It was not the kind of holiday they had in mind. Speaking from the Samoan capital of Apia yesterday, St Clair School teacher Shelley Wilde (50) said she and husband Noel (57) were woken by a large earthquake on Tuesday morning (local time).
"We thought it was someone banging on the door. It was a very long and scary experience."
The couple, who had not officially registered at the Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa because of their late arrival the previous night, were told by staff and management to leave their garden fale and go to vehicles waiting to take them to higher ground.
"We went outside with them . . . we hadn't even seen the place in the daylight."
About 30 guests at the resort, which is located on the south coast of the island of Upolu, were taken by staff as a precautionary measure in case of a tsunami following the 8.3 quake.
Mrs Wilde credits the quick thinking of staff with saving the lives of their guests.
However, the New Zealand-educated owner of the resort, Anna Tui Annandale - one of Samoa's richest women - drowned while trying to rescue children.
Resort guests were taken to hotels in Apia, where they were given clothes by other hotel guests, and the chance to call family back home.
Mrs Wilde said many people were saying if the tsunami had hit later in the day, when many people would be relaxing on the beach, the toll would have been much higher.
"People are saying it will take years to rebuild."
Advised to leave Samoa late last night, the couple said they planned to return.
hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
