Gateway into South America

• Peacefrog's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Rapa Nui

Trip Start Mar 01, 2006 Previous
Entry Trip End Dec 01, 2007 Next
Entry

  Rapa Nui, Chile
Thursday, January 18, 2007

Go to the Summary Page
___________________________

After a flight without much sleep, I landed on Rapa Nui. As I was queuing at the customs, and up untilI had the chilean stamp in my passport, I was trying to get used to the idea that after Asia and Oceania, I was finally setting foot in south america.

I did not get much time to reflect on these prospects, as I grabbed my bags (without forgetting my sleeping bag, for once) and exited the airport.There was a dozen people proposing me to come and stay in their hotel or guesthouse. A lady started talking to me in french, certainly because of my polynesian look. She must have been from French Polynesia herself, and proposed me a room... for 70 usd... Arghhh, there we were again, and here I went again with my outraged "I'd rather sleep outside!". She then proposed something at 20usd, but I really wanted something cheaper. I told her I was looking for a 10 usd bed, and that's how I got directed to a pick up, "Camping Minoha" was the inscription on its door. The guy was a tahitian too, he spoke french, and proposed me a tent for 10usd. I said I'd go with him to check it out, until he could give me a dorm bed. I had in mind just a free lift into town without any promise. Eventually the tent proved a perfect option: they provided the tent and matress, there were toilets and showers and a kitchen, and the night was very noisy due to the crickets and the sound of the ocean waves crushing on the shore, which is a barren hard and sharp landscape of lava rock. I just had to change my mattress on the second day cause an inflatable one was too soft, I needed a thin foam mattress. So I ended up just staying in the tent, the cheapest accomodation on the island I believe.

The weather was very cloudy and windy, so I did not know wat time it was when I got there. My watch was telling me the it was7am Tahiti time. I thought there was one or two hours difference, so I slep for a bit, and then I slept more... It turned out that there was 5h time difference, so I had been sleeping well into the afternoon, which left me with short time to go around town, and also gifted me with the total incapacity to sleep that first evening even though I was really tired.

On that first day I still managed to go around "town" and buy some food, and to find out that my spanish wasn't that awful after all, at least to get around.

So there I was in South America, but moving in quietly. During my stay I was to spend my time with local Rapa Nui, other polynesians, travellers, and tourists from Chile and Argentina. A good mix, and as in any remote place, with interesting people.

It also turned out during my stay that Roger (Tahitian) and Martha (Rapa Nui) were great hosts to stay with, in that camping named after their daughter Minoha.
____________________________________________________________ ______
Have a look at the Summary Page - Please sign my Guest Book

Pictures

01 Harbour near the camping

02 Hanga Roa Cemetery, Moai in the background

Slideshow Print this entry Share Santiago hotels

Previous Entry Next Entry