Hotel Hangaroa Panamericana Hanga Roa

... not what we´d booked! The window was broken, there was a dead cockroach in the bathroom and the smell of damp was overpowering. We were however that tired that we took the key and hit the bed.<br><br>After a couple of hours of sleep and feeling slightly more alive than the cockroach, we nabbed "our host" and told him we weren´t happy. He agreed to move us to a different room - no cockroaches here - and said that we´d only be paying a fifth of the rate we were supposed to. We ...

... options - it was at a campsite and only a few dollars more than the site and tent rental. Anyway, we were picked up from the airport, given leis (flower necklaces) and then shown to our 'room'... It turned out that they were pretty full and had to change our room to none other than the neighbours newly built 2 bedroom HOUSE with 2 bathrooms, lounge, kitchen and porch a stones throw from the sea!! We could hear the waves crashing all night. There were huge windows ...

... however there are now quite a number that have been re-erected. We have also travelled on horseback up Maunga Terevaka, the highest point of the island - an experience our bodies will remember for a long time!<br><br>We have many, many photos - here's a small selection to give a feel for this unique and very special island.<br><br>Iorana for now.<br><br>Owen and Carol

... the exchange rate from US dollars is not great for the traveller. Also, there is only one ATM on the island and it only accepts Mastercard not Visa so plan in advance on that. The guide books are right though with regard to accomodation and the fact that you don't need to organise it in advance. I organised mine at the airport when I landed and stayed with a lovely lady who had several rooms available at reasonable rates - Cabañas Vaianny. Finally ...

East** Island......I want to definitely come back to this wond** of the world. Talking to my friend Pedro before the trip, he mentioned that 5 days th**e would be too much, and I actually doubted myself aft** the conv**sation. How wrong! You can spend months th**e and discov** something new ev**y day. The inhabitants are really unique, their lives move at a diff**ent pace, they don't have much worries apart from the lack of women in the island and the price of bread ...

Íorana, We have made it to the most isolated place in the world - Easter Island. And it is amazing!! I love it!! Such a chilled out place - you can really imagine coming here and being taken over by the place. We have been the ULTIMATE toursists and have been on every tour going - well it seemed to be the best way to find out about the legend of the Island. It´s breathtaking. Just amazing to think that people carved these amazing stone statues in one place ...

29/10/2008 (WED) I'm off to Easter Island (Isla de Pascua or Rapa Nui) today! Took the bus at 7am to the airport and it takes 30mins to get to the airport. Everything went smooth, and before I know it, I was in the 5 ...

... with moai almost led to the downfall of the island´s population and in turn the people lost faith in their moai and began to topple them. Next stop was the cradle of the moai - Rano Raraku - a crater lake consisting of the rock that was used to carve the original moai. The entire area is filled with half carved and buried moai - the largest unfinished one at approx ...

... land is 1900 km away which is the Pitcairn Island which is apparently even smaller. (mmm and you may remember what goes on there too... keep it in the family!) Well, I eventually managed to download all these photos but you will notice the lack of titles and or descriptions of whats going on.... I will endeavor to rectify this, but it may have to be over some time. I think such a place of mystery deserves a little suspense still....

... etc. It was a really cool experience, something I've always wanted to see and something I'll probably never get to do again. So my trip is nearly at an end. Have 2 more countries and 2 more weeks to go. I'm actually knackered now, finding that I'm not enjoying or appreciating things so much any more and secretly really looking forward to going home, resting up and going back to the real world! Watch this space for my final installments! Andres