Heres why: American Samoa is on the other side of the world. . I actually love my culture. It is good to carry a small stick to intimidate groups of barking dogs, as some will get very close and appear as though they may bite you. Ive looked online and find nothing so far. Samoans have a very strong sense of community. Our tour was met with a traditional welcoming ceremony, where we were served kava, an herbal drink used to honor visitors. It costs $35 one way and takes about 5 hours. Respect our elders, between sisters&brothers, men and women and other people. Most of the dogs are stray dogs and they are very territorial and can get quite agressive. New Zealand The umu is the samoan version of the famous Polynesian ground oven. Women are subjugated & beaten; children are treated as servants & beaten; men are at war w/ each other & beaten. The most honourable tattoo for men is called Pea and covers the area from the waist to the knees. Australian Traveller Media acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Country on which we live and work, and pays respect to Elders's past, present and emerging. Good luck with planning your trip - you won't regret visiting Samoa as it is a truly beautiful place. By mjayb88. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "af8be5fb5e44162863e985512e55a917" );document.getElementById("ha8c16589c").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The best beach in Samoa and one of our favorites in the South Pacific. Aunuu makes a great day trip from the eastern end of Tutuila. Buses originate in Apia and run throughout the day. Hike up coast-hugging peaks, explore eerie lava fields and tube caves, and weave through lush plantations filled with tropical fruit trees. We stayed in American Samoa for 8 days and really wished wed had longer. Forever grateful for my parents. Catching one may be a bit tricky if youre on a schedule because the buses are certainly not always on time. Sunday umu is food cooked on hot stones on the earth and is usually shared with friends and family. Depending on the weather, this can be an extremely rough ride and its likely your fellow passengers will be puking their guts out around you (turns out Samoans are known for being prone to seasickness; who knew??) Often the contribution that the church asks for totals more than 30% of the family income. We heard a couple of stories of theft; however, for the most part, there are no issues related to safety in Samoa. American Samoa 2023: Best Places to Visit - Tripadvisor Places to see, ways to wander, and signature experiences. The Pacific Islands have a reputation for being expensive but Samoa didnt hit our wallets too hard and its definitely doable on a budget too. Samoa has two distinct seasons the dry season running from May to October and the wet season from November to April. Samoa is such a hidden gem. The market in Apia is a good place if you want to try some of the local stuff. Sunday and Saturday. A trip to Alofaaga Blowholesis fun for all ages. And if youve got any extra time, we highly recommend adding a side trip to Western Samoa as well. Definitely bring your snorkeling gear as Samoas underwater world might even be more impressive than whats above the surface. Theres plenty to keep little ones occupied as you laze by the water with a cocktail. Samoa is waiting for you to explore. The Taga Blowholes are old lava tubes within the lava fields that line the shore. First, your name, second, your familys name. Savaii is larger and more rugged than Upolu, yet with fewer sights. Watching the breadfruit, taro, and fish in coconut cream cooked slowly over a hot volcanic rock oven, and then eating the delicious meal afterwards, was quite an experience. The rainforests around the islands offer some magnificent hikes. It is possible to camp in American Samoa, though youll have to get permission from whoevers land youre landing on. Of course theyre nice & sweet to papalagis (white people), but to their own, NOT. Swim with wild sea turtles in crystal clear, warm turquoise water that is also brimming with other marine wildlife that made its home in the colourful reefs surrounding the coastline. On the west side of the island, you can be the last person on Earth to see the sunset at Cape Taputapus beach. Copyright 2023 Wandering Media LLC. If youre planning this trip a while in advance, it might be worth looking into Hawaiians Mastercard offer: you can get a large signup bonus and use those points on your Pago flight. Children being abused. Samoans are very religious. But the real reason to make this a stop is for the snorkeling. Too serious. Its a country that leaves its mark on all who visit, no matter how they choose to spend their time here. Today we will be talking about Samoa. Add Comment* There are five islands in American Samoa: Tutuila, Aunuu, Tau, Ofu and Olosega. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The reef all around Ofu has lots of sea turtles and reef sharks; if you do enough snorkeling, youre likely to see both. Most restaurants are casual and not too expensive. On Aunuu, you can follow the 4WD track around the island to see isolated sea arches, surf-pounded coves, a lake in the islands volcanic crater, a lake of quicksand and taro marshes. Without a bike, your options here are limited to walking and hitching. It is best to see during mid or high tide. Samoan is the official national language; however, most people speak English as it is the first language taught in schools. All rights reserved. Like seriously, picture postcard, perfect paradise. