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Kevin and Joannie on tour
Today we hired a car again to visit the north side of the island. The first place was one of the volcanic cones that we can see from our cabana. It's called Puna Pau and it's where the islanders quarried volcanic scoria to make the top knots for the moai. There were several still strewn over the hillside. From there the views of the island were superb. Next we went to Ahu Akivi, one of the oldest set of moai and the only ones inland and facing the sea. From there we walked to the caves nearby. It was incredibly hot and the sun was very high in the sky with no shade. The first cave was about 15 minutes away. A wide lava tube with banana trees growing at is entrance. You could walk through it to another large opening at the other end - maybe 25 metres. We continued on for what seemed ages in the heat. Maize about three metres high was growing in a field and it looked as if it had already been harvested. Horses and foals were chewing on the cobs. Alongside the path were low bushes with a small green fruit that was pink inside with seeds. Eventually there was a footpath off the track and we followed some French folk for a few minutes before doubting if were going the right way. Having asked another group where the other caves were, they pointed downhill towards the sea. Joan asked how long it would take and they said 15 minutes. Half an hour later we found the second cave, another lava tube with a smaller entrance. One inside Kevin could see light at the end of the tunnel. Joan walked overland to find the light source which was a small crack by a fig tree. You would have quite a squeeze to get through so we didn't even try. Another ten or so minutes later we found the small entrance to the third cave marked clearly by a bunch of American tourists. Joan volunteered Kevin to descend first. He did but soon found himself in pitch darkness and came back out. Seemingly the cave is narrow and leads to two "windows" which gave you views of the sea. Unless you are brave it is best to take a torch which we did not have So after walking two hours in the heat of the day we didn't get to visit the most spectacular cave. A slow trudge back uphill began with the day getting more humid. An hour plus later it was a relief to reach the car and feel the cool blast of the air conditioning. Joan was grateful that a work colleague had presented her with a large, white scarf a few weeks before. It was about the only thing that could keep off the sun. Next it was a 10 km drive to Anakena, a set of resurrected moai on a stunningly white beach surrounded by palm trees. There were lots of young people enjoying the scenery, sunbathing or splashing in the water. We sat under a palm, resting after the walk. Further down the coast again there was a lone, toppled moai at Te Pita Kura. Seemingly it was erected by a widow in honour of her husband and it was one of the last to fall. A bit further on we found a stone trumpet which fishermen used to lure fish into their nets. We got back to Hanga Roa around six. We scavenged for food in the ever empty supermarkets. Exhausted we quenched our thirsts with cold beers and made a sort of risotto with our finds. The lady in an adjoining cabin came and talked to us about the air strike. She needed to get back to work. However she also suggested that we drive to Tongariki where the fifteen lined up Moai are to watch the sunrise. We went to bed early to do just that!
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