Father's Day in Samoa

Tomorrow is Fathers Day here - a National holiday (as is Mother's Day). I was wished a happy Father's Day for tomorrow and warmly shaken by the hand, as we were greeted by folk coming out of a church we were walking past today. In the supermarket yesterday were large iced, decorated cakes, some moulded round a bottle of Vailima the local beer, all ready for father!

All is going well and, as soon as Denise has the final attention to her tooth on Tuesday, we hope to leave for Savai'i the other main Island of Samoa.

We have been fairly busy - went to Vailima the Museum and former home of Robert Louis Stevenson and also visited the small Museum of Samoa in Apia. Probably the most spectacular display we have seen was at the 'museum' of fine arts which is attached to a church sponsored small school of fine arts. It has only recently opened but housed some amazing wooden sculptures and dramatic paintings, many of which will be for sale in the not too distant future.

One day we rented a car and drove down to the South coast to explore and see how things were going after the tsunami three years ago. In the places we passed some areas had been abandoned as villagers had rebuilt higher up into the hills but many places had been rebuilt and life seemed to be going on as usual.

On two occasions we briefly visited the small team of NZ vets and students from Massey University, who are busy neutering dogs and bitches for the Animal Protection Society of Samoa. I was impressed by what they were achieving in make-do, outdoor tented operating areas as they moved round the island. They had done 48 surgeries the day before we saw them last. It is a long time now since I did much surgery and I probably would not have been up to speed!

We had a trip to one of the bigger supermarkets to stock up for the next leg of the voyage. Some things are interesting to try like taro or breadfruit chips ( instead of potato or corn chips as in NZ) . We bought some star apples ( not star fruit which is quite different) which were new to us - large dark pips and very soft juicy fruit inside the tough round skin.

An unusual thing happened in the marina the other day. We were sitting down below one evening, when we heard a large bang on the side of the hull. Don leapt up to see what it was and found a large fish, which had been pursuing smaller prey, had misjudged its attack, leapt out of the water, hit the hull and bounced off onto the marina pontoon. After some vigorous flapping it launched itself back into the water before it could be caught for dinner!! All that were left for us were a few scales on the side of the boat!!

Fire dance displays are popular here - we saw a team of young folk displaying the art of twirling, burning kerosene soaked batons.
But soon we must leave this fascinating place and set sail again - watch out for a voyage report later this week!

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