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Easter Island...Rapa Nui...Isla De Pascua...The Land of the Moai
Greeting from the most isolated location on Earth.
Easter Island lies at the western edge of Polynesia and is home to the most distant civilization. It is a mysterious place that oozes personality. I was able to score a wooden lodge on the west shore with a loft overlooking the beach, a Trek mountain bike and all the island friendliness I could handle. The ancients believed Rapa Nui to be the only place on earth left above water... after a week I was beginning to believe it too. There is nothing in the world like this place...if you dont believe me try hiking up to the crest of a volcano, down the inside and listening to the deafening silence, knowing you cant be farther from humanity. It is the most supremely relaxing place I know of.
My friend Ximena (from Chile) and I biked, hiked and swam the island for a week solid. She is a Rapa Nui history scholar and is on vacation so we really had a great time. The mystery of Rapa Nui has kept historians scratching their heads for over a hundred years...so it kept us quite busy too...
Every night is a spectacular sunset over massive, mysterious ancient statues and grilled Argentine beef or fresh lobster and fish. Every day is filled with a smack down of historical enigma, technological marvel, beautifully raw nature, and top notch hiking/biking and diving. Did I mention nearly non-existent tourism in our summer?
Here is a short list of what makes Rapa Nui one of the most amazing places I have ever been:
1) Staggeringly massive ceremonial platforms (located in each ancient village separated by clan) with Moai statues (deified ancestors). over 800 Moai exist on the island.
2) Two perfect beaches, one with two Moai ahu´s {platforms).
3) Numerous volcanic craters, perfectly shaped and ripe for hiking.
4) Caving both on land, submarine, and mixed. Diving visibility is world class.
5) Friendly people, cultured, relaxed, who live their culture and are proud to share it.
Next year the locals have resolved to revive the renowned Birdman competition, though it will only be open to Rapa Nui the first year. Year two it will be opened by invitation (Bro, no worries, I put your name in already..!)
Next: Aconcagua , the tallest mountain in the world outside of Asia... Can it be summitted off season?
Jose Birdman Atu Mancuso
"Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken." -- Frank Herbert
"Warning man, time
for collection.
Take for you your choice of senses.
Warning man, time for collection.
One wich has no earthly connection
Senses dead, the
time has come. To stop and dwell on ruined time.
Wasted
wars and selfish pride. Leaving tastes of music wine.
Searching useless wasted mind. Reaching for the reaper's
hand.
Lead him from his suicide. Please, is there a
Promised Land.
Let me guide your journey long. Leave
them while they mourn.
We will journey back in time. And
you will be reborn."
Rick Wakeman "No Earthly Connection" 1976.
Inspired in part by mystery of Easter Island...
*******
Rapa Nui...The Sequel
After bailing on Aconcagua, almost a week was dumped on my lap... What to do?...Where to go?... It took a few hours but there was no ecaping the obvious. By the morning I was headed back East with direction and purpose. The pull of the moai was too great...
This time I stayed at a friends house and really got to know some of the people more. I could easily have stayed the summer (but havent ruled it out next year..!). Aside from really getting to know people, the highlight of the week was to spend time at Motu Nui (the actual Birdman Island) and dive all around it. It was great getting to chill out and listen to my new Ipod at Tongariki (the largest Moai) and share music from Guam with people (Thanks Geno Bro!).
Tomorrow morning I head to Buenos Aires to see what happens when one of the richest cities in the world hits a slump. Keep you posted...
Jose Birdman Atu Mancuso
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