Rapa Nui - Day Nine

Oh hi! Another day, another cancelled flight for the Chileans...(they were all on stand-by, because of being LAN employees.) They hired a gurt hi-lux style pickup and invited us on a tour of the island to see some of the caves that they had visited...cheers. We didn't realise that everyone was going...it was pretty packed and we must have looked quite a sight! Here is Woody dog after pegging it after the pickup from the campsite to the garage...Fuck, that dog could really run like the wind!

Woody immediately dived in the back, we then had to take him with us, I doubt that we could have shaken him off! Lol!


At our first stop on the 'Juan & Woody Tour' we went to Puna Pau the site where the red stone was mined for the top-knots. Juan and Woody in the distance...well they were the guides!


A better example of the bottom of the top-knots that have a whole that fitted over the head of the figure to keep it on!


Petroglyphs at Puna Pau.


A very windy view back to Hanga Roa.


The quarry at Puna Pau with the red scoria visible in the hillside.


After this we all got back in the pickup and were off to the next site of Ahu Akivi. We had passed this on the horseride but weren't stopping (lol) so I was chuffed to get back there. Before we made it down the very rough track Woddy hoofed it out the back and flung himself in a massive muddy puddle for a drink and lie down...'don't worry about the pickup still moving!' Arrgggh, wet dog!

Rodrigo gives Woody a drink. I gave him a wet-wipe! Eww!


Ahu Akivi.




Carlos kindly takes a piccy of me at the site.


One last look.


Back in the pickup, wet dog n'all! Glad about the 'ladies in front' rule now!


Next stopping at the cave Ana Te Pahu. Here's Daniella appreciating the sunlight in what was initially a very, very muddy scramble, with Juan and Daniella both giving Wiji and I a hand so we didn't slip over! The Chileans had already been there, but without head torches, the madness of it was quite funny...so we brought our head torches, but still cracked our heads on the low cave ceilings.


The caves were used like the walled gardens at Manavai to grow crops in a sheltered micro-climate.


It was at the end of this cave that a pile of stones could be climbed on to then reach a small hole as an exit. Woody started to whine thinking that he was going to be left behind. Wiji even considered heaving him up, but he came back the original way with us in part then leggged it out of another open section.

Just under this tree was the point of exit where we scrambled out...you would never know!


Wiji looking down the open lava hole in the roof of the cave. Careful now!


Looking down the banana crop inside an open part of the cave.


The pointed leaves of the Taro crop in the cave below.




On the left of the cave, a fresh underground water course.


Then we were off again to the next cave Ana Kakenga... in Rapa Nui, or Dos Ventana's in Spanish, meaning two windows. Here is Simmi and Woody enjoying the view that was a sheer drop to the rocks below and the crashing waves.


Wiji in the other window.


Me and Woody. 'Dangerous dog takes a rest from day out!' Lol.


Me, on the muddy cave floor taking a look over the edge...it was a recipe for disaster.


The whole framed view of the second window. The cave was originally used as a refuge for islanders from enemies. 'Blackbirding', as it is know, happened in the South Pacific. This was where islanders were rounded up by Europeans, often by gun point and taken aboard a ship as slave labour to work in another country.


Ooooh!




The hole that we all joyfully squeezed ourselves in and out of to get to the cave! Quality.


From above ground the coast line that you could see from inside the cave.


We decided to have a family photo. Juan is missing here as he took the pic. Don't we look like a right bunch? Dog n'all!


Then back off again to the next cave Ana Te Pora. We really would have never seen or found these without Juan I don't think.

The cave was wide and open with this flat rectangle of rocks along both sides. Here we could stand up.


The central section of rocks. Aparently this cave was used as a dwelling.


Outside the cave, the tree marks the spot where the exit is...a bit of a scramble out!


Woody..straight back in the pickup!


Then off again to the area of Ahu Tepu. Here's Wiji admiring the coast.


Here is the stone outline for a canoe style roof dwelling. The rectangular rocks have smooth circular holes in them to fix the bamboo structure. It was really interesting to see this after our visits to the museum. After looking at this one we could spot several others in the landscape. This was a village.


Ahu Tepu and fallen figures and top-knots.




Around the back of the Ahu.




Some more beautiful stonemansonry reminding us of Machu Picchu.




We were really enjoying everyones company, and this whirl wind tour...it was a lot of fun!

Wiji in the back soaking up Woody's dribble in the wind, nice.


Simmi and Wiji, laughing their way through the bumps.


The Chileans had told us about a specific spot on the island where a car will roll up hill. It seemed to be quite a LAN tradition to visit this place. Juan had already shown us a pretty compelling video on his phone...we were intrigued, if a tad skeptical! 'Juan take us there!' and he did! This was the road, the pickup did roll, although slowly, but it seemed to be a trick of the landscape. Marius even tried to pour some water on the tarmac to determine the hill's direction, but Woody helpfully kept trying to drink it, lol.


This stone formation marks the spot by the side of the road.


I even tried to take a vid, but cacked it up, so hopefully Juan will send us his...it was interesting, but defo not magnetic!

Last stop (maybe) the beach at Anakena...yay!


Enjoying the sun and a beer after a swim.




Cheers Juan for driving!


The family.


On our way home we stopped at the magnetic ball, we had previously visited this. Check out Woody!




Then Juan kindly dropped us off in town, outside a tattoo shop, accidentally leading everyone to believe we were off to get a tattoo. No...sorry to disappoint, just the shopping!

Rapa Nui's message to Chile.


A fantastic day out...we were really poooped after it! Thanks Juan for driving and inviting us! There was a power cut in the evening so we all sat in the communal kitchen in candle light...it made it seem much nicer!