The ironman of travel Yoshimasa Ikeuchi

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３・Orongo

A national park for bird-human rituals that conveys the history of the Islands. The three Islands that can be seen under the cliffs are spectacular.

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９・Puna Pau

　　The place where Pukao (moai hat) was cut out

７・Ahu Vaihu

　　Eight moai statues are lying down with their faces down　

８・Afu Vinapu

　　The elaborate stonework is wonderful

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Ranking of highlights selected by traveling ironmen

４・　Afu Akivi

Ahu first restored in 1960. Only here stands towards the sea

スライドショー

１・　Rano Raraku

Moai manufacturing site: 1 to 2 hours on foot for the entire process

Ahu with the largest 15 bodies that have been restored. Japanese companies contributed to the restoration If you have time, the Asahi is definitely recommended.

５・Sunset at Tahai Ruins

Tahai Luoyang is from 8:15 to 9:00. Walking distance from the village. Moai spot with the setting sun in the background.

１０・ Ana Te Pahu

Puna Pau The place where Pukao (moai hat) was cut out

６・　Playa de Anakena

One of the few beaches on the Island

There are 3 mountains and 3 craters on the Island. The highest altitude "Maunga Telebaka" (506.54m). The largest crater is Rano Cow with a diameter of 1500m. It is difficult to shoot a panoramic view even with a wide-angle lens. Another crater is adjacent to the Poike Peninsula. Rano Raraku has a cliff on the south side.

The mysterious mystery of Moai makes the Island fascinating. Some Islanders miss the good old customs, but the reality is that the influx of economic problems is inevitable. It may be unavoidable that the atmosphere of the Island will be lost while the construction of new banks is progressing and the number of tourists is increasing.

Moai with a height of 10 m is said to take 30 people and have a manufacturing period of one year. It is said that stone statues were more suitable than wooden statues on the windy Easter Island. Many "stone Buddhas" can be seen on Japanese Islands. It is a human being who believes in something or embodies an ancestor or a god. Standing against the sea is the guardian deity of the village. There are archaeologists' hypotheses such as manufacturing methods and transportation methods, but they are only speculations.

Moai culture where everything is shrouded in mystery. A mysterious sight where the work was suddenly stopped while it was still unfinished. Overwhelmed by its majesty, it was canceled for some reason and continues to the present day. Climb near the top of the quarry. 1300 years of history dwelling in the back of Moai overlooking. Those with only the face remaining, those with the upper body tilted. A tragic figure that history tells.

Moai highlights

This mountain stone is the raw material for the giant moai. The original stone quarry is left as it is on the mountaintop. At the foot of the mountain, there are more than 300 moais in the process of being made, and there is also a huge moai that exceeds 20m. It is as high as a 7-story building. Kotetsu and I walk along the walking path and see the mysterious sight.

Rano Raraku
Ｒａｎｏ　Ｒｓｒａｋｕ　

Island day itinerary

9:00 AM School visit.

11: 00-12: 00 massage.

 Exchange to the bank at 12:30 (wait for 40 minutes)

13:30 lunch.

14: 30-15: 30 Shower and nap.

16: 00-19: 00 Rano Raraku tour (1 hour 30 minutes on foot).

19:40 Light meal.

20; 15-21: 15 minutes Shooting the sunset.

 21: 30-22: 30 Polynesian Dance Show.

22: 45-23: 45 Supper.

11:55 Arrive at the hotel (all transfers are by taxi)

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Movie show  

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At Anakena Beach ...

Dancer ROMINA

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Dance show tour

The original tour of Easter Island is a physical fitness game. It requires energy, strength and curiosity.

②     KARI KARI In the village

9: 00-10: 00 PM Admission fee 12000 pesos 20 dollars. If you make a reservation from the hotel, a special seat in the front row of the stage. It's good to see, but it's too close to take a photo. There are many performers, and many sophisticated dancers are beautiful, so it's worth seeing. 

　　PM10; 00-11: 00 Admission fee 12000 pesos 20 dollars.

Three dance shows are held on the Island (every day except Sunday). It seems that the stage is expanding and getting better year by year. The log of the building is used as it is for the stage. If you think of it as a simple dance, it is a powerful show of the history and tradition of the Island full of excitement.

50 dollars with meal, 10,000 pesos only for the show. The shop where Romena is dancing. Meals and shows are set at a restaurant show. Inside a small stage where you can sweat with sound and heat. Solo dancer Romina is also an introduction from an acquaintance, and jumps in and enters I was surprised that there was no table and chairs were prepared in the corner of the stage. I couldn't take a picture because the dancer was too close. I stood up and took a little bit of a picture for an hour. The ride of foreign tourists is good. I'm good at enjoying it. The performance ends at 10:30. Now it's time to eat. I'm getting tired of looking for a restaurant on the night road. It was my first experience to move around so busy on an Island trip. The night on Easter Island is not over.

