The South Pacific is a unique place. It's literally in the middle of nowhere. Many people visit islands like Fiji, Bora Bora and Tahiti, but there are countless other islands in this region as well. I wanted to go somewhere unique that had not been commercialized, so I narrowed my selection process down to the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga. Each island had something different to offer, but I essentially let my burning desire to visit To Sua Trench overrule swimming with humpback whales in Tonga.
If I had to summarize our trip to Samoa, I would definitely refer to it as a learning experience. International traveling is not always as glamorous as it's perceived. Sometimes you can book a wallet-friendly 5 star hotel with an ocean front view and other times you can get a solar powered bungalow in the rain forest with no hot water, no wifi and a 1 ft mutant centipede. Do y'all remember the Chilligan's Island episode of Martin? I've got a similar story to the "puppy" scene. Despite the challenges I faced, I'm grateful for the experience. Life in Samoa is simple and their culture is fascinating. I came home with a new sense of gratitude and inspired to live more authentically.
