Detour to Samoa leaves friends mesmerized

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 31 October 2017, 12:00AM

If you’re going to travel all the way from the U.K. to New Zealand, you might as well push your explorations further into the Pacific and drop into Samoa, says Martin from London, who was visiting his fellow English friend Nikki based in Christchurch when they decided to make a detour to Samoa. 

The friends were admiring Muilvai Cathedral when Dear Tourist met them.

“This is my first time to Samoa and I found everything and everyone to be laid back and very relaxed, as soon as we got into the airport there was Samoan singing to greet us.” 

“We’re staying at the Samoan Outrigger Hotel and it’s great, there’s a great atmosphere and everyone is so friendly. It’s pretty cheap too I thought,” said Nikki.

After taking some pictures of the Cathedral, Martin eventually joined us and it was apparent that he was very impressed with one of our most iconic structures in downtown Apia.

 “Well I haven’t been inside of it yet but this one in particular is very spectacular and it reminds me of the old Spanish Colonial cathedrals that you get in the Caribbean. We arrived on Sunday and so we saw lots of people attending the churches as we were driving through and we were trying to look through the doors to see what was going on inside.”

The friends were waiting on their tour guide to take them around the island.

 “We’re about to leave today (yesterday) to go on an island tour and we are going to go around in a circuit,” said Martin.

 “We won’t get to Savai’i this time around but tonight (last night) we are going to Namu’a which will be nice. It’s always better to stay on one island and just sort of see it properly.”

Dear Tourist asked the two friends what they were looking forward to the most, having come all the way from the U.K.

“If you’re looking for big cities and that sort of thing then no but if you want interesting culture, friendly people and great landscapes and things like that, then definitely this is the place for you,” said Martin.

“I’m someone who is more interested in culture and some archeological sites and activities such as walking I’ve also done a bit of diving as well. I prefer all that rather than lying on a beach but of course there might be some lying on the beach.”

Nikki added: “I’m much more interested in Nature. I like waterfalls, geology and hiking as well. I sometimes think I want to lie on a beach bit when I finally do – I get bored after one day. We went to the R.L.S. museum yesterday (Monday) which I definitely recommend. Like I don’t usually take interest in museums but I just thought it was very pretty and very interesting.”

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 31 October 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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