Water in the Hand. Vailima, Heterotis rotundifolia, Pink Lady, and Stevenson's Waterfall, Mt Vaea, Vailima, 'Upolu, Samoa
So here I am on the slopes of Mount Vaea on which stands Vailima - meaning 'Water in the hand' -, last home of a childhood hero of mine, Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894). I was enthralled way back then by the likes of Treasure Island, Kidnapped and Jekyll and Hyde, and of course by his tales of the South Seas. And it's thrilling to be here on Samoa to see the place my revered author spent the last four years of his tubercular life. In the lefthand inset is his wonderful house with the wide verandas, now a fine museum for all adepts! on the right is the waterfalls and pool on the lower side of the Mount. Stevenson - 'Under the wide and starry sky. Dig the grave and let me lie. Glad did I live and gladly die' (who doesn't know those lines!?) - is buried at the top which overlooks Apia, the capital of Samoa.
The inset at the right shows the waterfalls and pool where Tusitala liked to bathe. I don't want here to neglect Robert Louis's wife Fanny. She was called in Samoan: Aolete, Flying Cloud, and that was brought to my mind by the dark clouds (see inset) which soon erupted on Your Faithful as he was climbing down from that eyrie.
Along the stream and waterfalls the greens are wonderfully lit up by Heterotis rotundifolia, Pink Lady. I am very grateful to Hanno Shultz for his correction and identification!
What more can I say to conclude a great day?!
I suppose I could go on about the background of 'Vaea' but I won't; I don't want my oka to get warm!
Water in the Hand. Vailima, Heterotis rotundifolia, Pink Lady, and Stevenson's Waterfall, Mt Vaea, Vailima, 'Upolu, Samoa
So here I am on the slopes of Mount Vaea on which stands Vailima - meaning 'Water in the hand' -, last home of a childhood hero of mine, Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894). I was enthralled way back then by the likes of Treasure Island, Kidnapped and Jekyll and Hyde, and of course by his tales of the South Seas. And it's thrilling to be here on Samoa to see the place my revered author spent the last four years of his tubercular life. In the lefthand inset is his wonderful house with the wide verandas, now a fine museum for all adepts! on the right is the waterfalls and pool on the lower side of the Mount. Stevenson - 'Under the wide and starry sky. Dig the grave and let me lie. Glad did I live and gladly die' (who doesn't know those lines!?) - is buried at the top which overlooks Apia, the capital of Samoa.
The inset at the right shows the waterfalls and pool where Tusitala liked to bathe. I don't want here to neglect Robert Louis's wife Fanny. She was called in Samoan: Aolete, Flying Cloud, and that was brought to my mind by the dark clouds (see inset) which soon erupted on Your Faithful as he was climbing down from that eyrie.
Along the stream and waterfalls the greens are wonderfully lit up by Heterotis rotundifolia, Pink Lady. I am very grateful to Hanno Shultz for his correction and identification!
What more can I say to conclude a great day?!
I suppose I could go on about the background of 'Vaea' but I won't; I don't want my oka to get warm!