Samoa Survivor (video/slideshow)

Survivor Samoa Or How did I fall on my Head and other survivor stories at Virgin Cove.

Leaving Los Angeles for a summer of sun in Samoa and the South Pacific, I had no idea of the Survivor Stories that would unfold so quickly. It took us nearly 3 days just to get there as we had a 15 hour layover in Fiji and after landing, I could tell George was exhausted. We’d left Los Angeles Wednesday near midnight and flew 10 hours to arrive on Friday July 1st in Nadi, Fiji.

For our all-day Fiji layover, we took a thirty-minute ride on the “>Find more photos like this on EveryJew.com

Virgin Cove is a lovely spot but arriving at night after days of travel, our fale looked as it was a large empty oval with a piece of foam on the floor and a mosquito net and palm-frond sides. I decided we could think more about the room after sleeping and we were too tired and jet-lagged to do anything but sleep that night.  Upon completing a journey of 100 steps to the bathroom, we could see the gorgeous azure seas and could not wait to explore the calm waters for snorkeling. There were palm trees lining the dirt path and we could see the other fales. George thought they were closer to the water but we were closer to the bathroom. After a breakfast with eggs (included in our 144T a night price, $70USD—although now you do have to pay extra for the eggs), we were ready to snorkel. Our new Aussie friends thought the snorkeling was great; our vote—fair. 

After our day by the sea, we indulged in a buffet dinner of many nasty inedible delicacies like baby octopus, squid ink pasta, baby suckling pig roasted, and things I can eat but would have far too much of over the summer – like taro root and fresh fish (my favorite), and chicken with rice, a combo that came back to haunt me. With dinner consumed we attended a fiafia (traditional dancing and fire show) and later went to sleep on our mat.

Around 1:30am I started my first of my journeys to the common bathroom. Over an hour of painful cramps and diarrhea was in store for me but I was shocked when I woke up on the ground. I had fainted at the edge of the steps and so I regained consciousness, scraped and bruised on both arms and chin. I guess when I needed to go to the bathroom again and again I should have woken George, especially after falling down but I was so stunned that I ended up face-planted on the ground, I wasn’t thinking clearly. Back in our room I lay on the mat, moaning. George woke up and asked what was wrong. After my telling my tale of woe, he offered to help. Because of his concern and despite the many explosions earlier on, I was finally able to go rest.

The next day, after noticing more war wounds from my experience, I said, “I need Horatio,” which inspired a long discussion of CSI with another group of new Aussie friends. It turned out that many who had the chicken at dinner had a long and difficult night!

But I survived and was well enough to eat breakfast. I was surprised that I could eat at all after my night of adventure. I did enjoy the eggs, hot toast, and fresh fruit. Finally, sleeping on the ground wasn’t too bad and hotel’s location in Upulo was lovely. We had many great walks and fresh fish meals. Our Samoan summer had begun with a good start of surviving and thriving.

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