“Hilly, lush, green and beautiful”

By Anina Kazaz 09 March 2018, 12:00AM

Luck brought a New Zealand family to Samoa. 

Charmain and Barry had bought a house in New Zealand and to their surprise; they received a six days trip to Samoa.  

“Even if we hadn’t got this trip to Samoa, we already have been planning to come to this beautiful country,” Charmain said.

The couple and their one and a half year old son, Lennax, arrived in Samoa on Saturday and they are staying at the Taumeasina Island Resort.

They did not have the opportunity to choose the country for this trip, but it was on their travel plans to visit Samoa anyway.

They have been to other islands in the Pacific before such as Tahiti and they really enjoyed it there. 

In comparison to the other islands they visited, Samoa’s landscape is very different. 

“Here it is very hilly, lush and green, very beautiful,” Charmain told the Dear Tourist team. 

“In Tahiti, there was very minimal agriculture, no plantation of any type, that was something that really surprised me,” explained Barry.

Not only is the landscape different, Samoa’s village settings as well is something unique. 

Barry said: “The villages look different with the houses, sweet and small. The villages on this Island represent the simple life, the culture and the difference between each village is huge.

“The people here are relaxed, pretty easy going and very friendly,” added Charmain. 

This is absolutely what she expected from Samoa because the way Samoa was being advertised as a holiday destination in New Zealand formed her expectations of this country. 

“It is all about smiling, happy and very friendly people.

“The highlight was the trip we did to To Sua Ocean Trench,” said Barry. 

“We have been as well to the market, visited Apia and a couple of churches,” Charm–ain shared her impression. 

“Religion is very important here. 

“What does make me wonder is that there are many beautiful churches, which obviously cost a lot of money to make. And we see there are obviously people, who live very, very poorly, and have to work really hard. It is just a very different lifestyle to New Zealand.”

The service and hospitality they experienced in Samoa have been one of kindness. 

“It was a good place to celebrate the International Women’s Day,” says Charmain.

They will definitely return to Samoa to enjoy this beautiful landscape and the helpful, friendly and hospitable culture they experienced here. 

Hopefully the next time their visit will be longer. 

“We are already looking forward to come back here later, when Lennax is older and can do more things like some of the great sport activities around this beautiful island. Maybe we will stay here again or somewhere else.”          

It was their first trip to the islands, but definitely not the last time for this family.

By Anina Kazaz 09 March 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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