If you were to spend a week in Samoa, this would be the time to do it. It's definately the most anticipated event of the year. I've been watching for months now as more and more yachts arrive in Apia Harbor. There are something close to forty now at anchor in the harbor. It's pretty impressive looking.

I'm really interested to see how the mood of the country changes during the week. Is my office going to slow down or shut down? Are there going to be swarms of people all over town?

I'm going to try too see and photograph as much of the events as possible. My friend Jennifer is coming on Wednesday with my new camers (Nikon Coolpix 5700) and I should be able to improve the level of my photography by a large order of magnitude.

The culmination of the festival is the Miss Samoa Pageant, whose theme for 2003 is "Samoa – Islands of Natural Beauty”.I haven't decided if I'm going to go or not. Tickets are 30 tala. It's going to be shown on TV Samoa, but I don't think it's going to be live.

Time Event Location 7.00pm Church choir competition EFKS Hall - Mulinuu Monday 1 September 2003 Time Event Location 8.00am - Samoan cricket tournament Held at various malae kilikiti (Please contact STA) - Stalls STA Grounds - Demonstration of weaving STA village fales - Carving of artifacts, & handicrafts   4.00pm All Teuila participants to assemble for the grand march   Beyond Vaisigano bridge 4.30pm Teuila march led by the Police Band   Bush Bikes decoration competition     5.30pm Guests seated   Front of Govt Bldg 5.45pm Invocation (Rev. Taulima Oge - Church of the Nazarene) - Call of Welcome - Hon Hans Joachim Keil (Minister of Tourism) - Lowering of the national flag Police Band to play - Entertainment - Palalaua Secondary School Front of Govt Bldg - Introduce Miss Samoa Contestants - 2003 - Entertainment - Leulumoega Fou College 7.00pm traditional songs competition     Tuesday 2 September 2003 Time Event Location 8.00am - Samoan cricket tournament As above (Please contact STA) - Stalls STA Grounds - Demonstration of weaving STA village fales - Carving of artifacts, & handicrafts     - treasure on the Pole   STA Ground 6.00pm - traditional dance competition   Front of Govt Bldg   - Mc Donalds Variety Show     Wednesday 3 September 2003 Time Event Location 8.00am - Samoan cricket tournament As above (Please contact STA) - Stalls STA Grounds - Demonstration of weaving STA village fales - Carving of artifacts, & handicrafts   - treasure on the Pole   STA Ground 9.00am - Taulafoga (traditional games)   STA village fales 10am - 12pm - Umu demonstration (traditional cookings; visitors are welcome to taste food)   STA Ground 6.00pm - Brass band competition   Front of Govt Bldg   - Fire dance show       - Mc Donald's Variety Show     Thursday 4 September 2003 Time Event Location 8.00am - Samoan cricket tournament As above (Please contact STA) - Stalls STA Grounds - Demonstration of weaving STA village fales - Carving of artifacts, & handicrafts   10:00am - treasure on the Pole STA Ground - Paopao, Nofoa tasi & Nofoa lua race, Tulula race Apia waterfront 4.30-5.30pm - Fautasi race   Faleula - Apia waterfront 6.00pm - Mc Donald's variety show Front of Govt Bldg