Trip Website! Lounging vs Giant Clams! Puletasi and Board Shorts

[Email sent 4/4/17]

This update is only informational and not critical. No response is necessary.

1. I recently changed the profile of my mailing list called the Samoa Trip Group. I revised things like changed Al's name from "Jamoca Berry" to "________." I added two email addresses for Patty (work and home) and two email addresses for Sandy (work and home).

2. If anyone wants to add the email address of a friend who is interested like Winter, or a spouse like Francis, send me their email address and they can follow along and comment if they want. There is trip info but no Personal info like people's passport numbers.

3. We have a website! Go to your browser navigation bar and enter in:

     afualo.blogspot.com

to get trip information. I will start posting these email updates to the web site, so you don't have to finish reading any emails, you can just go to the website and get any info you need. Remember, this is a web address. Go there, don't google it.

I worked especially hard on the maps. First go to the map page. There is a map for each of the 3 islands. Each pink point on the map represents a place we are visiting. (Cancelled activities are still shown though.) Click on the pink point to get a picture of the place, along with basic info about it.

Check back often if you like, I am adding and changing the maps all the time. You can also navigate and investigate the maps on your phone as well, if you're in church. hah!

Also, do not download the maps to your phone yet. Wait until after May 10, because the maps are only stored for 28 days on your phone.


4. Some of you were already grumbling about your assignments. Don't forget, you are just in charge of the assignment. You dont have to do all the work. So if you are in charge of making picnic lunches, you dont have to do it all by yourself, you can just hand out a task list of who prepares what meal when.

5. As you can see from the itinerary list, we have a ton of places to visit. Is it too much? It could be. I prefer to schedule and slot every activity, and then if we are too tired and don't want to do something, or if it is our 7th hike, or our 5th waterfall, we can just cancel it. It's better to overplan than to underplan and try to plan on the fly, especially when you have to consider that most places are closed Sunday, diving requires high tide, coastal walks require low tide, etc.

6. Sandy asked about puletasi. I think the best thing to do is to get measurements taken and order them at the flea market the first day we get there, a Saturday morning. I am hoping that we can find someone at one of the shops in the flea market, like below:



Then, when we come back from American Samoa in 5 days, the dresses will be ready for pickup. I hear it's about $30 for a custom dress. Tell me what you think. Also, dad would be thrilled to have a shirt made from the same material and have us all take a family photo. Maybe Alan should also pick up a set- I think Christie would look fetching in a puletasi.

7. I am considering an itinerary switcheroo. I didn't know that there is a giant clam sanctuary on Upolu-- it's not marketed at all, only one sign, and no one knows about it. There is nothing in the travel books about it, and I found out about it on the internet. If we do the clams on May 30, then we miss out on Taumeasina Island Resort. We would get a very-rare visit to big clams, but give up lounging beside a pool and eating a nice lunch. Here are the deets:

As currently planned: (Tues May 30)

Get up early 6am. Drive to Manono Island. Take a boat to Manono Island (20 mins)


Walk around Manono Island: (90 mins walk)


Return to Apia, drive to Taumeasina Resort:


Laze around and eat lunch at the pool,


or kayak in the small protected bay:


The day pass of WST40 (About $17) is good toward lunch poolside. You can also pay for an expensive massage, samoan style.

The rest of the day doesn't change.

Change Option: Let me know if you want to do this

We would still leave early at 6am. We would still go to Manono Island and walk around the island.However, after Manono, we would continue around the island for another 12 miles and 35 minutes. We would aim to be at Savaia at 10:00 for high Tide (at 10:05am). Then, we would look for this sign:



At the sign, we would park, approach the closest house, and pay the outrageous price of WST10 each person ($4.40), and they would show us out to the lagoon in back of their house. Since it would be high tide, we could snorkel over these: Clams of every color and size:



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. Toilets and showers.



Spend about 2 hours looking at the clams, then we drive to Malua Turtle Pool and Missionary Museum (Christian Congregationalist).



and feed them the papaya we brought from the rental home:



Then continue on with the day as planned (fire knife lessons, etc).

8. Al was worried about wearing clothing over her bikini. If anything, American Samoan is more conservative than western samoa, but I think a bikini with board shorts would be appropriate, or a bikini with board shorts and a tank top would be good, even in Am. Sam. Here is a nice pair of board shorts that would look great with a bikini top:


​
Let me know what you think: a nice relaxing day lounging by the pool and paddling the kayak in a breakwater bay, or giant clams and turtles!!

