Samoa

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SAMOA


Samoa besteht aus 9 kleinen Inseln, von denen Upolu und Savaii die zwei Hauptinseln sind. Die Inselgruppe gehört zu Polynesien im Südpazifik und liegt etwa in der Hälfte zwischen Hawaii und New Zealand.

English poet, Rupert Brooke described Samoans as “ the loveliest people in the world, moving and dancing like Gods and Goddesses,very quietly and mysteriously and utterly content”. He then went on to comment on Samoa “ It is sheer beauty, so pure that its difficult to breath in” He was not wrong with this description. Samoa is proud to lay claim to a stunning and unspoilt environment consisting of crystal clear sandy beaches, rugged river cut rainforests, cool pristine waterfalls, caves, lakes and more. Decades of slow development and strong cultural and traditional practices, despite lots of Western influence, are probably what has helped keep Samoa the paradise that is still is today.

The most developed area of Samoa is her capital - Apia. Here a few tall buildings are hardly the skyrises found elsewhere, with at most 6 floors in only a handful of buildings. For the most part a charming oceanfront town is made up of a variety of restaurants , cafes, clubs , shops and the service industry. Only a short drive out of town will take one through colorful coastal villages - where white painted rocks and vibrant foliage border many homes and gives a delightful feel of the relaxed traditional villages that scatter about the islands coast.

What sets Samoa apart from other islands is her culture. Described aptly by Brooke, the Samoan way of life is quietly content, her people are friendly, proud, respectful and eager to share a part of a way of life she is reluctant to let die, with any interested traveler. It will only take a short drive out of the urban areas to see that her people are still fisherman...still farmers, any Samoan will quickly tell you that the best hot chocolate is made here, lovingly pounded cocoa is made from scratch, straight from their plantations! Samoans are still weavers, they are performers and will gracefully impress you with a Taupou's traditional dance or Taualuga, they will have you at awe with the siva afi or firedance, and entertain you with a sasa, siva pati or slap dance. You will not miss the many tattooed individuals, men proudly show a almost full body tattoo which has been a most precious part of her culture which has withstood colonization and the disdain of missionaries and alike. Women may allow you a glimpse perhaps during a siva performance of the delicate women's tattoo called the 'malu'. They are 'Matais' or cheifs and Taule'ale'as - hardworking untitled men, and hold on fiercely to a traditional political system of organization which is ingrained with strong values of respect.

Her churches are tall and impressive, filled with naturally musically inclined congregations and Sundays are a delightful place if one is able to experience a church service as well as their traditional “Toana'i” or Sunday afternoon feast. All in all, you can go to several places in the Pacific where there are white Sandy beaches, but what you miss out on is a Rich and vibrant culture which is infectiously relaxing...combined with the beautiful and calm surroundings, you call 'paradise', we call 'home' What you will find in Samoa is an experience of a lifetime, truly, not to be missed.