(photos, moto video)
You probably heard about Easter Island (or Rapa Nui) before. Especially about its people, who, completely devoted to sculpturing, almost led to the extinction of their own civilization (with some “help” from outside).
What you might not know, is that Rapa Nui has a nice symmetrical triangular shape. You also might not know how little we actually know about the recent history of the island, and of its civilization in particular. Not that the indigenous people tried to hide it – they left almost 900 huge Moai sculptures weighting dozens of tons each. We expected that with today’s technologies such as radiocarbon dating and DNA sequencing, the scientists should be able to figure out who slept with whom, and who was more into sculpturing and when.
Not at all! We don’t know when the first people arrived (ranging from 300-800 CE), from where (Marquises, Tuamotou or Pitcairn islands), when the Moais were erected (400 -1700 CE !!!), and why exactly this tradition was dropped. Even the local writing system remained undeciphered, with some archeologists suggesting that it is not any script at all. What are they paid for, all these scientists?!
Our 6-day stay on the island was very relaxed. We hiked and hitchhiked a bit to see the Moais. One day Maciek rented an enduro (cross) motorbike and we got where very few people ever get, especially on vehicles. We spent the Christmas Eve on our camping, on the see, with a lot of food, and with 40 other backpackers from all over the world. Greetings to all of you guys!
On the next day, we learnt the following recipe for the best fish we’ve ever eaten: Take a fishing rod and go with your boat near the coast of Easter Island. Catch a 80kg Marlin. Take it back to the shore, put on your pick-up, peel some skin off and cut a 0.5kg slice of it. Dip in a freshly squeezed lemon juice and serve the people around, including the two fellows from Poland.
Now we are back on the continent, in Mendoza, Argentina.
And we wish you Happy New Year 2010!
Blog entry location:See entire map here!
Nareszcie!!!
ale mają nosale te rzeźby ! faaaaaaaaaaajnie…….. dużo szczęścia w 2010, ślicznych widoków ciekawych couchsurferów! buźka!
Czołem dzieciaki,
Jutro wyjeżdżam do Kazachstanu (o ile ostatnie śniegi na to pozwolą) i stamtąd będę śledził Wasze wojaże. Na motorze to podpowiadam :niekoniecznie trzeba tylko po błocie, choć pewnie wyobraźnia “telewizyjnego” rajdowca jak Ty, tylko takie challange “zna”. Foto v. ładne.Posągi nieporuszone, choć czasem niedoświetlone (czarne jakieś?), oraz jakichś jeden nowszy po lewej, a Marta ładnie opalona i ma ładną figurkę. Mama mówi, że ty też chyba schudłeś. We are anxciously waiting for news in close future. Take care & report frequently. Pa
Niech rok 2010 przyniesie Rybom z Gdyni wszystkiego co najlepsze!
o o … jak konie, to tylko mechaniczne !
Happy New Year 2010.
Niech wam ten rok przyniesie wiele szczęścia.
Ciekawa jestem gdzie go przywitaliście. Wygląda na to, że gdzieś w górach. Czekam na relacje.
Happy New Year! Really enjoy folowing your trip.
Happy New Year.
Just stumbled on your site today (no harm done…)
Nice reading.
You make me want to travel again. Well, I guess I should start planning Camille’s first backpacking trip in 15 years time.
Keep on the good work.
Happy 2010!!! Keep on having fun!
Oglądamy na bieżąco zmagania mrówek i motocykli, no i oczywiście wspaniałe i dowcipne zdjęcia. Również wspaniałych chwil życzymy w nowym 2010 roku. No i życzymy wszystkiego najlepszego. Maciek! Nina czeka jak dosiądziesz konia. Oceni cię surowo.