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We did not know where he was looking. I carried my backpack and my camera bag up to the end
of the platform, and I could still feel his eyes on me. A little further, three elderly people stood looking at his face. Their body language seemed to imply that they could also feel his gaze. More than five meters and with an upper node to boot, his presence was hard to ignore. There were other moais along the site of Ahu Tahai but he was the only one on the whole island who had eyes. They are no longer made of coral, as they were, but this burning gaze is enough to imagine the power that the gaze of hundreds of moais would have once exerted on this enchanted land.
An amalgam of Polynesia and Latin America, Easter Island is one of the most isolated islands in the world. It is a part of Chile, but the nearest land mbad, the Pitcairn Islands, is more than 2,000 km away. If the remoteness of Easter Island was not intriguing enough, it is strewn with nearly 900 mbadive human figures or moais and it is these mysterious stone monoliths that are its well-deserved claim to The Glory
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The Ahu Ko Te Riku with his Lone Moai
Coming down from Santiago to the main town of Hanga Roa in the morning, we We were greeted by views that were not extraordinary – families picnicking on the hills, young people frolicking on the beach, dive companies who solicit tourists. It was a Polynesian textbook, but with a difference. The daily activities of island life were played out under the imposing aura of moais – in singles and in multiples, they occupied the whole island.
The moais date from the 13th to the 16th century, and lie on high platforms or ahu across the island. Being the closest to Hanga Roa, Ahu Tahai, the area around moai eyes, is one of the most visited platforms of the island. The photogenic silhouettes that his moais cast against the light of the setting sun are another reason for his popularity.
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A bowl of ceviche
days, leaving us time to try the famous seafood of the island. Tuna is a local specialty and is served in many delicious ways, from curry ceviche. There is no shortage of elegant restaurants on the cliffs where one can enjoy the catch of the day, with views of the ocean and sips of the local drink, sour pisco.
Jojo guided us through the ahu . together the puzzle moai as it appeared before the pieces were thrown here and there by vandals. For every moai that is now repaired and standing, ten others are decapitated and dismembered, waiting to be restored.
Like much of history, the history of moais draws a fine line between history and mythology. It is believed that the statues were commissioned by families to worship a deceased clan leader. Their size and size were supposed to correspond to the wealth and social position of the clan.
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The Rano Raraku volcano, from where the moais come [19659007] The Rano Raraku volcano is one strong points of the island. This is the birthplace of the moais, where they were carved in volcanic ash. Theories abound on the way the moais were transported to their ahu but the consensus is that they were moved using ropes. The Moaïs who did not arrive at their ahu are scattered in various stages of completion, considered as simple stone buildings. It is on the installation at the top ahu that the moais are supposed to take magical powers and be raised to a status of another world. The ahu are close to the coast and most moais face inland, as they watched over their land and heritage
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A cliff facing the sea at the edge of the crater of Rano Kau
In the middle of moai observation, we seized the opportunity to visit one of the many guava plantations in the region. The orchard grew with succulent fruit, and we shamelessly filled the belly and the bag to full capacity.
Ahu Tongariki, on the south coast of the island, is the best place to enjoy the scale and scope of the moai project. On this ceremonial site stand 15 majestic moais on the largest ahu . Ravaged in turn by man and nature, this restored site has moais of different sizes and details, and testifies to the technical mastery of the sculptors.
The tradition of building moais continued until the new powers began to look at it. A battle for supremacy ensued and a new order was created: the man-bird cult. This sect was badociated with the last stop of our island circuit, Orongo, and seemed to be a logical transition from the moai tracking
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An inhabitant Easter Island in traditional warrior dress
Contestants of the annual ornithologist contest were leaders of various clans chosen by local shamans. Each competitor named a sidekick, a warrior of all kinds called hua to compete on his behalf. The competition required that huas descend the cliffs of the island, swim to the tiny islet of Motu Nui at more than one kilometer, and bring back the first egg of the bird of sooty tern. The hua to accomplish first it would be the winner, making his master the man of the birds or Tangata manu . The man-bird, thus reaching a demi-god status, would shave his head and live in solitude for most of the year. Those who really benefited were his clan men, who had priority access to the best resources. And, of course, the winner hua would be married to the most alluring girl on the island
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A smiling boy to a cultural festival [19659007] In Orongo, the ceremonial village that used to be the venue of the competition, the stone houses that were occupied by the competitors are impeccably restored, as if frozen in time. The keen petroglyphs indicate the gravitas commanded by the bird-man. The islet of Motu Nui seems to approach misleadingly, hiding in its steep surface tales of broken eggs, bruised egos and dead huas . The sooty tern, however, no longer visits Motu Nui, perhaps contenting himself with a less bloody islet to rear his young ones.
