Samoa Christmas 2010-Sauniatu Again

Our last two days in Samoa we returned to quiet Sauniatu, Saturday evening to Monday morning. It was nice to be in a community where others observed the Sabbath as well. We just had to walk next door for church on Sunday morning, and a sweet lady from church brought us a plate of fa'alifu fa'i and taro (green banana and taro baked with coconut cream)--a very welcome dish since we'd had a hard time finding a place to buy food for the weekend. Everything closes for the holidays! In Apia we wanted to eat at our favorite restaurant Paddles, but it was closed whenever we went by! I guess they like their holidays. Who can blame them. But anyway...

McKay fale dedicated to President David O. McKay who gave an apostolic blessing on the village in the 1920's. It really is a tranquil and special place.

There are carvings of Samoan legends on every post of the fale. I wish I'd had someone there to explain them all to me. Fascinating. Isaac wanted his picture taken by each one.

Monday morning

We cleaned the house then drove back into town. We found Papase'ea or Sliding Rock just outside of Apia. It's a series of waterfalls and pools of varying depths and sizes. With more time and less kids, we could have real fun there. As it was, it was still fun. We watched some real daredevils sliding down the falls on their feet and jumping from the edges.

A general impression of Samoa: Less fat. Your average guy is totally fit and cut. Even old guys have a six pack. I don't know why, but maybe it has to do with the fact that in Samoa people are constantly walking around, hauling things, and working. Plus they're too poor to eat anything but what they grow, collect, and prepare themselves. There's a strong matai system in place where certain people get served food first, and everyone else eats what's left. They only have one McDonalds that's inaccessible to most people. Not saying that every other little "fast food" place is more healthy, but the small fast food places probably don't serve so much processed food. Whatever the reason, we were impressed, since most everybody looks like a pro rugby player, or someone you wouldn't want to meet angry. O tagata malolosi. (Strong people.) Two cents finished.

Lunch and ice cream at Scoops, returned rental car, got a ride to the airport and off we went. . . back to Tutuila and real life. After such an excursion, I can last another little while on our small rock in the Pacific.

Tofa Soifua, Samoa.