craven morehead
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I have drunk this beer poured from the tap in the US and Canada, and they insist on serving it with a slice of Orange. I said, do I look a fruit bat
Cruising the South Pacific, no show tunes allowed
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I have drunk this beer poured from the tap in the US and Canada, and they insist on serving it with a slice of Orange. I said, do I look a fruit bat
craven morehead
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Colorado/Caribbean - same same but differentI have drunk this beer poured from the tap in the US and Canada, and they insist on serving it with a slice of Orange. I said, do I look a fruit bat
Blue Moon Belgian White is a Belgian-style wheat ale with a 5.4% ABV, brewed with orange peel and coriander for a bright, citrusy flavor
Blue Moon Belgian White is a Belgian-style witbier brewed by Molson Coors under the Blue Moon Brewing Company label. It was first introduced in 1995 in Golden, Colorado, and was originally called Bellyslide Belgian White. The beer is now brewed in multiple locations, including Colorado and Montreal, Canada,
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Quite common across the US these days. On tap, take it with a with a slice of orange.I have drunk this beer poured from the tap in the US and Canada, and they insist on serving it with a slice of Orange. I said, do I look a fruit bat
Blue Moon Belgian White is a Belgian-style wheat ale with a 5.4% ABV, brewed with orange peel and coriander for a bright, citrusy flavor
Blue Moon Belgian White is a Belgian-style witbier brewed by Molson Coors under the Blue Moon Brewing Company label. It was first introduced in 1995 in Golden, Colorado, and was originally called Bellyslide Belgian White. The beer is now brewed in multiple locations, including Colorado and Montreal, Canada,
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June 17 Samoa
We'd gone to sleep on June 15 and woken up the next morning on June 17. This was causing many people great concern. "How have we a lost a day?" Oh dear.
It was also something that the NCL app couldn't cope with. When we'd booked the specialty restaurants I'd booked the Italian restaurant Onda for June 16. Early on in the cruise we'd had a call letting us know that the booking had been cancelled as the day didn't actually exist. We rebooked for our final night.
The weather forecast hadn't looked too good for either of the Samoas but it ended up being a glorious day with just some light rain as we crossed through the centre of the island.
Arriving into Apia
I'd booked a day tour with Adventour Samoa. Communication was all through Facebook messenger. I'd seen a cruise ship tour on GetYourGuide but contacted them directly to make sure they got the full cost without a cut to GYG. USD150 each for a full day tour icnluding luncha nd all admission charges.
I'd been sent constant messages from Steve the proprietor. When I'd originally enquired I asked if we could spend longer at Robert Louis Stevenson's house and skip the cathedral visit. Steve said they'd modify the tour to whatever we wanted. He'd sent a message on arrival morning letting us know where the van would be and what number it was. I could see it from our balcony. Steve and his vans
anotehr beautiful welcome from a local cultural group. The boys of American Samoa looked more like sumo wrestlers. Taus laughed and said us Samoans like our starch too much. These Samoans looked more like rugby players
I wasn't sure if we would be on our own or others had booked the same tour. It was the latter. A group of four USAians joined us - mum, dad and two late teenage kids. Steve introduced us to our driver as Ranger Tagaloa. I asked him if Ranger was actually his name and he said no, it was Aitasi.
The family happily sat in the back of the van and chatted amongst themselves. First stop was to exchange some cash into local currency for any incidentals, then on to Robert Louis Stevenson's house. When we go back to Samoa. and we definitely will, we'll spend a lot longer here and walk to the top of the hill where RLS is buried. Just not enough time. It is a guided tour through the house and bAlt and I found it super interesting, the family not so much.
There are very few original items in the house. Pretty much everything was sold off after RLS died.
We'd gone to sleep on June 15 and woken up the next morning on June 17. This was causing many people great concern. "How have we a lost a day?" Oh dear.
It was also something that the NCL app couldn't cope with. When we'd booked the specialty restaurants I'd booked the Italian restaurant Onda for June 16. Early on in the cruise we'd had a call letting us know that the booking had been cancelled as the day didn't actually exist. We rebooked for our final night.
The weather forecast hadn't looked too good for either of the Samoas but it ended up being a glorious day with just some light rain as we crossed through the centre of the island.
Arriving into Apia
I'd booked a day tour with Adventour Samoa. Communication was all through Facebook messenger. I'd seen a cruise ship tour on GetYourGuide but contacted them directly to make sure they got the full cost without a cut to GYG. USD150 each for a full day tour icnluding luncha nd all admission charges.
I'd been sent constant messages from Steve the proprietor. When I'd originally enquired I asked if we could spend longer at Robert Louis Stevenson's house and skip the cathedral visit. Steve said they'd modify the tour to whatever we wanted. He'd sent a message on arrival morning letting us know where the van would be and what number it was. I could see it from our balcony. Steve and his vans
anotehr beautiful welcome from a local cultural group. The boys of American Samoa looked more like sumo wrestlers. Taus laughed and said us Samoans like our starch too much. These Samoans looked more like rugby players
I wasn't sure if we would be on our own or others had booked the same tour. It was the latter. A group of four USAians joined us - mum, dad and two late teenage kids. Steve introduced us to our driver as Ranger Tagaloa. I asked him if Ranger was actually his name and he said no, it was Aitasi.
