Marilyn's Odyssey: Samoa Part 2

Our last day in Samoa was truly a cultural experience. Our guides Tina and Leolo greeted us with traditional head bands woven from banana leaves and decorated with flowers aand a woven fan so we could keep cool in the heat. As we drove around the island from place to place they both were a continual source of information about the history and life on Samoa. We learned all about education, jobs, the importance of family and the traditions behind marriage and burial. It costs much more to put on a funeral in Samoa than a wedding because when there is a death in the family villagers and people from the church come by continuously for days on end to offer comfort and it is expected that you will feed them and then everyone shows up for the actual funeral and once again you have to feed them all and at this time it must be special food such as pig which is expensive. Throughout the day we had wonderful experiences. We went to a private home where three gentleman prepared and cooked our lunch in the traditional method using an open fire covered with banana leaves. The meal was delicious. We visited a local school and art gallery where ukuleles were made by hand. Would have loved to have bought one but was reluctant due to the difference in our humidity and we remembered Father bringing home some beautiful bowls which all cracked when the wood cracked in our climate. We had a Samoan kava ceremony during which Leolo gave us a very personal welcome and blessing. Dancing and singing followed including some fire dancing. We then went to a beautiful beach where after wading in the ocean we sat down for a tropical cocktail. As we enjoyed our drink Tina rounded up a musician friend and they sat and play guitar and sang to us. Magical. We finished off the day having dinner at Paddles which is a wonderful family run restaurant on the water that we had found the night before. They had saved us a special table where we could watch the sunset while we enjoyed spectacular food. We got introduced to the whole family and when we left we were given very warm farewells and invitations back. Truly a country of very special people.

Local beer stop

Housing complex owned by the church but as you see each home has its own fale

The local “Starbucks “

There were many of these pools around the island. We found it difficult to comprehend that with the beautiful warm clear ocean many preferred to swim here

Many yards had pigs roaming free in them. They are an important food source. Another interesting fact we learned from our guides is that in every village there is a meeting of the town chiefs once a week to discuss any issues including any wrong-doings of the villagers. For example men are not allowed to have beards and this might cost them one pig where as if they have committed adultery that would cost them thirty pigs. Apparently the village councils are more effective than the police and crime is very low here.

Starting to prepare the bread fruits and taro for our lunch

Making coconut cream. It was absolutely delicious

Preparing coconut cream vegetable leaf packages to go on the fire

Preparing our lunch in the traditional method was really interesting and we felt quite special

Hot rocks were piled on top of the vegetables and then coconut shells filled with fish in coconut cream which was truly decadent were placed on top of the rocks.

The whole fire is then covered with banana leaves to creat an oven of sorts and left to cook.

We visited a school in a local village. The children were eager to have their pictures taken and within a short time were right at my feet. We were invited into the preschool room where the children at 3 and 4 are learning to speak and print English. They are very focused on giving their children a good education. This school was regarded as one of the best and some parents would travel from small villages and camp out on the school grounds for the day while their children were in class.

Eric partaking in the kava ceremony

Leolo giving us a toast before drinking his kava. He was a chief in his village.

Our own private dance and song show

Samoans love their fire

His facial expression says it al

This was a wedding dance. I like the show of dominance. In this photo you can just see the tattoos below her knees but they extend all the way up her whole thighs as is traditional and a sign of bravery and honour.