And, 12 hours after leaving the resort in Samoa, at a pleasant 28C, we’re finally home where it’s 0C. 🥶🇼🇸
On the AIRNZ flight it took forever to get a cup of hot water I could put my green teabag in. Eventually it arrived. For a second cup I just had them fill it with cold water. That sort of worked. Kinda.
Samoa’s airport scanners must be on the older side. Had to remove shoes, and even my watch. Meanwhile the plane is delayed 45 minutes, so now we wait. There’s a big array of solar panels right next door too. 🇼🇸
Today we leave Sinalei Resort in Samoa and make our way home. That involves about 5.5 hours in the air, a couple of hours driving, and of course lots of waiting around in airports. 🇼🇸
Sometimes members of staff entertain us with singing at breakfast.
Samoa today: 24–28C; home 3–11C. Brrr.
Just had the best lunch ever at a surprising cafe in Apia called Rivaiv. It was like a Wellington cafe. Utterly delicious Teriyaki bowl with chicken. 🇼🇸
There are worse places to sit and read. 🇼🇸
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. 🇼🇸
