Samoa

Samoa is a land of contradictions. Dark verdant rainforests are edged with white sandy beaches which contrast with glittering azure seas. Born of volcanic explosions, Samoa has clothed itself in an abundance of natural beauty. It’s wild and awesome, yet serene and peaceful. If you hanker for mega resorts, glitzy shopping malls and non-stop entertainment, Samoa is perhaps not for you. For everyone else, it’s a wondrous paradise with a relaxed beach-bum lifestyle. Explore the island at a leisurely pace (the speed limit is just 25mph!) taking in the huge churches and neat villages at the heart of the Samoan lifestyle. Pull up at a fruit stand and sample exotic fruit or admire the strung necklaces of freshly caught reef fish. Don’t miss a dip in the extraordinary swimming hole at Sua, surely one of the most unusual places to bathe. It’s good to spend time in Apia, the capital, where you can immerse yourself in the German colonial architecture, rest awhile in the cool cathedral, and sample local nightlife and top notch cuisine. It’s not hard to appreciate why Samoa was the chosen home of writer Robert Louis Stephenson. Be warned – he came to visit and never found the urge to leave!