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Archive for 2010

Samoa – Rugby World Champions May 31

manu samoaNobody could sleep in Samoa last night.

Last night was the final in the IRB Sevens World Series which was won by Manu Samoa the national Samoan Rugby team.

Three games were played during the day in Edinburgh in Scotland. Samoa is on the other side of the world and the whole nation were sitting in front of the TV the whole night long waiting for the final game against Australia. Finally at 6 am the final game started and the Manu Samoa team trashed Australia with 41 – 14.

There were absolutely no way to sleep as the Samoan people could not calm down their feelings and joy when Manu Samoa got closer to win the Sevens final.

The blast came about 6.30 am when it finally was over. The island was rocking…

Small nation with a great team.

It is unbelievable, how a tiny little island nation in the South Pacific with only 180 thousand people could win a world series like the Sevens. Maybe it has something to do with the Samoan people’s natural playfulness and joy they express in almost any game and sport.

The prime minister of Samoa has already promised the boys a financial reward for their achievement plus an extra national holiday for all Samoan people to celebrate the event.

Insider Secrets To Cheap Flights – Downsized Agent Reveals All.

Keep getting the news from Samoa in our Free Newsletter

http://www.samoa-experience.net

Mats Loefkvist

Hotels Samoa

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Do You Want To Exchange Homes? May 26

accommodation samoaTime for new accommodation ideas!

Samoa is not a big place with lots of different accommodation types. We are still in the beginning of developing a quality tourist destination.

Some of the bigger hotel has got a well organized infra structure with their own black and grey water cleaning systems. Samoa in general still has a long way to go to get all areas of service working properly.

Some tourists are telling us that they enjoy the old way of doing things, which is fine. The reality is that not every old practice is environmentally friendly. As the progress is slow we will not change too quick anyway.

We get requests from people that are interested in home exchange, which I think is a great idea. I use your home and you use mine…

This is a simple idea and it works really well. You save all hotel expenses and just need to save up for the travel and food and drinks. Many families also let people use their cars and bicycles.

So far this is a new idea in Samoa and very few people have used the system. We hope that we have an opportunity to change this which could be a great experience for both Samoans and people from outside.

I am not sure though, that everyone would exchange their nice house for a small Samoan Fale?

You can go to almost every country in the world and use this system. have a look at how it works and save yourself all the hotel costs on your next trip.


Keep getting the news from Samoa in our Free Newsletter

http://www.samoa-experience.net

Mats Loefkvist

Hotels Samoa

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Hot but not sticky… May 19

samoa accommodationSmall climate change.

This is the time of the year when a small shift is taking place in the samoan climate.

Between November and April the humidity is higher and  constant sweating belongs to the daily life. It can be very uncomfortable when coming directly from a cooler country not being used to having a semi wet T-shirt all day long.

It is understandable that most visitors like to spend most of their time with their feet in the water on the beach or by the hotel pool.

Cooler times ahead.

During the months between May and October we usually have a nice strong breeze blowing all day long which makes it cooler and more comfortable. This is also the time when most tourists are coming to the island, filling up our hotel rooms.

As usual, when more tourists are arriving the prices will also go up. This year has been different from others because of the previous tsunami which scared off lots of booked guests. Today the situation is slowly getting back to what is was before although the number of accommodation available have decreased.

Many of the smaller operators are not bothering any more to continue serving the tourists.

The opportunity season.

It is good to know that lots of great accommodation deals are available between November and April and if this is the time for your holiday, don’t hesitate to come to Samoa. Everyone will have extra time for just you and you will probably have a very profound experience.

Although it is great to stay at the beach, you should give Apia a few days and explore the many small but very good restaurants, the market and the police band marching every morning to raise the flag in front of the government building.

If you haven’t been to Samoa yet, you should know that we are only 4 hours away from New Zealand and 5 hours from Australia. Both destinations have direct flights. If you are coming from Europe and going to New Zealand you can make a stop in Samoa without extra costs. Air New Zealand has a direct flight from Los Angeles.

Mats Loefkvist

Book hotels Samoa and accommodation directly on our site www.samoa-experience.com

Blog http://www.samoa-experience.net

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Samoan Raw Tuna OKA May 06

It is time to enjoy some great Samoan food that you will be able to prepare wherever you are in the world.

This is both healthy and delicious. In Samoa, South Pacific the OKA is usually made by every family for the Sunday feast. It is made in the following way:

* Cut the raw tuna in small thumb nail size pieces and put in a bowl.
* Cut cucumber, tomatoes and onion into very fine pieces and add it to the bowl.
* Add fresh coconut cream (or from can) sauce together with some lemon juice.
* Add salt and pepper and some chili sauce if you like it hot.

Mix it all together and serve in small cups or bowls.
Leave it in the fridge for some time if you prefer it cold.

For More Healthy Cooking Click Here!

Mats Loefkvist   http://www.samoa-experience.com

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Health is wealth, without health nothing matters… Apr 12

Join Us in Natural Medicine!

As you might know, I am passionate about traditional cultures and their practices. Samoa where I live is certainly one of the more genuine cultures when it comes to using the old way of healing.

You still find lots of traditional healers, usually specialized in a certain illness or problem. You have bone healers, back healers, spiritual healers, skin healers and many more.

The Samoan People usually go to a traditional healer first and if it doesn’t work they will try a normal doctor. If the normal doctor can’t do anything he will send the person back to the traditional healer.

I have been lucky to have the experience from not only the Samoan culture, also the native Hawaiian Culture, the American Indians, the Aboriginal in Australia and the Maoris in New Zealand.

For some time I have been working on creating a newsletter focusing on Alternative Medicine with lots of great information about natural products used in both the western world and other traditional cultures.

I want to give you an opportunity to tap into a more healthy and natural life showing you ways and information that you might not be aware of.

I will also show you how it is done in Samoa and other cultures which you can learn from and practice in a similar way in your own country.

Are you ready for a healthier life??

SIGN UP for this FREE Newsletter!
To your health
Mats Loefkvist

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What is Samoan Nonu? Mar 29

It doesn’t smell good and it doesn’t taste good but very few natural products can beat it in curing your health problems, building up your immune system and boost your energy level.

1000s of years in Polynesia

Nonu (or Noni) is an evergreen shrub or bush that can grow to a height of between 3 – 7 meters. The fruit looks like a green grenade which is covered with reddish brown seed pits that give it a lumpy texture. The fruit starts green, turns yellow, ripens to whiteness & falls from the tree.

The tree bears fruit all year round. Once one fruit is picked, a new one will take its place after only 4 weeks!

Nonu originated in India, it now grows in various parts of the world such as SAMOA, French Polynesia, Hawaii, and other pacific island countries. It grows best in mineral-rich volcanic ash and Samoa is a country of 2 main island settled on volcanic ash ground.

The earliest reference to nonu being used as a medicine date back several thousand years to Indiaan Sanskrit writings when it was used in Ayurvedic medicine. Nonu is used in the native medicinal systems of the Pacific islands and used in Samoa for 2000+ years. Parts used include the bark, leaves, flowers, fruit & seeds.
Nonu was, and still is, prescribed by the native Polynesian healers to treat pain, inflammation, burns, skin problems, intestinal worms, nausea, food poisoning, fevers, bowel & menstrual problems, insect & animal bites etc.

Noni in the western world

Although the noni plant has only recently gained attention in the west, other cultures have been using noni juice and other noni products for hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of years. Throughout Asia, Polynesia, India, South America, various Pacific islands and other areas, the noni plant has been used to treat ailments as diverse as fever, eyesight problems, skin problems, respiratory issues and digestive difficulties, amongst others. Such wide-ranging applications are part of the reason for noni juice’s popularity in the west today, and also for the scepticism with which it is regarded by many people, who often see such claims as over-inflated. Still, sceptics aside, the fact remains that many people, both today and throughout history, appear to benefited greatly by using noni juice and other noni products.

International Research

In the past 50 years, scientists and researchers around the world have begun to better understand how the compounds found in Nonu fruit work. The majority of the published research has come from researchers at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine, as well as other laboratories in France and Japan.

Conditions Reported to Respond to Nonu or Noni.

Number of Persons who took Nonu with the below mentioned condition – and the % of people that claimed it helped

Allergy – 2659 – 87%

Arthritis - 1394 – 79%

Asthma – 6714 - 71%

CFIDS  Fibromyalgia – 2693 – 79%

Depression  lessened symptoms -  1258 -   78%

Diabetes Types 1 and 2 – 4634 – 83%

Digestion – 2641 – 90%

Energy  increased -  13331 – 90%

Heart disease - 1796 - 77%

High Blood pressure decreased - 1554 - 85%

Immune System - 3485 - 78%

Kidney Disease – 3134 - 66%

Menstruation - 3161 - 80%

Mental Acuity- increased alertness - 4615 - 73%

Multiple Sclerosis - 20 - 50%

Muscle increased body-building - 1006 - 69%

Obesity- lost some excess weight - 4599 - 72%

Pain- including headaches - 5622 - 87%

Respiratory Problems - 3068 - 71%

Skin and Hair Problems - 813 - 79%

Sleep improved - 1687 - 74%

Smoking stopped - 729 - 56%

Stress coped better - 5616 - 73%

Stroke - 1500 - 53%

0. Well-being- felt better - 6564 - 80%

As I am living in Samoa where Nonu plays a big roll in peoples lives (and in my own) I will continue to report on how we use it and it’s effects.

Please give us your comments on the Nonu….


Mats Loefkvist    www.samoa-experience.com

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Casino in Samoa! Mar 19

“Samoa is founded on God?”

