When I got home my roommates were watching show TV special about Easter Island. Now what is putting me on my soap box was the left leaning dodo incorporated into this TV special. It was an amazing feat when the first people reach Easter Island and when thy got to the island it was a lush Topical Island. Over the years, instead of developing the land to sustain life and keep a way to get off the island; the islanders instead decided to eat or kill all the wildlife on the island, to eat all the fish in the area, to totally wipe out the entire forest to build a bunch of statues, and to destroy the only means available to them to leave the island. During this time the population (about 10,000 and with no way to leave the island) grew to an uncontrollable level and they broke. A once happy group of people now had to compete for the very limited recourses that were left. And how did they do that – They went to War – Total War
Those beautiful statues that they used up all their resources to build were destroyed. Not by the bad evil westerns but by the peace (now war like) loving people who built them. And while they were destroying the moais they were destroying each other and then started to eat each other.
By now you are wondering where this going and what got me on my soap box – I will tell you. According to this TV special it was not bad enough that Local Easter Island population had turned the island into an eco-disaster -that they had destroyed the statues, that they killed almost every living plant and creature on the island and in the water, that they were killing themselves, and that they turned into cannibals were eating each other. Again according to this TV special and I will quote “that was not bad because the worst was yet to come” Enters the big bad evil Westerners. Oh No the evil Westerns are here now we are doomed – I am so tied of hearing how my ancestors are the root of all today’s wrong. By the time the Westerns landed on Easter Island they themselves had all ready destroyed the land and killed off half their population. So how could a few hundred Westerns hope to survive and fend off the five or so thousand still living on the island, They could not, instead the locals saw this as an opportunity to get more for their clan and to further destroy their enemies, so they let the Westerns take thousands of locals off the island and many of them died. When the locals returned to Easter Island smallpox further reduced their numbers. By this time (early 1900s) the remaining population was moved to one area of the island and the rest of the island was turned over to sheep and cattle for grazing.
It is my opinion that Western intervention saved the island. At the rate the locals were killing each other they would have wiped themselves out and all would have been lost. When the Westerns arrived it gave the locals on Easter Island a way to reattach with the world and a better method for securing resources by giving up their enemies to the Westerns. Right or wrong the population stabilized and peace was restored. Today it is the West (In no small part to William Mulloy) that has restored Easter Island and is trying to stave off another eco-disaster.
Sorry I will get off my soap box.
I really enjoyed my time on the island and Easter Island is one of the most unique places that I have traveled with its amazing landscape (the volcanic craters, lava formations, beaches, brilliant blue water, and archaeological sites) and friendly people, I will return.
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.