A 'Fale' is a traditional Samoan home or meeting house, but the word is also used to connote a business, a European-style dwelling or even a bus shelter, due to the lack of words for such things in the Samoan language. The traditional Fale is an oval structure without walls. The thatched coconut-frond roof is supported by wooden poles and the floor consists of a platform of coral rock.The entire building is constructed without nails, the rafters and joints being tied with strong coconut fibres called 'ofa'. Blinds made of woven panda nus mats can be lowered to keep out wind and rain. Fales are normally sparsely furnished. On my way from the airport to Apia, there were still many fales used by families as their homes, and larger fales in the traditional shape that served as meeting places, but there are also buildings that serve as family homes, that no longer have open sides. Beach resorts similar to the Matareva Beach Fales Resort are scattered along the coast around the Upolu Island. There are some hotels in Apia, and one the 'Aggie Grey' Sheraton in 'downtown' Apia looks like one would expect a fancy tropical hotel would look. I got checked in by a young Australian couple that seems to be in charge. they were. They were volunteers and had been there for one month with two more months to go. They had taken the volunteer job to get away from their daily grind in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They were in charge to run the bar, make sure the supplies were there, beer, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and I think food supplies. They kept track of the bar tab, rent out and keep tab of the equipment (surf boards, snorkeling gear, boats) and made sure the beach Fales were properly equipped. My Fale, just as all the other ones, was on a raised platform, about one meter off the ground, six-sided in shape, made from wooden boards, with panda nus mats covering the sides (they could be rolled up), a light bulb, nails in the wooden planks that served as hooks to hang things, and had tin roofs. A towel, a mattress, a couple of sheets, and a mosquito net, plus an electric light were the only amenities. All the Fales were close to the waters edge. A cold shower was about 50 m away from the beach. The eating facility/ social area was nearby, so was the bar. There were three other couples when I arrived, all new Zealanders, none of them could be called typical tourists, they had been in this area before (not necessarily Samoa - but South Pacific) in one capacity or another as working for the Peace Corps or UN or other volunteer organizations. The rest of the people were Samoan - families or extended families. The cost of the Fale was prepaid, including breakfast and dinner. Lunch could be ordered - four choices, and was put on a tab, along with any beverage. I realized I was here for the duration, and it didn't matter if I had car or not, and I better relax and keep my eyes and ears open and try to understand what I had myself gotten into, traditional Samoan culture. This picture was taken on 1 January 2018, Sig... ..