We were keen to explore more of the island, so decided to hire a car for a couple of days. Driving on the Samoan island of Upolu was very straightforward and the few roads are of good quality, so we were able to  see most of the island and its beautiful South coast.   Having visited the Cultural Village in Apia a few days earlier, we soon appreciated that once you leave the town the traditional Samoan culture is very much how they live.  All of the officials who visited the boat to complete the checking-in procedures (i.e. Quarantine, Health & Customs) as well as police officers around the town were very smartly dressed in their uniforms of colourful shirt and lavalava (sarong).  Beyond Apia, virtually all of the men were wearing the lavalava, including the schoolboys.

After our guided tour of Robert Louis Stevenson’s House, we hiked up to his tomb:

The To Sua Ocean Trench and other photos along the South Coast: