The Misteryous Rapa Nui

So today I decided write a bit more about the wonders of Chile, today I will focus on Rapa Nui or Easter Island.

You can take the plane from Santiago to Rapa Nui, it takes 2 hours and I will recommend you to stay as a minimum 5 days because there is so much to see and you will need to appreciate it in detail, if you wish to experience the magic of the island and every legacy of the mysterious culture and folklore of the island.

Rapa Nui is known as "El Ombligo del Mundo" which can translated as "the navel of the earth".
To be honest I haven't been there (I know!) when I was little I wanted to go but either mom or my sister were interested, so a eight years old doesn't have much option if her family doesn't want to go to a place, righ?... Anyhow NOW! they wish to go...so finally we share the interest!

So because of my little knowledge  of the island and its culture I will be writing basing on another blog that I have been reading. Also the pictures will be taken from that blog. At he end will leave the link of the blog, which is Spanish though. Now I won't translate what it says, I will just write briefly what it is written there and probably will give some personal opinion too. So don't think I am translating what is written there.

Now the island and is culture is an enigma. How to explain properly... the history behind the existence of the island, it's people, there are certain beliefs and not all of the stories are open to foreign people, a lot of stories of the origin of the people is closed to just islanders. So there are just some stories known to us which won't make much sense, plus the mysterious legacy left of the Moais plus other constructions. Which just some have been analyzed and instead of giving us some answers has given us more questions!

Nuku Hiva, these figures have captivated me and gave me the goose bumps!

Personally I think people are focusing too much in the Moais, which is true they are a mystery but there are many other mysterious things in the island and these peculiar figures are one! I mean look at them! They look like nothing we have seen before! At the beginning reminded me a figuring in Arizona from one of the many abandoned cities of the Hopi but then I looked at carefully and is different, it has something similar but is not the same, then there is this peculiar Japanese figure discovered some time ago, which is suppose to describe a god from the sky and well these fellows here look a bit similar too. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of what I am talking about.

Anyhow, don't you think these fellows are in somehow very peculiar? I guess I will be scared to find one of these but at the same time very curious!

  Ahu Moai
So this guy can be also called a Moai, is not huge as the other ones but again he something special!

Ahu Huri a Urenga
  Ahu Akivi

Now this ones are  fascinating too, there are 7 Moais which are facing the sea. The folklore tells that these 7 Moais represent the seven excursionists that arrived to Rapa Nui. These excursionists were sent by the king Hotu Matu'a.

These Moais were found in 1960.

 Now will show you some amazing pictures of more legacy of the island.

The figure of this bird man called Tangat Manu is very popular, is an icon of Rapa nui. Tangata Manu was the one that captivated me because it is supposed that were gods who lived in the island, the people  created a cult, honoring these deities. Now...why I think they are so fascinating? because is not the only culture where we see gods who are human and bird. Probably will talk about this more in detail in another post. Anyhow aren't they just enigmatic?

Another not so well know images of Rapa Nui

Look at the precision of the construction!

Personal opinion these look like a constellation or better said a representation of the stars or planets.

So what do you think? Isn't just fascinating?! I didn't write much because I very amazed by the pictures and felt needed to share it!

Here I am leaving the link of the blog, it is very interesting. If you read Spanish then read it.

 Rapa Nui El Ombligo del Mundo

Hopefully soon I will be writing a post more detailed about the folklore and more pictures I have discovered but now you know! If you thought Rapa Nui was a small island with just Moais, now you know you are wrong, the island is actually full of mysteries and diverse mysterious historical legacy.

 

A little about North of Chile

So today I decided to write a cultural update. Unfortunately the pictures I am sharing are not mine and I have taken them from internet. Let me explain some of the places I mention I did visit them when I was little and the pictures I  have are somewhere ... Hopefully once the madness is gone I will be able to write post with more detail and share pictures from my own camera :)

So today I will be writing about my country just a brief review. Because I am personally interested ancient ruins and any place related with the ancient history (my childhood dream was to be archeologist). I want to share the love for it and in Chile there are many places of native cultures from before the Incas and if you think Incas are old enough, imagine previous time before them, that is even older!

