Holy Mackerel Look at This Drink!

 

Leave it to Samoans to concoct a drink whose primary purpose is sweet sweet dessert.

This "drink" is called The Chocolate Bunny Mega Monster Cocktail.

It is served in a Tapas Bar in Apia Harbor called The Edge.

I dont know what is in it, but I've already texted The Edge and asked them if I can get a virgin version.

They texted me back and said Sure! They can make alcohol free versions!

Sandy took one look at it and wants to take the challenge.

We have plans to visit this place twice: Once for smoothies on the deck while watching the sun go down, and twice for dinner while watching the sun go down.





Here is the view from the deck.

Selected tapas:

Recommended: The Samoa Pie. I guess like a shepherd's pie but with a giant meatball?

The Edge Tapas Bar and Grill, in Apia Harbor

Addition of Fuipisia Waterfall after Sopo'aga Falls

Itinerary Change

Samoa has a ton of waterfalls, even after the rainy season, which is when we will be going.

We already had Sopo'aga Falls on our itinerary, as it is on the main tourist route from Apia to To Sua Ocean Trench, arguably the best tourist attraction on Upolu.

I recently found out about Fuipisia Falls, which is just upriver from Sopo'aga Falls, and I want to add it on to the schedule. We will cut our visit to Sopo'aga Falls short from 30 minutes to 15 minutes, which will give us time to visit Fuipisia Falls. I was surprised at how many tourists mention Fuipisia Falls as one of the highlights of their visit to Samoa.

Sopo'aga Falls is a falls overlook, you cannot get to the falls themselves. But it is picturesque and pretty, and the family there has cooking fale demonstrations and will help you make coconut cream. WST5 ($2.20) and there is a toilet and faucet there.

Fuipisia Falls, 2 miles upriver and 3 minutes' drive away, costs WST10 ($4.40) has the same cooking fale demonstrations, but presents a different waterfall experience. Here, you can walk up to the top of the falls and even swim in the pool at the top. The walk is manicured green grass with local fauna. If you get an adult guide (and not a kid), they will tell you about the plants which should be interesting. You have to traverse a stream to take this walk, and you might be able to jump from rock to rock if not slippery during the wet season. You have a great opportunity to take a selfie on a rock at the top of the falls. There are clean toilets here.

Apparently, the male guide is very handsy with female tourists, but we shouldn't have that problem.

No Go Zone

Sadly, we are not going everywhere...

There are places we just can't fit into our schedule. Here is a Top Ten List of places we will not be going to, along with the reason why we cannot go. However, if enough people want to go, then maybe it can be on like kong!

Siva Afi Fire & Knife Dance dinner show, Apia Harbor, Upolu
If you are in Apia on a Tuesday night - go to the Siva Afi show to see world class fire dancing! From fire and knife dancing to coconut milk making and other traditions, all explained in a quick and entertaining manner. Go early to get a good spot and combine it with a local dinner. The local food is delicious and it since it is quite hard to find around the island you better take the chance. The show is held at Ooh La La Ice Cream Bar. Note that we will be going to the fire knife class, we just wont be dancing in the audience participation portion of the Siva Afi, because it is too expensive at WSY75 or $33.00. I am investigating just the show part for WST25 or $11.

Giant Clam Sanctuary, Savaia, Upolu

"One of the most astounding things I've seen!Check the tides before you go, must be high tide. Also they move around so be prepared to swim around to find them. The area they are in is cordoned off with white floats on a rope. It is actually more fun to have to look around for them. They are amazing, I have never seem such brilliant colors, there are all sizes, huge ones, and baby ones. The giant clams can be seen by walking out into a large lagoon and snorkeling about 250m off shore. Truly spectacular - as large as coffee tables and a mixture of purples, greens, blues and reds. Over 400 in the lagoon. Definitely worth seeing. A person must pay a small fee at the village before entering the ocean, the beach has toilets and showers. The reason why we are not going is that I just found out about it tonight.

Hold on! I am trying to swap out another activity for the GIANT CLAMS! GIANT CLAMS!

Get your puletasi sewn, $27.

After you’ve picked up your fabric from the likes of Forsgrens or the Tuttu’ila store, make your way to your favorite sewing shop. There are about 40,000 on the island with a population of 65,000...okay, okay, an exaggeration, but only a slight one. Basically, sewing shops are like the mainland Starbucks- there is one on every corner. I prefer Athena’s Boutique which is not nearly as posh as it sounds. Athena’s is tucked into a corner of Steven & Sons (picture a ghetto convenient store, reduce the brand options, throw in some chicken in the parking lot). But don’t let it’s drab look fool you, this 2 seamstress enterprise is quite the quality place. A puletasi will cost you $27($2 higher than the going rate elsewhere but the end result is worth it). 

