Samoa Heart of Polynesia

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Samoa, Heart of Polynesia
Author: David Stanley
The islands of Samoa are emerging as an exciting new South Pacific travel destination between Hawaii and New Zealand. This "Heart of Polynesia" is politically split into two distinct entities 80 miles apart. The country Samoa is a former German colony, captured by New Zealand in 1914 and granted independence in 1962. In 1997 the name was changed from Western Samoa to Samoa.

American Samoa is the only U.S. territory south of the equator. Annexed by the United States for use as a naval base in 1900, the territory no longer has any military significance. Instead, Pago Pago currently hosts the StarKist and "Chicken of the Sea" tuna canneries, making it the most important commercial fishing port under the American flag.

The Samoan environment is tropically lush, with green volcanic peaks plunging to brilliant coral reefs, an ecotourism paradise still unspoiled by mass tourism. Visitors often stay in open Samoan beach houses called fale (pronounced FAH-lay) and adopt the laidback local lifestyle. Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, surfing, deep sea fishing, and hiking opportunities are all close at hand.

Samoan culture is alive and strong, and local traditions can add another fascinating layer to your travel experience. Most Samoans are subsistence farmers who reside in small villages governed by chiefs (matai). The egalitarian ideals of this communal society place loyalty to family and religion above all. Visitors can sample this culture at the weekly "fiafia" island night dance shows staged at most of the larger hotels and beach resorts. Buffets of authentic Samoan dishes are an essential part of these events.

Samoa's climate is sultry, alternately sunny and rainy, but always hot and humid. Cooling sea breezes make the shoreline the best place to be yearround. The nicest months weatherwise are May to September, "winter" south of the equator. The rainy season runs from November to April, with increasingly intense hurricanes sweeping in due to global warming. Yet you can get long spells of bright sunny weather even during the "rainy" season, and Samoa's excellent Vailima beer (created by German brewmasters) tastes best at this time of year.

Most visitors spend their time in independent Samoa, which is considerably bigger and less expensive than American Samoa. However the rugged scenic beauty of Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa, should not be missed. In recent years some of the most strikingly beautiful parts of the territory have been incorporated into American Samoa National Park. There's great hiking on Tutuila and wonderful snorkeling on Ofu in the seldom visited Manua Group.

Traditional Samoan culture is largely based on oratory, and it's no accident that several literary legends originated here. Robert Louis Stevenson spent the last five years of his life in Samoa and is buried on a hilltop above Apia, the capital. His mansion is now a museum dedicated to the author. Somerset Maugham's short story "Rain" about Sadie Thompson and the repressed missionary thrown together in a guesthouse at Pago Pago, American Samoa, has been adapted by Hollywood several times. The original guesthouse still exists, now an upscale restaurant and inn. In "Tales of the South Pacific," James A. Michener based the prototype of his character Bloody Mary on an Apia hotelkeeper named Aggie Grey, whose family still operates Samoa's largest resorts. Michener's book was later made into the musical "South Pacific."

Getting to Samoa is easy with direct flights from Hawaii and Los Angeles on Hawaiian Airlines, Polynesian Airlines, and Air New Zealand. Local ferries and small commuter planes ply frequently between the islands, and getting around by public bus or rental car is no challenge. Visas are not required by most visitors for entry to either Samoa, although a passport and onward plane ticket are mandatory.

About the Author

David Stanley is the author of Moon Handbooks South Pacific http://www.southpacific.org/pacific.html which has a chapter on Samoa. His online guide to Samoa may be perused at http://www.southpacific.org/text/upolu.html

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New Years Resolutions for the BackCountry

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New Year's Resolutions for the BackCountry
Author: Chuck Fitzgerald
The New Year has begun and you probably have a few New Year's Resolutions under way. You'll lose weight, lose a bad habit, add a good habit or even mend an old fence. But do you have any resolutions for the backcountry? Are you ready to make this year your best backcountry year? I'm ready. Here are a few of my backcountry New Year's Resolutions; please adopt a couple of these for yourself. If you do, 2005 will be your best outdoor year yet.

First off, I resolve to spend more time in the backcountry. No matter how much time I spend hiking or camping, it never seems to be enough. So this year I will try to get my fill of the outdoors. Of course, I said this last year too but failed to get enough.

Next I resolve to upgrade my critical gear. Some things are more comfortable the longer you own them, but this isn't good practice for critical backcountry gear. For example, it's been a few years since I upgraded my first-aid kit or my hiking boots or my sunglasses. These items become a liability if they are not properly maintained. I've let that slip. I'll also take a long look at my binoculars and my camping kitchen, especially my stove. Taking care of your gear will ensure its ability to take care of you when you need it most.

While we're discussing gear, let's keep going with another resolution. I resolve to learn how to use all of my gear. I've been carrying a magnesium stick for fire starting for about 5 years. I don't think I know how to use it. I'm going to learn. I need to understand more about my GPS receiver (Garmin eTrex Vista). I use about five percent of its capabilities and this is only because I haven't taken the time to learn. That changes this year.

I also resolve to learn a new backcountry skill. I haven't decide what skill to learn but it will be something I've never done before. I've never taken the time to learn how to rock climb. Perhaps that's the one, or maybe kayaking. I've never collected water using a solar still. That sounds interesting too. Maybe you need to learn CPR or how to read a map or tie a variety of knots. This is the year to fill in the knowledge gaps.

