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| One Of Our First Moai |
Recently our family got to live out one of our dreams. We went to Easter Island! Michael and I have been trying to go ever since we lived in Ecuador over twelve years ago. Then I got pregnant and we were transferred to Malaysia. Years later we returned to Argentina but with two tiny kids . . . Easter Island was temporarily put on hold. Michael started to 'bank' airline miles in hopes that one day he would have enough to take all of us to Easter Island. And so twelve years after initial planning began . . . we were booked in.
The day finally arrived with great anticipation! After a flight to Lima, a twelve-hour layover and another flight over the Pacific we touched down. Easter Island is considered to be the most remotely inhabited place on earth. It's closest neighbour at 2000 kilometres away is Pitcairn Island. And it only has a handful of people. Santiago is over 3500 kilometres away. It's really out there.
We stayed in the only town on the island called Hanga Roa, in a hotel of the same name. We have always prided ourselves on being 'do-it-yourself' travellers and opted for a rental car and a map over a tour company. The island is small and the driving is easy. It's the perfect place to self-navigate.
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| Cool Hotel Lobby |
Moai are scattered all over the place but concentrated on the coastline. All moai on the island were knocked over (face first no less) during tribal fighting. Those still lying face down look resigned to their fate of staring into the earth. Many have been erected. They range in size and complexity. The carvings became bigger and bolder as time went on. The smaller they are, the earlier they were made.
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| I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up |
All the moai were carved in a central quarry. This place was astounding. As we drove up the coast Michael noticed what looked like boulders on a hill and said, " . . . that can't be . . .?! " but it was. There are literally hundreds of heads scattered throughout the quarry. The biggest moai ever carved was still laying in the mountainside, waiting to be raised. It would have been twenty-one metres long! The whole thing was just staggering to look at. How? Why? What were they thinking? It boggled the mind. So many questions came to us as we stood in the land of these gentle giants.
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| Wow! |
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| At The Quarry |
We spent a lot of time roaming around. Driving, parking and then walking for ages. In addition to the maoi being spectacular the island was exceptionally beautiful. That was a bonus. Everything we'd ever read about Easter Island mentioned how desolate it was. But this was a paradise. The waves crashed at every corner and thousands of wild horses ran at will all over the island. It definitely added to the ambience.
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| Wild Horses! |
At one end of the island sits Anakena beach. Stunning! A grassy slope with palm trees and dozens of wild horses gave way to white sand, a group of towering moai and finally a true blue ocean. Need shade . . . not a problem. We set up camp under a palm tree. Hungry? No problem. How about fresh tuna or shrimp empanadas made on the spot from a hut. Delicious! We definitely went up a notch on the cool factor with our kids as they bounced in the waves.
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| The World's Coolest Beach (in our opinion . . . ) |
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| Our shade for the day! |
Throughout the trip the food was tasty and from the sea. I tucked into tuna, white fish, shrimp and crab while we were there. We let the kids order lobster one night which utterly fascinated Colin. Michael was in heaven.
The sunrises and sunsets over the various moai were spectacular . . . and undeniably spiritual. People just sat in awe trying to take it all in.
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| Sunset In Hanga Roa |
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| Sunrise! |
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| Before Sunrise. It's really early . . . |
This is one of the world's truly special places. In a place known for using all its resources back in the 1700s, it has come back from the brink and created a healthier modern day balance than I've ever seen anywhere else. People and animals, land and sea, history and geography are working in sync. It was a wonderful surprise.
Liana and I have had a lot of discussions about energy. This is a place with
energy. Whether the people of Rapa Nui brought it with them or whether they were drawn to the island because of it we'll never know. All I know is that our family was very lucky to be a part of it. Michael and I both commented that we were glad we couldn't go until now. To bring the kids with us made it even more special. They loved everything about it! We'll always have Easter Island.
✿ Micheline
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| Horses grazing around a platform just after sunrise |
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| Gentle Giants |
