Aside from the resorts, Fugalei Market in Apia was the one spot in Samoa where we spent the most time.
On our first day in Samoa, we strolled to Apia town centre before eventually having lunch in the small food court beside the Fugalei Market. With a tummy filled with delicious lunch, we continued the venture to the market. I expected it to be similar to the Nadi Market, but Fugalei Market, which is almost always mentioned as a must-visit in Apia in every Samoa travel blogs, was way more fascinating.
The open building market, which is almost always mentioned as a must-visit in Apia, was pretty big and offered virtually anything one would expect from a market and more. There were stands for groceries, homemade snacks, clothes and souvenirs. There was also a barber, photo developing stall and many more.
Fugalei Market Haul
All Kinds of Taro
We could find taro in most of the food stalls. Some raw, some cooked, and some turned into chips.
We also stocked up on snacks ━ chips, crackers and Palusami (a Samoan dish of meat, coconut and onions drizzled with coconut milk wrapped with taro leaves). We planned to have it with drinks in the resort in the evening. Unfortunately, aside from the Palusami, the snacks were not to our taste (they are unseasoned), so we ended up room servicing two plates of Samosa instead, but that’s a story for another day.
Ula Fala
The other corner of Fugalei Market was filled with rows and rows of souvenir stalls. Jik and I depleted our half-travel budget here. We both got ourselves necklaces (I got my Ula Fafa, the very necklace which inspired this Samoa trip). Jik also got a cute mini woven bag, while I got myself an impractical coconut bikini.
Burnt Coconut
Coconut in a traditional market is a usual sight, but bags and bags of burnt coconut shells were rather interesting. We inspected it closely and were told that it’s used to make coconut oil. I wondered why not sell actual coconut oil instead.
Other Random Never Seen Before Things
There were small bags with yellow paste inside of them that I had never seen before. I inquired about it with the friendly lady tending the stall, and she explained it was newborn medicine. Then there were coffee cups covered with mysterious black plastics. Another fascinating thing was a necklace made of what I assumed as flower petals ━ I wondered what it would be used for. Maybe for ceremonial purposes?
I have seen how traditional market stalls kept their food away from flying insects, such as flies, from electric insect repellers to traditional handheld fans. In Samoa, though, they do it by attaching a blown plastic bag to a long thin pole which seems to work. That’s pretty cool, eh?
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