South America Day 40: Papeete to Moorea

January 2012

Up early to pack before heading off to catch the ferry. Stopped at the supermarket to buy breakfast, lunch and some water before heading down to the wharf.

We got the Amereti 5 at 915 am and about 30 minutes later we were on Moorea.

We were picked up at the wharf and taken about 30 minutes around the Island to our accommodation. We were surprised that we were able to check in and spend the full day in our over water bungalow.

We grabbed our snorkel and got straight into the water right off our balcony. The water was warm (but good) and we were able to see heaps of tropical fish. After a quick baguette lunch we headed back in for another snorkel.

We went for about a 5 k walk to find a place that sold soda, only to find one about 300 meters away from the hotel!

We went for another snorkel before watching the sunset.

We then headed down the road for dinner. We both had the set menu, DH having the pizza and I having the local raw fish, followed by ice cream, before heading back to the hotel.

Stay
Hilton Moorea, 107 Over water Bungalow

Eat
Pension Motu Iti (left out of the hotel)

Do
Snorkel

South America Day 39: Rapa Nui to Papeete

January 2012

One more day in my childhood dream location.

Out on a snorkeling excursion at Orongo. We got in the water and snorkeled for about an hour seeing blue and white coral and tropical fish.


We headed back to town for lunch before going on a walk along the coast to the Tahai Complex. Here they have a few different Moai's, one with eyes.

We continued further along to the museum. The exhibit is small but they have booklets explaining each item in whatever language you need.

We headed back into town and ending up dipping our feet in the water and then heading to dinner and ordering the same dishes we had our first day here - ceviche and the baked crab dish.

We then headed back to the hotel for our transfer to the airport and 6 hours later arrived in Papeete, where we were picked up and headed to our hotel.

Stay
Fare Suisee, Papeete

Eat
Haka Honu, Rapa Nui

Do
Snorkeling at Orongo
Tahai Complex
   Ahu Vai Uri
   Ahu Tahai
   Ahu Ko Te Riko
Museum

South America Day 38: Rapa Nui/Easter Island

January 2012

Another morning of breakfast, a walk to the water and then on the tour bus for another day with the Moai's.

Our first stop was Akahanga, where there are a number of Moai's lying down.

We then visited Ahu Tangariki, where there are 15 large Moai's with their backs facing the sea, all restored in 1955, before being pushed over by a tsunami and having to be re-restored.

Next was Rano Raraku, which is a large quary that contains over 500 unfinished Moai's, with a great view of Ahu Tangariki.

We had a BBQ lunch before beading off to Te Pito Kura where there is one large Moai. The story here is that it was built to honor a woman's late husband and was one of the last Moai to be destroyed or pushed over in the 1850s.

We spent the afternoon at Anakena beach, where they have the Ahu Nau Nau and you can swim in the ocean overlooking the Moai's.

That evening we had dinner at Kanahau on the main street. We shared the raw fish for entree, for main DH had the tuna curry and I had the tuna with scallops, prawns, local mash and cream sauce - it was fantastic and I still think about that meal.

Stay
Hotel O'Tai

Eat
Kanahau

Do
Day tour with Kia Koe Tours
Akahanga
Ahu Tongariki
Rano Raroku
Te Pito Kura
Anakena Beach with the Ahu Nau Nau

South America Day 37: Rapa Nui/Easter Island

January 2012

Up late for breakfast and a quick walk down to the water before being picked up for our day tour.

We drove to Ana Kai Tangata, a cave where they have paintings of the bird men cult.

We drove further up the hill to Orango, where you pay our park fee. There is a large volcanic crater here (Rano Kau), and you can see the Motu in the distance as well as the traditional houses made of stone.

We then drove to Ahu Vinapu to see our first Moai's. The main one being a head, and some large ones lying down.

We went back to the main street and had some empanadas for lunch, before getting picked up again for our afternoon tour.

This time we visited Puna Pau, which is the quary of the headpieces or hair on the Moai's.

We made at stop at Ahu Akivi, which was my favourite location and is the 7 explorers, the only Moai's to be facing the sea.

We drive onto Te Pahu, where there are lava flow tunnels, and finished our afternoon tour.

That night we went to Te Ra'ai, for the traditional Polynesia dinner (umu) and dancing.

Stay
Hotel O'Tai

Eat
Donade La Tia Sonia
Milkafe for icecream
Te Ra'ai

Do
Orango
Valcano Rano Kau
Ahu Vinapu
Ana Kai Tangata
Ahu Akivi or the 7 Explorers
Te Pahu
Puna Pau

Do

South America Day 36: Santiago to Rapa Nui

January 2012

When I was younger a primary school teacher showed us pictures of the statues of Easter Island, I had grown up around people that had travelled to all types of places (East Germany, Israel, Afghanistan) but from this point on Easter Island and it's Moai's was the pinnacle of travelling. Little did I know that 20 something years later I would be married to someone of Polynesian heritage who's interest in this Island on the tip of the South Pacific region would be nearly as strong as mine.

So after a 5 hour flight from Santiago we arrived in Rapa Nui (or Easter Island or Isla de Pascua).

After checking into our hotel, we took the short stroll down to the water and along to Haka Honu for lunch. We enjoyed the local raw fish and a baked crab and cheese dish.

We had an afternoon dip in the rock pool at Playa Pea, we even saw a sea turtle swimming.

We had dinner at a Pizzeria - the large pizza would have fed 4, before calling it a night.

Stay
O'Tai Hotel

Eat
Haka Honu, so much better than what Trip advisor says (and where there were plenty of locals on a Sunday afternoon)
Pizzeria La Esquina

Do
Swim in the rock pool
Walk along the main street

South America Day 35: Santiago

January 2012

Up to catch the tour bus. Once on the bus we headed 2.5 hours North West from Santiago out to Vina del Mar. We first stopped at the botanical gardens where they hold concerts every year and they have an old house (currently being restored due to damage sustained in a major earthquake).

 
We then stopped at the Easter Island museum, where they have one of the large Moai's on display. We then headed towards the coast stopping for a fish lunch on the Pacific ocean.

We then headed towards Valparaiso to the Chilean Poets Pablo Neruela, we didn't do the tour but took pictures of the outside and walked to the poets park.

We then visited the painted buildings and rode the funicular. We then headed back on the bus to Santiago.

That night we had a quick dinner. I had a large Churrasco Completo which was a beef sandwich with sauerkraut, tomatoes and salsa. DH had the Churrasco pobre, which was steak strips, eggs and chips.

Stay
Blue Tree Fundador

Eat
The Red Bar

Do
Valparaiso
Vina del mar

South America Day 34: Iguazu to Santiago

January 2012

This day was a prime example of how things when travelling never go to plan. There was meant to be a 5 hour gap between our flight landing at the domestic airport and the flight departing from the international airport in Buenos Aires. By time our plane was 1 hour late leaving Iguazu, Argentina and baggage taking over an hour at the domestic airport, the mad dash across town in what was now peak hour traffic, we only made our plane to Santiago because that flight was delayed 1.5 hours.

The joy of travelling...

Stay
Blue Fundador, Santiago