Home Travel Articles Samoa | Samoa |
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| Written by Stephen Devine | |
| Monday, 30 November 2009 | |
 Where did you go and when?In October, I travelled to Western Samoa, visiting the islands of Upolo and Savaii. This Pacific nation is my second home and I visit it at least once a year. What made this trip different was seeing the devastation caused by the recent Tsunami. Where did you stay? I rented a house in Tomasina village, just outside the capital of Apia. It has a beautiful lagoon and is only a ten minute cab ride from all the clubs and bars. What did you eat and drink? Fish, fish and more fish! The Samoans make a wonderful delicacy called Oka which is raw fish marinated in coconut juice with just a touch of chilli. Generous jugs of cocktails such as Mai Tais and Daiquaris are served in most bars and clubs, day and night. It was a battle to remain sober. What did you do? Socialised, swam, snorkelled, read, danced and tried not to drink too much! I hired a car and witnessed first-hand the destruction caused by the tsunami at the southern end of the country. On a more pleasant note, I swam with friends in picturesque, crystal clear inland rivers and waterfalls. Where did you party? For a small city of 50,000, Apia has an outrageous number of clubs and bars. I usually started off with sunset cocktails at Cappuccino Vineyard where the music is cool and the staff are cute. After dinner I would dance the night away at Eye Spy.  What was the best part of your trip?I was really touched when the village held a special party in my honour the night before I flew home. Speeches were made and they even bestowed me with a Samoan name: 'Skivvy'. It means slim. Just as well I was leaving, as my beer consumption was such that this name was in danger of being inapplicable. One highlight of the night was jive dancing with a giant guy who plays rugby league for Sydney's Parramatta Eels. The funny thing was that I had to lead. What was the worst part of your trip? Apart from visiting the disaster zone, it would have to be surviving Sundays. Almost everything is closed. Sum up your trip in a nutshell. I always have a relaxing, fun time when visiting this South Pacific paradise. What makes this country so special is the friendliness of the people. The recent natural tragedy that befell this country has not destroyed its citizens' joi de vie. Stephen Devine is a teacher, writer, broadcaster and astrologer. His astrology columns appear in publications around Australia, including SX in Sydney and MCV in Melbourne. He can be heard every Wednesday morning on Melbourne's Joy FM. |
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