While the repair work carried out by archaeologists like William Mulloy and the support of countries like Japan Moai Glory, it is in the anthropological Father Sebastian Englert museum that the free ends are finally attached. It is also here that one can see a specimen of the original eye of coral moai and the only distinctly feminine moai, which was said to be a dozen or so.
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Giant monolithic moais at Rano Raraku in Rapa Nui or Easter Island
Desification of Men through statues of stone and elevate them to a supernormal status through perilous fights can be over. integral to the story of Easter Island. Competitions testing male strength and endurance are still part of the culture, and are the kind that would almost fall into the league 's Ironman challenges around the world. A contest, for example, requires participants to buy equipment for a canoe, build one themselves, then go down with it, and then bring it to victory. Jojo spoke nostalgically of his days as a young athlete, while expressing a relief to the standards of these competitions for men of a certain age
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![A wood carver in Hanga Roa [19659039] A local woodcarver In Hanga Roa </p>
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<p> Given the ubiquitous nature of the moais, one can not help wondering how it was that 6000 inhabitants of Easter Island lived under the constant weight of so much history. Jojo says that while most people recognize monoliths as a valuable part of their heritage, they no longer believe that monoliths have a spiritual connotation or influence on their identity. This identity is attributed to the sense of kinship conveyed by their shared Polynesian heritage, although this one is threatened with being lost amidst the cultures and religions that have bathed these shores since </p>
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A Traditional Dance on Easter Island at Sunset
Kari Kari Cultural Ballet is an organization that works to promote the Polynesian culture of the island. 39; island. Their repertoire of traditional art forms gives young people, like the daughter of Jojo, who is a main ballet dancer, a chance to stay in touch with their roots. The troupe offers a Polynesian show that offers a welcome change from backpackers, whether it's dances that take us to a different era, or costumes that challenge the dominant notions of modesty.
With extraterrestrial influences and local revolutions Easter Island has evolved to become a flag bearer worthy of diversity. His multiple names, Rapa Nui (Polynesian) and Isla de Pascua (Spanish) are a good example. Today, the dominant tropical fruit vegetation of Easter Island may be completely alien, and its inhabitants are partly indigenous and partly immigrants. However, its most imposing feature, the unbadailable moais that stand guard along its coastline, is entirely and distinctly its own eyes or not eyes.
The Information
How to get there
Most major carriers fly to Santiago with stops in the United States or the Kingdom United Kingdom (transit visas are obligatory). LATAM Airlines operates nine flights a week from Santiago to Easter Island. (Return fare from ₹ 30,000.)
The other options are Ethiopian Air from Mumbai & Delhi via Addis Ababa and Sao Paolo or Emirates via Dubai. (Return fare approximately ₹ 1,00,000.)
Where to Stay
If you are not planning to rent a car, it would be easier to stay at Hanga Roa the main city of the island. Hotel Taura & # 39; a where we stayed, and Hotel Puku Vai are reasonable choices with rates between ₹ 13,000 to ₹ ] 20,000 per night (hoteltauraa.com, pukuvaihotel.com). Outside the city, there are self-catering cabins to choose from. Cabanas Tokerau is an option with sea-facing rooms and sunset views (around ₹ 8800 per night; cabanastokerau.cl/en).
At the super premium end is the all inclusive Explora Rapa Nui (explora.com). The 3N package starts from ₹ 2.35,000 for double occupancy and includes accommodation, meals, transportation and sightseeing
What to eat and drink
Fresh seafood at Easter Island. The specialty is tuna, best ceviche – a preparation of raw tuna salted with lime and mixed with a variety of condiments
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<img src = "https: // www. outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Pisco-sour-Easter-Island.jpg "alt =" Picso Sour, a traditional Peruvian and Chilean drink [19659058] Picso Sour, a traditional Peruvian and Chilean drink
A traditional meal is Umu – meat and vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in an underground oven with hot stones.The local tipple is pisco sour – a drink Traditional Chilean-based pisco (a clear brandy), lemon juice, sugar and egg whites.Home-grown tropical fruits and fresh fruit juices are other must-haves on the island. Easter Island.
What to See and Do [19659048]
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Small memories of moais
Moai spotting is the main activity. Many people do it independently, but for a better understanding of historical significance, go for a guided tour. We chose Green Island Tours (gitourseasterisland.com). In the hottest months, nautical activities like swimming, snorkeling and diving are popular. Spend an evening watching a showcase of local dance and music . Some companies set up shows at different days of the week. Ballet Kari Kari ( ₹ 1,600 per person) is highly recommended.
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