The family happily sat in the back of the van and chatted amongst themselves. First stop was to exchange some cash into local currency for any incidentals, then on to Robert Louis Stevenson's house. When we go back to Samoa. and we definitely will, we'll spend a lot longer here and walk to the top of the hill where RLS is buried. Just not enough time. It is a guided tour through the house and bAlt and I found it super interesting, the family not so much.
There are very few original items in the house. Pretty much everything was sold off after RLS died.
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Then we drove up behind Apia and headed across the island. It was very foggy and drizzling as we arrived at the Baha'i temple. Chrches of any description just aren't our thing and I'm not sure it was that interesting to the family from Salt Lake City ;-)
next stop was Papapaptai Falls
then it was a decent drive to Togitogiga Waterfall where the family was keen to go for a swim. One foot in the chilly water was enough to dismiss that idea
while we were there I talked to Aitasi. It turns out he is quite the rugby player, good enough to be one three Samoan residents to be selected to play in the rugby world cup next year! Then he talked about his other interest - Pasifika contemporary dance. Aitasi lived in Guam for three years dancing in an international troupe there. He's travelled all over the world with his dancing. What a cool young guy.
Aitasi Tagalo. Keep an eye out for him
Time for lunch. This was at Miti Mininoa Ocean Club. We could choose anything and I of course chose the raw fish, this time in more of a cold soup, and served with taro chips. It was delicious.
a new beer!
next stop was Papapaptai Falls
then it was a decent drive to Togitogiga Waterfall where the family was keen to go for a swim. One foot in the chilly water was enough to dismiss that idea
while we were there I talked to Aitasi. It turns out he is quite the rugby player, good enough to be one three Samoan residents to be selected to play in the rugby world cup next year! Then he talked about his other interest - Pasifika contemporary dance. Aitasi lived in Guam for three years dancing in an international troupe there. He's travelled all over the world with his dancing. What a cool young guy.
Aitasi Tagalo. Keep an eye out for him
Time for lunch. This was at Miti Mininoa Ocean Club. We could choose anything and I of course chose the raw fish, this time in more of a cold soup, and served with taro chips. It was delicious.
a new beer!
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craven morehead
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Possibly alarmed that they’d missed a whole day of the drinks package!
It’s the same going the other way except it’s a “Ground Hog Day” situation.
I’m taking notes on the Samoa(s). We’re ticking off most of the same ports but over two cruises. Fiji, Apia and Pago Pago will be next year. We did Tahiti just before you guys - unfortunately we didn’t get to the Cook Islands. I would have preferred that over cold, wet Auckland stopover.
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We're enjoying your trip report as usual, from home - although sans coughtails as we're doing Dry July. We really enjoyed our trip to Samoa a few years ago, and will go back. And yes, rugby is a very big thing South Pacific - Here We Come
But we'll have to put all of the other places you've visited on that list too.
But we'll have to put all of the other places you've visited on that list too.
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The family had taken this trip for one reason - to swim at To Sua Ocean Trench. That's where we drove next. To Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa - The Ultimate Guide – Craving Adventure
There was a bit of backwards and forwards to get to places and we drove back past Tigotigoga waterfall to get to To Sua. Like with pretty much everything on this trip we'd done no research so this place was a complete surprise. A huge hole with a tidal pool in the bottom of it and a perilous ladder to go down to get to the water.
for me the ladder was terrifying. I just hate ladders. The picture above in no way shows how steep it was and eventually how many people were trying to go down, or up. But, once we did get down there it was super cool. The water was warm. A weird current flowed in and out. Lots of laughing people. Gentle rain. It was excellent.
Getting out was problematic as people wanting to come down wouldn't clear the top of the ladder. I literally had to shove one impatient women in the cough as she tried to start coming down while I was getting off it. Some people are just so cough*ing rude.
Anyways.
Our final three destinations were the cathedral, that I'd already asked to miss, the Samoan Parliament, and the market.
The family had found another possible place to swim - Piula Cave Pool - and asked Aitasi about it. He said if we go there we'd miss the cathedral and parliament stops. The family asked if we were ok and we were all for it. Parliament would have been interesting but needed more than a quick stop, and the cathedral was a big no for all six of us.
Initially the family had just talked amongst themselves but since lunch had chatted to us constantly. Dad had just sold his veterinary practice (six offices!) in SLC and was now working as a locum on contract. Not exactly worldy people but so many USAians aren't. They are so often amazed at much others know about the world. Nevertheless, really lovely people.
www.samoa.travel
The pool and cave are in the grounds of a theological college. From the pictures in the above link it can obviously get hugely crowded but it was not too bad when we were there. It's also fresh water. That seems odd as you are right beside the ocean but it is fed by a spring. You can swim through a small pitch black tunnel into another open pool. Dad and son went through but there was not a chance any of the rest of us were going through a rocky underwater hole. A nice place to visit for an hour.
