Western Samoa
The typical house has a open platform for family activities
With the exception of housing in Apia where there are some Western-style houses, most homes are oval-shaped open-sided structures on raised platforms; they are often made from a mixture of traditional and imported building materials. Rural dwellers are largely self-sufficient, relying on subsistence crops and marine fish for food. Western-style dress is common in Apia, but more traditional clothing prevails in rural areas. This includes the lava lava (wraparound skirt) for men and the puletasi (long dress) for women.
church
the interior
relaxing at the church
Religion dominates much of Samoan life. Almost everyone wears white clothing on Sundays in observance of the Christian day of rest. Many villages have a 10- to 20-minute evening prayer curfew and churches organize recreational and social opportunities for their members. People are conservative and take pride in maintaining fa‘a Samoa (the Samoan way of life). These traditions include preserving the role of the matai, a leader chosen to head an aiga (extended family of generally 20 to 30 members). The matai, who is usually a man, directs the extended family’s economic, social, and political affairs.
Text from Microsoft Encarta
Inside of typical house
school girls
Market in Apia
baskets
Typical market baskets even carried by men
More Photos from Apia, the capital
Competitive sports such as rugby and cricket are popular
women playing cricket
being cheered on by the spectators
the Polynesian show at Aggie Grey's hotel
Photos of Savai'i, the largest island in Samoa
Other Pacific Islands
In the Pacific are
many islands with very diverse peoples and cultures.
Many have been
largely untouched by Western civilization.
To visit these is a unique
experience.
The Indonesian Island of Komodo
The Indonesian Islands of MOLUKA
The Indonesian Island of Selayar
The Indonesian Island of Sulawesi