Since Samoa become independent it has been founded on God. Today this foundation is rocking and very unstable. The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has clubbed through a new legislation to allow 2 Casino Licenses in Samoa.

casino in samoaSamoans not worthy!

The prime minister have decided to only allow people to gamble that has a foreign passport. This means that he consider his own people not good enough to take care of their money and all the risks connected to gambling.

The talk is about the filthy rich people that will come and spend their money in the casinos as they are too bored with beaches and culture and need something else to do.

This sounds like really clever strategies to build a solid future for a country???

What about Samoans with dual citizenship?

It is well known that many Samoans have dual citizenship which will allow them to gamble in Samoa. The prime minister has no problem with that as he means that they need a break before they go home again. The fact is that many or most people in higher positions in Samoa have dual citizenship although they are not living abroad.

I guess that we will have two classes of people in Samoa in the future:

  • The Normal People and
  • The Casino People

What else will follow the casino future?  What about drugs and prostitution?

I hope they will build the casino on a big rock so people can jump effortlessly after loosing all their money. This is actually a good business opportunity for the funeral services in Samoa.

Mats Loefkvist   www.samoa-experience.com

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Warwick Samoa Resort Coming Soon Mar 07

Plans have changed!

The Warwick Samoa Resort should have been open long time ago but because of economical recession and the tsunami disaster the plans have been revised.

The location of accommodation and other public areas have been relocated to make it safe for any future natural disaster that could happen.

Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa

Two step building plan.

The 4-5 star resort will be built in two steps. The first step will include 100 rooms, restaurants and conference facilities. The second step will add another 50-70 rooms to accommodate for up to 400 people.

First guests arriving 2013

If everything works according to the plan, the building will start at the end of 2010 and the first guests should arrive already in 2013. The resort is much hoping for a good cooperation with the Samoan government to get all the necessary infrastructure in place.

The Warwick Samoa Resort will be the 38th property for the Warwick group which today counts to one of the biggest hotel chains in the world.

Samoa has a great future potential as a tourist destination regarding to the Senior Vice President Mrs Tammie Tam.

Mats Loefkvist   www.samoa-experience.com

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Lupe’s Cocktail Bar & Restaurant – We Can’t Wait! Feb 28
We can’t wait!

This is all about the willpower of a young entrepreneurial family that lost their restaurant on the beach when it was hit by the tsunami wave on September 29, 2009.

Sala and Nika had a good going small restaurant in between two big luxury resorts. The guests from both Sinalei Reef Resort and Coconuts Beach Resort all loved the possibility to have a beer and some food together with the locals in an easy and friendly atmosphere just a few steps away.

When the restaurant was flushed away by the tsunami wave and the owner didn’t know what to do, the staff insisted to start building the restaurant up again. They told Sala and Nika – We Can’t Wait!

Without any payments they worked for 3 weeks collecting timber and old parts that could still be used until a new version of the restaurant was created.

Help for the ones that help themselves!

When other people saw what was happening they joined the team and all kinds of building material and money appeared. It was a true Miracle! – Nika said.

Every day was an improvement and very soon people from Apia, 20 km away got to know that one restaurant on the affected south coast was open again. A new sign was placed by the main road leading visitors to the little oasis with cool beers, cocktails and food at the beach.

Prepared for the next wave.

Sala and Nika and their staff have now had time to prepare for the next wave, which hopefully should be tourists from the bigger resorts, that soon will be ready to open after their reconstruction work.

If their entrepreneurial mind was not set to get things started and moving in the beginning they would never be in this great situation of creating prosperity and wealth for themselves, their staff and for the entire village of Siumu.

Well Done!!


Mats Loefkvist   www.samoa-experience.com

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Salani Surf Resort – Will it ever be back again? Feb 22
12 years of business washed away!

Salani Surf Resort was a beautifully designed small resort in Samoan style. Totally integrated in the Salani village the resort was operated by surfers for surfers. Exactly where the river meets the sea become the perfect location for accessing the great waves just a short boat ride away.

The nature of a surfer is to be up early in the morning to watch the waves and plan for the perfect time to get out to sea. This habit probably saved all the guests and staff at Salani in the morning on September 29, 2009. The knowledge of earth quakes creating tsunamis plus that the water disappeared from the lagoon was signs enough for the manager Nick to quickly evacuate all people from the resort up to higher grounds.

In just minutes 12 years of work was washed away by the huge tsunami wave that followed. The place was completely clean except for one house that for some reason was spared.

Not sure about the future.

There are hopes to have Salani surf resort up and running again after a year or more but this is still only hopes. It is all depending on insurance payments and the willingness to continue by the owners.

Salani Surf resort was always very concerned about safety and good practices for their surfing guests which was very valuable for the reputation of Samoa as a good surfing destination. It would be very welcomed to have Salani Surf Resort continuing their work in this area which certainly would make a difference in promoting Samoa worldwide as a safe and caring destination.

Listen to Nick when he explains what happened on September 29, 2009

Mats Loefkvist   www.samoa-experience.com

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