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.
Vaimasenu’u Zita Martel, our Managing Director, accepts challenge given by the USS Pearl Harbor Commodore Wallace Lovely
More excitement is in the air for our wonderful and committed team here at the Polynesian Xplorer. Why? Our very own Managing Director and co-founder, Vaimasenu’u Zita Martel, who wears many hats besides the one mentioned above, has been challenged towith her Digicel Segavao crew by the USS Pearl Harbor team on Saturday 8th of June, 2013 at 3 pm. She will be skipper of their longboat while the Commodore of Destroyer Squadron THREE ONE Wallace Lovely will be captain of theirs.
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
Polynesian Xplorer is thrilled with the recent coverage Samoa received in UK’s The Independent newspaper. An article by Adrian Phillips made the front cover of the Travel Section, and featured of course, was our beautiful MD, Zita Martel. The feature on our beautiful islands covered three pages, and the front page article is posted here in it’s entirety. As it suggests, if you are looking for a Samoan experience, then you have come to the right place here at Polynesian Xplorer!
“Anthony, my guide, was like a chunk of granite in flip-flops. There seemed to be a great many chunks of granite flip-flopping their way through the streets of the capital, Apia. I could have thrown a rope with my eyes shut and lassoed somebody more than capable of pushing a grand piano up a flight of stairs. Yes, if there’s a certainty in life, it’s that a Samoan won’t blow away in a gale. And that’s no bad thing when you live on a palm-fringed island in the South Pacific because occasionally nature packs up the sun, stirs up the sea and points its attack dogs at paradise.
Samoa Air Cesner
Samoa Air made history and went viral by becoming the first airline in the world to do what was previously unimaginable: charge passengers by weight. Yes, ladies, just what you’ve been dreading, getting weighed by a stranger at the airport! And if you’re like us who carry the kitchen sink in our handbags – don’t even think about it! Eliminate! Eliminate! Eliminate the excess baggage!! The idea has been hovering in the air in the past and voila… Samoa Air is the first to beat everyone to it.
Fa’atupu Lea’ana!
Polynesian Xplorer Guide, Fa’atupu Lea’ana poses with CEO, Francois Martel
Vaimasenu’u Zita Martel and the Honourable PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi!
History was made yesterday on the 5th floor of the government building when his Honorable, Tuilaepa Fatialofa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa had his hair shaved off in support of the Cancer Society’s fight against cancer. Representatives from different companies, NGO’s, government ministries and individuals turned up to witness and entertaining event of “Donate to Shave or Donate to Save the Prime MInister’s hair”! After much humorous exchanges all donations were to shave and none to save. Members of the opposition party Tautua Samoa were also present and as much as the Prime Minister kept everyone entertained, Opposition Party’s deputy leader Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi brought in a taste of his own wit to add to the jovial mood of the crowd. Continue reading
You might not have heard about Clarence Sebastian, but for a three year old – he’s making some waves! Clarence has albinism. Characterised by a complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes, there are many children with this disorder here in Samoa. The Clarence Sebastian Foundation has given rise to an excellent concept, acronymed ARISE (Albinos Respected in Samoa Everyday), to raise awareness and educate the community here in Samoa about children with Albinism. Their hope is that they alleviate some of the stress from the parents of Albino children, and change the negative mindset that seems to prevail about them.
There have been a whole host of activities surrounding the anniversary of the 50th year of the Treaty of Friendship between NZ and Samoa, and yesterday at the gallery of Vanya Taulealo, we attended a presentation from visiting NZ artists. The “Return to Hawaiiki” project, which is a sort of ‘homecoming’ for some of the artists with strong ties to Samoa, has seen the ‘return’ of a number of artists from NZ to Samoa.
NZ Post have commemorated 50yrs of friendship between NZ and Samoa in a beautiful coin and stamp collection. Emma Willis of the NZ post today released the below information about the collection.
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