Inter-island travellers will be familiar with this wharf scene.
For the unfamiliar, this is the Savai’i end at the Salelologa Wharf for the inter-island vessel sailing from the Mulifanua wharf on the Upolu side.
For the dwindling few left from back in the days before car-carrying-boats arrived, this particular scene never fails to excite, as vehicles lined up to be loaded on the vessel for the cross over trip.
What this particular photo angle does not show is the line up of cars on standby outside the closed compound inside the Salelologa wharf.
In the early stages of vehicular travel between the islands, the boats were smaller. A limited number of cars were able to be loaded.
Most times, cars on standby end up spending the night waiting and hoping for luck finding a spot on the boat the next day.
Today that is hardly a setback anymore for travellers. The bigger boats, Lady Samoa III and the newer Samoa Express barge, try to make sure no one is left behind.
Major holiday travel relief. Staff of the Samoa Shipping Corporation, SSC, are usually at the angry end of travellers complaints back then but for now, peace and harmony…at last.
If you’re travelling this weekend between the islands, have yourself a Merry Xmas boat ride.
Merry Xmas Samoa.