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Published: March 12th 2011
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And now the end is near and I face the final curtain.........(to travel don't worry I'm not suicidal!)
Two and a half years ago one big dopey Welshman with big grin and half a plan set out to see the world, challenge himself and see some amazing places and meet some of the crazy happy characters of the world. Well this is my last week........ I couldn't finish in the cold of New Zealand and I heard good tings about Samoa so at a coin toss between that and Fiji Samoa it was!
The frfiendliness of the locals was all I was hearing about so after two days travel from Queenstown to Chritchurch then to Auckland before arriving late in Samoa a day earlier than I had left! (The international date line which would late casue me aggro!) Arriving in Samoa feeling the strange stickly feel of humidity on my body was a refreshing change after the cool crispness of New Zealand. It was late though and insted of buying a room thought I'd chance my arm one last time at sleeping in the airport.
It started straight away a big women and here daughter invited me over
seeing I was on my own shared their food with me and like me they were stying in the airport and would get on the bus with me in the morning. Three or four hours later I got a bus up to the sav'ai ferry crossing.
The views were stunning in the morning and felt vindicated in my decision to bask in a small piece of paradise before I headed home.I though a lot about home by now as this trip regrettably instead of the initial vigor I had when I first set out, my excitement had dampened and I became a little more distant than usual as I craved for a sense of normality and home.
So I was living Thursday again and after three hours sleep in an airport and a ferry crossing I hired a car to whiz around the island of sava'ai (which is possible to get round in a day), less of a car than a go kart it's top speed of 30 kph was considered speeding in this laid back chilled corner of the world.
Before heading out Iwas hungry for some breakfast, like asia there were small street vendors on
the side of the road and thought I would have some Samoan traditional food. The size on a Samoan compared to a Thai might give an indication of the food, I was given a foil a chicken leg and sausage in a pool of fat, it looked disgusting so put it in the boot and continued hungry.
So I cruised round the island listening to christen edited hip hop anthems by akon and bieber which added to the weirdness of the situation. Horses on the sides of the road, waving locals and pigs crossing left right and center made me smile - what a great place! This day I saw the blow holes and a dried up waterfall (which was abit of a disappointment). Locals charge fees left right and centre and samoa like many other developing countries never failed to find a chance to exploit the tourist charging for parking, entries, extra cab fees, pretty much anything they could chuck a few pound on, I understand but still left a little sour taste in my mouth that underneath the big hearts and smiles I was constantly trying to be fleeced.
I stayed at Tanu beach Fales (like
an open air room which was fantastic). The staff and the food here was brilliant and backed onto a gorgeous beach, which I lay to contemplate the last two years and the future.
The next day I headed back to Upolu on the ferry (which would test the hardiest of stomaches) and checked into a lovely little guest house and had a nice Chinese meal. The next morning with the company of two gorgeous Portuguese girls and two Americans we set off on the reggae party bus to Lalumanu beach. A small piece of paradise in the corner of the island, we arrived and it was wet we chilled on the beach for abit, then an ozzie girl wanted to get a taxi back to the capital Apia as friends she was supposed to met had not turned up. Paradise in the rain was not fun so I headed back in the cab with the ozzie girl we bought a couple of Vailima beers and chilled at her place listening to tunes and swapping stories.
So back in Apia I doubled checked my flights and due to the international date line I would miss my flight to the
UK by missing a day in transfer, so I changed my flight in Apia. I walked up to Robbie Louis Stevenson's house and grave through the jungle and sat at the top to admire the viws over Upoulu. A meal and an early night before hitting the hay.
The weathr had cleared so time to try Llaumanu again back on the reggae bus. Paradise found. The sun shone reflecting the clear blue turquoise waters of the south pacific, and I had my own fale again. I spend my two days lying on the beach in between abit of snorkeling, reading and a few beers contemplating. The staff here were fantastic always smiling and happy to help. I headed back to Apia via the jungle rounds taking in the lush greens of Samoa which beautifully contrasted the yellows and blues of the sea.
A flight back to Auckland followed by 33 hours to London, I was really excited. To see my mother her happy face, good old misery guts Dad, brother, sister and my friends. My mum ran down the isle when she saw me dazed and confused it was great to see everyone, have some squash, pork pies,
ham, cheese and pickle sandwiches.
What an adventure from crazy south east asia at 100 mph, to the fantastic people of beautiful Austrlia where I worked in marketing, operations, a carnie, events on a tropical island, serving chips at AC/DC, and serving cocktails and driving fancy cars at a fancy hotel. The people places of beauty which will forever remain in my heart, the beauty of new zealand winning free travel, feeling alive, going with the flow sipping cocktails one day with 20 mates to sleeping in a shower cubicle for the night the other. The highs the lows the rough the smooth i'll take it all, L love the challenge appeciate the good after being through the bad knowing a good times only round the corner. The end of a chapter, my favorite so far, but only looking forward now, who knows what the future holds but all I know is that if I can keep this smile on my dial I wont go far wrong. Till next time..............
Que sara sara
frygo
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