Istria. Croatia

Blue seas, white stone and the green interior make up the colour scheme of Istria, the largest peninsula in Croatia. The blueness of its shoreline is contrasted by the lush greenery of its interior and the tiny, “acropolian” towns which, themselves somewhere between waking and sleeping, erase that thin line that divides the real from the illusion. And turn into your very own story.

The heart-shaped peninsula reaching deep into the clear blue waters of the Adriatic Sea is a hidden garden of beauty which opens the door to the sunny and warm Mediterranean. Come and travel through it without hesitation, and the holiday of your dreams will become reality. Multicultural and hospitable, this is an area where wide-ranging diversities have come together to form a happy union. Istria’s crystal clear sea, clean shores and ports, its lively fishing boats and teeming narrow stone streets exude the true charm of the Mediterranean. Small, picturesque medieval towns perched on the peaks of its hills emanate the peace and gentleness of landscapes that irresistibly evoke the most beautiful parts of Tuscany or Provence.

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Volcanoes of Easter Island

Rano Raraku

Most of the 900 moai in the island come from the slopes of the Rano Raraku volcano. In this unique place, hundreds of sculptors and artists worked between the years 1000 and 1680 to produce giant statues of volcanic stone. Huge burins of basalt, the toki, made it possible to separate the giant sculptures from the flanks of the volcano before finishing them. Today, the visitors who walk through the external and internal slopes of the Rano Raraku can contemplate several tens of these impressive statues, most of them with their body buried. We also know there are moai that were covered by dirt, landslides, rubble and vegetal remains. In this site, a total of 397 moai were counted. Except for their hat (pukao), which came from a quarry near Hanga Roa (Puna Pau), their eyes (made of coral, obsidian or tuff) and their ornamentation, the manufacturing process of the moai was executed almost completely in the same place.

Rano Kau

Rano Kau has a crater lake which is one of the island’s only three natural bodies of fresh water. Most of the volcano is on the coast and has been eroded back to form high sea cliffs which at one point have started to bite into the crater wall. On its northern side, the volcano slopes down to Mataveri International Airport.

Rano Kau is in the world heritage site of Rapa Nui National Park and gives its name to one of the seven sections of the park. The principal archaeological site on Rano Kau is the ruined ceremonial village of Orongo which is located at the point where the sea cliff and inner crater wall converge. One ahu with several moai was recorded on the cliffs at Rano Kau in the 1880s, but had fallen to the beach by the time of theRoutledge expedition in 1914. As well as basalt, it contains several other igneous rocks including obsidian (for which it was one of the major sources for the island’s stoneworkers) and pumice. The crater is almost a mile across and has its own micro climate. Sheltered from the winds that dry most of the rest of the island, figs and vines flourish at Rano Kau

Terevaka

The Mauga Terevaka is the highest point of the island, and also the most recent. It emerged during the last volcanic phases of Rapa Nui, about 250,000 years ago. This summit is 511 m high and is surrounded by other two tops, the Maunga Puka and the Maunga Kuma. Further down there is a crater lake, the Rano Aroi, which is the third fresh water reserve in the island (along with the Rano Raraku and the Rano Kao.) This place does not present much archeological interest, but the visitor can see the whole island from this viewpoint. It is an ideal space for footing and jogging lovers, and also for people looking for some peace and quiet. During the hot summer, it is a cool spot. In the summit of the Terevaka the wind always blows.

The Poike

Located to the east of Rapa Nui, it is crowned by the Maunga Pua ka Tiki and the small domes of the Maunga Parehe: Maunga Tea Tea and Maunga Vai a Heva. This eroded mountain 370 m high is the oldest from a geological point of view, and presents a volcanic structure which is different from the rest of the island. The whitish lava of this peninsula is a type of white trachyte that the current artisans use to carve the moai. The lack of stones in the ground of this area dedicated to stockbreeding is not a result of the superhuman labor of a legion of slaves, but of the own nature of the land. On the southern side, the Maunga Vai a Heva presents an original sculpture oriented to the summit, a sort of giant gargoyle whose mouth was possibly used to collect rainwater. Beyond the three small hills to the north of the Poike, the visitor can admire some petroglyphs shaped as hooks, and above all, five moai made of white trachyte at the Kava Kava ahu. Finally, the visitor can access many caverns on the cliff with a local guide and certain difficulty. One of them served as a cemetery, and the most famous, Ana O Keke, was used to initiate noble young virgins.

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Abbottabad. Pakistan.

It is a charming town spread out over several low, refreshingly cool and green hills. Abbottabad is 116 km (2 hours) from Rawalpindi and 208 km (3 hours) from Peshawar. Places worth visiting in Abbottabad are: Simla Hill, Ilyasi Masjid etc.

Abbottabad, is 1,222 m. above sea level, is a neat and clean town in a spacious valley surrounded by green hills. It is a popular summer resort. It serves as a base for trips to Kaghan valley and the Gallies. PTDC maintains a Tourist Information Centre here to facilitate the visitors. Places worth visiting in and around Abbottabad are; Ilyasi Mosque with a water spring, Shimla hill view point. Thandiani is another attractive hill resort 30 km east of Abbottabad at an altitude of 8,800 feet.

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Maririus Inland

L’Aventure du Sucre

Visit an interactive and ultra modern exhibition situated at the heart of an ancient sugarmill and discover the fascinating history of Mauritius and its sugarcane adventure exposed over 5000 sq meters! Then, let yourself be tempted by our tropical boutik with its unique gifts, souvenirs and tasting of special unrefined sugars as well as local rum. Do not miss the opportunity to relish authentic Mauritian cuisine with refined flavours at our restaurant "Le Fangourin".
Open 7 days a week from 09h00 to 18h00 - Free access to the restaurant and the Village Boutik


Ganga Talao - Grand Bassin
Beyond La Marie and Mare-aux-Vacoas is found one of the two natural lakes of Mauritius. It rests within the crater of an extinct volcano. Ganga Talao is an important pilgrimage site and many Mauritians of the Hindu faith walk there during the Maha Shivaratri festival or the night fasting dedicated to Shiva.

