Seeing is believing

By Nefertiti Matatia 06 July 2018, 12:00AM

Samoa is the perfect place to spend the holidays.

So says Roisin Tumilty from Sydney, Australia.

At the beginning of the year, a good friend of hers travelled to Samoa for a holiday and had told her all about Samoa.  Roisin had to see the island for herself.

In only four days, Roisin was able to see and experience all the stories told about Samoa. 

 “I had a friend that came in January and when they returned and showed me their photos it was just so beautiful. It looked like it was not as busy as other Pacific Islands that were the attraction.

“I am here by myself and it is safe and easy to navigate, that was important. I am on a holiday for 10 days.

“I am staying down the south coast and so I have seen the To Sua Ocean Trench, the giant clams and have been to so many waterfalls. I have also been to the marine centre.”

Roisin told the Dear Tourist team she is excited to explore the island a little more. There are still many more things to discover and she has very limited time. 

“Over the next few days I am going to go diving, go to Savai’i just for a day’s trip and I want to go see the blow holes, then after all of that it will be time to go.”

It was not the beautiful sandy beaches and the many untouched sites of Samoa that captivated her, it was the people.

“Everyone that I have met has been super friendly, people here would go out of their way to help and it is important to them that you have a nice time.

“They genuinely want that to happen like how they do things for you. What’s lovely for me because I am staying in the rural areas where the beach fales are, like there are always people out in the evening, all the children and the adults playing together. 

“Whether they would be playing rugby or volleyball, it really gives that sense of community, which was a really good experience for me. It was all children on phones and iPad’s, people are out and they interact with one another.”

Roisin is amazed that a short flight to the heart of the Pacific has been more than what she expected. 

“I am used to doing big trips back in Europe, very long flights and I am very happy that I get to do something different in these short flights.

 “The other thing that I have noticed here is the climatic difference in the island. So today (yesterday) it was raining and cloudy.

“I think if I come back then I would go to Savaii and spend a few days there because I have seen most of Apia. So I am hoping that when I get back there will be more sun.”

Despite the weather, it’s still been a good holiday for her with the warm water.

“I will definitely miss how laid back things are and how genuine people are, where they always make sure that you enjoy your day. It is a very different pace of life.

“It is very busy in Australia. Everyone is on a mission to do things for themselves. It is not that people are not friendly, they are friendly but you rarely see that because people are busy and doing their thing.”    

By Nefertiti Matatia 06 July 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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