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Samoa, Heart of Polynesia
The islands of Samoa are emerging as an exciting new South Pacific travel destination between Hawaii and New Zealand. This "Heart of Polynesia" is politically split into two distinct entities 80 miles apart. The country Samoa is a former German colony, captured by New Zealand in 1914 and granted independence in 1962. In 1997 the name was changed from Western Samoa to Samoa.American Samoa is the only U.S. territory south of the equator. Annexed by the United States for use as a naval base in 1900, the territory no longer has any military significance. Instead, Pago Pago currently hosts the StarKist and "Chicken of the Sea" tuna canneries, making it the most important commercial fishing port under the American flag.The Samoan environment is tropically lush, with green volcanic peaks plunging to brilliant coral reefs, an ecotourism paradise still unspoiled by mass tourism. Visitors often stay in open Samoan beach houses called fale (pronounced FAH-lay) and adopt the laidback local lifestyle. Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, surfing, deep sea fishing, and hiking opportunities are all close at hand.Samoan culture is alive and strong, and local traditions can add another fascinating layer to your travel experience. Most Samoans are subsistence farmers who reside in small villages governed by chiefs (matai). The egalitarian ideals of this communal society place loyalty to family and religion above all. Visitors can sample this culture at the weekly "fiafia" island night dance shows staged at most of the larger hotels and beach resorts. Buffets of authentic Samoan dishes are an essential part of these events.
Samoa's climate is sultry, alternately sunny and rainy, but always hot and humid. Cooling sea breezes make the shoreline the best place to be yearround. The nicest months weatherwise are May to September, "winter" south of the equator. The rainy season runs from November to April, with increasingly intense hurricanes sweeping in due to global warming. Yet you can get long spells of bright sunny weather even during the "rainy" season, and Samoa's excellent Vailima beer (created by German brewmasters) tastes best at this time of year.Most visitors spend their time in independent Samoa, which is considerably bigger and less expensive than American Samoa. However the rugged scenic beauty of Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa, should not be missed. In recent years some of the most strikingly beautiful parts of the territory have been incorporated into American Samoa National Park. There's great hiking on Tutuila and wonderful snorkeling on Ofu in the seldom visited Manua Group.Traditional Samoan culture is largely based on oratory, and it's no accident that several literary legends originated here. Robert Louis Stevenson spent the last five years of his life in Samoa and is buried on a hilltop above Apia, the capital. His mansion is now a museum dedicated to the author. Somerset Maugham's short story "Rain" about Sadie Thompson and the repressed missionary thrown together in a guesthouse at Pago Pago, American Samoa, has been adapted by Hollywood several times. The original guesthouse still exists, now an upscale restaurant and inn. In "Tales of the South Pacific," James A. Michener based the prototype of his character Bloody Mary on an Apia hotelkeeper named Aggie Grey, whose family still operates Samoa's largest resorts. Michener's book was later made into the musical "South Pacific."Getting to Samoa is easy with direct flights from Hawaii and Los Angeles on Hawaiian Airlines, Polynesian Airlines, and Air New Zealand. Local ferries and small commuter planes ply frequently between the islands, and getting around by public bus or rental car is no challenge. Visas are not required by most visitors for entry to either Samoa, although a passport and onward plane ticket are mandatory. For a selection of travel photos of the Samoas visit http://www.pacific-pictures.com/. A collection of maps of Samoa are on http://www.mapsouthpacific.com/samoa/
About the Author
David Stanley is the author of Moon Handbooks South Pacific http://www.southpacific.org/pacific.html which has a chapter on Samoa. Stanley's online guide to Samoa may be perused at
http://www.southpacific.org/text/upolu.html
and his Samoa travel photos are at
http://www.pacific-pictures.com/samoa/
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, so long as the byline and resource box are included. Please do not use this article without the byline and resource box. Many thanks!
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Why does Little League Baseball refed to Taiwan as "Chinese Taipei?"?
I just finished watching the Little League world series, and the team representing Asia Pacific was referred to as Chinese Taipei. Yet many of the parents in the stands wore red t-shirts with the word "Taiwan" printed above their country's flag. I've always known this country as Taiwan. When did this change, and why? Also, do we (USA) have any armed forced stationed on the island?
Thanks,
USA does not have any armed forces stationed in Taiwan, but per the Taiwan Relations Act signed in 1979, the USA is bound to defend Taiwan if they are attacked.
Taiwan is required to use the name "Chinese Taipei" for sporting events like the Olympics. Right after the communist revolution in China (1949), most countries recognized the Republic of China (which was on Taiwan) as the legitimate government of China. Taiwan competed as Republic of China, while communist China did not participate in sports internationally.
In 1976, Canada refused to let Taiwan athletes to enter the country because they had switched their diplomatic relationship to communist China (People's Rep of China) and would not allow Taiwan to compete as Republic of China. In 1979, in the Nagoya Resolution, the IOC decided that communist China (PRC) would compete as China. Taiwan would compete as Chinese Taipei and use a special flag.
So if you look at official Olympic stuff, it will say Chinese Taipei, though many news organizations will simply put Taiwan.
The real irony, though, is that though Little League officially uses "Chinese Taipei", they allow the Taiwan (Republic of China flag) and they allow their anthem. Surprised China (PRC) has not complained yet!
Everyone knows this country as Taiwan, except for the government in China (who insists the island is a province of China) and technically the Kuomingtang (one of the political parties in Taiwan - who fled China after losing in 1949) who refer to the island and all of China collectively as Republic of China. (Well, officially most countries don't recognize Taiwan at all, but unofficially, everyone does).
It's complicated!