Black River Gorges

This national park of 6,574 hectares was created in 1994 for the protection of Mauritius’ remaining native forests. Visitors can enjoy magnificent landscapes, with endemic plants and rare bird species. A trail leads from the Pétrin information centre to an area of typical plant life and to a conservation area. orchids.
Eureka
An old Creole residence built in 1830, Eureka is an essential place to visit during your stay in Mauritius if you wish to immerse yourself in tropical sweetness.

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Dalmatia - Zadar. Croatia

The Zadar region is the northernmost part of Dalmatia, its gate of welcome to all those who travel from the north of the Adriatic. It is full of contrasts, rich in historic heritage and breathtakingly beautiful nature. The first, and therefore perhaps the most intense experience of these parts, are the intense colours, that particular harmony of the vivid blue of the sea and over it the dark green of pine trees or olive groves that descend all the way to the shore. And to all that the brilliant white of the Dalmatian stone must be added – it forms the beaches either in slabs or broken down into gravel or pebbles, attracting numerous tourists…

Dalmatia’s centre is 3000-year-old Zadar, a city with the largest researched Romanforum on the Croatian side of the Adriatic and unforgettable Romanesquechurches like St. Donatus, St. Anastasia and St. Chrisogonus. Nearby Nin (the oldest Croatian royal city) boasts the smallest cathedral in the world (the Church of the Holy Cross measures but 36 paces!). The region of Zadar tells the story of the sources of Croatian cultural heritage better than any book.

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Easter Island archaeology sites

Vinapu

Of all the ahu in Rapa Nui, the site of Vinapu in the extension of the Mataveri airport track is undoubtedly the onethat raised more theories about the origins of the island’s population. The Vinapu is composed of two ahu, which face away from a cliff in the southeast slope of the Rano Kau, and of the remains of a third ahu located in front of the hydrocarbon storage tanks. In this place there is a deteriorated monolith and a perfectly assembled stone structure: an exciting discovery for many archeologists.

With a little imagination, the complex can be compared to a ceremonial center built by natives of the Bolivian city of Tiwanacu in South America (since the arrangement of the monoliths and the stones is similar to the walls built by the Inca people.) It is easy to forget that the Vinapu is previous to the golden age of the Incas (the ahu date from the year 1200.) Due to the absence of formal excavations, this place has remained sufficiently mysterious, so that the most liberal researchers can give free rein to their fantasies.

If we also consider the fact that the people of Rapa Nui cultivated the sweet potato (kumara), native from South America, we can understand why Vinapu became “proof” that the islanders came from Peruvian coasts. Some even outlined the theory of blonde giants similar to the Vikings who escaped from Tiwanacu and Peru in great rafts made of cane and sailed to Rapa Nui. They are supposed to be the fathers of this megalithic society, before the Polynesians arrived and destroyed their brilliant civilization. Regardless of this site’s origin, you should visit Vinapu for what it is: a place where the genius of the islanders to work the stones is fully expressed. However, in many other places of the island (not always as visible due to the accumulation of soil and sediments) we can also find this type of “Inca style” architecture. Anyway, it is possible that the Vinapu has nothing to do with South America. As for the sweet potato, researchers believe it came to the island with the Polynesians, who really sailed to South America before returning to their island.

Vaihu

In the southern coast of Easter Island, following the paved road, there is a spectacular ahu called Hanga Te’e located in a place called Vaihu. Eight statues lying down and facing the sky are lined up near the location of the old town, from which only small traces remain. On top of this ahu, which is perfectly visible from the road, there is a small and lonely statue built in October 2002. Originally, this statue was covered by dirt and weed. An old man remembered her existence, and in order to prevent it from being forgotten after his death, he revealed the secret of its location to young people, who rescued her from a tomb of dirt and oblivion.

Vai Mata

A small ahu by the precipice of Punta Atu o Puna indicates the location of the Maitaka Te Moa, an ahu built with great rocks. The walls enclose a moai from the first period, which was reused as a built-in part of the wall. Near this place, we find the Vai Mata plain, which is rich in archeological remains. One of these remains is a very easy to visit cavern, built belatedly with blocks of stones that came from shiphouses. Not far from there, we find the foundations of an interesting shiphouse, with a floor made of round stones extracted from the neighboring ahu. According to tradition, women gave birth in this place, and their babies took their first bath in a receptacle carved in a pukao and buried in red tuff. The name of this place comes from this custom, since Vai Mata literally means “water eyes”.

A 6 m high moai in very good state was knocked down 100 m away from the ahu where it was destined to be placed, after crossing the whole island. Like the Vinapu, this ahu’s structure is double and it composes of two “Inca style” wall structures, undoubtedly the most fabulous in the island.

Te Puna Pau


Is the place where the great buns that covered the moai were extracted and prepared (most of them did not carry them). The ancient islanders opened this quarry belatedly in one of the many adventitious cones of the island. The red rock used to make the pukao is very soft, since it is formed by volcanic slag. The real difficulty the sculptors faced was extracting these hats from the craters, and particularly, rolling them over carefully in order to transport them without damaging them. Many believe that due to the lack of instruments like cranes, whoever lifted the moai first placed the pukao on their heads, and then lifted the whole set with a system which consisted of piling up stones and using levers. Heyerdahl carried out the experiment in Anakena in 1956. The weight of the pukao ranged from 9 to 12 tons.
Te Pito o te Henua

The round stone located to one side of the Te Pito Kura ahu evokes an egg or a sphere. Although not much is known about the function it performed in the past (if it had one), it quickly became a touristic attraction baptized as “the navel of the world” (Te Pito o te Henua). Other four smaller round stones added recently allow esoteric people to sit around them and put their hands together on the great stone in order to feel Easter Island’s Mana. On the other hand, and fundamentally for this reason, this ahu must be visited because there lies the biggest moai ever to be sculpted, transported and lifted. It is 9.84 m high and it is estimated to weigh around 74 tons.

