Saturday, October 15, 2011

American Samoa

A great deal of your impression about a country is given by the people who live in it, when you arrive and customs and immigration people are friendly and helpfull that gives you a good feeling about the country, wel in American samoa it is surely so, very friendly people here, also on the street. We were anchored close to a powerplant and fish factory, wich gave us some nuisance sometimes, but the people made a lot good. what impressed me the most in Am.Sam. is That the people are fat, never seen so many fat people, and eating is theyre culture, most of the commercials on the radio were about the offers in the dozens of fast food restaurants, many shops have also a small warm food bar, were the "I feel for eating" Samoan can have a quick take away", to keep up the calories.
Another amazing thing was that a lot of houses have theyre burial ground in front of the house, often good maintained and with flowers on, to honor the dead family member(s).
And then we have the bussus, each bus is different, but more or les constructed in the same way, a wooden structure on a truck, and alway's loud music.
The samoans wear a lava lava, a sort of rope, even the officials or police man can wear them, it was a strange view for us to see that for the first time, but it is common here in this part of the pacific. The lavalava is also the schooluniform for the students, who wear them in the same colour with the schools emblem printed on it.

The governement take's you when you leave, a 167 us dollar fee, for a few weeks stay, diggs deep in the cruising budget.





Pagopago pronounced Pangopango.




Helena anchored in the bay.




The bay is deep cut in the land, so the water is mostly calm.




The end of the bay, here it is that the tsunami two years ago hit hard.




Warning signs, and there is now also a audible warning system for when a tsunami is coming.




Well maintained roads.




Some local students in theyre school outfit.




Some more local students, happy to pose for a photo.




With Glenda.




The local busses are made from wood on top of a truck.




Bus.




Inside the bus.




Another bus.




Plenty busses and inexpensive.




Rock in the sea, how did those coconut trees get on Top.




Many houses have theyre own burial ground, were they bury the dead family.




There is a large fishing fleet in Pagopago, this are the smaller fishing boats.




Our floating dinghy dock, with free undrinkable water.




Old tree carved to a piece of art.




Same tree on the back.




The seal of American Samoa.




Men wear often a lavalava, also the male children in school always wear the lavalava.




Eddy trys the lavalava.




Art on the wall.




In the evening when it cools down, samoans like to play sport games.




Fisherman with trowing net.




A rest of the ww2 defending bunker on the beach.




Samoans maintain there propertys well.




Typical samoa houses.




On the western beach.




Waiting for the bus...We love the bus here.




Workers are making the nets for the big tuna fishing boats, in the back part of the tuna can factory.




workers posing for photo, in the back tuna can factory.




The place were they repair the nets, in the back a big tuna boat, they stay 4-5 weeks on sea, and come back with 1500 tons of fish.




Well maintained park on the water. altough samoans trow theyre garbache on the street.




Special day for special children.




With music and entertainment.




Church.




Local youth.





Street.




The pagpago mcdonalds with free internet is a favorite hangout place for yachties.




Local market place.




Friday is a special day, with prepared food to sell.




Home made pastries.




Roasted banana and breadfruit.




Palusami, very tasty but greasy, Pilikaki , fish in coconut milk.




A delicious food.




Mexican and Guatemalan food.




El corazon Latino de American Samoa.




Stand with local creations.




Grandma and us.