next stop - sopoaga botanical gardens, complete with this incredible waterfall! which of course just happens to be across the valley from someones backyard!!! ridiculous. can you even imagine owning land with this kind of view? but these people do! this country is amazing. i could have stood and watched it for hours.
samoa at it's finest, 3 small fales, built just metres from a cliff, no fence, no safety rail, nothing - and it's in a publicly open garden. an accident waiting to happen much? can you imagine this sort of thing in australia? it's such a pity they aren't habitable, they would be amazing to stay the night in.
land in samoa is not purchased by people, it is owned by villages - and families continue to live together on their land year after year, generation after generation. this land has been beautifully cultivated by the owners to be displayed to tourists - with a small botanical garden. there is a 5 samoan tala admittance fee, and it is well worth it, even if you were just coming to watch the waterfall!
neatly labelled wooden markers are placed throughout the garden showing the samoan and english names of all the native trees in the garden, as well as some other smaller huts containing some samoan traditional items. it's such a sweet place and was really interesting to spend some time in.
this is the nonu tree. the nonu is a plant of healing to the samoan people, with the juice being sold in a tonic, which when used each day can improve ones health and wellbeing. mum had some of the juice (which can actually be purchased in australia - just not western australia) and i tried a little, it tastes absolutely terrible! thankfully there is a powdered version also available - which has flavouring added, because everyone that spoke to us about it, swore it works wonders. might have to look into that - it's available here if you're keen to try it
in this hut, there was a bunch of log drums... doug thought all his christmases had come at once and got busy tapping out a tune with maddie. we may have to look into a way to get one across to australia for him. it would be a super cool present. there was also an umu hut... where the fire to cook the food is all burnt coconut shall pieces. nothing is wasted from the coconut - such a useful fruit.
there was even this adorable display of teuila in the bathroom - the teuila festival has just finished here in samoa and they are flowering everywhere. it is the national flower and people just love it. as do i. it's red ginger flower and just looks so bright and tropical.
the lady who was in charge at the gardens was so sweet, she rushed over to the car to meet us - as it had been raining - with umbrellas and then sat and chatted with doug's mum in samoan as we looked around. the garden is clearly well cared for and enjoyed.
doug with his precious drums. i am so glad mum and dad know all these places, they have made our holiday amazing with all there is to see and do.
i'd just like to leave you with this amazing photo of growing pineapples. i am clearly australian and purchase pineapple from the supermarket, whether fresh or tinned - but they grow on a bush. of course they do, and clearly i should have know that, but i had never actually thought about it. mind blown.
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