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. It has the most well-known attractions and seven days will be enough to see them all without feeling rushed. Speaking of things I love: taro. It is better for jumping/swimming during high tide, but if you are courageous enough to swim through the cave out to the beach, ONLY attempt this at low tide. When you see one of the colourful vehicles for the first time, youll know exactly why. We do highly recommend trying a traditional umu meal (cooked in a ground oven), but after eating taro and dishes with coconut milk a few days in a row youll want something else, and other than fried chicken and rice there isnt much else to choose from. really informative will definitely remember this for when we visit! At first glance, Samoa is a true tropical paradise. The other big island is called Savaii, and while it is bigger than Upolu, a lot less people live on Savaii. Some of the most beautiful falls to check out include Afu Aau, Sopoaga andTogitogiga. If you are in Apia mid-week do not miss this show! Fia Fia shows are a great way to experience Samoan culture. Outside of Apia, most of the best places are associated with . The more expensive accommodations often do have Wi-Fi, but they usually dont offer it for free and the data bundles that you get are very small. With a feast of local food, traditional singing and dancing, and a dazzling faataupati (fire knife) performance, its the perfect way to immerse yourself in Samoan culture and discover why Samoans are known as some of the warmest and most welcoming folk in the South Pacific. Best Things to Do in Savai'i, Samoa | About Fiji Travel The Fugalei fresh produce market is the place to shop like a local and pickup delicious fruit and other market snacks. These spectacular blowholes, formed in the rocky coastline of Taga on Savaii, force thousands of litres of seawater skyward making for a spectacular sight. Samoa has two distinct seasons, dry and wet. If its a clear night, dont miss laying out under the night sky for a while. We didnt believe it was safe to ride down the rocks on our butts until we saw our guide go first without injury. The National Park consists of land on Tutuila, Ofu and Tau, but maintains trails in areas outside the park, too. However, it is not for everyone. But that wouldn't make a very interesting or useful article would it? Im telling you, growing up in Samoa, it was the most beautiful thing ever, not to be able to see people walking around. Tribes play a very important part in Samoan culture and tribal chiefs hold a lot of power over its members and decide on a lot of the major decisions that concern the tribe and their villages. And for something more off-the-beaten-path, head to the Falease'ela River Walk for an exhilarating river trek in the Samoan wilderness. Many accommodations are run by local families and will include breakfast and dinner. Samoas weather is warm and tropical all year round, with an average daily temperature of 29 degrees celsius and ocean temperature in the low 20s so really any time of year will give you that blissful burst of warmth youve been craving. This article provides an overview of the best time to visit Samoa, a subtropical, South Pacific island nation situated east of the International Date Line. Places To Visit Samoa : 9 Tourist Attractions in Samoa - CBI CARIBBEAN The water is clear enough to see the reef and some of its inhabitants even without a snorkel mask, but if you want to snorkel, this is a great place to do it. If you're in downtown Apia the clock is super easy to find and close to other attractions such as the Catholic. And most buses have booming music to add to the experience. Your email address will not be published. It was closed when we visited, so we werent able to check it out for ourselves.) Average daily temperatures hover around 28 to 30C throughout the year, and the seawater is balmily warm. When you drive through Samoa youll be astounded by the number of churches youll see. And dont miss the Savalalo Flea Market for souvenirs and gifts to take home. Well, this is just a typical day in Samoa. We heard that was a common occurrence. Samoa is a place where piglets roam freely, where everyone smiles and waves as you pass by and where island time is the only time. Seeing American Samoa as a Day Trip from Apia-- You can see American Samoa as a 1-day side trip from independent Samoa. Any casual snorkelling trip from shore may well likely be accompanied by turtles, while beach fales like Tailua Beach Fales feed turtles with papaya for guests to take a look . If you get a chance to visit, dont miss it! I would like to get in touch with someone mayor or other village official in Afono to send to photos of people who back then were so kind to me. Living in Samoa might sound like a dream but to keep it fair to the rest of the world there are also a few things that arent so great about Samoa. Unless youre traveling by rental car or scooter, you can expect to stay at the same place Saturday and Sunday night. Being part of a fiafia night celebration is a great way to experience Samoas colourful ancient culture through traditional dance including the not-to-be-missed fire knife dance music, and a buffet of delicious umu-cooked food. The main entry point isFaleolo International Airport which is 35km from Apia on the island of Upolu. A trip to the colourful Maketi Fou, Apias local market, is a must. At the far end of Olosega Village, youll find the Oge Beach Trail, which leads up the side of Mataala Ridge and steeply down to Oge Beach. It was some of the best snorkeling we have seen anywhere in the world. Because if they didnt teach us from wrong to right, we wouldve been out here committing crimes, disrespect other.