We woke around 0700 and had breakfast of toast and fruit in the poolside garden. The Outrigger Hotel is an old but very well-kept place. It is somewhere we would come back to for another stay if we were to pass through Apia again.
At 0815 we were collected by Aquasamoa for our dives back near (beyond) the airport. We had made a mistake in our planning thinking that we would dive near Apia, so booked a hotel in town. As it turned out the other two dive operators on the island have gone, leaving only one by the airport. So we had a long ride back to where we came from only 8 hours ago.
The dives were disappointing for me, as usual, as I’ve been lucky enough to dive some great spots in Malaysia and Indonesia. There was some coral (not the most colourful or interesting), next to no big stuff and not much small stuff either. As we were outside the reef, it was extremely choppy and I vomited after both dives. If you care to read about such a bad dive, you can do so here.
After the dives, Aquasamoa dropped us off near the southern edge of town where they had arranged a van to take us to the south. Strangely the driver took us along the northern coast (more interesting views) rather than straight down and along the southern coast.
The journey took over an hour and we arrived at Faofao Beach Fales around 1700. We had booked online and that only gave us the option of the room (and not the fale). As it was quiet, they gave us two separate rooms instead of just one, which was what we had booked. I would have liked to sleep in the breeze in a fale (but I learnt that it can be too breezey and sometimes it leaks).
Dinner (and breakfast) was included at Faofao. The meals were good and being Saturday night, they put on a very good show with the traditional Samoan slap and fire dances. In New Zealand, many Polynesians are obese but it didn’t appear to be the case here. The men who performed had amazing trim and toned bodies. But judging from the very tall and stocky schoolkids I noticed later in Apia, these dancers could be very young … early teens? Despite the show, everything finished early and we were in bed by around 2130 … very much needed after a short and light sleep last night.
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- Taro for sale beside the road to the south.
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- This stringy plant material is used to squeeze grated coconut. I normally use muslin cloth.
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- Kids at the roadside stall.
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- Fales on Saleapaga beach.
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- The fale roofs are topped with the remaining rubber from flipflop. These are also used to pad rugby goalposts.
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- Fiafia night at our accommodation. Good slap dancers.
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- Fiafia night at our accommodation. Good slap dancers.
