Thursday, March 12, 2009

Coming to America


Although technically I still live in America, I am returning to the mainland next week! For the first week I'll be in California: San Fran, interviewing candidates to be my replacement, and LA. Week two will be spent in Chicago, where I read it was 22 degrees today. Wow.

Monday, March 9, 2009

NOAA Observatory


On the far east end of the island is a NOAA observatory where the federal government does various weather studies and mind control experiments. It lies on top of a hill overlooking the ocean and besides looking like something from Lost, it has the best manicured lawn in the territory. I mean really impressive shrubbery.


A staircase led down the hill and onto the rocky point below.


The point provided nice views.



Also provided lots of big rocks to climb on.


Click on the photo and try to find the palagis among the rocks.




Looking back at the NOAA observatory hill.


After climbing around we cooled off at the village of Masefau.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Islands in the stream...

... that is what we are ... American Samoa is actually seven islands, I live on the big island of Tutuila and have visited only one other island, Ofu, during Thanksgiving. This weekend a group of us traveled the short distance to Aunu'u. It's visible from Tutuila (below) and can be reached by a 20 minute boat ride.

The first stop on our hike was quicksand lake. Below the shallow surface of the water is gen-u-ine quicksand. Prior to this weekend I didn't really believe in quicksand and thought it only existed in Atari games and movies. Here is Vojik contemplating the murky morass.

Testing out the quicksand, yes, you do sink


The best part of the hike were the tide pools


The waves made this side of the pools not safe for swimming.


Nature's jacuzzi, which provided a nice break after a few hours of hiking.


The group enjoying the view


Pieces of a shipwreck still sitting on the beach


After the hike we visited a shop in town for some cool drinks and were visited by some island children...


and their siblings.


The postcard-ready Aunu'u dock, where we waited for our ride home.


Motoring back to Tutuila, meditating on the complicated melancholy relationship of the American Samoa islands.