Hanga Oteo

The most northern point of Easter Island, in the northern slope of the Maunga Terevaka, is formed by a volcanic semi-crater. There are several archeological sites on the slopes (especially shiphouses.) Among these constructions there is a tupa and some hare moa. In these belatedly built coops, the islanders hid the valued birds used for exchange ceremonies during the night, whose feathers allowed making hairstyles and other ornaments. Undoubtedly, this area of Rapa Nui is one of the most beautiful, a place where an extraordinary calmness emanates. No roads have been traced. This natural amphitheater which is completely isolated from the rest of the island can be accessed on foot or horseback through a path from Anakena. The help of a local tour guide is essential in order to fully appreciate this fairly unknown area.

The three Motu (Motu Kao Kao, Motu Iti, Motu Nui)

This is where the servers (hopu manu) of the birdmen candidates (tangata Manu) waited for the first egg of a migrating sea bird. First it was the frigate bird, then a sort of tern. An obsidian vein crosses the Motu Iti, and the Motu Nui is sprinkled by several small caverns: the individual rooms of the servers. Some have amazing engravings and paintings, such as an extraordinary face in relief (the creator god Make Make) painted in dark ocher. To this day, the sea birds still nest in this place. To reach the Motu Iti, the hopu manu swam one kilometer across the hostile sea that divided the coast of the island on a sort of cane board. Today, these islets are very beautiful and popular scuba diving sites.

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Shangla. Pakistan.

District Shangla Par is located in Swat Valley (North Latitude 34-31 to 33-08 and East Longitude 72-33 to 73-01) with its headquarter at Alpuri (8 km from Shangla Top). District Shangla was created out of District Swat on 01-07-1995 and it was fully functional w.e.f. 14-08-2001. The new district consists of two Tehsils namely, Alpuri and Puran.

The highest point of the district is Shangla Top (7001 feet or 2,125 meters above sea level), 56 km from Saidu Sharif and 45 km from Besham (Karakoram Highway), connected through a paved single road. The only accommodation available is the Forest Rest House at Shangla Top. It receives an average snowfall from 5 to 8 feet in winter. There is a trout hatchery in Alpuri proper. From Alpuri, on way to village Lilonai, there is a beautiful lake called Bashigram.

Ancient remains of Greek period are discovered at Pirsar. It is said that Alexander of Macedonia stayed here for few days. There some more archaeological finds between Chakaisar and Daut. Alexander reached Indus river passing through Daut. Remains of Hindu Shahi period are also found in Qlandar-Ajmair.

Another place worth visiting is Yakhtangi located 28 km away from Shangla Top at an altitude of 6,000 ft. or 1,820 m. above sea level. It takes about 40 minutes by car to reach Yakhtangi from Shangla Top. There is a Forest Rest House with two rooms at Yakhtangi. However, there is a shortage of running water and only source of water are Nullahs.

Other important places of the district are Chakaisar and Karora (3000-3500 ft./ 910-1060 m. above sea level).

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Martirius West

Martello Towers
The Martello Towers represent the scene of the ancient rivalry between old colonial powers and the ingenuity of mankind. They are a milestone in the island’s history; they symbolise the end of slavery and the beginning of Indian immigration.

Chamarel
A winding road leads from Case Noyale village to the coloured earths of Chamarel: an undulating landscape of different and contrasting shades of colours. The different shades of blue, green, red and yellow are apparently the result of the erosion of the volcanic ash. The neighbouring waterfalls of Chamarel rise from the moors and the native plant life. The site possesses a rare beauty.
Some «Table d’hôtes» have been recently created in the Chamarel Village where you can enjoy the taste of typical Mauritian cuisine.

Salt Pans
Owing to the exceptional high level of sunshine the district receives, Tamarin is naturally the heart of salt production in Mauritius.

Casela
Situated in the Rivière Noire district, the bird park stretches over 25 hectares and contains more than 140 bird species from all five continents. Other attractions include fish ponds, tigers, tortoises, monkeys, deer and orchids.

Yemen
Yemen Reserve may not be the largest game reserve on the island, but there is still lots to see. You will be able to get close to the herds of deer, as well as admire some splendid species of Mauritian fauna. A few rustic kiosks available in the reserve provide an unobstructed view of the sea. There you can sip a local punch while watching the sun going down.

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Tasmanian wilderness. Australia.

Experience the ancient and epic beauty of Tasmania’s 17 national parks.
Many of these are part of the World Heritage-listed wilderness that makes up 20 per cent of the island. Climb over the Hazard Ranges and lose your breath at postcard-perfect Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park. See your face in Dove Lake and trek the Overland Track in Cradle-Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Bushwalk through Gondwanan rainforest and discover the 18th century French garden of Recherche Bay in South West National Park. Take in Russell Falls, towering swamp gums and ski fields in Mount Field National Park. Cruise the silent Gordon River and whitewater raft down the Franklin in Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. However you weave through Tasmania’s natural wonders, we can bet you won’t want to leave.
Take five on the Tassie wilderness

1. Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay
Stay in tranquil Coles Bay at the entrance to Freycinet National Park and walk to Wineglass Bay. Capture its perfect contours on your camera, then swim, boat, fish, snorkel, sea kayak and scuba dive from the dreamy white beach. If you feel like stretching your legs, go climbing, abseiling and mountain walking in the steep pink and grey granite rocks of the Hazard Ranges. Or follow the day walks along the coastal heathlands.

2. Cradle-Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
Travel back millions of years in this wilderness only a couple of hours drive from Launceston. Walk round Dove Lake, past waterfalls and through forests of King Billy pines, to the jagged dolomite peaks of Cradle Mountain.  For a real challenge, follow the famous 80 kilometre Overland Track all the way south to Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest natural lake. On the way, marvel at Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s highest mountain, and see a species of beech tree more than 60 million years old. Stroll next to cascading rivers and dense, old-growth rainforest on the Enchanted Walk or take most of the day to tackle the summit. You can also spend one to five hours on one of the other popular walks, including Mount Campbell, Hanson's Peak, Twisted Lakes, Lake Rodway, Lake Lilla and the Ballroom Forest.

