My Life in Samoa: The Picture Edition (II)

This post features more of my favorite pictures from my travels around Upolu, from exploring Samoa's famous ocean trench, to climbing on Upolu's main hiking trail, to hanging out at a few of my favorite beaches (among other things). I hope you enjoy them, and next picture post, I should be able to give you a glimpse of Savai'i, Samoa's other main island.

Exploring Samoa's most famous tourist destination

To Sua (literally “big hole”) has made it on BuzzFeed lists of hidden wonders of the world for a reason. I have truly seen nothing else like it, and swimming inside is equally unique. You can’t really tell from this picture, but the climb down to the deck is not for those with a fear of heights. The ladder is quite steep, and while the steps are large and solid, it can still be a little slippery, so I definitely took my time climbing down and up. Once you jump into the water, swimming in To Sua gives you what I imagine is the closest possible experience to being in a washing machine. The water feeding in from the ocean fluctuates quite quickly. We swum to the inside edges of the cave, and in the course of a minute, the water rose from my knees to my waist. As the water levels rise and fall, you are pulled from one side of the pool to the other. And so you bob, up and down, left and right.

Taking a dip in To Sua is a definite dose of adventure – from making your way down the steep ladder,
to jumping off the deck into the waters below, to bobbing up and down with the circling tide.

Looking up from inside the To Sua cave.

Climbing Mount Vaea – or finding Robert Louis Stevenson on his real life Treasure Island

I was quite happy to discover when I arrived in Samoa that the main trail in Upolu is not too far out of central Apia, with the path winding up the hill behind the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. Going up the trail, you have the choice of taking a fairly steep, 0.8 km path or taking a more windy, 2km hike. Either way, you definitely get a good workout. When you arrive sweaty and triumphant at the top, you are rewarded with a beautiful view and a visit with Samoa’s most famous and beloved expatriate: Robert Louis Stevenson himself! Standing beside RLS's tombstone after my first trek up Vaea, I couldn't help but be in awe of where I was and what I was given the opportunity to do. Who would have guessed when I was begrudgingly making my way through Treasure Island in middle school that I would some day get to see it for myself?

Samoa’s most beloved expatriate was honored with a spectacularly beautiful resting place.

The tombstone for Robert Louis Stevenson is nestled at the peak of the main hiking trail in Upolu.

Discovering a few beaches off the beaten path

Having spent my entire life in landlocked cities, it is quite new for me to have regular access to so many spectacular beaches. And now that I've beach hopped enough, I even find myself noting the pros and cons of different ones. Considering how beautiful they all are, this does strike me as a rather silly exercise. Even so, I still thought I would share my three favorite with you. What they all have in common is that they are just beach. No cafés, restaurants, hotels, or fales - just you, the ocean, white sand beaches, and beautiful blue skies.

After about 20-30 minutes of trekking through overgrown paths and fields, we came across this secluded oasis.

Vavau has to be my favorite beach. It’s a beautiful spot, and somehow you often have it entirely
to yourself. With nice shady spots to relax with a book, clear areas to swim, and places with coral where
you can snorkel and look at some stunning electric blue fish, it has everything that I love about the beach.

Virgin Cove is a lovely beach on the Southwestern side of Upolu. We were able to enjoy a couple hours
of great weather before we were hit by the storm you see looming in the back of this picture.

A close-up of one of the coolest mushrooms I have ever seen. It almost looks like a miniature fale!
(It’s also in the picture of Virgin Cove - look for the tree stump on the far right.)

Visiting one of six Bahai temples in the world

A trip up the central hill in Upolu will take you past a very unique spot – one of only eight Bahá’í temples in the world. Founded by Bahá’u’lláh in 19th century Persia, the Bahá’í faith is built around a central belief in the spiritual unity of humankind. At weekly services, people gather to read and listen to scriptures from all religions. The temple is surrounded by beautiful gardens, and both the temple and gardens are open throughout the week for visitors to come for quiet reflection and meditation.

Each Bahá’í Temple has its own unique character and style. What unites them is
the nine-sided, circular shape that makes up the core of each temple’s design.

The gardens around the temple are immaculately kept and open every day for public use.
They are a perfect spot for quiet reflection and a peaceful walk.

Enjoying more beautiful island sunsets

It seems appropriate to wrap up my second picture post with a few more sunset shots. I still can’t believe how often I am able to enjoy such truly spectacular sunsets. Luckily, I don’t think they could ever become commonplace.

Tofa soifua (or "fa" for short)!
Goodbye and good health!

I was able to enjoy this perfect sunset during a weekend stay in the beautiful, secluded island of Namua.

I witnessed this gorgeous sunset while having dinner at Return to Paradise,
a resort named after the 1953 movie filmed on this beach.