Summary and Reflections

This was an exceptionally great trip with a combination of a lovely location and extra congenial traveling companions. Krista, Beverly and Mike who were easy going and great company for meals and outings. 

Santiago and Valparaiso are interesting cities and could, perhaps be worth further exploration at some point.

Rapa Nui is just an island paradise for those interested in Polynesian culture and history. It may not hold much for the 'beach person.' as it does not have many beaches worthy of surfers or sunbathers, nor does it have big resorts or casinos. There are scuba diving and snorkeling, fishing and other water sports. We did see some surfing but when we were there the surf was not very high - perhaps at stormy times it is.

Rapa Nui's position at the extremity of the 'Polynesian Triangle' (Hawaii, Rapa Nui & New Zealand (Aotearoa), gives it a uniqueness. We found some similarities with the Marquesas which we visited a couple of years ago but also many differences. The Marquesas under the auspices of France and Rapa Nui under Chile which gives differing flavors to the islands.

In both cases one of the sadnesses about the islands is the way in which the original culture has been 'snuffed out' by colonizers such that original traditions and history are all but dead. No written records are available and almost none of the descendants of the original inhabitants, survive.  What were the Moai? What were they really for? Why did they face the way they did? What was the culture like for those who carved these huge statues? Many, many unanswered questions and many hypotheses. Our trip to the Museum on Rapa Nui enhanced our feeling that much of the anthropological history of the island was unknown except to speculation. Its remoteness and the relatively little research which has been carried out in Polynesian culture lead to many unsolved mysteries.

I found the book 'Sea People - The Puzzle of Polynesia' by Christina Thompson very interesting as it traces the various expeditions, theories, investigations, etc. which have been carried out over the years and the tale is quite circuitous. DNA seems to suggest that Polynesians originated somewhere around Taiwan and sailed across the Pacific using their remarkable navigation techniques - firstly eastward inhabiting Hawaii and the Marquesas, then south, perhaps to South America and then westward to Rapa Nui and the southern Polynesian islands ending up in New Zealand Aotearoa.

The timelines of the population of Polynesia are also shrouded in mystery, some put the arrival of the Māori in New Zealand which marked the end of the Polynesian peregrination around 1300 A.D. Were there people there before that? We don't know. There is so much we do not know which, together with their amazing survival culture and navigational skills makes the place so fascinating.

All in all it was a wonderful adventure.