The day trip headed to the east end of island.  First stop was this waterfall.

Second stop, still heading east, was this iconic beach. 

Beaches on Samoa are privately owned and you pay a small fee to use them.  Plus another fee if you wish to use a fale (a covered platform open to breezes but sheltered from the sun).  Fale are everywhere, often with Samoans sitting & socializing.  Traditionally, people slept in them on woven mats.

At our third stop, we paid the fee & took time for a long walk along their beach, ending at this sheltered cove.

Final stop was the ‘trench’.  Actually more like a sinkhole albeit it’s actually a lava tube which has partially collapsed.  The water is a mix of fresh & ocean water.  Cool & refreshing.  Definitely took my time going down the ladder though—in bare feet of course…  (Note the fale in the distance.)   

We then rented a small car and headed out to explore on our own.  I was intrigued by all the flags of various commonwealth countries lining the roads.  Hopped out in a drizzle to photograph this row with flags representing many different countries.

Photo of larger fale which are used for family gatherings.  Similar-sized ones everywhere.

Stopped for a late lunch at a small resort further west than ours.  Their fale, adjacent to the bar, has amazing views of the rocky shoreline.

View along the beach looking the east from the fale.

 View looking to the west.  The sign posted on the outcrop warns of strong currents.

Um.  Okay.  We’d had a long day exploring the west coast of the island, timing our day so as to drive back to our lodging before sunset.  Not wanting to navigate the narrow & bumpy roads in the dark.  With the added challenge of driving on the left (Samoa changed from right to left in 2009—must have been a fun couple years as locals adjusted…. ). 

Heading back on a cross-island road—the road got extra bumpy.  Flat tire!  We knew where the spare was, but it took a bit to find the tiny jack.  Lugs nuts rusted on…  This kind Samoan stopped to help.  Told my spouse:  ‘Go stand over there brother so you don’t get run over…‘  And finished swapping out the tire.  He lives in New Zealand and had just flown home to visit his folks.  Note his sarong [lava lava].  Very common.