundred-meter waterfall Papapapai-Uta, or Tiavi Falls.

southeast coast

The southeast coast of Upolu is one of the island's most popular tourist destinations. Numerous beaches with excellent conditions for swimming and snorkelling can be found here, framed by the sharp jagged edges of the surrounding mountains. Four uninhabited islands rise off the coast Aleipata with a protected area of ​​nesting seabirds and rich marine life. Village deserves a stop Laloman in front of Nuutele Island, famous for its breathtakingly beautiful white sand beach and shallow turquoise lagoon for snorkeling (the area is considered the best snorkeling spot on the island, so it is often crowded on weekends). There's been a whole series of small resorts and restaurants, and each of the beaches (there are four of them in the area around Laloman) differs from its neighbor only in size. Nearby is the Fuipicia waterfall, 55 meters high.

The coastline between Lalomanu and Saleapaga is considered to be one of the most beautiful parts of the island, replete with magnificent panoramas of mountain ranges and isolated wild coasts. Particularly good are the beach areas near Boomerang Creek, the sandy beach of Faofao in the village of Saleapaga, the isolated and somewhat unusual coast in Vavau (traditional Polynesian houses with leaf-covered roofs have replaced corrugated iron and wood structures that are quite urban by local standards, but none the beach itself, nor the service suffered from this). From the walls of the Laloman hospital, a short path begins to a long-extinct volcanic crater, within which a large colony of flying foxes lives.

The main highway immediately after the beach area turns inland and after a few kilometers comes to the picturesque waterfalls of Sopoaga, falling from a height of 60 meters into a small green valley. Another interesting natural monument of these places with the funny name Papassea-Sliding Rock ("Papassea moving the rock") - a cascade of five-meter waterfalls that roll down directly into a common reservoir, lost by the banks in the intricacies of the jungle.

South coast

The south coast of Upolu Island is a string of sparkling, palm-lined beaches where you can lie back and enjoy the tranquility of life in this idyllic setting. This is one of the most breathtaking areas of Independent Samoa with beautiful reefs, turquoise blue waters and stunning beaches all around. In the very heart of the south coast, you can find many remote and quite "wild" shores, among which the popular resort area of ​​Maninoa Beach stands out in contrast with an elegant shallow sandy lagoon, on the territory of which there are two luxurious resorts and several quite democratic private beaches. Along the road stretches a string of traditional Samoan villages - a good place to get acquainted with local customs and way of life.

Returning to the coast from the Sopoaga waterfalls, the main road runs past numerous traditional villages. One of the most popular tourist areas here is the village of Lliili, around which you can visit the O-Le-Pupu-Pue National Park with many hiking trails passing through a small rainforest, a cozy and isolated Mativa-Trihouse opposite the tiny coral island Nuusafee, which can be reached boat (the strait between the islet and Utola is considered an excellent place for surfing), Togitogiga waterfalls (the reservoirs located here are one of the few places on the island where you can swim in fresh water, it even has a shower, which is already unusual by local standards) and the nearby Peapea Cave and two nature reserves, as well as the black volcanic sand beach in Aganoa, which can only be reached on foot or by jeep. Nearby, in the village of Siumu, you can see an unusual beach with red sand.

The most picturesque area of ​​long isolated coasts stretches along southwest coast from Saanapu to Lefaga. 6 km from Saanapu is the famous Paradise Beach ("paradise beach") is one of the most beautiful shores in the South Pacific, and around the village itself stretches a long strip of protected Saanapu-Wetlands Retreat mangrove forests, which can only be explored by boat hired from any of the local villages. Also noteworthy is the picturesque Virgin Bay -Cove with an isolated beach (nevertheless there are several traditional restaurants and cafes), resort areas around the village of Salamumu, the popular Samoana surf resort (it is believed that the best instructors in this sport work here), as well as the quiet Matareva Beach.

