Still alive!

 I can't sleep.  I learned I still had this blog and reread all the posts.  Here I am, making post seven years later.

Long story short. Had my heart broken in Samoa. To help mend it, my friend suggested we get totally dolled up and have fun, and he would introduce me to all his friends.  You ain't marrying anyone. Just have fun.  But he insisted he pick the "best" one for me. Bullshit, I immediately shouted back after a few drinks. R made his selection carefully and then introduced me to V.   V was hot and totally cut. Like 5% body fat.  I can't hang with that.... I love cooking and eating.  He probably subsists on protein shakes and bland chicken breast.  And V was totally quiet.  He just agreed with me on everything and so accommodating. Not my type at all. But like R said, you ain't marrying anyone. Have fun.

We have been together for 8 years, married for 6.... yeah... see where one night of being uninhibited could lead you: marriage, minivans, and mortgages.  They don't warn you about that!

I kid.  I kid.  Yes, Mr. Protein shakes and I are happily together with our little family.  Just another way moving to Samoa changed my life.  God gave me the partner I needed.  

ALOFAS!

Moody Weather in American Samoa

We are smack dab in the middle of the wet season here.
Here is a sample of the light rain...

No joke. This is the start of the light rain.  When it gets heavy, you can hear it and see it...it comes in waves and it beats down on the roof.

It sounds crazy the first time you experience it - you think the sky is falling!

Even though I just came back from Apia - I felt really ansy...I wish I could pinpoint the cause and give you a reason - but no...I am ansy as all heck.

So I decided to venture on the other side of the island for some sun...

It never ceases to amaze me how the weather can be soooo different from one part to the next...literally you will be driving in a downpour and then you turn the corner it is sunshine and rainbows.

HAH!

I did find some sunshine today on the east side.

My friend has a private beach and I can use it anytime!

Her family calls this Hollywood Rock.  When her uncle was little, he actually spray painted Hollywood on it.

You can see where some of the kids made hand prints.

And no you can't climb it... I tried until my friend told me one of her cousins fell and broke her leg...so I stopped.

I packed a small picnic...took my ukulele (an awesome christmas present from my parents) and a blanket.

I spent hours there...I wanted to watch the sunset but the mosquitoes were starting to eat me alive.

I ended the day with a long drive back home...cruising and eating the sweetest pear...

A very lazy Sunday indeed.

P.S.yes, those were my christmas lights on my balcony. and no i am not taking them down.

ghetto

i know.

Long Weekend is never long enough: Trip to Apia

It was totally a last minute decision.  My friend and I decided to spend the long weekend in Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa, and officially known as Independent Samoa.  It is a completely separate nation from American Samoa. It is composed of two great islands:  Upolo and Savai'i.  Its capitol is Apia, where I visited for a second time.

I originally went back in August and had soooooo much fun that I really didnt take a lot of pictures.  I was just GO GO GO the whole time, and loved/lived every second of it.

Now I realized I had just gone to California in November.  I had only been back in American Samoa for two months....but dagnabbit, I was already annoyed and itchy to get off the rock.

All I needed was an excuse...my friend was going back to escort her elderly grandmother.  She didn't even ask me.  I blurted out, I wanna come!  We both smiled and laughed.  I immediately booked my ticket.  Done!

Now that I knew I had something to look forward to for the weekend, I buried myself in my work.
I didn't want anything hanging over me this weekend!

We ate and chilled and ate and swam and ate and laughed and ate and shopped and ate again.
Yeah...no joke...we did.

If we had one more day, we would have ate and gotten massages and ate and got pedicures/manicures and ate and got haircuts.
Next time.

Our flight took off as planned.  On the way to Apia, we were greeted by a rainbow on a cloud right next to the plane.  Good omen.  (which came true as the weather was gorgeous the whole time we were there!)

Her father is known as the Taro King!  

Dinner ready and waiting for us.

Mmmm....homemade Oka....with lots of lime!

And fresh Samoan seaweed....not at all like what we see and eat on the mainland.

It is like caviar....little bursts of salty sea...loved it so much!

Of course...roasted pig!  So crispy and tender and the fat just melts!