Check the blog for this email. It will be posted.

V.

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.

Travel Assignments

Item #6: Trip Responsibilities:

We need volunteers for the following trip responsibilities. You may feel that you are a good match for one of these jobs; you should sign up for it.

1. Itinerary, Budget and Up front expenses: Val

2. Lodging and transport in Hawaii: This person is in charge of procuring transport to and from the airport, and lodging for the out of town people in Hawaii while waiting to depart for Samoa, and while waiting to fly back home after the trip. This person is also in charge of making sure that dad comes from Kahuku safely, and that Dad gets back home to Kahuku safely.

3. Cook: This person checks the itinerary for the next day, and makes sure that picnic breakfasts and picnic lunches are packed for hikes, day trips, and beach swims. This person is in change of boiling, then refrigerating boiled water so everyone has chilled water available. This person will be responsible for collecting the ingredients (like bread, lunch meat, sodas) from the grocery store (but not responsible to pay) and creating grocery lists. 

4. Extra Expenses: This person will be the one to calculate everyone's individual totals at meals and restaurants. For example, after a meal, this person will be in charge of allocating the cost of each entre to each person who ordered it, and that sufficient money has been collected to pay tax and tip. (No tipping in Samoa). Val doesnt want to do this because she doesn't want to get mixed up between the prepaid costs and the extra costs. (She will handle all prepaid costs). This person will coordinate to make sure sufficient small tala bills are available to pay taxi drivers, beach fees, etc.

5. Security and Documentation: This person will be in charge of bringing a waterproof or a lockable backpack for valuables (wallets and phones). This person will coordinate to make sure at least one of us is out of the water at all times to prevent theft. This person will carry an extra copy of airline tickets and car rental agreements and Dad's property deeds, and car insurance coverage, etc. This person will carry airline luggage rules, and passport copies, and visa documentation and will whip it out appropriately. This person is responsible for checking supplies for suntan lotion, bug spray, and does a shoe check to make sure everyone is wearing appropriate footwear, and that everyone is bringing sufficient swimsuit, towels, subglasses, etc. This person will also sweep through each hotel room and rental room before departure to make sure nothing is left.

6. Guide: Each day, this person will study all  maps for the next day, and be prepared to sit in the lead car and negotiate the maps. This person will make sure that each car has a set of physical (paper) maps in the glove compartment, and that at least one person from each car has a set of maps on their phone. This person will stand in line to purchase (but not pay for) the ferry tickets while the others are eating breakfast, etc. This person can be one of the drivers (Sandy Val Alan) but doesnt have to be. This person will use Valeen's phone to call and RSVP to any events prior to the day of the event. This includes hotel reservations and meal reservations.

7. Cleanup: This person will be responsible for making sure that the cars are gassed up and cleaned prior to return. Also that the rental house in Apia is cleaned prior to leaving. This person is also responsible for washing the clothes left in the laundry sack, and hanging them up on the line in a timely manner so that they air dry. (Dryer is to be avoided as much as possible because the energy cost is too high.) This person is responsible for bringing a garbage bag on trips to use for our picnic lunch trash, and also bringing garbage bags to collect rubbish in national parks, a request by the Park.

Again, these 7 responsibilities do not mean that you have to pay for anything-- we are sharing all common costs equally. It just means that you will have to coordinate with others to make sure you have money from the group to buy necessities.

Also a quick note: These assignments are just management of the task. You dont have to do all the cleaning-- all you need to do is be responsible for the job to get done. You can assign out task schedules.

Detailed Budget in Google Sheets (This is old)

Note: This is the preliminary budget, and has been revised. Everything on this page is accurate, but please go to the final budget for updated cost information.

 Current exchange rate using: 1 Tala = 0.44 cents US$. This is a conservative estimate, since our native money is the US dollar.

(Click into the budget shown below to move around and read the notes on the right side.)



Explanation of Payment Type:
 If a payment is free, no payment type is specified, and this cell will be blank.

 "Prepaid" = Val has already paid for this cost, with her credit card, ahead of time. These costs are very low in risk, because they are already paid. Since you've already paid this ahead of time, you dont have to pay it during the trip.