3. Southwest National Park
Drive from Hobart and see huge Scotts Peak Dam and the towering peaks of Mount Anne, Mount Eliza and the Western Arthurs on the shores of Lake Pedder. Or soar over the park’s 608,000 hectares of Gondwanan rainforest, horizontal scrub and rare Huon pine on a scenic flight. Walk across the Gordon Dam wall or abseil down its staggering chasm. Spot the endangered orange-bellied parrot around Bathurst Harbour between October and March. Weave through moss-covered trees and over giant logs on the short Creepy Crawly Nature Trail. Or do a day trek around deep, ice-carved Lake Judd. Tackle some of Australia’s most challenging terrain on the multi-day Port Davey and South Coast Tracks to remote Melaleuca, where you will need to be collected in a plane.  Kayak to Recherche Bay, where you’ll find an 18th century French garden surrounded by thick forest and sweeping white beach.

4. Mount Field National Park
You only have to drive an hour from Hobart to see the three tiers of Russell Falls, lush fern forests and some of the world’s tallest trees. Walk to Lady Barron Falls past Lake Dobson, groves of palm-like pandani and forests of towering swamp gums on the Lady Barron Falls Circuit. Climb higher to the highland plateaus and precipices of Tarn Shelf, where you can look over the expansive lakes in the valley below. In April and May, the mountain slopes are alight with the gold, red and orange leaves of the fagus, Australia's only winter deciduous tree. In the winter months of June to August you’ll find small ski fields for cross-country skiing amongst the snow gums and stunted pines.

5. Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
Cruise down the majestic Gordon River from the west coast fishing village of Strahan. Or drive past the dramatic landscape on the winding Lyell Highway. Once here you can whitewater raft on the furious Franklin River, past forested valleys, deep gorges and mountains carved by glaciers. Learn how environmental protesters saved this force of nature from being dammed for hydro-electricity along the way. By boat, you can also coast along the Picton and Huon Rivers almost as far as Hobart. Follow the Donaghys Lookout Walk for views over the Franklin River or mountain tops. Or take the challenging multi-day Frenchmans Cap Track past buttongrass plains, glacial valleys and rainforest of ancient Huon pine and King Billy pine. Your destination is Lake Tahune, under the towering peak of Frenchmans Cap, some of Australia’s oldest exposed rock.

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Easter Island Beaches

Anakena beach
For those who love diving into lapislazuli colored water or walking along beaches of soft white sand, Anakena beach is perfect. This wonderful beach surrounded by a beautiful coconut tree forest is deservedly popular on weekends. Between December and March, it is common to see some huts and salesmen who offer beverages, pies (banana cake) and snacks.
Anakena also has a very symbolic meaning. It is the place where Hotu Matua disembarked. Some people say that one of the many caves along the beach was this king’s home. Also, Anakena must be the only beach in the world that was blessed with two important archeological sites . On the hill above the beach lies the Ahu Ature Huki, along with an enigmatic and solitary moai. Anakena is also the home of the great Ahu Nau Nau.

Ovahe beach
Another unspoilt delight, Ovahe, between La Perouse and Anakena, is a gorgeous place to work your tan. At the foot of a volcanic cliff, this small beach is less frequented than Anakena but is considered dangerous because of falling rocks. You can also see a cave near Ovahe. Looking out of it you will see the Pacific Ocean

Pea beach
For a little dip in Hanga Roa, the tiny beach at Playa Pea, on the south side of Caleta Hanga Roa, fits the bill. There’s another postage stamp sized beach near Pea restaurant, as well as a pebbly beach beside Ahu Tahai.

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Swat. Pakistan.

Swat, the land of romance and beauty, is celebrated throughout the world as the holy land of Buddhist learning and piety. Swat acquired fame as a place of Buddhist pilgrimage. Buddhist tradition holds that the Buddha himself came to Swat during his last reincarnation as the Guatama Buddha and preached to the people here. It is said that the Swat was filled with fourteen hundred imposing and beautiful stupas and monasteries, which housed as many as 6,000 gold images of the Buddhist pantheon for worship and education. There are now more than 400 Buddhist sites covering and area of 160 Km in Swat valley only. Among the important Buddhist excavation in swat an important one is Butkarha-I, containing the original relics of the Buddha.

The lush-green valley of Swat, with its rushing torrents, icy-cold lakes, fruit-laden orchards and flower-decked slopes is ideal for holidaymakers. It has a rich historical past, too. This is "Udayana" (The Garden) of the ancient epics; the land of enthralling beauty, where Alexander of Macedonia fought and won some of his major battles before crossing over to the delta of Indus River. This is the "valley of hanging chairs", as described by the famous Chinese pilgrim-chroniclers, Huaen Tsang and Fa-Hian in the fifth and sixth centuries. Swat was once the cradle of Buddhism of all of its schools – Mahayana, Hinayana and Tantrayana, where once 1,400 monasteries flourished. It was the home of the famous Gandhara School of Sculpture that was an expression of Greco-Roman form in the local Buddhist tradition. Swat was also the historical land where the Muslim conquerors, Mahmud of Ghazni, Babur of Ferghana and Akbar fought their battles preparatory to the conquest of South Asia. The valley of Swat sprawls over 10,360 sq. km at an average elevation of 875 metres. The maximum temperature in July is 38 C and minimum (during January) is 1 C. The normal temperature is maximum 21 C and minimum 7 C. The tourist season is year-round.

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Maririus South East

Dutch Ruins
At Vieux Grand Port, the oldest settlements in Mauritius, you can see the ruins of the first Dutch fortifications. Excavation work is underway in a bid to uncover an important part of Mauritian history.

Ile aux Aigrettes
Owing to the remarkable work accomplished by the Mauritius Wildlife Fund, the island has become an international standard for the protection of natural resources and endangered species. A few of the world’s rarest birds, including the kestrel, can be seen there. You can also discover the extremely rare Pink Pigeon, the Green Gecko Phelsuma and the Aldabra giant tortoise.

Mahebourg
Mahébourg is one of the main fishing villages on the island. Built on the magnificent Grand Port Bay it was founded in 1804 by the French G
Martello Towers
The Martello Towers represent the scene of the ancient rivalry between old colonial powers and the ingenuity of mankind. They are a milestone in the island’s history; they symbolise the end of slavery and the beginning of Indian immigration.


