K.I.S Overseas Tour - SAMOA 2007

The dark, wiry Samoan man smiled, flashing his gleaming white teeth, as he took a swift run up the coconut tree. The tree lent like a flagpole, over the crystal clear waters. He sat at the top of the tree as he passed the coconut down to his friend, waiting at the bottom. Minutes before he jumped down onto the hot sand, he sat smiling for the dozen flashing cameras, clicking before his eyes. We watched the Samoans piercing open coconuts before a few of us kids tried, unsuccessfully to first climb the tree and then to cut open coconuts.

But of course that was only a very small part of our wonderful Samoa tour, 2007. All of us have great memories and experiences locked up in our minds and hearts, but it would take months for us to write about it all. So here are a few of the exhilarating highlights of our trip.

 As we all got off the plane a gush of stuffy hot air engulfed us. That was the start of our eight relaxing days in Samoa. There was a long hot wait through customs. As we got out Group Two and Group Three split up. Group Three my group, took a bus over to the ferry to make our way across to the other island of Savaii. While Group Two went to Hotel Kitano. After Group Three landed in Savaii we had a bus drive over to the Tanu Beach Fales. Our excitement stood strong as we rode in the wooden bus with no windows. When we arrived at the beach fales we got a warm welcome from the Tanu Beach family. We chose our fale groups and finally went for a long awaited refreshing swim.

Throughout our trip in Samoa a big part was the swimming and the snorkelling the water clear and warm- the warmest sea water I’ve ever swam in. There were amazing coloured tropical fish to see as we lay on our fronts in the water, puffing out spurts of air through our snorkels, staring with beady eyes, mesmerized by the spectacular underwater sea life. But the awful thing about staying in the water for too long, was turning as red as a radish. Beware of the sun in Samoa!!!

Staying at the Tanu Beach Fales was a real heartwarming experience, because of the friendliness and warmth tingling through you, from the people. It was a real treat staying there. For most of us, slam dunks in volleyball and the magical dancing shown to us at the Fia Fia night, were the best parts in staying at Tanu beach. We all felt like one big family staying with them. Well, to be honest they were one big family, around fifteen of them.

The sliding rocks and the cave pool is a moment that will, for most, stay with us for quite a while. The sliding rocks were a pile of slippery rocks that you slide down, as quick as a crocodile, into a deep pool of water. The cave pool is at the mouth of a giant cave. You climb up around the cave opening to the highest point, and jump off into the pool below, you can also snorkel deeper into the heart of the cave. There is a hole in the rock at the back of the cave, that you swim down through and you come out at the other side of the cave.

As we traveled to the Hotel Kitano we saw a more wealthy side of Samoa; air conditioned rooms, a large pool, minutes walk to the markets, tennis court, Fia Fia night and delicious buffet meals. What a dreamy experience. The markets were a great place to buy your gifts to bring home.

The different foods we tried in Samoa ranged from many fruits like coconut, pawpaw, coconut milk, mango and papaya. . . mmmm . . very sweet and juicy. There were other new foods too, like taro and seafood such as fish and tuna, as well as corned beef and home-made tea, coffee, jams and bread. Some of us will not be too disappointed leaving the food, but of course we will miss our favourites.

Of course our hearts sank as we got off the bus at the airport, because we all knew that it was time to say, “TOFA Samoa! Thanks for an awesome experience.”