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Saturday, November 18, 2000
New Zealand
After Sydney Helena and I joined my coach, Benoit, in Queenstown for a few rainy days. We attempted to go skiing, but after one run the lifts were closed due to high winds.
Helena and I then drove to my home town, Dunedin. Once again it was really cold (this is not the time of year to be visiting NZ!) But we spent most of the time in the cafe's and R&R (my bike shop), so it wasn't a big concern.
Next we flew up North to Rotorua and visited Helena's coach John Lee, and our good friends Dave, Shreve and Simone. Rotovegas (as its known to the locals) has probably the best network of mountain bike tracks in New Zealand, and there are thermal mud pools to relax in afterwards if you feel like it!.
Samoa.
David Tua was all the hype as we got off the plane. The Samoan/Kiwi boxer will try for the heavy weight title in just a few days, and half the population were showing there support by wearing huge red necklaces.
We got a bit of a shock when we got to our room for the first night. The room, which I had booked through a NZ travel agent was filthy, cockroach in the toilet, sharp spring in the bed etc.. We learnt the next day, that the standard over here was quite low, yet the prices were actually relatively expensive..
Apia is the only major town in Samoa. It had some nice spots, like the Rain Forrest Cafe or Sails restaurant. There was two hot & muggy markets, and Area51, the local dance club! We ended up at the later after meeting the one Samoan Olympic 100m sprinter (Anani) at a bar. Anani actually tried to pick up Helena while I was using the toilet. It was pretty funny, because his two brothers that he was out with were both transvestites and completely open about it. They were nice people, but when we got to the club it did feel kind of weird dancing with 2 girls, that actually weren't girls!.
We only had 1 week in Samoa, and we came for the beaches, not another city! Before we could really get on with things we had to sort out our ridiculess luggage problem. We managed this by staying a night at a nicer hotel, and then asking them to hold the luggage for us until the end of the week. It worked a treat, and so we hired a car and set off for the sun..
After this Samoa turned into the paradise we were hoping for. We slept two nights in a beach Fale' (small, open hut with a mattress and a mosquito net!) We ate home made food by the local village, and enjoyed the perfect white sand beach and warm waters. It was a little too humid for hard bike riding, but we got out for a few nice rides. By the way the villagers looked at us it seemed they had never ever seen a lycra clad cyclist before! They were always friendly though, waving and saying "bye bye"!? The final night we spent in a nicer resort, with all the luxuries of hot water, electricity and in the evening the local village put on a traditional song and fire dancing show..
Finally we had to return to the dreaded luggage and do the final pack-up before heading home.
posted by
jeff lyall
11/18/2000 01:20:32 PM
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