West Coast

The west coast of Upolu has a lot to offer fishing villages, luxurious conditions for trekking and windsurfing, but there are almost no swimming-friendly beaches and tourist infrastructure.

The northwest coast of Upolu between Falealo Airport and Apia is the most densely populated area of ​​the country, with an almost endless succession of villages and plantations. Here you can find many picturesque churches or natural pools right on the rocky coastline, explore several ancient volcanic tafua calderas, walk along the coast in a traditional Samoan catamaran canoe, observe the daily life of the village or get a tattoo so characteristic of these places, but no there are no accommodation facilities or beach areas.

Savai Island

Savai is one of the largest and one of the least populated islands of Polynesia. This practically untouched and ancient island, little influenced by modern civilization, has long been considered a real reserve of Polynesian culture - the inhabitants of Savaii have preserved their way of life even more traditional than on Upolu. Here you can find a huge number of first-class beaches that are good for swimming, snorkeling or other types of sea activities, but most of them do not have any facilities whatsoever and are in almost pristine condition.

The main attractions of the island are: the ancient mound of Tia Seu - the largest ancient structure in all of Polynesia (its height exceeds 12 meters), the Mu Pagoa waterfall between the villages of Puleia and Gautawai, the lava caves of Peapea (Lethui) and Paia Dwarfs near the village of Paia ( the total length of each cave exceeds a kilometer), several good beaches and an ancient star-shaped ritual mound near Cape Mulinuu, the picturesque cone of Mount Silisili and the protected cave of Aopo at its foot, the famous Alofaaga volcanic cavern near the village of Taga, the ancient village of Fagaloa (the local population believes that they are direct descendants of the first settlers of the island), the Falealupo lava tubes located to the west of the reserve of the same name, which can be compared in size with similar natural phenomena of the Hawaiian Islands, as well as the excellent Satihuatua beach with its colorful village church.

The Tafua Rainforest Reserve, located near the coastal village of the same name, is considered one of the most beautiful and accessible rainforest reserves on the island. Located on a stretch of coastline with the Mathawanu lava fields, formed in the early 1900s when Tafua Volcano spewed lava almost continuously for almost six years, it is replete with caves and grottoes. The impressive lunar landscape of the reserve is one of the "calling cards" of the island, and a walk around the crater of the volcano is one of the most attractive excursions in Samoa, since here you can not only see this riot of the elements with your own eyes, but also grab a couple of lava "souvenirs" with you on memory.

Another tropical forest reserve on Savaii, Falealupo, has a unique natural feature - a green canopy over a passage-gallery between majestic banyan trees, woven from thousands of tree branches. For a few extra tals, you can feel like a Robinson here and stop for the night right in one of the huge hollow trees that these places are rich in. Unusual local way the struggle for the protection of wildlife is the Aula program organized by the local Women's Committee, during which the wounded or weakened gather on the beaches of the island sea ​​turtles are carefully nurtured and then released back into the sea.

Manono

Small volcanic island Manono, lying in the Apolima Strait between Upolu and Savaii, is almost unknown outside the country. On an island just 3 km across, there are five small villages (about a thousand inhabitants, most of whom live here irregularly), there are absolutely no dogs, roads and vehicles, which fully guarantees absolute silence, broken only by the rustle of wind in the crowns of palm trees and the measured rumble of waves . This is such a quiet and peaceful place that many residents of the rather noisy capital of the islands come here for the weekend to rest. People here still live only in traditional "fale"(leaf-covered roof-canopy on pillars, walls are missing or replaced with wicker mats) and enjoy a "semi-wild" lifestyle and an abundance of pure nature. The main historical monuments of the island are the so-called "Mound of the Star" on the top of Mount Tulimanuiva (110 m) and the ancient "Tomb of 99 stones", created, according to archaeological data, approximately in the 9th-11th centuries. n. e., during the era of mass settlement of Polynesians in the region.

