Samoa

Travis and I just returned from two weeks in Samoa. It was absolutely beautiful and incredibly fulfilling. We realized that Samoa was our first ever trip as just the two of us, no one to visit or go with, which made it quite relaxing.

We stayed in "fales," traditional Samoan elevated beach huts right on the sand. They were rather simple: a porch, a mat, and a mosquito net. But that was more than enough. We stayed six nights on the Upolo, the island where Apia, the capital, is located. It was right on the eastern tip and overlooked another smaller island. The beach was perfect. We made friends with Helga and Joseph, the most awesome Austrians ever, and played the card game "asshole" drinking Valima (Samoan beer) until late. It was a heartbreak to leave, but we took a bus from Lalomanu, the village we stayed in, to the ferry on the other side of the island. Samoan buses are quite the experience. They are privately owned and completely decked out with art and crazy slogans with giant subwoofers in the back blasting a bizarre variety of music ranging from Aqua's 1997 "Aquarium" album, Eminem's 2002 album "Marshall Mathers," to traditional Samoan music over regetone beats (see photo). Plus, there is no occupancy limit to the buses, so half the people are sitting on the laps of strangers (fortunately I sat on Travis). Neat experience. The Samoas are really friendly and kind, we really liked everyone we met. We took the ferry over to Savai'i, the bigger of the two islands, then caught a cab to Manese, a village on the nothern shore. Our days there were equally wonderful; we tore through three books each, bathed in the sun, drank pina coladas watching the sunset, yadda yadda yadda.

We are home now with a big research paper on the horizon...off to see "The Watchmen" tonight (a graphic novel we both read in Samoa). Love you all.