The celebration of a birthday in the family has brought a couple from Australia, Jim and Linda Tannion to Samoa.

Staying at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, 75-year-old Jim told the Samoa Observer this is their first time in Samoa and they are loving every moment of it.

“It’s my son’s mother in-law’s sixtieth birthday and so we have come to attend the birthday and also to meet the other members of the family who are staying here,” Jim said.

But there is another reason why Jim loves Samoa. He said it reminds him about a small island in Ireland where he used to visit when he was a little boy.

 “I was born in Ireland,” he said. “I used to travel to the small islands in Ireland, the little villages and each with the church, and it brought back so many memories being in Samoa this week.”

Linda said she was impressed by the service provided at their accommodation.

“It’s been lovely to meet our other family members,” she said.

“A friend of our son has been showing us around the island even right up to the mountain.

“We went to some other resorts like Return to Paradise where there was a beautiful beach. We’ve also seen some waterfalls. The people were super friendly.”

Jim admits that Samoa’s laid back lifestyle is a bit different to what he is used to but he is learning to adapt and go with the flow.

 “When I started travelling a long time ago as a fourteen- year-old boy, I learned that when you are in Roma you do what the Romans do. So when you’re in Samoa, we do what the Samoans do.”

The Australian couple arrived last Sunday.

They return home tomorrow.