Explain to the seamstress what you would like (or draw it out if your like me). Samoan’s get all sort of fancy necklines and trim that you would typically only see on tacky clothes. Costs around $27. The seamstress will then measure you, and let you identify all the particulars: the width of the neck, the length of the skirt, the length of the sleeve. One week later and you have a puletasi! I just received a request from Sandy for a puletasi. The only way we could work it is to have measurements taken in Upolu right after we land at Faleolo and take the bus to Apia. I am investigating squeezing in this activity into our existing itinerary.

Nuu'uli Falls, American Samoa

There is just no time on the schedule, as I suspect that the falls may be closed on Sunday. This is the village of Nuu'uli, where Uncle Oapapo's wife is from. I watched some youtube vids of the Falls and decided we could pass on them. There are more spectacular falls elsewhere, and this has a little bit of a hike to it. The falls themselves would be low, as we will be there right before the start of the dry season.

Itinerary

Thursday 5/18/17
Oahu Island
Kickoff dinner
Depart Honolulu International Airport

Saturday 5/20/17 (Jump ahead due to crossing International Date Line)
Upolu Island
Arrive Faleolo Airport, Upolu, Samoa
Bus from Faleolo to Apia Town
Fish Market Tour
Flea Market Tour
Breakfast at BNHQ
Errands: Internet cafe, post office, ATM, Change money
If time, Maketi Fou
Taxi to Fagalii Airport
Depart Fagali'i Airport, Upolu, Samoa

Friday 5/19/17 (Jump back 1 day due to crossing International Date Line)
Tutuila Island
Maliu Mai Resort - Check in/Decompress
Swimming at Palagi Beach
Explore Cape Taputapu
Free Time
Optional Maliu Mai Nightclub and Dancing

Saturday 5/20/17
Tutuila Island
Turtle and Shark
Tia Seu Lupe
Fatu Ma Futi
Blunt's Point Hike
Optional WWII Heritage Trail Hike
Breakfast at DDW (Don't Drink the Water) Cafe
Fagatoto Market
Lower Sauma Hike
Pola Island Beach Hike
Utulei Beach Park
Dinner at Sook's Sushi Restaurant
Young's Mart: Shopping for Snacks and Sundries
Free Time
Optional Maliu Mai Nightclub and Dancing

Sunday 5/21/17
Tutuila Island
Free Time / Sleep In
Picnic breakfast at Masefau Village
Sa'ilele Beach swim at Sa'ilele Beach
Swimming at Two Dollar Beach
Mt. Alava Hike from Fagasa Pass
Swimming at Utulei Beach Park
Dinner at Goat Island Cafe
Young's Mart: Shopping for Snacks and Sundries
Free Time

Monday 5/22/17
Tutuila Island
LBJ Medical Center - Surprise visit with Nathan Beck
Jean P Hayden Museum
Tauese PF Sunia Ocean Center (Visitor's Center for National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa)
US Post Office of Pago Pago Bay
Box lunch at Boat Landing to Aunu'u Island
Boat to Aunu'u Island
Walk around Aunu'u Island
Boat to Tutuila
Early Dinner at De Tamalelei Seaside Grill
Sundown Drinks at Tisa's Barefoot Bar
Swimming at Alega Beach
Free Time

Tuesday 5/23/17
Tutuila Island
Fagatele Bay Hike
Fagatele Bay Swim
Check out from Maliu Mai Resort
Depart Pago Pago, Tutuila Island, American Samoa

Wednesday 5/24/17 (Jump ahead due to crossing International Date Line)
Upolu Island
Arrive Fagali'i Airport
Check into Air B&B Rental House, Apia
Swimming at Vaiala Beach
Free Time
Late dinner at Paddles Restaurant
Shopping at Frankies Supermarket and Farmer Joes for Snacks and Sundries
Shopping at Maketi Fou

Thursday 5/25/17
Upolu Island
Samoan Cultural Village - Tour and Interactive Activity
Dad's Property in Afiamalu
Optional Hike to Lake Lanato'o
Free Time
Fiafia night at Samoa Tradition Resort
Optional Night diving at Vaiala Beach