Domaine du Chasseur
Nestling in the Anse Jonchée hills, the Domaine des Grand Bois has splendid hunting grounds covering an area of 900 hectares. Stags, monkeys and boars live amidst the luxuriant vegetation of the hillside.One can watch a few species of endangered birds, including the kestrel. The Domaine contains four thatched-roof bungalows and a restaurant with a panoramic sea view. Take an opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal of venison and seafood.

Souillac
A small seaside resort along the rugged coast of the Savanne district. A famous feature is the garden overlooking the sea and named after Dr. Charles Telfair. A popular viewpoint is found at the southern end of the village, right on the cliff top : Gris Gris.

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Gippsland. Australia.

See your footprints in the sand of endless Ninety Mile Beach. Or cruise Gippsland Lakes, Australia’s biggest expanse of inland waterways.
Four wheel drive in the Australian Alps and trek the unspoilt coastline of Wilsons Promontory National Park. Trace Aboriginal history more than 18,000 years old. Then connect the vineyards, restaurants, farms and market stalls on a food and wine trail. Welcome to Gippsland, the wilderness coast where tall forests, lakes and beaches connect with Aboriginal history and gourmet delights.
Five great Gippsland experiences

1. Surround yourself with nature
Explore the white quartz beaches, granite cliffs, forests and fern gullies in Wilsons Promontory National Park. Or slip on a mask and flippers and discover the brilliant-coloured marine life just off the shore. Don’t miss Croajingolong National Park, where the white beaches, towering eucalypts, lush rainforests and granite peaks are protected by a World Biosphere Reserve. Go underground in the 400 million-year-old Buchan Caves or white water rafting in Snowy River National Park. See the wildflowers of Mt Baw Baw and the ferns and towering ash trees of Tarra-Bulga National Park. You can picnic next to Agnes Falls, Victoria’s tallest single drop waterfall. Or relax in the low woodland and heath fringing Gippsland Lakes.

2. Get active in the great outdoors
Test your stamina in Gippsland, where a plethora of hiking trails connect the coastline to the Alps through wilderness and national parks.  In Gippsland’s high country you can ski or snowboard down Mount St Gwinear and Dinner Plains in winter. Or walk amongst wildflowers on the Bogong High Plains in spring. In summer, you can soak up the views of the Victorian Alps on a bush walk, horse ride and riding your mountain bike. Fish on the Mitchell Lakes or canoe or kayak on the Snowy River. Go water skiing at Bunga Arm, Newlands Arm or North Arm on the Gippsland Lakes. Or surf the world-class breaks at Cape Paterson, Venus Bay and Waratah Bay.


3. Eat, drink and be merry
Treat your taste buds with Gippsland’s delectable food, the product of lush pastures, rich volcanic soil and clean lakes and oceans. Wind your way past farms, vineyards, cheese factories and outlets selling delicacies on the 40-kilometre Gourmet Deli Trail. Or stick to exploring the region’s many cool-climate wine regions, including Phillip Island, Wilsons Promontory, Lakes Entrance and Ninety Mile Beach. Buy organic fruit and vegetables from the farmers’ markets at Koonwarra, Drouin, Sale, Tyers and Bairnsdale. Pick your own berries from orchards in Warragul or catch your own lunch on a trout farm at Lakes Entrance.

4. Seek sandy seduction
Ride the powerful waves at Venus Bay or Sandy Point. Or surf, swim, snorkel and scuba dive on the tranquil, family friendly beaches of Cape Paterson.  Stay in the scenic seaside resort town of Inverloch, the perfect spot for boating, bird spotting, wind surfing and walking. Nearby you’ll find dinosaur diggings and Eagles Nest, a rock structure shaped like the top of Australia. Explore the historic lime kilns, shallow rock pools and sandy coves at Walkerville Beach. From Seaspray and Lakes Entrance you can walk Ninety Mile Beach – a long stretch of sand which separates the Gippsland Lakes from Bass Strait.

5. Follow an Aboriginal heritage trail
Visit the Den of Nargun and learn about Dreamtime stories, traditional lifestyles, Aboriginal keeping places and the impact of European settlement on the Batatuk Cultural Trail. It follows some of the routes Gunai and Monaro people followed for over 18,000 years. See archaeological sites such as scarred trees and shell middens more than 10,000 years old and explore the cultural heritage of the Gunai people at the Krowathunkoolong Keeping Place in Bairnsdale.

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Takht-I-Bhai. Pakistan.

Takht-i-Bhai is another well-known and preserved monument, a Buddhist monastery located on a rocky ridge about 10 miles northeast of Mardan. This structure dates back to two to five century AD and stands 600 feet above the plane. The feature, which distinguishes this site from others, is its architectural diversity and its romantic mountain setting. The uphill approach has helped in the preservation of the monument.
The exposed buildings here include the main stupa and two courtyards in different terraces surrounded by votive stupa and shrines, the monastic quadrangles surrounded by cells for the monks, and a large hall of assembly. In one of the stupa courtyard is a line of colossal Buddhas, which were originally 16 to 20 feet high.

The site's fragmentary sculptures in stone and stucco are a considerable wealth but its most remarkable feature is the peculiar design and arrangement of the small shrines, which surround the main stupa. These shrines stood upon a continuous sculptured podium and were crowned alternately with stupa-like finials forming an ensemble. The beauty and grandeur provided by the entire composition is unparallel in the Buddhist world.

Takht-i-Bhai had a wealth of ancient Buddhist remains. A long range of different sized Buddha and Buddhistavvas from Takht-i-Bhai fill many museums. Some of the best pieces of Gandhara sculpture, now to be found in the museums of Europe, were originally recovered from Takht-i-Bhai.

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Martirius East

Flacq Market
Flacq is one of the most important villages in Mauritius. This meeting point for inhabitants of the East boasts the country’s largest open air market. The extremely colourful market attracts a large number of people.


The Waterpark Leisure Village
Enjoy unforgettable moments sliding on the giant chutes, with family or friends. Relaxation and pleasure guaranteed.


Ile aux Cerfs
Ile aux Cerfs is a paradise for water sports and has the most beautiful beach in Mauritius. You cannot afford to miss this tiny island, delicately poised on the ocean, a real pearl in the Mauritian landscape.

