Samoa

Had an absolute heart drop last night.
Went to check In online and got all the way until the end before it asked for our visa number and it was compulsory to fill in and I was like omfg.
Do I need one to transit in Fiji??? or have I misunderstood Samoan requirements???
Quick search indicated no but I couldn’t check in without it so this morning we had to arrive 3 hours early because check in was only open for 1 hour and then closed 2 hours before flight which is less wriggle time than usual.
Checked in with a person and no visa needed PHEW!
We went to a cafe which had a robot being all the food to the table.
I ordered with a person rather than the QR code but I bet there was an option to tip and it’s a big no from me on a regular day but if I’m ordering myself it’s now it’s being delivered by a robot. The audacity. 🤣
Robot was cool though.
I had a DELICIOUS biscoff frappe. Going to have this flavor more often.
Getting through security was easy enough but we both commented it’s a weird airport.
The 3 hours passed quick enough and we boarded. Paid an extra $20 each for an exit row sway which was amazing and then we had no one not to us as an added bonus. Yewww.
I slept on my tray a lot of the way and Will listened to a podcast.
Very bumpy on the way down but we made it and are currently in Nadi for a 5 hour layover.
It was such a tropical open space when we landed and then in the foyer where 3 men with ukuleles. Nice vibes.
Not many shops inside but has a Burger King so we currently just chilling.
Time dragged lol.
There weren’t many flights out (only 3. One to Melbourne, one to LA and one to Apia)
So airport was empty most of the time. Eventually a hoard of Americans arrived.
Americans that venture outside their country are fab. I like listening into their conversations. Always so animated and enthused.
Book store/newsagents was crap.
Had dodgy wifi but at least it had.
Finally boarded at 9:30pm.
Plane wasn’t full and we had another win - no one in our exit row with us wooo!
I do find this strange. I genuinely would have thought it was the only section of the plane that ha to have people to help if needed.
Not complaining.
Flight was smoother than the first one and we landed on time.
They ran out of immigration cards on the plane so most people had to do it on arrivals which I think slowed customs downs alotttt.
Got through though so YAY TO US AND OUR 50th country!
Our walk from the plane to customs was so slow and I was like *eye roll* we are on island time already so I muttered to Will we are moving at a blistering speed aren’t we and he said SO LOUDLY
“She’s blind you dickhead” which he found hysterical but I found so embarrassing cause I felt paranoid everyone was looking at me lol. Not my fault I can’t see over the tops of heads like he can 🙄🤣

Got our bags and headed, handed in our arrival card, scanned our bags for quarantine then found our driver which I was relieved to find. I always gets anxious when I book so far in advance that a new got lost along the way and no one will turn up.

My thoughts on the drive even though it was now 2am and very dark.

It has Kenya vibes. It’s like Africa with more palm trees. Especially the corner stores.
So many churches!! Our driver blasted Jesus music our whole drive which I loved. Especially cause he didn’t give us a choice he just did it.
There is consistent misconception when we are overseas that we value speed over safety. Our drive could absolutely have been worse but still stressed me out.
Please get off your phone, please slow down for the wild boar, please don’t play chicken with oncoming cars, just move over and please don’t go so fast. 😫
Don’t die. On arrival he got our key and took us to our room. We were so awkward because we had no internet and didn’t know if we were meant to tip or not and I felt like the dude lingered like he might have been waiting.. unsure. Still without reliable internet..
Past 3 am when we finally got into bed and both fell asleep immediately.Read more