Samoa

When on Samoa, one should not expect to shop at a Harrods-style store. There are no pushy salesmen making quotas for their day, instead you will be lured by the quality of handmade crafts, colourful lava-lava prints, remarkable souvenirs and amazing artworks.

Popular with many visitors is a sample of siapo, a bark cloth made from the beaten bark of the u’a, or paper mulberry tree, and the medium for many artworks from Samoa. Siapo’s are decorated with natural dyes and are considered one of the finest of artwork in the Pacific. On Savaii see Siapo being made at the village of Palauli. The Toga is a finely woven mat made from pandanus fibres. These can take years and years to make and when finished are the texture of silk or linen and are prized souvenirs to bring home.

In March, each year, don´t miss Apia’s Arts and Crafts Fair – a great time to purchase fine art and craft works. There are also a few galleries on Ifiifi Street, where the contemporary Samoan painter Momeo von Reiche showcases not only exceptional examples of artworks, but often you will witness dance, poetry and other forms of readings.