So, this week we had two stops, Pago Pago, American Samoa and Apia, Samoa. One of the first questions I had was what’s the difference between American Samoa and “regular” Samoa? I found out that while American Samoa is still a US territory, what used to be called Western Samoa, after being fought over by Britain, Germany, and New Zealand, finally gained independence and are their own country and are now just called Samoa.
View of Pago Pago from the ship
First stop this week was Pago Pago. Pulling up in the ship, the views were spectacular! It is mostly lush green mountains. Instead of going on a tour, I opted to explore on my own. It was brutally hot, over 90 degrees with full humidity so within about 1/2 hour I was melting away. I got some great photos on the way to the only hotel in town, Sadie Thompson’s hotel, named after the lady who was the subject of the 1920’s movie “Sadie Thompson” which apparently was a fairly scandalous story! I got there about 10:30am and the restaurant opened at 11am, so I stood under the air conditioner for a full half hour trying to cool down. Once I did sit down to eat, I had a fish sandwich made from a “wahoo” fish. I didn’t know there was such a fish, but once I saw it on the menu, I had to try it! It was delicious! I stayed in the restaurant for about an hour and a half trying to get the guts to go back outside.
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Finally I made the walk back to the ship, getting some more great photos in the process and a bit of heatstroke. By the time I was about a block away I was seriously dizzy and walking funny. I made it back, downed a ton of water, took a shower, and decompressed for about an hour. Later, I was talking to one of the Indian staff (India being renowned for its heat) and he said his skin was burning from the heat. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one!
Me posing with one of the demonstrators at the cultural center
The next day was Apia, Samoa. This time I had signed up for a tour that promised a cultural experience and a tour of an organic plantation. We piled in the bus and they took us to the tourist center where they had re-created a traditional village for tourists to experience. It was actually really well done! We saw presentations on how to husk and open coconuts, prepare the traditional cooking fire, a kava ceremony, weaving, and tattooing. They actually had a guy getting tattooed that apparently didn’t mind being on show. It’s a fascinating process; the designs are pounded into the skin with a hammer, no machines. Most of the tattoos I saw covered a good 25%-50% of the body, so I can’t even begin to imagine how long that would take! After the tours, we got a chance to taste the food they had prepared for us. We had fish, breadfruit, and taro leaves steamed in coconut milk on a taro leaf for a plate and a coconut with a straw in it for a drink. It was one of the most amazing, inspiring meals I have ever eaten! Just the whole experience of watching them prepare the food and feeling the history of it made it taste that much better!
My incredibly tasty lunch! I just sat on the ground and ate it with my hands.
After that, we piled back in the bus and they took us to an “organic plantation” which was actually the home of the descendants of Aggie Grey, the woman who was the inspiration for James Michener’s “Bloody Mary” in the book and later the musical “South Pacific.” So that was an unexpected surprise! They took us all around their gardens and gave us fresh bananas, papayas, pineapple, oranges, and coconut to eat and an unbelievably refreshing lime juice to drink. Fruit like that, just pulled from the plant on a tropical island is like nothing I have ever tasted before! Incredible. It was a couple of days of amazing food experiences from the fish burger to the Samoan feast to the fruit.
At the organic plantation
We’re back on the ship for another day before we head to Suva, Fiji. I got some great videos on the Samoan demonstrations, I hope you check them out! The guy doing the demonstrations was hilarious! You can find them on my YouTube channel and my Facebook page. I also post to Instagram regularly (@suzernathy). Until next time, take care and have a great week!
Sunset from the ship leaving Pago Pago
P.S. The YouTube channel I have linked to is my martial arts page, not my personal page. I don't have enough wifi on the ship to transfer the videos over. If you are reading this later, and I have transferred them, here is my personal page.
Thanks for keeping us updated Suzanne - I love reading about your adventures.
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