My first thought was that there was no way I would manage to finish this “flat” trek – the inclines were not so intense, but it was very rocky, and the rocks were often concealed by tall grass, which made things a little more treacherous. There were a few times that I almost fell on a loose rock hidden beneath the grass. One particular occasion made me want to sit down and quit as I looked over the massive cliff down to the churning white Pacific; it would not have been out of the realm of possibility that I might slide to my death over the cliff because of amateur footing.
One thing kept me going though – there was ample amount of cow and horse dung along the path, so I thought, “if a cow can make it, I can make it!” I used my camera as an excuse to pause and enjoy the scenery from time to time, and I kept summoning the energy to keep going in the hot sun across the volcanic path.
The whole experience was exhausting but overwhelmingly beautiful. An island of such isolation and such simple beauty, it is truly a blessing to be able to experience this magical place. Rapa Nui, Isla de Pascua, Easter Island, the navel of the world; the place goes by many names, but it is known for one thing, the Moai statues. These stern yet friendly stone structures look over the island like a band of guardian spirits. Despite their similar features, each one has its own personality and represents an individual person that was once a tribal chief. The locals see them as their ancestors that look over and protect the island. They believe that it is because of the Moai that the island has seldom been touched by tidal waves or typhoons.
The first seven Moai that we saw are the only ones that face out to the sea. They are said to represent the first seven settlers that were sent to find the island of which one of their chiefs had dreamt. That is why they face towards the sea looking back towards home. All of the other thousands of Moai around the island face inland, away from the sea because they are looking over and protecting the island. It is fascinating to wander the island and see these monoliths just about everywhere one turns. The locals had their own Gods, but these representations of their ancestors were venerated more than anything, and they do provide some sort of mystical vibe to the island.
So, I embraced the mystical energy of the Moai and the reassuring cow droppings, and I kept on trekking. Through caves, across meadows, over cliffs – the scenery was majestic. When I stumbled across the dry bones of a dead cow, all I could do was laugh and keep walking; I guess not all of the cows survived the trek.