Talofa!

 waterfalls,  traditional villages,  volcanoes,  miles of rugged coastline,  beaches,  lava tube caves,  remote destinations,  traditional activities, perfect reef barrels for surfing, 3000-6000 foot mountains and....a 5000 year old culture.  Enough Reason for me to explore this Pacific Culture.

I took these photos in the thick jungle of Western Samoa

The Samoan Islands were first seen by Europeans in 1722 when three Dutch ships commanded by Jacob Roggewein visited the eastern island known as Manua. A member of Roggewein's expedition described the natives in these words:

"They are friendly in their speech and courteous in their behavior, with no apparent trace of
wildness or savagery. They do not paint themselves, as do the natives of some other islands, but
on the lower part of the body they wear artfully woven silk tights or knee breeches. They are
altogether the most charming and polite natives we have seen in all of the South Seas."

The Dutch ships lay at anchor off the islands for several days, but members of the crew did not venture ashore and apparently did not even get close enough to the natives to realize that they were not wearing silk breeches, but tattooing on their legs.

The Market of Apia, Western Samoa

I was staying in a small village South East along the Samoan Coast.   

 A wonderful experience.

Click Samoan Kava Dance to see a short version of Kava Dancing

These islands are volcanic in origin with three volcanic eruptions this
century. Then why would the villagers from Apolima island prefer to live
inside a volcanic crater?

I had a very good time surfing and exploring Savaii, except the Reef Confrontation that finally made me go to for letting it heal. 

Visit deep gorges and underground rivers (try white-water
trekking) waterfalls over 600 feet high including the highest
of all (Sinaloa Falls on Savaii) recent lava flows (1905-1911)
in the village of Saleaula on Savaii endless lava tube caves
and coastal springs awesome blowholes in the village of
Taga on Savaii secluded white sandy beaches and remote
6000 foot mountain ridges.

1. A photo of a Samoan School 2. Very Clear Environment 3. I & I