Friday 5/26/17
Upolu Island
Pupu-Pu'e National Park: Le Pupu Lava Coastal Walk
Sopo'aga Falls Viewpoint and tour of cooking fale, drums and garden
To Sua Ocean Trench, Cliffs and Garden
Stop and visit Siumu Village
Robert Louis Stevenson Museum
Hike to Robert Louis Stevenson's tomb on Mt Vaea National Reserve
Swim- Robert Louis Stevenson's private spring pool
Free Time
Palusami Restaurant for Dinner
Free Time

Saturday 5/27/17
Upolu Island
Palolo Deep Marine Reserve - Snorkeling
Vanya Taule'alo Samoan Arts Gallery
Lunch at Legend's Cafe
Optional Drive to Uafato Bay and Uafato Village
Free Time
Dinner at Tifaimoana Indian Restaurant (Punjabi Food) CANCELLED
Free Time

Sunday 5/28/17
Upolu Island
Papapapaitai Falls
Pupu-Pu'e National Park: Ma Tree Walk
Pupu-Pu'e National Park: Swim at Togitogiga Falls
Hike Lalomanu Crater
Drive to the end of the Coast Road to Malaela Village
Return to Faofao Beach Fales for lunch To'onai Sunday umu lunch
Swim at Saleapaga Beach near Faofao Beach Fale
Papase'ea Sliding Rocks Waterfall
Sunset Drinks at Apia Yacht Club
Free Time - Pick one:
     Dinner at the Edge Restaurant in Apia Bay
     Night diving at Palolo Deep Marine Reserve

Monday 5/29/17
Upolu Island
Piula Cave Pool - Early Swim and Beach brekkie
Tour Sauniatu and record Dad's memories of Sauniatu
Picnic lunch at Sauniatu Waterfalls
Meilelani: Tour the coconut soap and lotion factory
Free Time
Special Hosted Foodie Dinner: Bistro Tatau
Drinks and Dancing at Y-Not Club in Apia Harbor

Tuesday 5/30/17
Upolu Island
Boat ride to Manono Island
Manono Island Hike
Boat ride back to Upolu Island
Day pass to Taumeasina Island Resort- Swimming, Massage and sunning
Fire Knife Lessons with Siva Afi
Sunset Stroll around Apia Harbor and Ice Cream cone from Ooh La La Ice Cream Bar
Samoan fiafia with Siva Afi. Participate in the audience participation fire knife dance CANCELLED
Free Time

Wednesday 5/31/17
Upolu Island
Mulifanua Wharf
Ferry Ride to Savaii Island

Savai'i Island
Arrive Salelologa Wharf
Frankies Supermarket for snacks and sundries
Afu A Au Falls (Procure a guide to Pulemelei Ancient Mount)
Alofaaga Blowholes
Alofaaga Blowhole Coconut Cannons
Nuu Blank Sand Beach
Afu A Au Falls (pick up guide)
Hike to Pulemelei Ancient Mount
Afu A Au Falls (swimming)
Tafua Savaii Reserve (Optional if we cannot hike Pulemelei)
Hike to Mount Tafua Savaii Crater (Optional if we cannot hike Pulemelei)
Check in The Savaiian Hotel and Decompress
Free Time

Thursday 6/1/17
Savai'i Island
Today is the beginning of Samoan Independence Days
Breakfast at the Savaiian Hotel
Siufaga Beach early morning swim
Taefo T Matageo Store for treats
Seleula Lava Fields
Pe'ape'a Cave  CANCELLED
Falealupo Canopy Walk
Moso's Footprint
House of Rock
Falealupo Ruins
Cape Mulinu'u
Sunset Beach at Tufutafoe
Visit relatives at Tufutafoe Village
Early dinner at Leilina's Pizzeria
Lano Beach swim
Dinner at Le Sogaimiti Restaurant at Savaiian Hotel. CANCELLED
Free Time

Friday 6/2/17
Savai'i Island
Today is the second day of Samoan Independence Celebration
Drop off ______ at the ferry to buy boat tickets
Free Time
Salelologa Wharf
Depart for Ferry ride to Upolu Island on Lady Samoa II

Upolu Island
Arrive Mulifanua Wharf
Disembark from Ferry
Free Time:  Select One:
     Return to Apia for Flea Market Shopping, and Independence Festivities
     Laze at the pool at Sheraton Aggie Grey Resort
Check in to Faleolo Airport Fiji Airways Flight 853

Friday 6/2/17
Oahu Island (Jump back 1 day due to crossing the International Date Line)
Meet at Sandy's House
Everyone disperse.