The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, which are divided between the independent country of Samoa (formerly Western Samoa) and American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the United States. The traditional culture of Samoa is a communal way of life based on Fa'a Samoa (The Samoan Way), the unique socio-political culture. There are 3 main parts in the Samoan culture, that is faith, family and music. The traditional living quarters, or fale (houses), contain no walls and up to 20 people may sleep on the ground in the same fale. During the day, the fale is used for chatting and relaxing. One's family is viewed as an integral part of a person's life. The aiga or extended family lives and works together.
The architecture of Samoa is characterised by openness, with the design mirroring the culture and life of the Samoan people. Architectural concepts are incorporated into Samoan proverbs, oratory and metaphors, as well as linking to other art forms in Samoa, such as boat building and tattooing. The spaces outside and inside of traditional Samoan architecture are part of cultural form, ceremony and ritual. Fale is the Samoan word for all types of houses, from small to large. In general, traditional Samoan architecture is characterized by an oval or circular shape, with wooden posts holding up a domed roof. There are no walls. The base of the architecture is a skeleton frame.
A beach fale is a simple thatched hut in Samoa, but also common in other parts of Polynesia. They have become popular in tourism as a low budget accommodation situated by the coast, built with a few posts, no walls and a thatched roof with a round or oval shape. As the term denotes, beach fale are usually located around the coast in villages. In Samoa, renting out a beach fale to visitors is a common means for providing extra income for families. David Kirkland, the author of this photo, is one of the most widely published travel photographers and writers in the Asia Pacific region, specialised in capturing memorable promotional photographs for national tourism authorities.
About the stamps
The first stamp is part of the series 40 Years of Independence, issued on June1, 2001, and designed by Cathryn Wood:
• 0.25 WST - It's on the postcard
• 0.70 WST
• 0.95 WST
• 5.00 WST
The second stamp is part of the series Savai'i Scenery, issued on February 17, 2005, and designed by Michael von Reiche. Savai'i is the largest island in Polynesia outside of Hawaii and New Zealand and lies 20km northwest of Upolu across the Apolima Strait:
• 0.25 WST - It's on the postcard
• 0.70 WST
• 0.90 WST
• 4.00 WST
The third stamp, depicting the flag of the independent state of Samoa, is part of a series of six stamps named United Nations - Small Island Developing States, issued in 2014.
The fourth stamp is part of the series Angelfishes of Samos, designed by Sue Wickison and issued on September 10, 2003:
• Bicolour Angelfish / Centropyge bicolour (0.25 WST)
• Flame Angelfish / Centropyge loriculus (0.60 WST) - It's on the postcard
• Regal Angelfish / Pygoplites diacanthus (0.90 WST).
• Emperor Angelfish / Pomocanthus imperator (5.00 WST)
The last two stamps are port of the series Butterflies, designed by Donna McKenna, and issued on December 14, 2001:
• Vagrans egista (0.70 WST) - It's on the postcard
• Jamides bochus (1.20 WST) - It's on the postcard
• Papilio godeffroyi (1.40 WST)
• Acraea andromacha (2.00 WST)
• Eurema hecabe (3.00 WST)
References
Culture of Samoa - Wikipedia
Architecture of Samoa - Wikipedia
Beach Fale - Wikipedia
Sender:
Sent from ??? (Samoa), on 14.04.2015
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