We finished packing after work and left for the airport at 9.00pm to catch the flight to Samoa. The flight was at 05.00 am Saturday morning. We ‘blagged’ our way into the Air New Zealand Gold Card lounge and the time passed very quickly before the 4 hr flight to Samoa. Sometime in the early hours we crossed the international date-line which propelled us back into Friday. We landed at Apia airport at around 5am (still Friday)We were met by representatives from the hotel with garlands of flowers to wear and Samoan tribal dancing. Possibly the best welcome I have received at any airport.

Samoa main revenue earners are  Tuna fish canning and tourism. Its pacific neighbours appear to be vying for influence and seem to be trying to out do one another in terms of generosity (Australia is building a new Police HQ and Japan just paid for Samoa to host the Pacific Games).

Our 45min drive to the Hotel in the capital city Apia was a real eye-opener. The main road from the airport to Apia is the equivalent of a minor road in the UK. We passed through 20 or so villages along the way. Religion (Christianity) appears to be the lynch pin of island society with prayers apparently every night at 18.00 and absolutely no work on Sundays.

There are literally churches, theology colleges or church schools every mile on the journey. These buildings are the ‘prestige’ buildings while other building in the villages are a collection of colourfully painted constructions which are essentially a wooden platform with a tin roof and rattan blinds which are raised during the day to allow for a cooling breeze.

If you overlay this picture with lush tropical vegetation, buses which are vividly painted in multi colours you can begin to understand the incredible contrast with Auckland.

The hotel (Aggie  Greys) is right in the centra of Apia and is great – it has a colonial feel, Marlon Brando stayed here at the hight of his career and the hotel hosted American bomber crews taking a break from service during the 2nd World War.

There are loads and loads of helpful staff (we invite a group of them to watch South Africa v England in our room when they were supposed to be working) and the hotel has a great pool.

We spent the morning swimming in the pool. In the afternoon I wandered into ‘City’ centre (Apia’s population is 35000 so its comparable to Brecon in size). I need to get my driving licence validate by the Ministry of Transport before I could hire a car. The Ministry of Transport is an interesting place, I have never seen so many lever arched files stacked on shelves and stacked on the floor. Thanks goodness they didn’t have to look anything up as part of the process – they’d never have found it. Twelve Tala (Samoan dollars) later (£2.40) and my driving licence was validated. Carbon copy paper and rubber stamps are king in this country.

Apia is a very uncomplicated place apart from one McDonalds and a couple of NZ and Aussie banks there is nothing Western. More swimming at the pool and then we headed to a wooden shack that sells pizzas for supper. Saw shoals of flying fish on the way. On Saturday we got up at 02.00am to watch Wales v Australia. Wales lacked any intensity on a day made for making a real statement. We now face the prospect of losing heavily to South Africa rather than pushing England all the way. Went back to sleep at 04.00 am.

This is going to be a great break !!