Page 143 - Pacific Paradises 2019

— Samoa —

SAVAII
Falealupo
Mt Silisili

Tafua

Apia
UPOLU

SAMOA

Samoa is located halfway Taxis are also available but it’s the many Samoans sailing small canoes
between Hawaii and New recommended to confirm the price to far from the sight of land.
Zealand. Its natural wonders your destination with the driver before During the 18th century, vast
include waterfalls, mountains, you depart. plantations producing copra and cotton
volcanoes and miles of The people were developed for export and Apia
secluded beaches. Samoans are the largest group of full- became a major commercial centre in the

Capital and major centres blooded Polynesians in the world and South Pacific. Samoa was annexed by
Samoa is made up of ten islands, of have retained much of their ancient Germany from 1899 to 1914 and then
which Savaii is the largest. Its neighbour, culture. Their practice of fa’a Samoa, by New Zealand from 1914 until 1962,
Upolu is the most populated and the (the Samoan Way), is a living culture when Western Samoa finally gained self
location of the capital, Apia, along with that centres around the family unit and government. The ‘Western’ was dropped
the international airport, the seat of love and respect for all. from its official name in 1997. Although
government and the centre of commerce. Their tradition of tattooing is an Samoan is the native language, English is
Savaii is dotted with secluded beaches intricate art and has been a cultural widely spoken.
and crowned at the centre by the 1858 right of passage for generations. Many Nature
metre Mt Silisili. Samoans proudly display complex Both islands are rich in fauna and flora.
symbolic designs from the lower chest to Savaii has lush tropical rainforests,
The main entry point into Samoa is the knees. housing many exotic bird species.
Falelolo International Airport, 35 km Conservation organisations provide
from Apia. Currency exchanges are History funding to ensure the rainforests at
open for all international flight arrivals These islands were first settled about Tafua and Falealupo on Savaii are
and departures. Airport shuttles are 1000 BC and are accepted as the heart of protected and maintained.
provided to the major hotels and can the Polynesian culture. In 1768, Louis de
be booked prior to arrival or organised Bougainville sighted Samoa and named Samoa’s climate is tropical all year
after clearing Customs. them ‘The Navigator Islands’ because of round, with two distinct seasons, the dry

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