United Life 01 | Page 46

Exotické destinácie Exotic destinations phe with the lack of water? Why were they fighting against each other until almost total liquidation? Where did the sophisticated builders of the statues disappear? Why the name “The Navel of the World” when it is actually the small backcountry? The end of this small civilization is, however, in spite of first impression not so distant for us. We also often think about ourselves that we are something extra and the navel of the world. We destroy the nature and fight against each other. And therefor I do not know if the similar future is not waiting for us one day…  preserved moai stand here, four of them have red hats pukao. We are planning to get on the highest volcano of the island, 600 metres high crater Terevaka. We are looking for the way. We are rising from the field road till it becomes gradually almost impassable. I  am riding down to the ground, our small offroad is bouncing on the rocky hillside of the volcanic crater in the steep bank. In the end we are on the top just in time. Last rays are illuminating the border of the grass-grown crater, we can see the whole island and in the west the sun is setting to the water of the ocean in the “blood bath”. 46 Beautiful. I would place the “navel” of the island right here. In the evening in the local natural “theatre” we are enjoying the most amazing dance show I  have ever seen. Baldly dressed, fighting painted dancers are whirling on the stage for more than an hour without break. Wild fighting dances with capers to the one metre heigth were alternated with slower sexi “Tahitian” waving of hips of the dancers. Next day we are going to the southwest promontory of the island to the reservation Orongo to crater Rano Kau. The walls are falling steep inside the crater which bottom is covered by bog creating small pools. On the most south border of the crater is reconstructed historical settlement of the original inhabitants - Orongo. Houses are half buried in the ground with short, only about 50 cm high entries. Here are also several boulders with petroglyphs. Three days were enough for exploration of the whole island. The island is, however, still covered by the cloak of the secret and questions. Why did the aboriginals cut all the trees on the island and cause by it the ecological catastro- ■ About the author It was my parents who probably cultivated my love for travelling. They travelled with us already in our childhood as far as the “iron curtain” allowed. Later, as a student, I worked as an external guide in travelling agency Čedok. After the opening of frontiers the world opened for us and I could fully hand over the love for travelling to my children. This travelling passion is not failing me and I always say - “ it does not matter where I am, the main is that my bottom is strutting about on the way”. We are travelling to the exotic countries to look for new surroundings, experiences and people. However, the most important what can we find there are we ourselves. Vladimír Mego Traveller