And because grandma was with us, we got to eat fresh lobster.

The sauce was amazing...creamy coconut with curry spices...all slow cooked with

some of the lobster shells...it was heaven..

I normally dont eat rice but I made many exceptions that night

the rice just soaked up all the sauce to perfection!

There was a ton of other food...taro and plantains cooked in coconut cream and onions..

roasted chicken...fresh pan-fried fish fillets....so much food..

This is my first plate....first of MANY plates...he he he

We were basically in food comas until the morning. 

But we got our act together and spent most of the day at Lauli'i.

There are many beach fales there where you can rent by the night...

or just for day.

Gorgeous!

We had packed a good supply of sausage rolls, meat pies, chips, water, and soda!

Mmmm...darn...I really want a sausage roll now!

we ate and swam and ate and tanned and ate and floated...perfect day!

We also decided to visit another swimming hole...

The Piula Cave!

It is a freshwater pool filled with fish...there is a cave and a tunnel

where if you are willing and able

you can dive and pass and come out on the other side of the cave!

I was not willing nor able.

So we swam deep into the cave...

told scary stories and 

laughed so hard it echoed

The next day was more eating and shopping... I found a lot of good bargains for stuff I didn't need at all!

Ahh...vacation!

I really needed this weekend.  I have been slowly given more responsibilities at work.

I can handle it and I feel honored...but I have less time to do what I want...

I am trying NOT to be a workaholic but sometimes the work needs to be done and I HAVE to do it well 

because that is just how I am wired.

And now I feel refreshed and rejuvenated!

Can't wait to go back... her father asked me to cook a Filipino feast next time...I am sooo excited for that!

Hopefully, next time I can visit the other island:  Savai'i, where I can swim with the turtles!!!

Now...back to the grind!

Here Comes the Rain Again

The rain hasn't stopped for over a week and it is expected to continue through next week.
Oh sure...there is a break for an hour or two...sometimes the sun manages to burst through, especially in the morning.  But that is all to lull you into a false sense of security because the minute your ass steps outside without an umbrella you can bet you the deluge will start again and you will get soaked to your undies.

But I love it - sure, I can get cabin fever from time to time...in those cases, I walk to a neighbors house or brave a short drive to a friend's place and seek refuge there. But for the most part, I love listening and watching it rain.

There was a really powerful torrent this evening. I made an mp3. It is only a minute.  Listen to it if you have time.  But listen to it full volume - surround sound even better...

The rain is so fat that it plops.  And the wind is so strong that the rain plops sideways.
If you forget to close your windows, you can easily soak your furniture.

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas - Hiking Mount Alava

Merry Christmas!
I know that it has been a long time since I posted, but I have been slammed with work...a lot of new assignments.  As part of my New Year's resolutions, I will do my best to post at least once a week.

I usually feel down around this time of the year...
And I knew that the feeling would only grow worse because I am alone in American Samoa.
Now I know that I am not "alone" here because I am fortunate enough to have a handful of friends who would do anything for me.
But they all have their own spouses, children, and families.

For me, Christmas means love...means being surrounded by unconditional love...the kind of love you get from your family.
And this year - because I can't be with my family, I made the decision to do the things I love....

So this morning I woke up at 4:30AM and hiked Mount Alava from the trail at Fagasa.

 About 7 miles!  And that's not even counting the ups and downs!

 I overslept a bit and didn't begin until 615AM or so.

Right before I began, I found a nice branch at the trail head that I could use as a walking stick.

Thank goodness that I snatched it up because for a long time, I was just hiking up steep hills!

I kept myself busy smelling all the beautiful flowers...they are everywhere and make the rainforest smell so sweet... the closest scent I can think of is gardenias!

I also admired the views...this is a shot of Fagasa Bay on the north side of the island.

And I took in the all the lush foliage...there are some places in the rainforest so thick that little light breaks through!

 

The trail seemed to go up forever,,,there were a few flat breaks and some downhill action...but it was mostly onward and upward...after 2 hours, I felt defeated...after every bend, seemed another steep curve up!  I wanted to give up, but I knew I came too far.

