When you gaze at a world map, it’s almost surreal to spot such a tiny island adrift in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. So minuscule that you must zoom in multiple times just to discern its triangular silhouette.
Before my journey, I immersed myself in numerous videos by Lao Gao about Easter Island. The star of the show is, of course, the iconic Moai statues 🗿 (finally, a chance to use this emoji!). The Ahu Tongariki platform, with its fifteen towering Moai, is a breathtaking sight. These ancient figures stand facing inland, their backs to the sea, as if guarding some profound secret. To an outsider, the Moai are enigmatic, but up close, you can sense an ancient, enduring faith that still resonates.
Conversations with the local Rapa Nui people revealed a different perspective. For them, the descendants, these monuments are not unsolved mysteries but cherished legacies. Their ancestors crafted these wonders, and their duty is to preserve them for future generations. Each individual carries a mysterious “Mana” (akin to chakra), which empowers them to fulfill their destinies.
Every stone on the island is imbued with power—also known as Mana. Many stones bear the marks left by the ancestors of Rapa Nui, whether it’s a whale or a birdman totem. The current inhabitants continue to protect these relics with deep reverence.
This experience reminded me of a passage from Liu Cixin’s “The Three-Body Problem”: no matter how advanced a cosmic civilization becomes, engraving on stone remains the most reliable method of recording civilization. Thus, Luo Ji inscribed “Give time to civilization” on a stone.
⭐️ Highlights
✅🗿Ahu Tongariki: The ultimate spot for sunrise🌅 and stargazing the Milky Way
✅🗿Ahu Tahai: The best place to catch a sunset🌄, each day offering a unique spectacle!
✅🗿Rano Raraku Quarry: The birthplace of the Moai statues
✅🦤Orongo (Birdman Village): The Birdman story is incredibly fascinating!
✅🏝️Anakena: A beach adorned with Moai, reminiscent of a Zelda scene, a slice of Hawaii, too beautiful to be real
💅 Travel Tips
✔️Book your flight early, or forget it: While everything on the island, including tours, shows, and meals, can be arranged last minute in true laid-back South American style, LATAM flights require advance booking.
✔️Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! I underestimated the relentless sun, and my shoulders got sunburned for the first time.
Either slather on the sunscreen or keep your shoulders covered 🙃.
✔️The cuisine on the island is somewhat underwhelming… It hasn’t quite captured the culinary essence of the South American continent.
✔️A schedule of [half day + full day + half day] is ample to explore the island.
💙 The world has no end
Watching the sunrise and sunset on Easter Island, I found myself lost in thought, contemplating what an INFJ should ponder when faced with such mysteries: the origin and destiny of our world.
The islanders say, “We are not alone, we are just far away.”
The world has no end
📍 Easter Island