We drove along the coast road back to Apia and then stopped at the market. The family wanted to spend as much of the local currency as they could. I had enough to buy an overpriced t-shirt.
so endeth a wonderful introduction to Samoa. I hope Aitasi does well at the rugby next year.
the cultural group was back to see us off and they were just as good as in the morning. So good that security eventually had to start asking us to get back onboard as we had gone past 4:30 final boarding
Goodbye Apia, we've loved our introduction to your amazing island
Fiji Bitter to cheers a great day. We'll be there in a couple of days
we didn't bother with a restaurant dinner. Instead, grabbed some Asian food from the buffet, and a couple of Tahitian beers
There was a bit of backwards and forwards to get to places and we drove back past Tigotigoga waterfall to get to To Sua. Like with pretty much everything on this trip we'd done no research so this place was a complete surprise. A huge hole with a tidal pool in the bottom of it and a perilous ladder to go down to get to the water.
for me the ladder was terrifying. I just hate ladders. The picture above in no way shows how steep it was and eventually how many people were trying to go down, or up. But, once we did get down there it was super cool. The water was warm. A weird current flowed in and out. Lots of laughing people. Gentle rain. It was excellent.
Getting out was problematic as people wanting to come down wouldn't clear the top of the ladder. I literally had to shove one impatient women in the cough as she tried to start coming down while I was getting off it. Some people are just so cough*ing rude.
Anyways.
Our final three destinations were the cathedral, that I'd already asked to miss, the Samoan Parliament, and the market.
The family had found another possible place to swim - Piula Cave Pool - and asked Aitasi about it. He said if we go there we'd miss the cathedral and parliament stops. The family asked if we were ok and we were all for it. Parliament would have been interesting but needed more than a quick stop, and the cathedral was a big no for all six of us.
Initially the family had just talked amongst themselves but since lunch had chatted to us constantly. Dad had just sold his veterinary practice (six offices!) in SLC and was now working as a locum on contract. Not exactly worldy people but so many USAians aren't. They are so often amazed at much others know about the world. Nevertheless, really lovely people.
Piula (Fatumea) Cave Pool | Upolu Island Sightseeing | Samoa
Piula Cave Pool on Upolu Island, Samoa, is a beautiful crystal clear freshwater spring that originated from an old lava tube.
The pool and cave are in the grounds of a theological college. From the pictures in the above link it can obviously get hugely crowded but it was not too bad when we were there. It's also fresh water. That seems odd as you are right beside the ocean but it is fed by a spring. You can swim through a small pitch black tunnel into another open pool. Dad and son went through but there was not a chance any of the rest of us were going through a rocky underwater hole. A nice place to visit for an hour.
We drove along the coast road back to Apia and then stopped at the market. The family wanted to spend as much of the local currency as they could. I had enough to buy an overpriced t-shirt.
so endeth a wonderful introduction to Samoa. I hope Aitasi does well at the rugby next year.
the cultural group was back to see us off and they were just as good as in the morning. So good that security eventually had to start asking us to get back onboard as we had gone past 4:30 final boarding
Goodbye Apia, we've loved our introduction to your amazing island
Fiji Bitter to cheers a great day. We'll be there in a couple of days
we didn't bother with a restaurant dinner. Instead, grabbed some Asian food from the buffet, and a couple of Tahitian beers
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June 18, sea day
Breakfast at Windows and bAlt convinced me to try the bene with lobster. It was quite delicious
the ship put on a crossing the dateline celebration around the main pool.
The unused kitchen and servery at the end of the pool deck was put to use as a bbq buffet. The locusts descended as soon as they realised there was going to be some free food. Hold on, nearly all of the food is free, but this was outside and free.
We sat up at the Biergarten, watched football, and waited until the crowds had had first, seconds and thirds. When we did get to it the food was actually quite good
new beer number whatever
For dinner it was specialty restuarant number four - Teppanyaki. It was ok. I've not ever been to teppanyaki and not had a Japanese chef. The patter of our learner chef was a bit forced but still funny. Luckily the food was tasty
The planets were again aligned
The first of our Fijian destinations tomorrow. Only two more days until we reach Lautoka.
Breakfast at Windows and bAlt convinced me to try the bene with lobster. It was quite delicious
the ship put on a crossing the dateline celebration around the main pool.
The unused kitchen and servery at the end of the pool deck was put to use as a bbq buffet. The locusts descended as soon as they realised there was going to be some free food. Hold on, nearly all of the food is free, but this was outside and free.
We sat up at the Biergarten, watched football, and waited until the crowds had had first, seconds and thirds. When we did get to it the food was actually quite good
new beer number whatever
For dinner it was specialty restuarant number four - Teppanyaki. It was ok. I've not ever been to teppanyaki and not had a Japanese chef. The patter of our learner chef was a bit forced but still funny. Luckily the food was tasty
The planets were again aligned
The first of our Fijian destinations tomorrow. Only two more days until we reach Lautoka.
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