Easter Island 2000
Easter Island Trip, June 2000
French Polynesian island of Bora Bora. Car rental was $75 a day and there is a mostly paved road that circles the island - hamburger with fries same price. Helicopter tour was my highlight. The Aquabubble underwater reef boat ride was the highlight for the kids.
Hotel Sofitel on the island of Moorea. A nice resort with the best swimming on the island. Children crafts and an air conditioned movie hut too.
Easter Island. Hanga Roa, the small Chilean town on Easter Island (Isla De Pascua if you're from Chile or Rapa Nui if you're a dead Polynesian).
Super small four seat Suzuki 4X4 rental car. It's impossible to get lost on this small island that's over two thousand miles from the nearest city.
This truck drove around town and gave tickets to the locals. The two men also appeared to be the gate guards for the totally unseen Chile Marine garrison. The whole island was very safe, local Chile people seemed to be largely South American style middle class.
A picture of some Moi (big head statues, pronounced moe-eye). Taken right next to the rock quarry. It's also right next to the old lake (other lake is modern man-made), so it was an important area. The whole island is littered with bones and fascinating archaeological remains, still pretty pristine, the locals seem to respect the land.
Other than the lack of fast food, Easter Island is the perfect family trip, and the kids loved it.
A Moi with a broken neck. These are all over the island since the natives liked beating on each others heads.
More Moi that were restored after being knocked over by a tidal wave in 1981.
This Moi was pushed over by European missionaries (says my tour book) who were angry with the indigenous people.
Old Lake in the volcano, was the only large supply of fresh water on the island, target of many battles. Only horses live here now.
Plains of Easter Island, modern Eucalyptus groves have been planted for wood. The lack of trees is one reason why the island is so famous, most grown trees were used as statue rollers and early boats.
One of the lava caves that can be found where the locals hid from tribal fighting and South American slave runners. Overpopulation and cannablism became a problem, tour guide informed me that non-warrior natives would have spent their entire lives in the space of a backyard, you didn't wander.
The Big Market. Everything from bikes to beds, not to mention imported American style food (Chile food is no joke), super cheap too.
Comfortable ocean view cabin complete with lawn dog.
The "I look like a poor kid" car in Tahiti. No horn or radio but cheap for $45 daily. Tahiti is the international hub for French-Polynesia, and they have real American style fast food (gold bullion and mortgage deeds accepted at most locations).
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