Tradition carry basket.......made from frons of coconut trees. There are 2 paw paws and a variety of banana no one one liked much!
Getting fruit down from a tree........fruit trees are big!! Its a Vi tree.....hard to explain the flavor, Maleina say sour, Texture stringing.....over all, either you do like them or you don't no half way on these. Maleina loves em!!!
Fish of Samoa
Shellfish of Samoa

Leilani's Story

WHAT WE’VE DONE IN SAMOA SO FAR!!!!
For the first five days we stayed at the Insel Fehmarn Hotel. We rented a car from caroline rental cars wich is just up the road from the hotel. When we where at the hotel we where looking for a house to live in! When we where at the car rental place the person that works there helped us find a house even though she’s actually a car rental worker. Later on in the day we went to look at the house with her. The people who own the house are called Nalani and Martin. On Saturday we moved out of the hotel into our new house. Our house is next to Rita’s Lodge. On Sunday we went to the Peace Chapel church. We got to play on the playground while we were waiting for another service to finish. We went in a taxi there and back home. The day after that we went to town, we went by bus. We had lunch in town at the café. For lunch we had chips and pizzas for our drink we had a bottle of water and a banana smoothie to share. When we were having lunch Mum sorted out the money that we got from our neighbour, we got $10 to spend each at the market. We all bought lolly necklaces and I brought another necklace with an ‘L’ cut out of coconut shell. After going to the market we went to famer Joe and got some pineapple pies, two smile face biscuits and three sausage rolls for after noon tea. When we got home we went to the public swimming pool.
By Leilani.

Latia's Story

We went a round the other half of the island. We went swimming at Lefaga Bay. It was fun and a lovely clear white sandy beach plus it didn’t cost us anything.
By Latia
Well done Latia, you have written a good story about our day out. I’m sure the children will be envious of you getting to swim at such a lovely beach.

Talia's Story

To Mrs Kemp and children of room 4
We went to Palolo’s fale (house) for lunch and had soup and rice. We watched Ratatouili.
By Talia.
Talia wrote this story all by herself, I gave her a sticker and said “Super Work Talia”
Palolo is Dad’s cousin so we had lunch at the family village and meet some other family members.

Our Saturday around the from the West and our Village sunday

I'm sure there's a conspiracy....I LOVE PUKEKOs!
Cousins and Family before lunch in Luutuanu'u
Another village shot.....Its the way I grew up!

Lefaga Bay
Virgin Cove beach

Thought of Dan and Amy straight away
An odd Flower
Poser
Enjoying Lefaga Bay

Here are some photos of our Saturday Travels around the other half of Upolu. Meaning we left heading west and then back through centre of the island back over to Apia, via Vailima. Apart from the usual village scenes that we have gotten use to which really consist of Fales (Far Lez), A compound called a Malae, (Ma Lie) and then a fale fono, (for nor) Meeting house. Traditional meeting houses are oval in shape and each pole represents a seating of a particular matai or chief. The Malae is the area in front of the Fale Fono and used both for informal village gatherings and games and formal fa’alavelaves. (Far a Love air Love airS) I only saw 2 traditional shaped Fale Fonos whith the 2 centre poles(Don’t knoe what they mean yet. We were following the map……which was very inaccurate however we spied an ideal spot for a swim that cost nothing. This was at the Savaia Biodiversity Project. It was awesomely clear sea water. We had quite a few of the local lads around swimming in the shaded pool, that was cool! Smiles, fun and Samoan humour!! Ya can’t beat that!!
We stayed had lunch and had fun! We did take a picture of an unusual flower that Elizabeth noticed on the side of the road…Red into white. We also learnt thanks to the worker at The Robert Louis Stevenson Parks and Officers office in Valima, she gave us some awesome posters of native Birds and trees and guess what……There are Pukekos here in Samoa!! The Samoan name is Manuia Li’I (Mun new a li eee) English name Purple Swamp Hen.
Highlight for the day knowing the friendly islands do exist and you can have a good time with the locals!! Obviously the further away you get from Apia, suburbia and the hustle bustle the more laid back people are! The Samoa I remember!!
We’ll I’ll let the pictures do all the talking now! Maleina is holding another Sea Cucumber. Appreciate the texts, emails and calls! Thanks!!!
From the Grey Tribe
PS: Penny M……What village is the pool in again?
Don't forget our Sanail Mail address is PO BOX 9503 Apia, Samoa
Sunday came along quick and since we had the rental we went over to my village Luutuanu’u to have Sunday “Tona’I” (Tore nah eee) We had a wonderful lunch and it was great catching up with family!!

Samoan History....from Samoan Museum for those interested

Papaseea Rocks (Sliding Rocks)

On the way down
Go Maleina!!
Maleina again!
Travel Samoan Style!

Photo’s of our trip to Papaseea (Sliding rocks) today Thursday 22. Had a great time! It’s only up the road 5 minutes but very rough road. We had to pay a minimal charge of 1 tala and it was all on! Maleina and Dad got into the sliding down the rocks and Dad even noticed the effects of 2 weeks off bike ha ha!! Maleina was brave and keen to take the plunge as usual. Even for me, the first time is always the worst! Lovely clear water. The others and mum waddle or paddled in the pool and did a girly jump here and there while Maleina and Dad got into the serious side of things! I surprised family with a double cab rental hilux which the girls travelled in the back. Talia enjoyed the front seat but then she hasn’t been 100%........yesterday spewing in public!! Not a great site but hey….who gives a toss when ya have a sick child, you have a sick child! I’ve obtained evidence that I did live in Samoa and even have a NPF number, equivalent to IRD number, So I can work!!! Nice receiving emails and photos!!! The snow looks…….wonderfull…y COLD!! The temp here has been cooler but 27 or so probably means we’re acclimatised so when we get back in October we’ll all be in out thermals! Enough waffle, Appreciate the emails and support from you guys at home! Missing ya all heaps……but not missing the cold!

Above the Clouds........

For those who have not been above the clouds this is how it is!! Spectacular!!

Somewhere out in the waps on our way to Lalomanu

Talia's Post

At the museum today I saw the skull of a whale and a painting of a whale. I also played on the wooden drum that had been carved out of a tree. It made a loud noise! I took a photo of the drum for my book. Talia