Samoa

		I travelled up to Samoa in August 2008 & June 2009 for work Samoa is a colourful stable independant South Pacific nation comprising two main Islands Upolo and Savai'i. Apia the largest town is located on Upolo the more populated of the islands. The first visit was to scope out an upcoming World Bank bid for a new road from Apia out to the airport. The photos below are of downtown Apia and of village scenes on our proposed new road route. I stayed in the Hotel Kitano (formerly Hotel Tusitala). On the last night they put on a cultural evening












		The second visit in June 2009 was to help set up a contract GHD had won with Downers to reset all the traffic lights in the Islands to allow a change over to driving on the left hand side of the road

		I stayed at Aggie Greys which is the most famous and historical hotel in Apia. Aggie Grey was a famous host in the earlier part of the 20th Century. The hotel records the number of famous people who have stayed there in naming of rooms. These include James Mitchener the author of Tales of the South Pacific and other novels based on his travels. The historical part of the hotel is really a facade for a large collections of "fales" and resort style accomodation out the back There are over a hundred cats wandering around the hotel



		Probably far more famous than Aggie Greys is the home of Robert Louis Stevenson "Vailima" set in beautiful grouds a short distance from Apia on the Cross Island road. The homestead had deteroited into ruin but has been restored as a museum dedicated to Stevenson.

		My final day was spent on a trip aroud Upolo which turned into a bit of event when the heavens opened up and we we ended up stuck for a while at Faofao beach between two flooded rivers. Eventually the ford we had crossed earlier in the day dropped sufficiently and we were able to go back the way we came in

Samoa