③     Polynesian dance show 9: 30-10: 30 PM

Easter Island gourmet memo

Restaurant Aloha (Tuesday)

The secret of the dancers every day is the good taste and service. The smile of the waitress is popular. Each seasoning is solid. The price is a little high, but you can rest assured that the menu is abundant even if you go every day. Recommended restaurant recommended by Tetsujin of travel.

Ceviche (raw tuna carpaccio-style salad) meat dish (New Zealand)

Merahi Raa ★★

A popular local restaurant near the harbor. The second restaurant next to the new one is large. The taste and price of each dish of meat and fish are convincing.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Tia Berta

After ordering, it's ready quickly. The popular menu is enbanada, 250 yen (tuna and cheese onions) Japanese-style piroshki. It's quick to finish. Takeout is also possible. There are many other one-item menus as well.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　★★

Taha Tai Hotel

The only hotel on Easter Island where Japanese staff are resident. Yuko Mogami (Nara Prefecture), who has been on the Island for 10 years, is a powerful travel escort. The husband, Kenji Mogami, is an Island guide. Applauds for a way of life that blends in with nature. The interior of the hotel is clean, safe and secure. The service of all the staff is very good. 　★★★

★★★

Izakaya Kotaro

The owner is a Peruvian who has lived in Japan for 6 years. He is his real name Francis Xavier. His son is "Kotaro". He also has a Japanese menu and can watch DVDs of Japanese TV programs. Bowl of rice and fried fish. Takoyaki set meal, grilled pork ginger, and seafood bowl are recommended. It's better not to eat ramen.　　　　　　　　　　　　　★★

Fishing diary

Suddenly Kotetsu catches. Next and next. The fish only hangs on her needle. "What is happening" The ferry and I caught 3-4, but today's Kotetsu is invincible. The stone fishing method is also quite interesting. Kotetsu, who caught 11 fish for 2 hours, is the winner. Hurry to the harbor before the waves get higher.

Suddenly Kotetsu catches

December on the island is the tuna season. You can eat tuna in the South Pacific. I was taken to the harbor by the driver Ferry Munyo. Encountered the landing of tuna at the right time. lucky!

The champion of the fishing tournament is Kotetsu

Wrap a bird peach around a stone

Prey bird peach

Underwater glasses and weights instead of anchors

Check the fish with underwater glasses

Captain of a fearless tuna ship.

65 kg of tuna and Kotetsu (50 kg)

The mechanism uses chicken thigh meat. Feed a stone of about 10 cm and wind it about 10 times. Place the bread on it and roll it 10 more times. The moment the fish are collected with bread and the stones are thrown off the bait appears.

"This is interesting‘’.

The ship anchors in the quiet part of the waves of the Island shadow of Cape Ologun. Anchor is a primitive method of tying a rope to a large stone and submerging it in the sea to fix it. The captain checks the fish in the sea with his peeping glasses. I tried it too, but there were no fish. Move the ship a little and this time it's OK.

The next day, three of us who were trying to trolling. The ship is struck by big waves, the bottom of the ship hits the waves, and the hand that grabs the edge of the ship gets stronger. It's like riding a rampage horse. The first hit came. Unfortunately, the fish will soon fall out.

Freshly caught tuna

Boatman

The waves hitting the bottom of the ship echo to the waist. Easter Island fishing tournament. The champion is Kotetsu. It is unusual for her not to get seasick only this time. She may have been watching over the Moai statue.

Today's fishing result

Taxi driver ferry

A ship loaded with stones

Weigh 65 kg of prey pulled up by three people. Cut off the head on the spot and pull out the internal organs neatly. The fearless captain is a bloody fight. I wonder if I can fish with such a small fishing boat.

Epilogue

Easter Island Flowers

The last supper is "Restaurant Aloha" It was packed tonight as well. Taxi driver Ferry Munyo (54). Five people, his wife Patricia (48) and Kenji Mogami, who has permanent residence on the Island. The conversation is endless. A ferry with a lovely smile tilts the wine glass saying Tonight is a special night.

Abandoned during the production of Moai at Rano Raraku during the Stone Age of the 17th century. It is a mystery when the Moai statue was built "when", "who" and "for what".

Destroyed in the 18th century by tribal conflicts on the Island, and in all directions due to the Chilean earthquake The TV reports that it was scattered. "I should have seen this earlier."