Finally, I resolve to bring someone new into the backcountry this year. When I see the perfect sunset or a herd of antelope, the next thought I have is "I wish so-and-so was here to see this!" So this year, I'm going to share the awe of our backcountry with someone brand new to the outdoors. By sticking to these New Year's Resolutions, I will have a great year in our backcountry. I hope to see you there!

Use this information and you'll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!

About the Author

Chuck Fitzgerald is the President of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty gear and educational information for outdoor enthusiasts. Visit www.BackCountryToys.com to receive the free newsletter "FreshAir" or call (800) 316-9055

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Love the outdoors Consider Gatlinburg cabin renta

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Love the outdoors? Consider Gatlinburg cabin rental.
Author: D. Fowler
Love the outdoors, looking for adventure, a romantic getaway, or a family vacation? Gatlinburg, Tennessee, located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, is the perfect vacation spot for families looking for outdoor adventure and entertainment. Gatlinburg and neighboring cities, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, offer a wealth of outdoor activites, shopping, dining, and entertainment. Enjoy a Gatlinburg cabin rental and experience it all.

There are literally thousands of cabin rentals and chalet rentals available to choose from. A Gatlinburg cabin rental gives a family the opportunity to experience the beauty and peacefulness of the Great Smokey Mountains. You can enjoy majestic mountain views from your cabin or chalet rental, and still remain within walking distance, or a short drive, to shopping, dining and entertainment.

Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge - Sevierville - has a lot to offer for all ages, hiking, whitewater rafting, skiing, snowboarding, skiing, fishing, kayaking, and horseback riding. When you're done playing outdoors, take in some shopping at a huge number of outlet malls. Or, spend a day at an amusement park. Dollywood, located in Pigeon Forge, offers a ton of fun - rides, country/western shows, and more.

Gatlinburg's Municipal Golf Course has been completely rebuilt and acclaimed as one of the most picturesque courses in America with its' spectacular mountain setting. Whether you're on vacation and just want to relax and play a round of golf, on a business trip or corporate outing, Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course offers the pro golfer as well as the beginner a challenge on every hole and a great golf vacation destination.

About the Author

Doug Fowler is an Internet Consultant for numerous vacation rental websites, such as www.vrul.com. VRUL.com offers worldwide vacation rentals by owner.

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Lodging With Llamas in the Smokies

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Life Engagement

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Life Engagement
Author: Diann Cannon
What is your level of engagement? I'm talking about your level of involvement in your own life. If you check in with your spiritual, mental, emotional and physical selves, what do they tell you about how engaged you are in LIFE? If you had to put a score on yourself between 0 and 100, how would you fare?

Are you frightened of resolutions? Try engaging yourself. If you think you'd like to focus on a resolution for the New Year, the following is a great place to start:

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Visit http://lge.perfprog.com and take the test, (max. 5 min.). When I took it, the results said I was 80% engaged in life. The conclusion was that if I strengthened my physical side, my overall life would improve. I often view these kinds of tests with a grain of salt, but this time it seems as though the results were really on to something. I was looking through my "life" box of goodies filled with mementos and treasures from my life and came upon some old report cards from my school days. And what do you think they showed? Sure enough, my lowest grades were in physical education! I had forgotten that my average score in Physical Education was indeed a C. It was true, the test was correct; my lowest level of engagement in life was and still is physical!

So, I made up my mind that I was going to become fully engaged. Doesn't that sound FUN????? Since then, I've taken up hiking and I am having so much fun!!!!! Downhill skiing is something else I enjoy, but I've found hiking to be an excellent alternative because it's inexpensive and accessible nearly year-round.

Let me back track for a moment. My husband hates hiking. He refuses to even walk around the park with me. I was afraid to go alone, afraid of being mugged, and since he wouldn't go with me, I initially allowed that to be a stumbling block. But then I began asking my women friends if any of them liked to hike. Some of them did but we just couldn't seem to coordinate our schedules. But I didn't give up. I finally struck up a friendship with a woman who walks at the park around the same time that I do. After a time, we decided to hike outside of the park. Since then we've gone on several hikes together including this beautiful place called Red Rock Canyon right here in Clark County, Nevada that I never would have experienced if not for my willingness to engage in something different.

Then another facet of this wonderful new period in my life began to unfold when my church started a hiking club. So now I've been on two very fun hikes with them. These hikes have typically been anywhere from 4 to 7 miles in length, not really steep and so beautiful.

What has happened to my physical body because of this is very encouraging. My shape overall is better and my heart feels stronger. But what has happened to my mental and emotional body is even more impressive. I am more joyful? I feel like I did when I was a child playing all day long. Being out in the fresh air doing something physical, fun and adventurous is most definitely giving me a new sense of vitality. Not to mention a great night's sleep?

While I'm not going to share my exact scores on the rest of the test I will say that my highest score was spiritual, followed by emotional, mental and physical in that order. I agree with the experts who say we are encouraged to change what we measure. Had I never taken this test I would not have identified this weak area in my life, nor realized that focusing and engaging with it could make my life richer. Laughter and fun = joy and since I've engaged my physical self more I am engaged in life in a way that makes everything I do have more meaning.

About the Author

Diann Cannon, founder of Signals Personal and Business
Coaching, works with individuals facing major life transitions, such as
divorce, unemployment or career change. She helps them identify their
strengths and confront limiting beliefs and behaviors. Ultimately, she
helps people achieve success and balance in their business and personal
lives. Contact Diann and sign up for her newsletter at
http://www.signalscoach.com.

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