Saturday at the South-East coast
This Saturday I went with Pascale, her daugther and sister to the south eastern point of Samoa.
On the way we saw a lot of animals as usual. This however was an unusually big pig that apparently has managed to escape the Sunday umus efficiently a lot of times.
One of many Samoan churches to the left.
I'm not sure why, but apparently we were not satisfied with this beach, so we moved on.
This was more like it.
Typical beach fales are seen here, although a bit more colorful than usually. The sand was so incredibly soft and deep.
One of the small islands of Samoas South-east coast. Unfortunately we couldn't go there that day, but hopefully we'll be able to another day.
Beach fales and fale dogs.
I made friends with some of the dogs (and yes, I'm red from the sun). When we stod talking to a Samoan man and the dark dog in the picture came up to me and I started scratching him the Samoan asked a bit surprised if it was my dog. It's not the first time someone has asked that, and that goes for cats as well. I still haven't been chased by the supposed-to-be-vicious Samoan stray dogs, I feel like I'm missing out on a Samoan experience here. So far they have all been very kind or very shy.
Of course I went snorkeling as well, but unfortunately the SE coast had been badly hit by the tsunami in late 2010, and even though the corals were starting to come back most of it was dead. However, since I swam longer and longer out for the beach I eventually came within a few metres of where the waves brake. There I could peek into the window of an underwater paradise, with huuuge Moorish idols and beatiful corals. But all I could to was peek since evety wave threatened to smash me into the shallow corals if I didn't pay attention. So between the waves I looked quickly under water, then I stod up and braced myself and tried to remain on my feet. But after a few to powerfull waves, where one knocked me of my feet I gave up and let them carry me in to the beach. Closer to the beach however there were a lot of beautiful starfish like this one:
I had such a great time, exploring and playing with Pascales daughter and some Samoan girls as well as trowing a ball with a little samoan boy who must have been around 3-4 years old. And so cute! On the way home we drove past a wonderful garden, and Pascale wanted to ask about a plant and if she could get some cuttings to plant. The women there were absolutely fantastic, so kind, funny and charming. And they asked me to take some pictures of them.
They were decorating the roof of the veranda and made it look really cozy.
When we were standing there this huge bird started riding the winds above us. It was enormous! Some kind of frigate bird, maybe the lesser (although it seemed great enough).
I little bit further away a village had four horses standing by the road with a woman tending to them. As Pascale's daughter loves horses we stopped and said hello to them. She even got to ride around on one of them.
Meanwhile I fell in love with the horses, the dogs and the incredibly cute children
On the rest of the way home I just sat in wonder over Samoas beauty. It's incredible lushness where the plants are growing on top of each other and the beautiful mountains.
Unfortunately the perfect day and my total bliss got a bit thrown of track as the car in front of us hit a puppy while driving through a village. Hopefully it never got to suffer as many of the dogs here do.
Sunday didn't raise my spirits either as I was sick the whole day and mostly slept through it all (and apparently Sundays nowadays are my "avoid the sun-days" since I always tend to be a bit daring with the sun on saturdays).
Tomorrow, tuesday, I'll be going to Savai'i on the back of a pickup truck. Apparently there's supposed to be thunder storms. So if you don't hear from me again I'll probably have drowned in the back of a car.