December 16, 2025

Apia is the relaxed low rise capital of Samoa, spread along a sheltered harbor on the north coast of Upolu. This island is the 2nd largest, behind Savai'i, of the 8 islands which make up the Independent State of Samoa (note: 4 of the remaining 6 islands are uninhabited.) Upolu has an international airport and port, unlike Savai'i, and it's population is roughly 39,000 of the total 220,000 in all of Samoa. The Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the most striking architecture in the harbor. I was excited we were finally in a port on a Sunday, to be able to part take in a Mass and it was so special. It's a gorgeous church inside and it was open air with a nice breeze. The mass was in English and the choir was really talented, with guitar instrumentals and the words projected onto a screen, so we could sing along! They did a lot of my favorite hymns and the people were super friendly.  We really felt welcome and it did wonders for my soul!

This is part of the residents that attended Mass together - there were at least another 10 that didn't make it into photo!

The town was quiet and immaculate, tourism is their biggest business, but they only average 3 to 4 cruise ships in a month. The island is a string of villages, each with their own chiefs, leadership and rules. Several extended families make up one village, with  between 50 to 150 people typically, per village. Crime is very low mainly because religion is so strongly followed here and family values are so strong. It is the rainy season here in the South Pacific, so the days are in the 80's, humid in the afternoons especially and rain showers and down pours happen frequently. I walked the harbor area with my buddy Sherrie on Saturday. Below are some the sites of Apia.

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TIOMAN ISLAND, MALAYSIA

By Pat Patrick • July 6, 2026
Fun day in the waters of Tioman Island, Malaysia snorkeling with friends. Life is good! It was nothing fancy, a boat & captain, who spoke minimal English and barely interacted with us, for roughly 7 hours. We started the outing spotting a group of dolphins and was quickly at anchor drop 1 of 6. The distances between the 6 snorkel spots was minimal, which gave us lots of time in the water (at least 45 minutes, at each spot) with an added stop for a lunch break at local restaurants. Even the restaurants were fast and efficient, definitely used to catering to the boat crowd.

HAPPY 4th of JULY from SE ASIA SEA!

By Pat Patrick • July 4, 2026
Wishing everyone a Happy 4th of July! Here on the Odyssey we celebrated in the SE Asia Sea on our way to Tioman Island, Malaysia . We have such a talented and dedicated group of residents here, they put together a fun hour of things to celebrate and embrace a lot of what we collectively love about the USA. Even our residents from other countries - Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany , etc. joined in the fun! ( I lent my flag below for decorations)

BINTAN, INDONESIA - BUDDHIST TEMPLE

By Pat Patrick • July 2, 2026
Vihara Avalokiteshvara Graha or Guan Yin Temple is near 500 Lohan, so we also toured the grounds of this large Temple complex. It's dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy and is one the tallest brass statues of her in SE Asia. She is just over 55' tall, coated in 22 carat gold and is surrounded by scenic dragon fruit plantations. The tile work is intricate and textured with great details. The whole place is very tranquil and calming for meditation and prayer.