That earthquake I felt this morning was listed at M 5.9 - Tonga. It was some distance away and moderately deep, so for me, sitting in bed, it was just a gentle shake. Deb was standing up and didn't even feel it. 〰️ 🇼🇸

Pretty happy with this handheld shot on my iPhone of the Milky Way just by the tail of Scorpius. 🇼🇸
Stellarium screenshot.
This 10 minute video will interest many I think: This town banned cars (except tiny electric ones):
Zermatt, in Switzerland, bans all private cars and all gasoline cars. But if you run a business, you might be able to buy one of the special, tiny ones that are built right there.

It seems there's a Fish Reserve by the Piula Theological College in Samoa. There are quite a few rules about ways not to fish. I liked number 2: No fishing with dynamite or poison
. 🇼🇸

Cows, owned by families in villages, roam around the nearby countryside in Samoa. I don't think either this cow, or the Myna Birds would find anything much to eat among the discarded plastic bottles. 🇼🇸

On Monday we went for a drive around the island of Upolo in Samoa. I've been welcomed to websites before now, hotels, houses, conferences… but never a bridge! 🇼🇸

I see Joy Ellis as an author I enjoy but this book just didn't sit right with me. In The River's Edge (Jackman & Evans Book 10) we sometimes see things from the point of view of the baddies who used veiled language to talk about things like The Target
or Phase 2
.
Meanwhile the cops can't find out much but sometimes gasp when they see a photo, but the reader doesn't necessarily know what's going on.
By the end the detectives rely on a mystery source to reveal things to them. The most astute reader would not have been able to solve this series of crimes because the info just wasn't there.
All a bit frustrating really. 📚

So far today major events haven’t included photos. Very small earthquake this morning. I spotted a Humpback whale playing offshore. Then I saw a Frigate Bird high overhead. ✅ 〰️ 🇼🇸
Apparently the Sopoaga Falls are about 54 metres. They’re on private land, and the owners have set up a lovely garden (with named plants) on the extremely brief track to a viewing point. 🇼🇸

Nice moves, pigeon! 🇼🇸

A joke I heard today:
Q: What do you call a pair of crows?
A: Attempted murder.
🤣
Here we have the dining fale at Sinalei Resort, the desk at reception and looking up into the ceiling at reception. Very distinctive Samoan architecture. 🇼🇸



Between glasses with an old prescription, the snorkel mask, the water, and not really being able to see the screen on my Sony TG-80 camera I was sure my trip to Palolo Deep near Apia today would only produce loads of blurry nothingness.
Instead, a few of the cool fish I saw are in focus! 🇼🇸




At Amanaki Bar and Restaurant in Apia, Samoa for lunch. I’ve ordered lemon cheesecake. The harbour is just across the road. 🇼🇸
Coconut palms (without coconuts). 🇼🇸
There are quite a few Red-vented Bulbul around the resort. They behave like sparrows, popping into the dining fale to check for crumbs. 🐦 🇼🇸

Oi! I did not give you permission to take my photo!
Pacific Black Skink at Sinalei Resort, Samoa. 🇼🇸

It was a bit of a pain to haul my camera and large heavy lens along, but I'm so glad I did. I believe this is a Pacific Black Skink. I've seen quite a few here at the resort. 🇼🇸

Not entirely happy with A Death at Seascape House (A Jemima Jago Mystery Book 1) by Emma Jameson. Such a lot of miserable people and a couple of poorly thought out scenes, eg how did the killer get out of the ‘locked room’? Scilly Isles setting was interesting. 📚

These birds seem common around the resort. I believe this is a Miti Tai | Polynesian Triller. 🐦 🇼🇸
A rather long-tailed and long-winged bird with a short stubby head … black crown, eye-stripe, back, and tail with a prominent white eyebrow, wide white wingbar, and white underside often barred brown or gray. Female is similar, but rusty-brown