There are many small cozy beaches on the island, many of which are framed along the banks by palm groves and are equipped with small "fales" with carved balconies and steps. Most of them, like the famous Waotua lagoon, are located on the western side of Manono. On the far side of the island, in the village of Apai, is one of the most scenic spots on the islands - from the top of the nearest hill, a unique panorama of the islands lined up in a line opens up - Manono itself, tiny Nuulop, somewhat larger Apolima and the high peaks of Savaii, as if framed by the blue waters of the strait and the azure of the sky.

Much effort is also being made by the government of Western Samoa to preserve the fragile Manono ecosystem and support environmentally friendly activities of the population.

Apolima

Apolima Island is even more remote and inaccessible than Manono. It is in the Apolima Strait, west of Manono, outside the barrier reef surrounding Manono and Upolu. Apolima is almost entirely composed of volcanic rocks from petrified ancient lava flows - in fact, the entire island is a destroyed volcanic crater with steep cliffs of the outer ring and a small relatively flat "patch" of the caldera. From the sea to the only village on the island, where only 150 people live (of which only 50-60 islanders live here permanently), there is only one narrow and rather difficult path, almost a pass.

This is one of the most untouched (how many times is this word used in relation to Samoa?!) places in Polynesia. The island lies outside the main tourist roads, so in order to get here, it is better to get an invitation from one of the villagers and then arrange a special charter of a yacht or boat from Upolu. But in the end, all the work will be more than rewarded - those who happened to visit Apolima claim that none of them have ever experienced a greater sense of isolation from the world. And in combination with beautiful nature, coastal waters saturated with life and a healthy climate, this is worth a lot for modern man, tired of the "bounties of civilization."

Other islands

Lying within the Upolu Reef, an islet Namua can offer a good sandy beach and good conditions for snorkelling. Fanuatapu- one of the uninhabited islands lying at the eastern tip of Upolu. It is a popular day trip destination with a casual picnic on the beach or swimming among the rocky reefs. desert island Nuulopa located on the west side of Manono and occasionally used for picnics, snorkelling and relaxing outdoor activities. breathtaking island Nuutele with its dramatic cliffs, it rises from the water near Lalomanu, near the southeastern Cape Upolu. The island is uninhabited, but famous for its wild beach, where sea turtles regularly lay their eggs. Nearby lies a tiny island Nuulua where seabirds nest. A relatively large and desert island Nuusafee, lying off the south coast of Upolu, is a popular destination for day trips and weddings.

We flew from Nadi (Fiji) on 30.09, and arrived in Apia (Samoa) on 29.09 ;) True, it's cool, living twice today and missing tomorrow ;) We, in fact, counted on this when planning the trip. Crossing the date line, what could be more mysterious?! But the Samoan leadership decided to outsmart everyone by introducing a new GMT + 14 time zone in Samoa. ;)

flights

Acquaintance with Samoa began on the plane. I have never seen such a gathering of obese people in one place. All 10 people in our group were scattered around the plane like precious seeds, although they were asked to plant the group together.

Denis and I were lucky, and the Samoan agreed to change places with me, although he began to resent terribly that he had a seat by the window, and had to sit in the middle. What window, night in the yard?! Our luck did not end there, a fat girl was placed next to us, who, oh joy!, climbed into her seat. But our fellow traveler was not lucky, they put the husband of our dumplings with her. He lifted, in a brazen, dividing handle and sat down on 1.5 seats. Believe it or not, no one even thought to solve this problem. The stewardess just shrugged. But on normal airlines obese people are required to buy 2 tickets!!!

