Samoa Part 3

Ok, so I am sorry again for the delay in writing this. We were eager to get the photos up and safe to allow some space on our phone. I just couldnt find the time to sit down and write it. 

Samoa was the most incredible experience. We didnt quite know what to expect and had heard mixed reviews on it. In my head I had imagined it was just like Tonga and the 'Resort' would be a run down eerie walking dead location type spot. So I was quite anxious about arriving and staying for a month in the one place. As you know we organised through Workaway website to volunteer here for a month in a place called Matareva Beach Fales. 

As soon as we arrived though I knew it would all be aight! It might sound stupid but we definetly get a vibe when we arrive somewhere and it usually isnt wrong. We knew once we arrived to Samoa that we were going to like it.

We were picked up by a guy called 'Tepa', he didnt speak great English and couldnt tell us much on the drive back. We thought he was our host and initially thought ok this might be awkward. As we got to the turn for Matareva we drove down a bumpy dirt track off the main road for a good 4km through jungle. Tepa explained to us that they were filming 'Australian Survivor' on the lagoons either side of the resort and back in the Jungle too. We were pretty impressed by that. 

We pulled up and we were greeted by our actual host 'Tavita'. Tepa is Tavitas brother, an absolute legend who we just fell in love with. Always has a big smile and works so hard, he is the mechanic and taxi man for the resort and is always working.

Tavita welcomed us showed us to our cabin and told us to grab a beer and enjoy the sunset. 

When we actually looked around us and saw where we were, it was completely jaw dropping. The most picturesque location you can imagine. White sandy beach, crystal blue water, green palm trees, black volcanic rock jutting out into the sea to create a little island and lagoons either side. 

We grabbed a beer from the bar on the beach and sat and watched the sunset. We were absolutely delighted with ourselves and knew we were in for quite a month here. 

As we arrived on a Friday it was Fia Fia night which is a cultural show. The local youth group (organised by Tavita and Fiauu (his wife) come to the resort and perform a show with traditional dances, songs and fire dance.

So after a huge buffet dinner of delicious Samoan food we were treated to an incredible show. The kids were adorable, so confident, talented and captivating. All coming and grabbing us up on the 'dancefloor' (Sandfloor!!) at the end. 

It was an amazing welcome to the resort and we were ecstatic!!! 

The next morning we sat down with Fiauu and Tavita and they gave us some history on Matareva and what their intention is with the place. 

Matareva was only opened as a resort 18 months ago, before that it was a beach for locals to visit and meet for bbqs, birthdays, reunions (really popular in Samoan culture) etc. and is considered a very special and sacred place to the people and owned by the local village. 

The chiefs of the village decided to hand it over to Tavita and Fiauu to manage to provide jobs and opportunities for the people of the community. 

They gladly accepted and since then have developed it massively and helped the people with a source of income. He set up the youth group by going to the local churches and asking permission to set it up and ask the kids to join, alot of the kids have dropped out of school and so this gives them the chance to further their talents and interests and keeps them from getting up to no good. 

While we were there he also set up a plantation by asking the chiefs for a plot of land to develop. He got the kids from the youth group to help build it and the plan is to plant, grow and sell produce such as bananas, papayas, taro (local potato variety) etc. for them to use (self sustain) and to sell (source of income) and to also give them a purpose and provide jobs. 

They want volunteers there to help communicate with the guest as alot of the staff dont speak English, help with marketing, menus, set up activites, front of house and advise in any way to give the customer the best experience. 

We gave them a list of things we would like to do during our time here to help. 

They didnt provide many trips from the resort so this was something we were eager to get up and running. 

We were so excited to get stuck in and work hard for this amazing family and what they wanted to achieve here. 

They have 5 kids from 18 down to 5, all boys. Fiauu works as a lecturer and is also studying herself. Tavita works with the youth group, the plantation, Survivor, has a landscaping business too. So they are always busy. 

Having not worked in 6 months we were overly excited to get stuck in and willing to work full days! 

You are only required to work 4-5 hours a day and then the days is yours but as we didnt have a car it was tough to get out of Matareva so we were happy to just stay there most days and help out. We quickly became very emotionally involved with the place and ran it like it was ours!

The kids were incredible and we also looked after them most days as school was out. They were a pleasure to be around and taught us more than we taught them!! 

Made kites, brought us for walks and told us all about the nature and how to use the trees and leaves. Card games, chess etc. 

We fell in love with them!

While Survivor were filming there they needed us to cook some pizzas for the winners of a challenge. We tested pizzas for three days straight to get them right! Was great excitement when the crew came to pick them up. So if you watch it keep an eye out for those pizzas!!!

Inspired by Survivor Daniel created a circuit workout on the beach for most days. It consisted of pushing tyres, push ups, squats, sprints for coconuts, and so on. It quickly took off and was so popular with staff, guests and the kids. They would hound Daniel daily about Survivor and in one of these posts you'll see a video of Bill screaming 'Survivor Timeee' they loved it!! It was great so hopefully we left that legacy and they continue on. They assured us they would. 

We also started volleyball every day at 4 which was alot of fun and the Samoans take it very seriously!! 

I introduced cocktails to the bar menu and showed them all how to make Mojitos, Long Island Ice Teas, Pina Coladas (made with fresh coconut water and meat!!!), and we created a Matareva special 'The Matareva Illusion' Midore (Melon Liquor, Malibu and Sprite!) DELICIOUS!!

We set up Sunday Church Service (i know....me?!!!) to the Bahai'i Temple, which was actually a beautiful service, its an interesting religion I recommend you google it!

While we were there. Wales was coming over to play Samoa in Rugby, so we couldnt missed that! 

We organised for all the guests to go. hop in the back of a big old Fire truck they had on site (it was raining so we threw some tarpaulin over us) and a crate of beers, we all wore Matareva tshirts and put red and blue warpaint on! Atmosphere was electric! We got the game late (Samoa time!!) just in time for the second half and managed to wrangle our way into the most expensive seats for just 10 tala (which is about 3e!!!!) Samoa lost by just a few points but we had such a laugh. Afterwards we went to Home Bar, a great little place that a guy opened using all his old junk. It has a great feel to it. 

Was such a great night, so memorable! 

A cool point of interest is that on the land that Tavitas family own and his house is on actually houses a Lava Tube! A lava tube is pretty much a cave where the lave has flown through into the sea. He hasnt opened it to the public or had any scientists or geologists in to examine or research so its completely untouched. He brought us and two other guests down, only like the 10th people outside of his family to visit it. Nestled among lush vegetaion the entrance is tucked under some trees. As we entered he pointed out the hollow where the watchman would have been stationed. They say when the Tongans came to invade alot of the locals hid in the caves. 

Scattered along the cave are alot of human bones, as they Samoans are proud to admit they were once Cannibals! So any intruders would have been killed and eaten. The bones are all beside black charcoal remains of the fires! Incredibly interesting and humbling being here afraid to touch anything not knowing what it is or to be tampering with evidence. 

A few weeks later some geologists just happened to be staying at the resort, one was also a professional  Caver?? Mad! So Daniel brought them along one day to explore. They were so amazed by it and researched into it and reckon that it is the longest cave in the country  along with other bits of really incredible information especially for Tavita to know, he decided to base himself at Matareva and study it. 

We also tasked ourselves with getting the guests to make some stools with local tree bark. We set up a fale and Nati (one of the workers) helped them make them. We were able to make 5 and have them sit along the bar, creating a job for a fulltime bar man! 

Go us right hahaha

While the lads were making stools we were in a fale on the opposite side having a spa day!!!