Independent Samoa is one of the most idyllic places on earth. The inspiration for some of Robert Louis Stevenson's novels, it is every bit the writers’ fantasy come to life. The locals called him ‘Tusitala’, the teller of tales and he lies buried in his beloved Samoa. Gorgeous beaches, mountains, ancient monuments, tropical pools and waterfalls, rainforests and every other ingredient of a tropical paradise are to be found on these islands.

The islands appear to be an artist's masterpiece, painted with the hues on his palette  - shrouded in a fine grey mist as clouds hang low over the verdant slopes, turquise blue waters, the boom of the surf as it crashes onto silver beaches and the rich glow of the sun as it sets in the distant horizon - add to that the laid back, happy-go-lucky locals and you have one of the most charming places on the face of this earth.

The beauty of the islands attracted more than mere travellers and lotus-eaters in search of the perfect paradise. It drew the attention of strategists and power brokers in search of potential strongholds in the Pacific Ocean. So missionaries, colonisers, traders, merchants and sailors alike headed for the islands, each in search of their own personal fulfillment.