After three weeks in the jungle Matt started to get a bit testy. Island fever was my guess. Instead of putting him down we took him to the airport on 'Upolu so he could get back to the States. He didn't actually have a confirmed reservation from Pago to Honolulu for that evening, but he managed to get a seat anyway and escape.
Even though this is a terrible picture the water near Sa'asa'ai, Savai'i really was that color. It would have shocked my socks off every time we drove by. Good thing I only ever wore flip-flops.
We checked out of Tanu Beach and headed for the ferry. When everything was up and running there was a ferry about every hour during the day. The ride between the islands took about an hour and cost about 60 Tala (about US$20) for us and the vehicle.
Looking back at Savai'i from 'Upolu. It was under all of those clouds.
The airport was open-air and was quite nice. It filled up with quite a few people when the Air New Zealand flights came and went.
Ahhhh. What else are you going to do on a hot afternoon...if you have any common sense? Naturally, that's not me in the picture.
Back in Apia at the tip of the finger of land that separated Apia Harbor from Vaiusu Bay, which was to the west of Apia, was the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Meteorology...as you can read on the sign below. The headquarters area was known as the observatory on maps.
Mulinu'u Point and the observatory from, well, Mulinu'u Point. The ocean was over my shoulder. There were a few buildings with offices and plenty of weather monitoring equipment.
Shaun, Johnny and Veli's office. My boxes.
Lunchtime meant it was time for a few games of dominos. Below is Malaefatu Leavasa, Johnny Ah Kau, Happy Valley Patu, Matau Eteuati, Falenuu Lolo, Asi Fui. Pronounce all of those five times fast. They were some of the people that worked in the various divisions.
Below was the road to the AFI site, Falealili Street, which turned into the Cross Island Road which was one of the three roads that crossed the island going north and south.
2014-08-03