Al Blaisdell’s Samoa adventures

By Anina Kazaz 25 August 2018, 12:00AM

To celebrate his 40th birthday, Al and his wife Flora Blaisdell decided to fly into Samoa.

Al is part of the U.S. Army stationed in American Samoa, who has roots in the Philippines, grew up in Hawaii.

Hearing a lot about Samoa in American Samoa, Al wanted to see the island with his own eyes and he said Samoa is as beautiful as he expected it to be.

 “It’s been great, food is good, people are super friendly, it is very affordable and the weather is beautiful,” Al said in an interview with the Dear Tourist team.

In the three days they spent on the island, they have been exploring new activities. Flora had the first snorkeling experience in her life, despite growing up in Hawai’i.

 “It was awesome, just being in an aquarium and having all these beautiful fishes around you,” Flora said.

They were not only impressed with the food at Paddles Restaurant but also the people. 

 “Everybody remembered our names like shook our hand it was very personal,” Al said.

 “It was amazing and different I liked it,” Flora added. 

 “It is amazing. I like the service they made you feel very welcomed. Everyone knows us by name, it is crazy,” Al said. 

She said Samoa is very different from Hawaii because it is less commercialised.

 “I personally prefer that it is not too commercialised, when you want commercial then go to Hawai’i. You come here because it is unique, authentic, different, people are great,” Al said.

They also shared their experience of touring the countryside. 

 “You see poverty it depends on where you go, but they still seem to be so happy. It is a different way to live, everyone has a different lifestyle, it is everywhere around the world not just here. Some things are more important to people and that is fine.

 “I would say this place seems to have a lot more money than American Samoa, the roads are way better here for example,” Al said. They plan to return at the end of the year.

 “It is awesome to just chill and being us that was the best part for me and everybody was very friendly and laid back, I really like that,” Flora explained.

 “The double birthday is amazing I would recommend for tourists to work something out between American Samoa and Samoa having a double birthday package,” Al joked.

By Anina Kazaz 25 August 2018, 12:00AM
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