Kotetsu's one word  

Easter Island is blessed with encounters with people and the weather. The moai statues scattered around the Island were unique and spectacular. The beautiful blue sky and clouds are burning in my eyes on a trip that is more satisfying than I expected. Thank you to everyone who took care of us.

November 27th-December 3rd, 2008

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yoshimasa Ikeuchi, a traveling iron man.

Crane car and Kotetsu

The best encounter on this trip is this crane car. I happened to know a few hours before leaving the Island. The work of crane cars and the contribution of humans across national borders. The inspiring encounter left the Island as a memory of the best Island tours. Thank you "Moai statue".

Easter Island flowers

Ahu Akibi Moai statue standing toward the sea

Izakaya Kotaro's octopus balls set meal and fried chicken set meal

Taxi driver ferry daughter's family

Islanders move by horse on the Island

Morning market fish counter

Morning market vegetable counter

Mr. Mogami, Patricia, Ferry Munyo, Kotetsu,Me

Visiting an elementary school

Sunset at Tahai Ruins

I learned that the 15 moai statues were created with the cooperation of the Islanders themselves. Many Japanese also participated in the construction. The Moai statue, which was about to disappear from history, was restored for the first time in 200 years. Twice The main character of the world cultural heritage, "Crane Car", found its brave figure in the construction company of the Island.

In 1992, the "Moai Restoration Committee" was contributed by a Japanese company. A custom-made crane car for restoration was sent from Kobe Port to Chile, South America. Then, with the cooperation of the Chilean Navy, it was transported to "Ahu Tongariki" on Easter Island. The transport shows a video of the Island running on the runway. I was so impressed that I forgot to eat and just stared at it.

For lunch on the day of departure, I ordered an octopus ball set meal and an empty fried set meal at the izakaya "Kotaro". After all the taste of Japan fits my tongue. Long waiting time as usual. It can't be helped because the Japanese food is made by Peruvians.

In the meantime, Japanese TV programs (DVD) service.

He is a hard worker and keeps smiling this morning. If you take a taxi to the hotel, it will be in Spanish. I don't understand the language, but it's common to act together every day.

This is also thanks to the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Mogami. According to information from a Japanese travel agency, there are no taxis on the Island, but it is convenient to find a taxi immediately. It's also cheap.

Mr. Mogami nostalgic for a simple Island 10 years ago. The encounter of the trip will be a memorable one for a lifetime. The dinner ended when the second bottle of wine was emptied. The clock is about to reach 1 am. Everywhere on the Islands, it is a daily routine to keep early hours and take a walk in the early morning. It's late at night but late in the morning on this Island. I haven't been to the morning market yet. Tomorrow is the morning market. At 7:00 am, I was awakened and visited the morning market while rubbing my sleepy eyes. Pull up early and head to the hotel. At that time, the horn sounds from behind. "Ferry".

15 moai statues of Ahu Tongariki restored by a Japanese company

Crane car used for restoration in Ahu Tongariki ((Tadano Limited)

Easter Island Flowers

Easter Island Flowers

Kotetsu walking in a flower field in the village

Television showing the restoration of Ahu Tongariki in 1991

Republic of Chile

Prologue

Epilogue

　Travel expert recommended
highlight ranking

Highlights of Moai

Gourmet memo

Moai highlights

Dance show tour

Easter Island Fishing Diary

Moai and Island history

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Easter Island

Mysterious Island Easter Island has a sad history of ending the Island's civilization in 1862 by hunting slaves by ship.

The Islanders live slowly and leisurely with nature, which is peculiar to southern countries. Household goods are brought from Santiago, Chile. I envy the consumption tax, income tax, and inhabitant tax as "zero" due to the tax incentive system on remote Islands. Only one Japanese couple on the Island has acquired permanent residence for 10 years and is living a comfortable life.

The mystery of the Moai statue built 1300 years ago. Why was it built and when did it collapse? A mysterious historical world heritage site is a mysterious Island wrapped in many veils. Over 40 collapsed stone statues have been restored. The 15 bodies in Tongariki, the largest on the Island, are proud to know that Japanese companies are contributing to the restoration.

There is no cloud at the airport where I got off. The runway extending straight is 3300m. "Why?" NASA built an airport for an emergency landing of a satellite. The height of the sky and the Island breeze of the South Pacific are a little chilly, but I feel very comfortable. A huge stone statue on an isolated Island in the sea I am very interested in "moai".　