 "Val Pays" = Val cannot pay for this ahead of time (because the vendor wont let her) so there is still some risk that the price will go up from the quoted estimate. Normally, you don't have to pay this cost -- it is included in your $1700 budget.

Sponsored = Val is trying to get someone to pay for this event in order to keep the event on the schedule even though we don't have money to pay for it. If anyone has a spare $100-200 and wants to cosponsor an event, please let me know!

"Extra" = This is not covered in your $1700 budget, and you must pay for this during travel. For these extra costs, I've attempted to estimate a range of cost. For example, if we stop at Frankie's market to buy sundries such as suntan lotion, postcards, water, treats and snacks, you might buy a ton of candy and a hat and tshirt, or you might buy only water. I've put a range on this extra cost from $2 to $10. The low end of the range is $2. The high end of the range is $10. Some people wont even spend the $2, and others might spend $50. I've just provided a range to help you budget. Another example is eating a meal at Sook's Sushi Restaurant. The range is $5-$17, but someone may eat nothing, and someone else might buy appetizers, 2 entres, and dessert and a coke with refills. the range is just a useful estimate.

"Cancel" = Originally there were additional activities planned, but I've had to cancel them because we were over budget. If enough people want to bring these activities back, and have the money to pay, we can reschedule these events. This is also considered an extra item, for which you will pay out of pocket.

Map of Savaii

Click on the map to see the pink markers of itinerary places. Click each individual pink marker for activity details and for a picture of the itinerary stop. Scroll to resize the map.

 

Map of Tutuila

The pink markers indicate our itinerary stops. Click each pink marker for some detailed information and also for a picture. Scroll to resize the map.

Map of Upolu

Each pink point represents an itinerary item. Click on each pink point to get more details and a photo of the attraction. Scroll to resize the map.

Calendar

Click the calendar to view a larger version.

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.

Mosquitos and Insect Bite Prevention

As you prep to visit Samoa, 3 interesting things to know about mosquitos and why they bite you and not your friends:

1. Mosquitos prefer to bite some people more than others. They are attracted to certain body chemistries, for example the carbon dioxide that you breathe out, and also the lactic acid that you produce.
2. A full moon can increase mosquito activity 500%. More bites occur during the full moon- whether you are out and about, or just sleeping unprotected.
3. Mosquitos are attracted to darker colors. Pack lighter colors.

Your efforts to prevent mosquito bites can range from doing nothing at all to going full out crazy-mode. Complete this self assessment:

1. Mosquitos never seem to bother me at home, but am traveling to a new area that I have never been to before.
2. When I get a mosquito bite, i get a small red spot that isnt very itchy.
3. When I get a mosquito bite, the bit wound gets red and inflamed, but the swelling goes down in a few hours.
4. When I get a mosquito bite, the bite would gets red and inflamed and the swelling doesn't reduce for at least a day. Then the bite festers, and I scratch and the bites turn into open wounds.

Here is a suggested plan of action, depending upon whether you are 1, 2, 3, or 4.

1. Deet spray. Remember that higher percentages of Deet do not protect more than lower percentages- they just protect for longer periods of time. Check the popular brands for contents of 98.11%, which should last for 10 hours. There are several products with this intensity- Coleman100, Repel100, MaxiDeet, and many others.
Secondary considerations for DEET spray:

• If you're taking it in carry on luggage, it needs to be less than 3 ounces, and many companies sell specialty 3-oz packaging. A 3-oz bottle should last 2 weeks
• Reapply after swimming, after sweating excessively, after getting rained on or waterballooned, or any time liquids wash the solution off your skin.
• In the tropics, apply sunscreen first, and then bug spray.
• Spray outdoors, sweep over your skin from 8" away, and then spray your hands to apply to your face.
• Other considerations that might cause you to prefer one brand of deet spray to another: smell, oiliness of the spray, whether it makes you feel icky, whether it makes you feel sweaty.
• See Option #3 below for spraying your clothing.

2. Deet Spray (#1 above), plus the antihistamine loratidine (generic for Claritin). 
Take one every morning to prevent the swelling and irritation caused by the irritants in mosquito saliva. You'll get pinpoint red spots, but no swelling bite wounds.

