Cockadoodle doo
Trip Start
Dec 22, 2007
1
8
48
Trip End
May 01, 2008
Easter Island,
Chile
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35452&l=cb006&id=551865803
We were greeted at the airport by Ana Rapu with a flower garland and were then driven to her residencial which was very near to the sea. It was only 2mins away and we barely got above 30kph, also nobody wears seatbelts here either.
We struggled with jetlag a bit but explored Hanga Roa (main town where everybody lives) and got some food and water. Prices didnīt seem to bad until we arrived in Chile and then realised we were paying three times the price for everything!
The first thing we notice about the residencial is that vast number of roosters, chickens, chicks and dogs. I could have happily throttled those damn roosters when they crowed throughout the day! Luckily the sun sets at 9.30pm and it rises at 8am.
28 Dec
We were going to rent a car today but they didnīt have the one we wanted so reserved it for tomorrow. We decide to walk to Orongo which is about a 1hour walk from Hanga Roa. Got a little bit lost coming out of HR as there are no street names but we got on the right track in the end. Was quite a hot walk which steadily went up but the view of Rano Kau was worth it . Itīs a crater which is filled with water and reed beds. We then walked along the rim to the ceremonial village of Orongo. We saw the motu islets where an annual ceremony took place. Chiefs from each tribe (or representative) competed to obtain the first egg of the sooty tern. Whoever returned first with an egg was ībirdmanī for a year. The new birdman was considered tapu (sacred) and lived in ceremonial seclusion for 1 year until they repeated the ceremony.
Next we saw the dwellings which were very small and low. The entrances were tiny - you would have to crawl to get into them (which, of course you are not allowed to do). We also saw some petroglyphs which were carved into the rocks.
29 Dec
Excellent day today! Picked up the rental car (well, jeep) at 9am and drove the southern coast route which included stops at Vinapu, Vaihu, Akahanga and Ahu Hanga Tetenga. The moai here had been toppled from their ahu (platforms) when the tribes were warring with one another. It must have taken a lot of muscle to do this as most were about 25-30 tonnes.
We drove down carmino de los moai (the road thought to be used to transport the moai) towards Rano Rarakau (the quarry). Rano Rarakau was my favourite place as there are so many moai on the slopes of the volcano, most just showing their heads, their bodies buried in the slope. Some were so large it looks like they were too heavy to move from the spot they were hewn.
From the slopes we saw Ahu Tongariki in the distance which has 15 moai on a ahu. These were restored in 1996. Itīs the largest no of moai ever erected on a single ahu (200m long). We were completely awe struck by it. Its the first time we saw the moai standing on their platform. Apparently it was restored after a tsunami destroyed it, dragging the moai 90m inland. These statues weigh about 30 tonnes each - quite a distance.
Next stop was Anakena which is a lovely beach and also has ahu nau nau which has x6 moai, 4 with red top knots.
Dinner was empanadas - sort of like a cornish pasty and cost less than us buying and cooking our own food.
Tahai is supposed to be the best place for sunset and there are also moai there as well. The sun didnīt set (too cloudy) but we did see a moai with proper eyes and a top knot.
30 Dec
Our last day with the rental car. We head to Puna Pau where the red topknots were created and then onto Ahu Akivi where these moai are the only ones to face the sea. They are also aligned with the summer solistice. Next stop was Ahu Tepa which had moai toppled from their platform and a large stone boat shape (possbily foundation of a building).
After lunch of rolls and salami (again for the 4th time!) we decide to head back to the quarry as we had missed walking up to the crater where more moai were on the slopes.
Next we headed to Ovahe beach for a quick look, as you cannot swim there, and then onto Anakena again for a swim and toast.
31 Dec
Didnīt do alot today, just lazed around the residencial, walked along the waterfront and watched the surfers and body boarders (especially enjoyed it when they fell off in spectacular fashion) and beat Paul and crib...alot.
