Each house in Samoa seemed to have an outside structure – covered but no walls. Thomas – our driver and guide – explained that these are called “fale tales”. These are usually used for family meetings and other occasions. In Samoa, multiple extended family members live in the same house or next to each other.

The trees looked like they were digging in their heels and bent squarely into the wind to take it on

The lush greenery reminded us of the rainfall in the rainforests of Costa Rica.

Disturbingly, there is sargasso seaweed all over.