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Great Ocean Road. Australia

Take a ride through nature on the spectacular Great Ocean Road, which winds alongside the wild and windswept Southern Ocean from Geelong to Portland. This diverse and dramatic region takes in surf beaches, historic ports, whale lookouts, breathtaking mountain ranges, rainforests and national parks.See monster waves at Bells Beach and laze on the golden sands of Lorne. Visit an important Aboriginal site near Tower Hill or spot shipwrecks near the charming fishing village of Port Fairy. Of course, you can’t miss the Twelve Apostles - craggy limestone stacks rising majestically from the Southern Ocean.
Five highlights of your Great Ocean Road trip

1. The spectacular coastline
Victoria’s dramatic south-west coastline covers an incredible range of scenery. See monster waves at the iconic surf spot of Bells Beach. Laze on the golden sands of Lorne. You can swim, surf, sea kayak or fish in Apollo Bay. Or soak up salty history in the charming old fishing village of Port Fairy. Enjoy family friendly swimming at Anglesea or get wild and windswept on Shipwreck Coast. Of course, you can’t miss the Twelve Apostles. These craggy limestone stacks rising majestically from the Southern Ocean are sure to leave you spellbound.

2. Wild and wonderful nature
From rainforests and rivers to old volcanoes and rugged coastlines, the Great Ocean Road showcases nature at it most diverse. In Great Otway National Park, you’ll see thundering waterfalls and sparkling gorges and walk through the tops of ancient mossy trees. Cruise through gorges and past spectacular caves at Cape Bridgewater. See ancient limestone towers that seem to float in the ocean at the Bay of Islands. Need to stretch your legs? You can see deserted sandy beaches, thick forests and some of Australia's highest sea-cliffs on the 91km Great Ocean Walk.

3. Wildlife everywhere
The Great Ocean Road is really one long, curving spectator stand for native animals. In Warrnambool, you can watch southern right whale whales during their annual migration. See koalas, kangaroos, emus and waterbirds roam freely at Tower Hill State Game Reserve. Enjoy a game of golf alongside grazing kangaroos in Anglesea. See koalas in the wild at Kennett River and in the Great Otway National Park. Check out hundreds of fur seals at Cape Bridgewater and watch glow worms put on a spectacular light show at Melba Gully in the Great Otway National Park. Swim with dolphins at Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula. For something different, canoe alongside platypus on Lake Elizabeth at dawn.

4. Food, wine and all things fine
Need another sense to impress? The Great Ocean Road regions will tempt your tastebuds with sumptuous local produce, great dining and excellent wine regions. Go to the source for mouth-watering local delicacies. For seafood, step down to the wharf in any seaside town and be sure to visit the fishing co-ops in Lorne and Apollo Bay. Taste luscious berries from farms in Colac, Heywood, Gellibrand and Deans Marsh. Or get into the gourmet cheeses from delicatessens in Allansford, Timboon and Cooriemungle. Cool climate wineries stretch the length of the Great Ocean Road, so stop off for a drop at Colac, Apollo Bay, Timboon, Geelong and Henty. You’ll also enjoy fine food and warm hospitality in restaurants, cafés and tea rooms throughout the region.

5. Vibrant Aboriginal culture
Aboriginal stories connect the landscapes of the Great Ocean Road, from Wathaurong country in Geelong to the Gunditjmara region of the west. Taste bush tucker, learn about ancient remedies and watch boomerang throwing and didgeridoo playing in Geelong. Learn about the significance of the site nestled in an extinct volcano near Tower Hill from the Gunditjmara people. In heritage-listed Lake Condah, you’ll see the stone houses and fishing traps left from a permanent Aboriginal village.

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Dalmatia - Dubrovnik. Croatia.

Dubrovnik, the centre of the southernmost region of Dalmatia and its most famous representative, is also the star on the front pages of many prestigious world magazines, as well as being at the very top of the scale of the most beautiful cities of the world. Year on year it is proving itself as a source of inspiration for artists, a venue favoured by members of royal families and the jet setters of the world. It belongs to them, but no more than it belongs to all those who came but once. It is quite simple really, one encounter is enough for those fine threads between you and this glorious city to be spun to last…

"Those who seek paradise on Earth must come to Dubrovnik”, Sowrote George Bernard Shaw, smitten by the beauty of the city whose untouched,1940 m long defensive walls - today under the protection of UNESCO - girdle in a city which carries the appellation ofthe Pearl of the Adriatic. Sitting at the southernmost part of Croatia, harbouring centuries of heritage created by thenoble skills of the finest builders and artists,Dubrovnik basks in a warm Mediterranean climate with groves of lemon,orange and tangerine trees, sumptuous palms and agaves, adorned by Renaissance parks and the flowering gardens of medieval stone palaces and unobtrusive monasteries.

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Attock Fort. Pakistan.

It is situated about 101 km west of Islamabad on the left bank of Indus River. The fort was completed in 1583 under the supervision of Khawaja Shamsuddin Khawafi, a minister of Emperor Akbar. The Mughal caravan sarai outside the fort, which is almost on the G.T. Road, was also built during this period. Please note that no visitors are allowed inside the Fort.

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Martirius North

Grand Bay
Grand Bay was the first area of the island to fully experience the tourist boom. A shopping and leisure paradise, Grand Bay also happens to be the area where Mauritians head for when they want a fun-filled night out (restaurants, bars and discos). Recently renovated, La Cuvette beach is well worth a visit.

Pereybère
The wonderful Pereybere public beach is popular because of its shopping facilities, restaurants and pubs.

Balaclava Ruins
A few metres away from Baie aux Tortues, which 17th century sailors named after the many tortoises in the area, can be found the ruins of the old Balaclava estate. Visitors will be able to see the sea walls, whose initial foundations were laid down by Mahé de Labourdonnais.

The Triolet Shivala
The longest village on the island, Triolet offers an opportunity to visit the biggest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, first built in 1819 in honour of the Gods Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha.

The Labourdonnais Orchards
Discover a large variety of tropical fruit trees, colourful and perfumed exotic flowers. Trips on mountain bikes or hiking are possible.

