More Pics - Savaii - Day and Night Snorkel

Rain on the water

Queen Fish

Coral at Night(See following Day Coral)

Me and Bucket-cam

Moon on water - Stevensons Beach in front of our Suite

More Pics - Savaii

Fautassi Race with Traditional Oars (Part of the Teulia Festival) - Digicel Won again (Green Boat nearest from Don Basco College, this year with a male cox/rudder person)


Stranded container ship - Tugs keeping her steady for 6 days towing - Wreck of Fishing Boat just seen on horizon - Fautassi in training

Road Switch - Spinal Board at intersection - INTERESTING First Aid assortment

Mulifanua Wharf Eary Morning

Coitus prolonged

Bus(before change) Catholic Church on Savaii

Sina and the eel - Stevensons Entertainment Stage

Scuba diving with Dive Savaii
You can't see me

Follow the Yellow Fish Road

Coral

Light Hole in the reef

Wall of Clowns

Flavai and me

Dive Group on Dive Savaii Barge (Soon to have two new 40HP Outboards)

Juno Wreck and diver

Juno Wreck and fish

Turtle about to eat - Jaws wide open

Electric Anomoine - You can see the electric current arcing

Blue Christmas Tree on a Brain Coral

F's fingers and turtle


Turtle Savaii

Wallowing pig

Barge

Spray and we're still inside the reef entrance - portents of waves and spray to come

SPA Awards Night - 12AUG09

On Wednesday evening I accompanied F to the Samoa Ports Authority Awards who were also celebrating 10 years of shipping and related services to Samoa. More story will follow but for the table next to ours here are their photos -

Hash Run 1475 (See following post for pics)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Hash Trash - Run 1475

Your official scribe is away so you are stuck with the incomplete scrambled false memories of Mr. Whippy.

Slippery, Susanne & Kiwi hosted Monday’s run at Slippery’s residence in Vaivase. There was limited parking space, but with creative parking we made do. Several were dressed in Christmas attire as per the theme and some completely forgot i.e. Mr. Whippy. The run started about 15 minutes late. The run started well but soon came to a screeching halt with everyone trying to find the trail that leads out of the Vaivase ravine. After 20 minutes or so, the troops gave up and made their own trail, eventually circling back on home. Some, like Lewinski and FBI did an extended run to help prepare for the upcoming perimeter relay.

The troops arrived back at Slippery’s. The keg was ready but soda missing. Lewinski recruited Mr. Whippy and they did an emergency run to take care of our soda drinkers. Snake cornered many, getting people to sign-up for Hash Cash. BB and Ring Ring accepted the Hare Raiser position, and quickly went about gathering all the scheduling materials and info from Snake and crew.

Tonight’s guest GM was Crash Bandicoot. Crash called the Hash circle and the awards began. There were a few new boots who are only here for this week. They sailed to Samoa and are staying at the Marina. They were in great spirits. We had about (6) retreads as well – was busy pouring the beer so can’t remember who they were! There were no new boots.

Crash commenced the GM’s awards. FBI was tagged for something, but Snake had to drink for him (the logic? Snake was the closest relative). Ray Charles was tagged for admitting that he didn’t drive his brand spanking new red truck last week because it was raining. Lewinski got tagged with a double down-down for arranging for Happy Feet’s care so that he can smooch Princess of Darkness, then later having the smooch marks to show for it. Kiwi, Suzanne, Slippery, and Son of the Bitch got tagged for confusing the troops with the trail they set. Tony Blair got zapped for his especially creative parking job using the local sidewalks.

Then the Monk showed-up. Cursing and shouts announced her entrance as she tackled a tree. The Monk quickly called Michael front and center. Recalling Michael’s spirited visiting and enjoyment of Samoa’s tourist hang-outs, the Monk named him Strangler. The Strangler was especially naughty during his naming, feeling-up the Monk! After the Monk peeled-off the Strangler, the Monk pointed to Heather and called her forward. The Monk spoke about Heather’s affinity for making and wearing all sorts of hats and thus named her the Mad Hatter. Then the Monk spotted Susanne. The Monk recited Susanne’s history of bloodletting and the Monk being inspired by the latest hit at Magic Cinema, Lesbian Vampire Killers (this can’t really be a movie can it?), named Susanne the Vampire Killer.