Moai's faces are different one by one

A wild horse that runs along the coastline dashingly

Use your horse to move the Island

Kotetsu (wife) and Yuko Mogami

Moai hat

15 moai statues that Japanese companies cooperated in reconstruction

Tahiti-Easter Island LAN Airlines

A stone statue of Moai in the sea? It's not weathered so much that it doesn't seem to have sunk in the sea. One week is too little to discover the charm of the Island. The mysterious moai veil of "Easter Island" has finally arrived Introducing "archeology" and trying to clarify it.

3000m runway (for NASA satellite emergency landing)

Prologue

From Kansai International Airport to Mataveri Airport on Easter Island via Narita-Tahiti 14000km boarding time, 16 hours in total. Adjust the time difference between Tahiti and Easter Island. An Island so far away that the body is unlikely to keep up with the time difference.

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It is the most isolated Island on earth, 3700 km from South America and 4000 km from Tahiti. Even the nearest Island where people live is 2000km. This inconvenience protected the ruins of the Island. It is a volcanic Island formed from submarine volcanoes, and three volcanic lakes are 1500 m in diameter. Groundwater is now used as drinking water, but in the past lakes supported the life of the Island.

Moai and Island history

The customer next to the restaurant shared what they ordered

A dog sleeping comfortably in the museum

Rano Kau is located on the caldera lake in the southwestern part of the crater on Easter Island, which was created by volcanic activity.

Tahai Ritual Village (1960)

Dinner for two tonight

Four of the seven pairs of Ahu Nou Nou have Pukao on them. Moai's eyes in the museum were found here.

Only one moai with eyes

A dining table surrounded by the Island residents, Mr. and Mrs. Mogami. Kotetsu tonight is often talked about. We may be meeting the climate customs of this Island. A fun dinner goes on and on.

Mr. Mogami, taxi driver Ferry Munyo, Kotetsu, me

Moai's face on display in the museum

When I first met the statue of Moai, the weathering of nature and the history of Moai exuded into the statue. A face with a low nose, a pointed face, and a pukao (hat) on the head, A stone statue of a slender woman, a stone statue of a small child, etc. Megalithic culture follows Egypt, the Incas, and Maya, and touches on archaeological mysteries everywhere.

Chasing cows in the middle of the road

Taro soup

Fish ceviche

Cows grazing

Ultraviolet rays are strong during the day, and sweaters and jumpers are worn in the morning and evening. The wind blows all year round and it is very easy to spend. With this, I can't go back to Osaka, where it's hot in summer and cold in winter. 42% of the island is a World Heritage Site. It didn't take long to get along with the people of the island who lived with smiles.

In 1826, Islanders were hunted for slaves as husbands of phosphate rock miners in Peru. That number is 1000 people. Only 15 people were released from slavery a year later and survived on the Island. A barren area spreads out on the Island. It was 40 years ago (1967) that I woke up to the tourism business. The tour route is strictly regulated and you are not allowed to touch the moai.

The life of the Islanders is slow in the morning. It is a habit to eat when you are hungry without deciding the meal time until morning. At the restaurants I went to on the Island, the Islanders came one after another from 11:00 to 12:00 at night. Supper is from 9 or 10 o'clock every day until midnight.

There are more than a dozen Moai statues on the coastline of a small Island. More than 1000 Moai statues were watching over the Islanders, but most of them were destroyed and only 40 or so were restored to entertain 20,000 tourists a year. Only one of the restored "moai" has eyes, but at first it is said that all moai had eyes. History tells the tragedy of the Islanders and Moai.

Mr. Mogami, the principal, Kotetsu

Moai highlights

Visit a village elementary school

Visit a village elementary school

A regular sightseeing pack combines 4 nights in Tahiti and 2 nights in Easter Island. This is not worth the flight of 14000km. Even if you rush around, you can't see the goodness of the Island. A minimum of 5 nights is required to visit Easter Island. There are many "taxi tours" on the Island, and it's cheap for four people. (3 dollars everywhere in the village) No other Island is so convenient.

Visit a village elementary school

Visit a village elementary school

Visit a village elementary school

Visit a village elementary school

Visit a village elementary school

Visit a village elementary school

Taxi driver ferry Munyo

Rano Raraku, the manufacturing site of Moai

At "Rano Raraku", which was the production site of Moai, entry is prohibited except for the designated road. (A guard is monitoring with binoculars somewhere) I was absorbed in taking pictures, and I was repeatedly warned by the taxi driver. Be sure to follow the rules of travelers to protect World Heritage Sites.

If you raise your hand even at midnight, the taxi will stop immediately. They will be happy to pick you up nearby. As for the world heritage of Moai, it is strictly forbidden to ride on the Moai Ahu (pedestal) as shown in the pamphlet of the travel agency. Strict rules have been set to prevent the weathering of moai.