Schafer family of 9 before they set sail on their South Pacific family adventure
Founders of the travel agency Cheap Tickets Canada.com and Brigham Young University alumni who live near Victoria, British Columbia are on a yearlong adventure to the South Pacific for the entire year 2013! The best thing about it is that Samoa is on their list of destinations.
A look at the fascinating To Sua trench from afar
Located on the Southeast Coast of Upolu Island, Lotofaga is one of the villages that make up the Lotofaga Electoral Consistency together with Vavau’ and Matatufu who are all included in the political district of Atua. Having a population of 1,089 people it is the setting for Fuipisia and Sopoaga waterfalls and the To Sua Trench.
The wonderful and fascinating Vaimasenu’u Zita Martel after the award ceremony
Vaimasenu’u Zita Martel, the Honorary Consul of France in Samoa, who is also co-founder and Managing Director of Polynesian Xplorer and the General Manager of Virgin Cove Resort ,was awarded and decorated with the high ranking President of the Republic of France award “Ordre national du Me`rite (National Ordre of Merit), for distinguished services to France. This making her one of the the 30,000 officer of the order.
The special ceremony was held at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum on Thursday, 30th of May, 2013 and blessed by Archbishop Alapati Mataeliga. The prestigious President of France Award, was presented by His Excellency Francis Etienne, Ambassador of France to Samoa. Continue reading
The 2013 HIBS International Service Team
Polynesian Xplorer is at your service again! Our cheerful and amazing team greeted a school group of 15 students and 3 teachers from the Hutt International Boys’ School in Wellington, the city of “The Hurricanes” on the 20th of April. Every year, HIBS sends a service team of 12-15 students overseas to aid less fortunate communities in foreign countries. They fundraise, seek sponsorship and collect goods to take to a community less fortunate than their own. This year, 2013, with the aid of event managers, Polynesian Xplorer, they are visiting Samoa with an intention to carry out some community work and assist with reconstruction and development work.
Hostess Britta awaiting EU arrivals at our Faleolo Airport office
Our ever dedicated and attentive Polynesian Xplorer events management team were the local event coordinator for two European Union funded conferences successively. Stunning tropical sunny weather welcomed the 50 delegates of the EU to Samoa for the first series of meetings. It was – wait for it as it’s rather long – the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) National Programming Consultative Seminar for the Pacific Region. Following on the heels of that one, tropical showers greeted the second lot of 60 delegates for the ACP Connect Study for the Pacific Region. One of our flagship hotels in Apia, Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, was the venue.
Just a short 15 minute boat ride from popular Lalomanu lies the picturesque and peaceful island of Namu’a where you can experience authentic Samoan living at it simplest. There is no electricity on the island so at night the gentle light of oil lamps and candles combined with the lapping of the lagoon’s tranquil waters on the sand and the rustle of palms swaying in the breeze create the ideal atmosphere in which to relax and simply be.
During a recent visit to Samoa I was lucky to accompany a friend who selected Namu’a as the ideal place for her niece to celebrate her 16th birthday. Her choice turned out to be perfect for this special day with many surprises in store for us – a Fautasi (Samoan longboat) rowed by 40 local village men welcomed us on arrival to catch some last minute coaching tips from skipper Vaimasenu’u Zita Martel; a visit by a rather large turtle– there are many to be seen in the marine sanctuary that surrounds the island; and an impromptu serenade over lunch from our hostess, Sala.
As pictures tell far more than words, let this video of our experience better whet your appetite for the chance to realize your dreams of the perfect piece of Pacific paradise!
Polynesian Xplorer now has an exclusive contract to market the 11 beach fales on the island which is perfect for young families as well as couples. For more information on pricing (breakfast, dinner and transport are included in the sale price), availability and to book your memorable stay, please visit:
http://www.samoaaccommodation.co/Accommodation/Namua-Island-Beach-Fales-Aleipata-Upolu-Island
Prices quoted there are per couple, per night.
To say that Samoa “saturates the senses” is not marketing hyperbole but true. The following images of flowers were taken within a half hour’s walk of Apia’s Faleatu golf course in Apia around 8:0 am this week.
Samoa is preparing for a momentous day tomorrow, where here in Apia’s Harbour, two large cruise ships will be docking on the same day. Two stately ‘princesses’; the elegant ‘Danae’ from Classic International Cruises, and the luxurious ‘Ocean Princess’ from Princess Cruises will be sailing into our harbor in the early morning.
We’re welcoming a number of French visitors to Samoa next week and they’ll be experiencing Manono. Thanks for sharing with your friends and don’t forget to visit and “like us” on our Polynesian Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/polynesianxplorer) Fa’afetai!!
Samoa celebrated World Wetlands Day, held on February 2nd every year, to celebrate the 1971 adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian City of Ramsar. This year’s theme is “Wetlands, leisure and tourism – take a breath of fresh air“ to link to the International Year of Forests. Lake Lanoto’o is the first Ramsar Convention Wetland site in Samoa – a pale green crater lake at the center of the volcanic ridge on Upolu Island.
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