After the naming, the Monk did a pole dance, followed by a farewell down-down.

Then the floor for nominations opened. Crash got tagged for a huge photo in the paper for which he quickly retorted, “it’s about time we got somebody else in there.” And there were a few more nominations of the usual variety. The former GM, Eveready announced that he and Karaoke will sponsor one of the Hash perimeter relay teams – Team Desirable. He said that although they may be in New Zealand during the run, that they will be with us in spirit. He also said that he wanted team Desirable to wear the color PINK. Crash then called-up the Hair and the Hosts, and finished with the customary down-downs.

At that point Slippery and crew handed out candles and Christmas song sheets. Godfather then led us through a brilliant set of Christmas songs. Once complete, the circle closed, and the forces rushed the table of yummy food.

On On!

Mr. Whippy.

Christmas In July

Apia HASH 1475 “Christmas in July”

This is just a bit of a summary of the happenings of that evening, but first I must address some other matters. I am currently in Perth playing with the grandsons, had my Tea Leaves read in Brisbane and I can feel the faint vibrations of the orc army of Uruk-hai moving from Isengard in my direction (for the followers of Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers). While this was not the news we expected, we live in interesting times and my Bucket List is in formulation. I had blood and urine taken and lots of x-rays (I can now officially glow in the dark)!!!

"Christmas in July" HASH and three naming ceremonies.

As HASH has grown since I first started, more than one person is hosting except for the BYO on the first of the month. So Susanne, Kiwi and myself joined forces to host “Christmas in July” that is a quaint Aussie tradition. So we went the extra mile in the food preparation and the theme of the evening. I will let the pics tell the story of a jovial and happy time for all those who attended and helped "Float the Keg", more pics will eventually appear on the Apia Hash blog.
Reporting on the machinations of the South Pacific from Perth, Australia
On On
Slippery and F


Ready for the onslaught
50 liter Keg - Temprite - iced coconuts - flowers from my hospital stay - esky for the soda - mugs tackle box - bush knife - jug for pouring beer - rubbish bag


Plate of extras - cheese pineapple pieces biscuits and peanuts


M naming as "Strangler" He can't keep a tune and strangles the singing


Susanne's naming as Vampire (not sure of the exact title bestowed), for giving blood actually they thought she was taking blood at the uni.

H's naming as "The Mad Hatter", that was the last of our flour in the casscade, followed by such potions as tomato sauce, oil, egg, shredded paper and beer


Sassygirl trys her hand at poledancing after hard work at the naming ceremony


Godfather was Mr Music for the Christmas songs

Some Pacific Wanders were encouraged to come to a night they won't forget for a while, on their way from Florida back to AUS in a motor yacht.

F and Snake sing along

Check out the tonsils, lustily singing without a shave(I was flat out cleaning, buying the chicken and meat, preparing the chicken and cooking up a storm in the kitchen)

Hare and Host Down Down (F called for a whipping boy and Strangler obliged)

Hosts - ?? Vampire - Kiwi - Slippery

Last but not least the Dessert - Whisky Chocolate Cake - Icecream and Fang's custard

