Fri 13th - Mon 16th (Week 12)

Fri 13th - Really nice 6 hour flight to Easter Island with Lan and managed to watch 2 films, and have a nice dinner with beer and wine ! Descended through the clouds to see a beautiful sunset over the deep blue sea, with the only island around for 2000 miles being Easter Island ! Landed at 9pm (3hrs behind Chile time) and were greeted by our Cabana owner with beautiful fresh leis and given a tour of Hanga Roa town in her jeep. Looks a lovely little town, and can't wait to explore it. Feel very spoilt with our beautiful cabana - huge bed, huge ensuite, and own dining room and kitchen - such a treat from our usual small shared bathrooms and kitchens in hostels !

Sat 14th - Leisurely start to the morning and enjoyed having everything to ourselves and being able to unpack ! Headed out at 10am and wandered through town, and along the coastal path to the Museum. Interesting displays and information on the history of the island which is a good way to start our stay. Saw the first of the huge Moai's along the coast, and then went to Kia Koe offices for our 3pm tour to the North West of the island. Went to Puna Pau quarry to see where the tops of the moai were carved and had a good view back down to the town. Then onto Ahu Akivi to see the amazing 7 moai which are the only ones on the whole island that are facing out to sea. Then final stop was Sector Ana Te Pahu to see the lava tunnels that used to be used for growing crops as they are sheltered from the weather. Pretty cool walking through the lava tunnels - never seen or been inside them before. Back in our cabana at 6:30pm and had a nice dinner using our lovely kitchen !

Sun 15th - Got picked up at 10am for our full day tour. Did a circuit of the island, starting with Akahanga which was a small platform with a few fallen moais. Then onto Ahu Tongariki which was the most impressive site we've seen so far - a huge 100m long platform with 15 statues varying in height with the sea and cliffs just behind. Unfortunately it was quite cloudy, and even some rain first thing, so not the iconic blue-sky photos we were hoping for, but still really impressive. Next we went to Rano Raraku which is the quarry where all the moai were carved, and you could still see lots of unfinished statues - some buried up to the neck, and some mid-way through being carved with the biggest being 22m long ! Had a lunch stop there where everyone had the expensive packed lunch, and we walked off to see the crater lake instead and have our jam sandwiches ! Then onto Ahu Te Pito Kura which was a lovely setting by the sea with a large round magnetic rock which the guide demonstrated by putting a compass on it and it span around. Final stop was at the Anakena beach. Some more stunning moai with their head stones on this time and beautiful blue sea setting behind. Brandon went in the sea but it was a little chilly, so I sat on the golden sands instead. Back in our cabana at 5:30 and enjoyed the facilities for our final night before checking out tomorrow.

Mon 16th - Completed our 3 day stay with a final morning tour to see the few remaining sites in the south of the island. Started off by visiting Orongo - the site where the birdman competitions were held for 200 years (1660's to 1860's) where the strongest man from each family took part in a competition to swim 1.5km over to a little island, survive for a few weeks until the birds laid eggs, take an egg and swim back with it, climb the 300m cliff face and present it to the chief intact, and he would then be chief for the next year. The site is on the rim of the
Rano Kau volcano crater which has a 1.6km diameter and lake in the middle. Really good views over the entire island and you can appreciate how small it really is. Final stop was to Vinapu - another Ahu (platform) with fallen moai, but the back wall of the Ahu was very similar to the Inca walls in Cusco - perfectly fitting and seamless joints. Spent the rest of the afternoon souvenir shopping and bought 2 moai statues - one from pumice, and one from sand. Just hope they make it home in one piece ! Beautiful sunny afternoon which was lovely to see the moais on the coast, but shame we didn't have it on any of our trips ! Had our one and only meal out and had tuna and cheese empanadas and beer - extravagance ! Walked the 5mins to the airport from our cabanas (not often you can say that!), and checked in for the midnight flight to Tahiti. Bit of a scare at passport control as there appeared to be a Chilean person with the same passport number as me, and the security man was grilling me if I was Chilean or had a note from the embassy to explain it !! Luckily he let me through, but bit worrying for future flights ! Then whilst we were waiting to take off on the plane, Brandon was asked to contact the staff and was also grilled if he was in transit, how long he'd been in Chile etc ! Very strange that we both had problems - but all ok in the end !