Any Travels

The Samoa Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. Western Samoa is an independent country. American Samoa is part of the United States. Both groups of islands were discoverd by the same ecplorer Jacon Roggeveen and share one culture.

The islands of Western Samoa are known for white sand beaches, rugged forested mountains, steep gorges, numerous waterfalls, lava fields, blowholes, dormant volcanoes and coconut plantations. Many many people think of Samoa thanks to the works of the Scottish author Robert L. Stevenson and his book on the "Treasure Island.". Actually Samoa consists of two major islands and seven smaller ones. Upolu is the most densely populated of the two main islands of Samoa. The Capital of Samoa is Apia , which is located in the north. Also the international airport is located here. The other island named Savaii is a fascinating island and the local people live life at an easy and gentle pace. Total land area is 2934 square km. There is an exclusive marine economic zone covering some 130,000 sq km. The islands are volcanic and dominated by rugged mountain ranges with a 4-5 km skirt of gently sloping fertile land to which is attached a fringe of coral reefs and lagoons that surround the islands.

UpoluWestern-Samoa comprises nine major islands, volcanic Upolu and Savai?i being the two largest ones. Upolu is a fertile island with beautiful scenery and excellent swimming opportunities (check out Lefaga Bay but be aware of the reefs). The island?s capital (and also of Western Samoa) is Apia, where you can visit the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. The museum is housed in a plantation home once built by the author of ?Treasure Island?. Several shops will mark your stay with island handicrafts or maybe even an Samoan tattoo? You can make some excellent daytrips to rubber plantations, banana trees and the tallest mountain of Western Samoa.

''Savai'i''
Savai'i is the biggest but less developed island of Western Samoa. All but one village are located right on the coast line. Salelologa is the main village with the harbour and a mall, a market (where you can find good and cheap local handicraft and colorful lavalavas) and a couple hotels. The most "touristy" area, if you can call it that, is Manase on the North coast. The beach stretches as far as you can see and the accommodation there is good value for money. The most spectacular sight and a must see are the blowholes in Taga. They get as high as 20 metres on high tide and they are truly stunning. For a couple extra bucks locals will throw coconuts in the blowholes and out flying they come. In Savai'i you can still find really untouched beaches.

Other highlights you shouldn't miss while you are there: the turtle rescue station, the lava fields, the Ancient Mounts, O le moe waterfalls, guavai waterfalls (run right into the ocean) and the Falealupo Rainforest Canopy walk close to the end of this world.

Culture
Independent Samoans are very tradition-oriented, very steeped in a complex set of social hierarchies, courtesies and customs that regulate their social, religious and political life. Independent Samoan culture is based on fa'amatai, a system of government that has a chief, or matai, governing an entire aiga or extended family. Wealth and food are distributed on a needs basis and honour and social standing is shared or shouldered equally by all members of the aiga. The matai represents the family on the village council, metes out justice, and makes sure that all customs are properly observed. In fact Independent Samoa has more rules of etiquette than a finishing school for young ladies and a keen sense of propriety and respect. The matai is also a living archive, responsible for remembering the ancient folk lore, the family genealogies, and the stories of the old gods, and passing them onto his successor.

Although Samoan culture dates back thousands of years and is still passed on through poems, genealogies and stories of the old gods, most Samoans these days are devout Christians. Religion is a big part of Samoan life and Sunday service is the most important event in the week. Absolute fealty to, and respect for, the church leader is a must, as is the strict observance of religious rules. This whole-hearted embracing of a transplanted religion may seem a little odd but more than one person has suggested that Christianity on the islands has been 'samoanised'. In much the same way that games of cricket are played with three-sided bats and Samoan checkers can include eccentric rules like jumping over the whole board, so the Samoan version of Christianity often has non-Samoans scratching their heads in bewilderment.

Dancing, singing and music play a big part in Samoan culture. The fiafia was originally a village play or musical presentation performed by a number of villagers but these days it simply refers to a bit of a Samoan knees up at the larger hotels. Both the siva (a dance performed by women acting out impromptu stories with their hands) and the sa sa (a dance performed to the beating of a wooden mallet) are performed. Tattooing is a significant rite in Independent Samoa and involves more than a visit to the local Tatt Parlour on a Friday night full of Dutch courage and bravado to get a Betty Boop figure stenciled on a bicep. At age 12 or 13 Samoan males go to the tufuga, or tattooist, and get tattooed from waist to knee. The tattoos represent the strength of a man's heart and his spirituality but on a more practical note if you can bear the pain of a months' worth of tattooing, you can bear anything.

Food in Samoa derives mainly from tropical crops, root vegetables, coconut products, fresh fruit, pork, chicken and, of course, seafood. The traditional Polynesian feast is cooked in an umu, an above-the-ground oven. The traditional Sunday meal is nearly always cooked in the umu. 'Ava or kava is a drink made from the ground roots of pepper plants and has a mild tranquilising effect. It is usually drunk as a prelude to ceremonial gatherings and village meetings.