Samoa is 2890km from Auckland; it is a four-hour flight across the International Date Line. Local time puts Samoa one full day behind New Zealand. After what I saw today, I would say it is more like fifty years behind.
The roads in Samoa make Western Queensland roads look like expressways. Riddled with potholes, driving back makes for a bumpy ride. The speed limit is 40km per hour. You wouldn’t want it to be any faster as you share the road with pigs, dogs, chickens and pedestrians.
Passing traffic is mainly buses. They’re old-fashioned, like the ones you see in movies. They’re wooden without windows and come in a variety of multi colors. Each bus is adorned in its own decor, plastic flowers, golden bells, or Christmas tinsel!
The locals wait for the buses at make shift stops along the side of the road. Holding machete or local produce to take to town. The buses are very crowded with people, food, crafts, produce and children. They’re a sight to see.
We pass houses without walls; you can see right in to family life. Along the side of the road young men are busy cutting the lawns with whipper snippers[Ed: Weed Eaters]. Mending them would make for good business, as everyone has one.
It is an hour drive to my accommodation. When we arrive I feel like I’ve just seen another world.
Visiting Samoa is like a step back in time. Seeing a culture so colorful and unique. I’ve seen so much and that’s just during a drive from the airport.
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