Rapa Nui - Day Twelve

Oh hi! The last day had arrived, we both felt quite sad. As usual we were greeted by Negro as we opened the tent door...still not ideal! We had our last egg sarnie brekkie and took time to carefully pack up the trusty tent, thinking what a great buy the tarp was, lol.

We decided to hire a scooter again to have a last wizz around and I couldn't leave without seeing the only kneeling figure on the island at Rano Raraku. It was quite a blustery trip on the hairdryer of a scooter!

Here he is! We got caught up in all the excitement of the crater last time and missed this figure on the south slopes.


We weren't disappointed.


Looking towards Tongariki and Poiki...


A very large fallen figure...


Wiji and I checking out the scale...




A last look back... there where loads of people here on this day. We were lucky it was almost deserted on our first visit.


A 'Makemake' petroglyph, possibly...




And back on the scooter to check out the coastline and the enormous waves...this time a bit more appropriately dressed! We had lunch by the sea, before fleeing on the scooter to try to outrun the rain clouds.


Lava bubbles.


Oh hi!


Having successfully avoided the rain (well done Wiji). The last figure to look at was one that we had passed several times just outside Hanga Roa. It had an impressive ahu, and the Easter island cross on the hill side in the distance...






We decided to hop back on the scooter and check out the enormous waves crashing on the coastline. It was a very windy day.






We both totally loved Rapa Nui. I was so glad that at the end of the trip I felt that I had actually had enough time here to explore, relax and get a sense of the island. Unlike a lot of places that we have visited, where we have said that we want to return, I doubt that I will return here. I hope to get to the Marquesas one day...but hey, that's what my 6wk summer holl is for, no?




Some massive waves breaking...










Then later that afternoon we caught our flight out of Rapa Nui and onto Tahiti. On the plane we listened to our favourite Rapa Nui song from the local radio station and I cried. Wiji say's that I 'put the mental in sentimental'...aaah, cheers love...But I know you are sad to be leaving too.xxx

Rapa Nui - Days Ten and Eleven

Oh hi! knowing that we would be leaving soon, we decided to catch up on some blogging and check out our piccies. There was time also to have a great coffee from our fave place by the church.

Wiji with his bone Birdman necklace...very suitable.xxx


We naturally had a tuna and cheese empanada too from the blue hut by Playa Pea!

The skies later that afternoon on the walk home were epic!






The colours were stunning too...








Lol, the owners were away for a month in Switzerland.


The sunset and our brilliant tiny but mighty tent that withstood the weather like no other on the site. Lucky for us Juan was still aound to take this pic...we hoped that LAN would sort out his flight for tomorrow, but hey! Lets have some more rum!








On day 11 we thought why not have a beach day! Plenty of rushing around the island exploring it...lets just chill, why not eh? So we hired a scooter to get to Anakena beach (cheaper than a taxi) and also Wiji was delighted...'Oh but it makes much more sense'...Lol, whatever.

After carefully negotiating the roads Wiji got us there in one piece...flipflops and scooters don't really go together in my book, but I am getting on a bit...safety first!

Anakena was deserted, yay!


Much calmer waters over this side of the island...




Exploring the rock pools...


Checking out the view back to Anakena, fron the jetty that the local boys were throwing themselves off previously...




Incredible lava formations...


Down in one of the view points to the sea through the floor of lava, sea urchins had made some of the holes their homes...a perfect fit!


Plenty of mullions at the end of flowering.


The only other person on the beach was 'seaweed man', who was raking it up and leaving the seaweed in neat clumps over the base of the coconut palm...what a great job! 'Can I do a litter pick? Oh there is none!'

We had a couple of swims and a picnic. Wiji with his 'birdman' bone pendant...looking good!




Wiji doing a 'Grandpa Len'...this can happen anywhere!


When the sun really came out it was super lush!


After a full chillax we headed back on the scooter, soon realising that we might get caught by the impending rain clouds....

Poike in the distance. The scooter was a great way to experience the landscape.


Scooter heaven...ha ha. Really? A careful driver in fact.x


On the ride home we stopped to admire some more amazing skies...




'The open road'...(silent scream), even though we are going 30 mph, lol...but I'm not really a relaxed passenger...


Avoiding the rain all the way home, well done Wiji! What a great day.