Back we specifically asked that we, our group, be seated together. And even this request was not fulfilled! We were scattered around the plane again. But this time, we did not move away from the reception until we were given a seat nearby!!! What a run! Despite the fact that the plane was half full and "stuffed" it was tiny people of an incomprehensible race. Neither Chinese nor Filipinos, but some men are small and thin;) They looked like real guest workers;)

Samoa Hotels

Couldn't sleep for a minute. We got to the hotel, and it was a wonderful Aggie Gray's Resort, at 5 in the morning. Despite the fact that the check-in time at any hotel in the world is 2:00 pm, we were promised that the rooms would be ready by 9.00, so we accommodated who, where I found a place. But first, we were invited to have breakfast. A chic restaurant, tablecloths and fabric napkins for breakfast is an indicator. The dishes were tasty and varied, but the scrambled eggs at the fryer did not work, stuck and spread, and he was worried and this made more worse because of the time shift, because of the late dinner on the plane, because of the early breakfast at the hotel, the gap between meals was 2 hours.

The Aggie Gray's Resort restaurant is ready to receive visitors even at 5 am

And after breakfast, our fellow travelers settled on sun loungers by the pool and relaxed, read, fell asleep. I want to sleep.

We went to the ocean to meet the sunrise and take pictures. Impressive! White sand, blue water, waves break on a reef somewhere in the distance and near the shore the water is calm like on a lake, the birds sing, you lie under a palm tree, look at the cocoa and get high;) And such a sweet buzz that we fell asleep right here; )

Paradise place. Morning beaches at Aggie Gray's Resort

And when we woke up, Aggie Gray's rooms were ready to receive and surprise us. A cozy spacious room, a bright bathroom sparkling with surgical cleanliness, a large open loggia and a stunning view of the ocean!

There was no time to sleep, at 10.00 our acquaintance with the island of Upolu began. The island is actually small, and 3 hours is enough to drive around it. But our guides managed to stretch this trip for three days :) From the hotel one way and half way, from the hotel to the other side and the other half of the island;) Well, the third day is acquaintance with the capital of Western Samoa - the city of Apia. Well, it’s hard to call it a city, the entire population of the island is 125 thousand people.

Our second Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, an urban hotel, was located in the center of the capital of Western Samoa in the courtyard of a government building. And lying in the evening by the pool, we could easily see what was happening inside. And on the porch of this building, children were playing, grimy, grimy. Across the road with its frightening height (2 floors with a roof), we were pleased with the presence of the Ministry of (evaluate) Women, something else and social development;)

Life of the inhabitants of Western Samoa

Here you go. So that you understand what Western Samoa is. These are 10 islands. But we were only on one. An island with endless snow-white sandy beaches surrounded by blue open ocean. Coral reefs save the beaches from big waves so much that even the foam does not reach the shore. People live on the coast. Their dwellings are monstrously poor and open to everything and everything.

They have no walls, no windows. Only the flooring raised above the ground and the roof resting on wooden columns. Fabric curtains protect the home from the sun, wind and rain. Richer houses have glass shutters instead of windows and walls. The closer you get to the capital, the houses become different, because the richer (?), some even have walls;) and absolutely rich people have better houses.

Wherever you look, you will see a coke tree or a banana plant. In general, it seemed to me that when passing passport control when entering the country, they need to be given helmets. Because coconuts tend to fall, and walking under palm trees covered with this seemingly kind and harmless murder weapon was scary at first;) but you get used to everything and relax.

I don't see what people are doing here. We saw few people here. On Sunday, everyone dressed in white clothes returned from churches, and on Monday, schoolchildren dressed in colorful uniforms (white top and pink or bright green bottom) went to school.

The dirty children still ran through the banana thickets, and the women lay stupidly on the floor of their dwellings. Here, men wear pareo skirts, somewhat reminiscent of the long aprons of our waiters.

And one more interesting thing. Here, women don't use washing machines, everything is done by hand. And if you consider that there are 5-6 children in a family, you begin to understand why they are so grimy. But if the wash is successful, then the linen is hung in a rainbow, in the sense of taking into account color, tones and semitones, with all the rules for the transition from color to color. Looks like this is such a kind of masochism, first wash it, and then hang it up. Or maybe it's such a love for his island. Unlike Fiji, there is amazing cleanliness, even in the most remote village.

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