Survivor Samoa

I am not normally a big television viewer, but last night clicked onto "Survivor Samoa". I was reminded of our holiday there a couple of years ago. It is amazing how the show manages to make it look as though everything is so close together, in reality some of the landscapes they feature are the entire length of the country apart - and not even on the same island!

Sadly, the resort we stayed at was badly affected by the tsunmai this year, "our" fale was ok as it was on higher ground than others, but the beach side ones were wrecked as was the village next door where most of the staff lived. The owners of the resort (Sinalei Reef resort) were lovely people and we were saddened to hear that one lost her life in the tsunami.

Here are a few photos of our trip - not the obligatory palm trees and beaches (though we saw those as well)

These turtles are in a sanctuary, the village ladies rescue them and nurse them back to health and then release them. Visitors can snorkle with them for a small fee. We did, and even though it was a lovely experience, I felt the turtles were just waiting for the day when they would be released back out to sea.

Dress codes are slightly different in Apia!

"Our fale" - set amongst a beautifully landscaped jungle garden. We will return to Sinalei one day.

And, of course, DH went diving.

This area was the most severly affected by the tsunmai - the beach I spent the day on while he went out in the boat was totally destroyed with many lives lost.