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Kimberley. Australia

Ride a camel at sunset down Broome’s Cable Beach and soar over the towers of the Bungle Bungle Ranges. Cruise huge Lake Argyle and see tides taller than a building in the Buccaneer Archipelago. Four wheel drive the Gibb River Road past gorges and mighty rivers, or follow the red-dirt track from Broome to the remote Dampier Peninsula. Welcome to the Kimberley - a world of vast horizons, ancient gorges, weird rock formations, welcoming rock pools and golden beaches.

Five Kimberley wonders to discover

1. Broome: beaches, pearls and dinosaur prints

Ride a camel along the white sand of Cable Beach, the place to watch a blazing sun sink into the Indian Ocean. See 130 million-year-old dinosaur footprints preserved in rock at Gantheaume Point. Have a picnic dinner on Town Beach and watch the ‘Staircase to the Moon’, a spectacular, silvery illusion created by a rising full moon reflecting off the tidal flats of Roebuck Bay. It’s visible for three nights a month between March and October. When night sinks over the natural attractions, head to Broome's Outdoor Picture Garden for movies under the stars. Broome was once the centre of the world’s pearling industry, and today you can buy pearls, tour a pearl farm, visit a pearling museum or see the headstones dedicated to some 900 Asian pearl divers.

2. Kununurra: big waters, beehives and diamond mines

Take a scenic flight over the towering orange-and-black striped rocks of the Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park. Or camp and explore them by four wheel drive or foot. These fascinating geological landmarks rise up to 578 metres above sea level, sheltering gorges, crystal-clear pools, fan palms, rich wildlife and living Aboriginal history. Kununurra means 'big water' in the language of the traditional Aboriginal owners, and here you can also cruise down vast Lake Argyle past freshwater crocodiles, wallabies, wetland birds and dramatic cliffs.  Or appreciate its 1,000 square kilometers of grandeur by air. Canoe Lake Kununurra and swim in a deep waterhole under Black Rock Falls. Then visit the Argyle Diamond Mine and see the rare pink diamonds extracted from this ancient rock each year.

3. Dampier Peninsula: beach beauty and Aboriginal history

Four wheel drive the red-dirt road from Broome to Cape Leveque, where you can stay in the Aboriginal wilderness camp of Kooljaman. Sleep in safari-style or paper bark cabins, then snorkel, reef walk and explore old mission ruins with a local Aboriginal family as your guide.  Camp at Middle Lagoon and charter a boat or go mud crabbing with a local guide from Lombadina. Stay in the remote communities of Mudnunn, Chile Creek and La Djardarr Ba and visit Beagle Bay. The Sacred Heart Church here was built by Pallotine monks and Aboriginal people in 1917, all the way down to its mother-of-pearl shell altar. 

4. Derby and the Buccaneer Archipelago: islands, history and huge tides

See the sun set over the King Sound from Derby Wharf and fish from tides as tall as 12 metres. Learn about Aboriginal leader and outlaw Jandamurra on the Pigeon Heritage Trail and discover the art of the Mowanjum Aboriginal Community.  Don’t miss the 1,500-year-old Boab Prison Tree, with its girth of more than 14 metres.  From Derby, you can take a boat or fly to the islands of Buccaneer Archipelago, home to South Sea Pearl farms and the famous Horizontal Waterfalls. Take a scenic flight and see how massive tidal movements force the seawater ‘waterfall’ through a narrow gap in the cliff walls.

5. Gibb River Road and the Mitchell Plateau: gorges and great off-road adventure

Four wheel drive the 660-kilometer Gibb River Road from Derby in the west to Kununurra in the east, taking in Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek and the mighty Pentecost, and Ord Rivers. Travel into the remote Aboriginal community of Kalumburu, where you can stay; fish from the reef and rivers and camp on the beach at Honeymoon Bay and McGowan Island. For a really rugged adventure, discover the Aboriginal rock art and native vegetation of Mitchell River National Park. Trek Mitchell Plateau and see the majestic Mitchell Falls – a series of four waterfalls - cascade over layers of rock into a deep pool.

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Tarbela Dam Swabi. Pakistan.

The world's largest earth-filled dam on one of the world's most important rivers - the Indus - is 103 km from Islamabad. The dam was completed in 1976 at a cost of Rs.18.5 billion. Over 15,000 Pakistani and 800 foreign workers and engineers worked during its construction. It is the biggest hydel power station in Pakistan having a capacity of generating 3,478 MW of electricity. Its reservoir is 97 km long with a depth of 137 meters while total area of the lake is 260 sq.km. With a reservoir capacity of 13,690,000,000 cubic m, the dam is 143 m high and 2,743 m wide at its crest. Permits are required to visit the Dam.

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Martirius Map

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What is the City of Arts and Sciences (CAC)?

The City of Arts and Sciences is a cultural entertainment centre with stunning architecture and great capacity to entertain, teach and excite by promoting public participation.
Situated along almost two kilometres of what was formerly the bed of the River Turia, with a surface area of 350,000 square metres, the City of Arts and Sciences is a huge open space.
Offering cultural and intellectual leisure, it has given Valencia the best centre of this type in Europe.
The outstanding role of its architecture was made possible thanks to the work of two Spanish architects of international renown, who have contributed the very best of their work to this area: the Valencian Santiago Calatrava, who designed the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, the Hemisfèric, the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum, the Umbracle, and the Ágora (under construction), and Félix Candela, designer of the unique roofing of the main Oceanográfico buildings.
An architectural collection of exceptional beauty, harmonising the outer structure with the content.

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Ningaloo Marine Park. Australia.

Join the tropical-coloured party at Ningaloo Marine Park, home to 200 species of hard coral, 50 soft coral and over 500 species of fish. 

Ningaloo is one of the world’s largest fringing reefs, stretching for 260 kilometres off Western Australia’s mid north coast. What’s more, its closest point is within 100 metres of shore so you can join the festivities just by stepping off the beach.

Five things to do in Ningaloo

1. Meet intriguing marine life 

Swim with the docile whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, who visit between April and June. Watch humpback whales between June and November and see rare turtle species hatch on guided, eco-interactive trails in January and February. Sea kayak from Exmouth and spot migrating whales and visit remote sites teeming with dugongs and turtles. Or join a boat tour to watch the spectacular mass coral spawning in March and April. You only have to step off the beach at Exmouth or Coral Bay to see clownfish bathing in anemone tentacles, lionfish and predatory moray eels as well as hundreds of other species of tropical fish. 