Apia News and Hospital Holiday

Hospital Holiday and a 101 Course of Pain Management
Snorkeling Report
Have been snorkeling at Piula Lave Tubes in the cold fresh spring water, swam the swim-thru a few times and took some pics of an Aussie family who were visiting. Also swam the rope course off-shore. The following Wednesday I took some friends to Sa’moana Resort for more video and still action. Again the Black Clown Fish nest was a prime target.
Got some good shots of a turtle asleep wedged into the reef off Sinalei Reef Resort. He got quite a surprise as the flash went off in face, then it was mad fining to keep up and dive down for more shots. Had a lovely lunch and desert before leaving for home.
USNS Richard E Byrd
Apia has had the largest ship in port recently the USNS Richard E Byrd, I was able to take a tour over the Logistics Ship that was here on a goodwill and humanitarian visit.
Hash Activity
Hash has been a flurry of social occasions with Snakes 1000’th run and a dump truck trip up a mountain for 50 hashers and one stroller. There were two trails, the easy one back down the paved streets for the walkers and for the runners more climbing to the summit and a scramble back through scrub and taro patches on the west side followed by paved roads back to the Snake Pit for a double keg of joviality and friendship. Even F came along to the Snake Pit to support me home after a few downdowns.
Some excerpts from the Hash Blog-
The trail led up and up into the hills and a few energetic hashers were soon slowing down, particularly when one of Snake’s false trails had been “tampered with by local pickaninnies” according to Tallyho. Nevermind, the trail was re-acquired but many needed help up the next steep slope. Some of the greyer hashers even needed help from a hash mere! As the pack came out onto the top of the hill we were greeted by a delightful twilight, which was ruined by the fact that the next stage was a near-vertical drop down the slipperiest slope in Apia. The number of falls were immeasurable, but Mr. Whippy, Poumuli, Heather and others touched their mulis on the mud. Slippery fell so many times we were thinking of using him as a surfboard. SOTB simply sledded down the hill on his muli. It was slow going, mainly due to congestion at the trickiest spots, but we made it. It was on home down to Vaitele Street and back to the Snakepit.”
I was a bit knackered and called for a taxi and Godfather accompanied me –
“Tallyho had now recovered his wits and described with shock and horror how he had seen two seasoned hashers chariot riding on the way back. Slippery got no mercy, but Godfather asked for leniency, as it was his first such offence in 28 years of hashing. He got a small one as a result, but showed his usual good style in delivery (editor - the GM was merciless and handed both Godfather and Slippery double-downdowns).”
At the next Hash I complained that the reference to a surfboard was totally incorrect-
“The GM called for nominations. Slippery complained about the reference to surfboards in the last blog, as he has never owned a surfboard. To demonstrate, he showed the hash what he does have, namely a boogie board and something he described as a hand board. Tallyho denied his request for an award to Poumuli, as no respecting hashman would admit to needing a hand job to get up.”
And consequently I got the down down awarded against me.
Check out the blog for the full report and my photographic skills when a little under the weather –
http://www.apiahash.blogspot.com
Hospital Adventures
I somehow got an infected sinus in my left eye socket, we were attending a formal dinner but left early to make the Medcen Private hospital for a shot in the buttock. I was admitted the next day and spent 4 nights on a drip and buttocks resembling a pin cushion. Not a very rewarding experience as in typical Samoan style there was no hot water and cold showers make the 4 minute shower rule redundant, and you needed at least two a day to feel refreshed. The TV had no remote but this was compensated by the fact it would only tune to one station. The room did have aircon though, although it was a battle with the staff who like 19c and my 25c. So I finally passed my course in extreme Pain Management and was released on Sunday.
Monday is Hash and we are hosting –

Welcome to Apia HASH Run No 1475
5.30pm Monday 20 July 2009

It is the mid year and time for
Christmas in July.

You are invited to come along suitably attired in
Red and White or Yellow and Green.
Elves caps are essential.
There will be some singing of Christmas Songs by candlelight,
good food and much enjoyment of Hash fellowship.

This HASH is at Slippery and F’s residence.
(see map below)

The last (TOP) white house above the Main front gate of NUS
(turn up the hill off Vaivase Road).
Our house is opposite the Primary School.

This Hash is sponsored by Slippery, Susanne (Vampire) and Kiwi.
Come along and enjoy a Little Winter Wonderland.

On On, Slippery.

Piula Cave swim thru

Double down down for Chariot Riding

Esky Lid bag

Old tri shirt from the dim past

Surprised turtle

USNS Richard E Byrd

Pilot's Tee Shirt

Engine Room