Firstly apologies for the lack of post and thanks for the concern from some of you. I’m now trying to catch up ……. we leave for Tonga tomorrow morning so plenty of time to catch up then. We have been having a very busy time exploring the island and being social, all really good fun and a good break from our sail over here.
We invited our neighbours to join us on our trip to explore the island. Marina (Hannah’s friend) gave us a wonderful itinerary and must see sights. It was a stunning drive, the villages are so colourful with their Fales and wonderful gardens, and road verges. Our first stop was Sopoaga Falls with a drop of 32ms. They were very impressive, even if the walk was a little wet in the drizzle, we had to navigate our way on a very muddy path.
Next stop was the Lava Field Coastal walkway. A walk along stunning black lava cliffs with the waves crashing up against them. We had a wonderful walk along them getting pretty wet from the sea spray. Feeling rather peckish after all that we headed to Marina’s suggestion for lunch. Marina and Monty have been adopted by a Samoan family who own a resort, so she organised ahead for us to go and eat there and meet her Samoan Papa – Joe. It was a stunning resort and all the buildings built in the traditional style, we ate in a huge domed Fale that was an amazing wood and palm construction, I wish I had taken a photo of the inside of the roof, it was an absolute work of art. Joe turned out to be an enormous character, and is obviously a well known Samoan, we had the Japanese ambassador and various other dignitaries pass by and greet Joe. We had a very jolly meal and got on to some hilarious stories, one of him administering his own enemas, and some tragic stories, his first wife was killed in a Tsunami in 2009. He realised the Tsunami was approaching and got his wife and her elderly mother into the car, but they were too late, they got rolled a number of times as the water hit and his wife was thrown out and killed immediately, his mother in law they got out but she died a little while later. What an absolute tragedy, but he is a positive guy and has remarried since. What a character. We asked how he met Marina and Monty and he said it was through the Hash Running club, which occurs worldwide apparently. He started the club here over 40 years ago, he invited us to join their meet on Monday night, assuring us that most participants walk rather than run! We had a very long jolly lunch with him and left after 5pm having admired the resort gardens.
Got back to PolePole ready to digest the Sunday papers and recover from our two bottles of very nice NZ wine!
Stunning coastline
The Fale buildings in every home, all different shapes, sizes and colour. Open so that any one can enter, they must be great meeting places in the rainy season
Different colours…
Different styles
Different sizes ….
Some more basic than others
Some beautifully landscaped
Sopoaga Falls
Looking down the green lush valley
Stunning plants everywhere
the path to the falls through lush vegetation
The path got a bit muddy and Paul lost his shoe
The top of the falls
Rowan near the edge
A scenic drive through the lush vegetation
Darks clouds and rain as soon as you venture inland
The roads are so scenic , with the verges a riot of colours and vibrant greens
They have so much civic pride, there has been a Beautification project to increase pride in the island, reducing litter, reusing old tyres for planters, is a great way to use old tyres
The tyre planters go on for miles and miles, great competition amongst the villages
A quaint single wooden bridge we crossed
The rain comes and go, a relief from the intense heat – no wonder everything grows so ferociously
The river going out to sea
The coastal lava walk, with the big winds and swell, the waves were pumping in
Paul, Rowan and Liz
Entering Sinalei Resort belonging to Monty and Marina’s Samoan family
The Fale we had lunch in
The resort island bar
Deck at the bar
Planters filled with water and flowers
The resort’s beach
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