Having a lush green tropical view from the office is not a bad way to spend your working day.

While he sits in the open dining area of the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel with his laptop and documents spread out before him, Trevor McManus is conscious that he is living the dream of every corporate professional stuck in the cold concrete jungle of metropolitan New Zealand.

While Trevor is coy about revealing his work details, he tells Dear Tourist that he is happy to be here in Samoa after a nine-year hiatus, even if it was just for a couple of days.

“I can’t talk about why I’m here but I’m here for work,” he said.

 “I haven’t been here for many years; this is the return after eight or nine year absence.  I’m only here for a short time and I only got in a couple of days ago. 

“I’m in and out of the country just like that, but I really should come back and stay longer,” he laughs.

Mr. Mcmanus reminisces about the last time he was here and while he noticed some changes, he was happy to see that the things he remembered and loved about Samoa were still the same.

 “I have had a look around the island in the past and being back now, clearly it’s developed a lot since 10 years ago, but it’s still very friendly, the climate is great, the seafood is great so it’s a great place.”

Mr. Macmanus is a simple man and all he wants is good food, a quiet place to work and cold beers. However, he did have one small gripe.

“Last time I came I stayed at Aggie Greys but I see that it’s not here anymore,” he said. 

“I have stayed at the Tanoa before and this is my second time now and I find that it’s fine, it has everything I need because it’s friendly, clean, the food is pretty good and plenty of cold beer. 

“However I’d just like to kill the rooster next door that wakes me up at 4am,” he laughs.