3. Options #1 and 2 above, plus clothing spray.

• Buy a bottle of  Permethrin spray (Sawyer brand is one option) and very carefully spray your hiking or walking clothing. Do this before you leave on your trip, and then pack your clothing in giant ziploc bags or just plastic store bags.  Spray walking pants, shorts, shirts, socks, sunhat or ballcap. You can also spray openings: pant cuffs and shirt cuffs. Permethrin is safe for all fabrics but read the bottle nonetheless. The spray lasts for up to 6 washings. Do this before you leave on your trip. Dont mess with this stuff after leaving on vacay.
• Mosquitos can bite through a layer of clothing, so you can wear loose cotton tshirts or other underclothes as an additional barrier.
• You can also spray your clothes with a DEET spray, and it is ok on cotton, wool or nylon. But don't spray on most swimsuits, acetate, rayon, spandex, other synthetics (aside from nylon), furniture, plastics, watch crystals, leather and painted or varnished surfaces, including automobiles.

All of these tips apply to other bugs such as ticks, chiggers, and most of the other insects you will encounter in Samoa, except for fruit flies.

FAQ

General FAQ:

Why are we so overscheduled? Who needs to see 5 waterfalls?
I would rather overschedule, and then cancel later, rather than schedule light and have to try to strategize the planning on the fly. For example, the visits to the Palolo Marine Reserve and the Giant Clam Conservation Lagoon are timed to coincide with high tide, so you can float over the clams and the reef. I have carefully pored over tidal charts, sunrise and sunset tables, and opening hours of operation and put the itinerary visits in place. Much easier to cancel than to move them around.

About the waterfalls: some are beautiful overlooks of the falls, and will make gorgeous panoramic pictures, but you can't get close. Others you cannot climb to the top of the falls, but you can swim around under the cascading water. Others you can climb to the top of the falls and swim in the dammed up pool at the top. You'd be surprised at how varied falls are.

But what if we make a friend or meet a relative? We won't have any time to visit with them.
We have 7 people riding in 2 cars. We have room for another person to ride along with us. And you won't believe how many locals have never visited tourists attractions that are five miles away from where they were born and raised. They would love to come with.

Budget FAQ:

Why are some activities excluded, while other activities are included in the $1700?

If costs can be evenly accounted for, or divisible, then that is a shared (and included cost). Some examples are admission prices that are 5 tala per person, or fiafia feast buffets that are 50 tala per person, or hotel rooms for all 7 people where the total cost of all rooms plus taxes and fees can be divided by 7. It also includes costs like gas, where the total cost for gas for 2 cars is paid by Val, then divided into 7 equal portions.

Conversely, if a cost cannot be equally shared, or is not divisibly by 7, is an excluded cost. Examples include a family dinner at Sook's Sushi Restaurant, where Al might order twice as much food as Pago, or the Apia open air market, where Patty might buy 7 lava lavas, but Maddie only buys a fruit drink.

Please explain the various types of costs
Free=free. "Prepaid" means that Val has already paid for the cost, like airplane tickets. "Val pays" means that the cost is a group cost, and Val will pay for it. You have to pay 1/7th of the cost the Val pays. "Sponsored" is where some person (either in the travelling party or back home) pays for the event. There may be a sponsored hike, or sponsored dinner. "Extra" means that the cost is not covered, and you have to pay it.

I dont want to attend an activity, but I am paying for it anyway. Can I get my money back?
If you tell the group ahead of time, you wont be charged. At the last minute (like, on the trip), this is difficult. You will have the itinerary in hand at least 1 month prior to the trip and it is your responsibility to let the group know that you dont want to do a particular activity. If enough people in the group don't want to do something, then we will cancel it.


I dont want to attend an activity that is free, can I just duck out at the last minute?
Make sure that there are no costs associated with the activity, such as gas. Although the activities with Dad are not mandatory, the whole point of this trip is to spend time with Dad recalling his memories. You can always go to Samoa again, but Dad might not be available next time. Also, Dad has stated his preference that we do most things together, as he wants to show us places from his memory. He doesn't care where we go as long as he is with us. He even said he would rather go swim in a waterfall than go to church, if we want to swim.

Why is there a cost attached to some activities, even though the cost is extra?
For your convenience, and to help you plan your trip, the cost of extra activities are estimated, so you can determine if you can afford the uncovered activity. For restaurants, the midpoint of a range is specified. If a restaurant's entres are estimated to cost between $10 and $30, the midpoint ($20) is your estimated cost.