When...finally at last, at the last turn...I saw it:  the tower

The TV antenna at the top of Mount Alava....the moment I saw it, I burst out laughing.

I became giddy and started running toward it

And guess what?  When I arrived at the top, out of breath...guess what greeted me?

Rusty stairs that were falling apart!  Yay!

I jabbed each step forcefully with my stick before stepping on it. There were definitely 3 steps that were just barely hanging on!

Slowly but surely, I made it to the top....where I feasted my eyes on...

 

where I started from...

I made my way around and found the fale at the summit

There is suppose to be a visitor book in the middle that you can sign.

It wasn't there!

Sooo...

I made due...I am NOT going to post the picture!

I was feeling very content with myself...

I soaked it all in...then sat down and called my family to wish them Merry Christmas

here is my view

Then I sat in the middle and ate the snacks I brought.  I closed my eyes for a long time and just listened.  I took many pictures! too many to load.

And when I satisfied, I started my descent...this time, I played music the whole way.

It took me less than 2 hours to get back to my car...

I was just as giddy to see it..

I was soaking wet from sweat head to toe

all my water gone...

all covered in mud and rain

and desperately had to use the bathroom.

I cruised back home, listening to D'Angelo...

I got home before 1230, showered, and proceed to cook pancit for our christmas BBQ

i had a lot of fun playing with all my friends children and meeting some people

and swimming of course

 that alone would have made it a good christmas

but tackling mount alava made it a christmas i will never forget!

P.S

I kid you not! Guess what was the last song that played on my shuffle before I reached my car!

Guess!

OK - give up!

You're welcome!

Programming Note: Cali Forn I A

I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali.
I'm going back to Cali
nah, I don't think so.

Going back to Cali. Stylin, profilin
Growlin, and smilin, while in the sun.

Whew...had to get that out of my system.
Yup, I'm going back to Cali...earlier than expected...but I have a family emergency that deserves my immediate attention.
I'll be super busy my first week, but after that I hope to hit all yall up.

Email me, fools!

And I leave you with this gem:

 

Update:

And this is why my plane got delayed...only in Samoa!

http://www.samoanews.com/?q=node/79022

Paddling for my Life!

Work is frustrating...that's all I will write about that....if you want details, please email me directly.
The months are just flying by.
But the days seem to drag on...especially when work is frustrating.

I know I experience island fever from time to time.
This island is about 20 miles by 5 miles...that's it.
I have literally driven from west tip to the east tip.
While in California, I could have happily stay in and watch a marathon of movies or shows on Netflix...I can't do that here...I am constantly restless.

One way I am relieving my stress is paddling.
Unfortunately, I don't have pictures or video of myself - because you get completely drenched!
But I found a video on youtube.

Check it out!

I do it every Monday and Friday night....it feels so wonderful to paddle away from the island, and just float out in the ocean.
The boat I currently use is not as long...it only fits 6 members...but it is still long and narrow.
Last night we capsized!  I wasn't scared or shocked.  I also had my life vest. The water was a bit choppy and the boat felt unbalanced...right when I realized how off balance we were, it seemed like everything slowed down and I saw every little detail..I heard my friend scream really slowly...I saw the girl in front of me slowly topple out and her legs up in the air.and I even thought to myself..."Yeah, this is happening."  I splashed into the water and quickly floated to the top.
In a blink of an eye, three of my team mates quickly flipped the boat back into place.
Other boats approached us and helped us empty all the water out of the boat.
Then the hard part.....how the hell am I going to pull myself OUT of the water and my ass UP and OVER the side.  I have absolutely no upper body strength and a sizable ass.

Thank GOD for my friend.
I swung my legs over and he literally grabbed my ass and pushed me over.
All the while I kept thinking to myself, Lord, I won't eat McDonalds anymore...
Once everyone was back in, the captain congratulated us for remaining calm, working fast, and working together.  We raced the other boats back to the island.  And I couldn't stop laughing.

By the time we reached the shore, the sun was beginning to set.  We cleaned and carried the boats.
The coach gave us a pep talk.  And my friend and I rinsed off all the sand and made the long, soggy trek back to my car.

Last night - I slept really well.

This morning...more BS at work...I have the urge to paddle again.