 In the North of Chile, cities such as Arica, Iquique, Calama or Antofagasta just to mention few. These cities are very related with per-columbine history, the cities have many attractions, museums and places to go to visit and discover about the history.

Fist in Arica there is a museum, I remember being there when I was little and what it fascinated me the most where the mummies!

The name of this museum is Museo Arquelogico San Miguel de Azapa
 


 
 

Then another fascinating sight that is quite close is Valle de Azapa, what this place has to offer?

An amazing ancient view, we call them Petroglifos.

 

We don't know how old they are but it is stipulated that they are oldest culture before Incas and the reason behind them it was to commemorate the gods, the beings who came from the stars and taught them about agriculture, so that is why they are big and you can see them from above and from the distance, because it was supposed that the gods could see them from the stars.

How fascinating is that?!

Then we got Calama and you take the bus and go to San Pedro de Atacama, you can see more of this per-columbine art everywhere, the drawings depict the daily basis activities of the natives, plus it is rumored they depict the gods.

There is also a museum located there,it is a must! because is full of all discoveries that have been made in this area.

 s
 
 

Next I will show you a sculpture that is really cool.

You will see it if you go by land transport, if you do, stop there and take pictures, is a very popular spot and it is fascinating as well, the story behind this hand?

It is a sculpture made by an Chilean artist,  Mario Irarrázabal Covarrubias.

 

And before finishing this post I will write my last bit and about the same area.

The driest place in earth!

Desierto de Atacama. The most fascinating place! specially during the night, the sky is clear and you will be surprised with what you will able to see! and if you are able to appreciate this area during night, remember to breath! because once you see the scene you will forget and will think that you are in the space, you can even expect see an UFO in the sky, if you see one let me know!

 


The night view of the sky here it is so fascinating that is the perfect location for telescopes being contructed here to observe the universe.
as


Well that is it for today, for a while I been trying to write this properly and it has been on my draft for a long time,I hope you enjoyed! Today I added the last picture. I wish to write more into detail about the observatories in the Atacam Dessert, specially the new one constructed. Well write your opinions of if you want me to write something into more detail. I will writing more of different cities, like quick reviews like this one and then go into more details. Hope you liked :)

A Cloudy Day ...

When is a day you don't have to go to work or you don't have class...what do you do?
I usually like to walk around, window shopping and the best of everything is to go for coffee. We are on Autumn in New Zealand and when there are days when there are not responsibilities and is cloudy, nothing like a hot coffee!...personally I like Starbucks but who doesn't, right? but there are time when I am not alone and I like to go to small cafe that is not Starbucks, but when I am in Starbucks I love Caramel Macchiatto or now Hazelnut Macchiatto, not too much of a fan of Chestnut Macchiatto ...


Anyhow my point here is when is a day I like to walk around the city, look at shops and get exhausted of so much walking.
Santiago is a big city and there is so much to see, there are many malls and they are big, and shops everywhere about everything! then if you want nature you go to parks or hill but these hills are in the city and are touristic places. The thing is in just one place in Santiago you can spend the whole day walking around and still you havent walked around the whole place yet! I miss that...
 

Tauranga instead it is so different! it is nice but there are no many places to walk around and in matter of minutes is already over and not to mention that on the next day there is nowhere new ... sigh ...
Also there is not so much variety of shops and not many either.
On those moments I miss Santiago the most!
But there are times where is nice that it is so small and quiet, it feels like you are the only one around! But I guess I prefer big places with a lot of people!
But well in a month I am leaving so better enjoy my time here and write more about it!
Definitely Tauranga is a city you must visit if you are in New Zealand ...but living is a personal choice and will depend on your criteria

In conclusion as you see in the picture Tauranga is a beautiful city.
Do you want me to write more about it? maybe a video showing you around?
Leave your comments!