Hitting another Polynesian Country before our trip, we learned about Samoa. Samoa is the second largest country in Polynesia, and is made up of two main islands and seven smaller islands.
Funny enough, even our landmark for Samoa is their very own Somoa Cultural Village. Much like the one we'll be visiting, this village hosts interactive sessions to take visitors through all the aspects of traditional Samoan life, including workshops on basket weaving, woodworking, siapo cloth making, and traditional dance and music. It's open weekdays, and in case you were wondering, it has five stars on Trip Advisor.
The main islands of Samoa are the result of countless volcanic activity, leaving easily visible volcanic cones all over both islands. None of them are currently active, but small earthquakes are often felt as a reminder of the volcano's presence.
As a result, there are all kinds of blowholes cased by the sea forcing water up through tubes in the volcanic rock. In Taga, the locals throw coconuts into the blowholes and when the water hits, the coconut is propelled high into the air.
If hiking through lava fields or throwing cocnuts into blowholes, isn't your thing, you can take a dip in one of the most impressive swimming holes. A 98 foot dive will land you in the Sua Ocean Trench.
Samoans are famous for their traditional way of life, known as the 'Fa'a Samoa' or Samoan Way. Most famous is the fa'taupati percussion dance that is performed by Samoan men. The dance originated in the 1900's when mosquitos invaded the land. (So the slapping of their bodies represents the slapping of mosquitos.)
You'll also find traditional houses known as fales. They're open sided, oval structures with thatched roofs. They sleep up to 20 people.
Finally, there is the game of Kilikiti, where players use a three sides war club to play a game similar to cricket.
The boys made their Samoan post cards.
Calib's featured dancing and spear fishing.
Peyton noted the blowholes.
And Hayden had people playing Kilikiti.
We added Samoa to the table. It's the two brownish dots out there next to purple Fiji.
Samoa is the second blog that I wrote forever ago, and has been sitting in 'draft' status for quite some time, so again (just like with Fiji) forgive me if I repeat. It is the second of the three countries we completed at the Polynesian Cultural Center when we were there way back on June 30th.
Samoa is the first pavilion, and we didn't time it perfectly, as we had just missed quite a few of the demonstrations, but even when it isn't presentation time, there is plenty to see.
Here's what the Polynesian Cultural Center's website says about the Samoa pavillion:
"If you like to smile, even laugh – a lot – come see one of the Center's most popular cultural demonstrations. Learn how to make fire by rubbing two sticks together, how to easily crack open a coconut using a small pebble, how to create coconut "milk" with your bare hands, and how the Samoans prepare their food (hint: it’s a man’s duty). Watch well-muscled, young natives climb 40-foot coconut trees – in bare feet.
See real-life living quarters, cooking huts and a chief’s home, all built without nails. And then, get a taste of real Samoan food, prepared throughout the day. Matter of fact, you can help us prepare it."
We didn't see them climb up the tree to get the coconuts, but we were there to see them splitting them on a machete and handing them out.
In Samoa 'fire knife dancing' is a thing. Yes, it's just like it sounds. They don't give you fire or knives in the village, but you can get practice ones to try your hand at spinning them. It's like a baton, using your hands by flipping the knife over them, instead of your fingers. We weren't great at these, so it's a good thing they weren't actually knives. Sidenote: Had they been actual knives, I wouldn't be blogging about the event, mom totally nailed me with one of hers.
We did all try our hand at Taulafoga, an ancient Samoan sport using coconut shells and woven mats. It's basically like the original shuffleboard. You use your coconut to knock the other person's coconut off the mat. Calib faced off against Hayden, and Calib won.
Asa lost to Peyton in a really close match.
It wasn't ever a competition between me and mom, she totally smoked me. But you know, it is a favorite pastime of the village elders, so it makes sense.
We missed being part of the preperation, but we did get to see the cooking process, complete with coconut husks being used to keep the fire going. Also, everyone was just walking around the fire with bare feet. These guys were badass, and authentic.
Worth noting: We also got to take a canoe ride through the entire center, where our guide was from Samoa. He said he was going back soon, though, because his English just wasn't that great, and he was having a hard time here. I thought he did awesome for having English as a second language. I mean, you could tell some questions threw him off a bit, but after all the times I've attempted to learn another language, I am totally impressed by anyone who can even hold a conversation in anything other than their native language.
Again, next blog I'll get to the food we ate at the luau, that counted as Samoa.
But as a preview, Oka is the way Samoans prepare raw fish. It consists of small bits of fish that are marinated in a mixture of lemon juice, coconut cream, salt and finely chopped onions. Poke is pretty much the Hawaiian equivalent, and despite my better judgement, I did try it. (Gwen tried the Poi while I tried the Poke, we weren't fans of either).
At least I didn't have to find recipes for Samoa, because all that comes up is the girl scout cookies (oh, America).
Next Up: Tonga
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