2. Slip on a snorkel and flippers

Snorkel through coral lagoons and gardens in calm, protected Coral Bay and meet graceful manta rays, dolphins and brightly coloured fish. If you’re ready for deeper waters, jump on a glass-bottom boat or join a snorkelling tour from Exmouth. Head to Lighthouse Bay or the classic desert Muiron Islands for spectacular reef diving. See sea creatures from small to big in the reef sanctuary of Bundegi Bombies, which has shallow waters perfect for entry level divers and snorkellers. More experienced divers can discover the diverse collection of large sponges, gorgonians and sea whips in the sponge gardens at the entrance to the Exmouth Gulf. Whatever level you are, Ningaloo has a piece of underwater Eden for you. 

3. Stay in salty seaside towns 

Stay in pretty Exmouth, where you can hire a car, join an eco safari or a beach, reef and game fishing tour. Learn to surf on the gentle waves of Wobiri, catch a left-handed swell on The Bombie or ride the reef breaks at Dunes Beach and Murion and Montebello Islands. Back in town, you’ll find accommodation to suit all budgets, from self-contained apartments to backpackers and campsites. Wander the yachting marina and visit the town's cafes, restaurants, boutiques and wine bars. Then have a yarn with the locals or other travellers over a beer at the local tavern. In the idyllic seaside town of Coral Bay you can stroll to everywhere. Snorkel, swim and feed fish off the beach, do a dive trip or take a scenic flight over the reef.

  
4. Have adventures on land and sand

Four-wheel-drive the Shothole Canyon Road or Charles Knife Canyon to Cape Range National Park, just 35 kilometres from the centre of Exmouth.  Here you can camp where spectacular gorges, carved by ancient rivers, meet Ningaloo’s coral reefs, clear blue seas and sandy beaches. Walk to Yardie Creek past wildlife and wildflowers, watching out for rare black-footed wallabies crouching on the steep walls. These mangrove areas shelter many bird species and marine animals. Or follow the three-kilometre walking trail through Mandu Mandu Gorge for panoramic ocean views. When it's time to dry off, explore more of the coastline on a four-wheel drive or quad bike. 

5. Go castaway

Join a day tour to the tranquil Muiron Islands, classic desert islands with tropical waters teeming with marine life and complex coral reefs. Dive or snorkel at Turtle Bay, a nesting sanctuary for turtles. You’ll find many other great dive sites just offshore, with colourful coral gardens in depths of 3 to 20 metres. Laze on a deserted beach or cast your line in the shallow waters for a giant trevally. For the ultimate in solitude and romance, get permission to camp overnight.

 

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Lika - Karlovac. Croatia.

Welcome to the landscape of dreams. Before you, beautiful green expanses are laid out, only around 10 km above the sea, in the hinterlands known for their exceptional ecological value and high concentration of protected nature parks, representing true oases of peace and tranquility; a Croatian tourist region attracting an ever increasing number of visitors.

Have you ever seen with your own eyes the sparkling clear springs grow into magnificent rivers? Have you ever truly perceived the power and the allure of the mysterious mountains? And finally, have you ever thought that their clarity and their power could become yours?

If you visit the Lika-Karlovac tourist region, the continental part of Croatia which is the link between Dalmatian littoral and the central section of the country, you shall be all that closer to the answer. For, that clarity and power are perhaps best conveyed by the wondrousness of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, the phenomenon which attracts with its uniqueness, but also with the effect it bears on both our mental and physical wellbeing. The National Park of Northern Velebit is an area of distinctive diversity of karstic forms, the wealth of all kinds of a living world and of breathtaking natural beauty in a relatively small area.

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Aganoa Black Sand Beach. Upolu. Samoa.

This deep-water sandy crescent beach offers safe swimming, snorkeling and picnicking. Access by land is a quite challenging 4WD only track, though boat excursions are avaible from the resorts in Maninoa village nearby. Extra caution is advised for swimmers as currents are somehow stronger during some parts of the year.

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Easter Island Statues

The Moais

There are hundreds of Moai scattered throughout the island. The best places to admire them are the ahus or the Rano Raraku volcano. Each statue was different from the others and had distinctive features that made it possible to identify it with the ancestor it symbolized. Each one had a name of its own, and sometimes they were painted. It is also possible that they had a defined gender. The size and design of the statues of Easter Island evolved dramatically over time. The smaller and more ancient statues are similar to the Tiki of the Marquesas and are about 1 meter high; the bigger ones are 21.65 m and weigh approximately 180 tons. The biggest moai ever to be finished and taken to their destination was from the Te Pito Kura ahu (of approximately 9.84 m and 74 t), and the heaviest one was raised in Tongariki (of 88 t, lifted by a crane).

Ahu

It is impossible to separate the moai from the ahu, the stone structure where they rest. There are approximately 272 ahu in the island, but only tens of these altars scattered around Rapa Nui held a statue. Most of them were built near the sea, but there are also 25 relatively big ahu in the inner part of the island, like the Akivi ahu or the Uri a Uranga ahu. Actually, an ahu could have a first life, then over time and after wars, it could be destroyed in order to reuse the stones and statues and build a second ahu. Initially, these ceremonial platforms were not to exceed a length of 20 meters, but during the most classical period of Easter Island’s history, some ahu were over 100 meters long and held more than 10 statues from different periods. Almost every ahu was conceived so the moai would stand with their back to the sea and protect the clan with their Mana (power, inspiration, in a way, the conscience of the islanders). There are no precise traces of the way in which the priests worshiped their ancestors and gods in the ahu, where it is also possible they exposed the corpses of noble people. In more recent times, the rest of the deceased were sometimes buried, like the skeleton and bones found under the tombs of these open temples can prove. However, most of the time, there were special places behind the ahu especially designed for the cremation of the bodies. Each family, tribe or clan wanted to have the most beautiful ahu, one that could reflect the power acquired and guaranteed by the deified ancestors.

Of the 288 statues that were transported to the ahu, only 164 were built during the classical period of the island. The rest, from a previous time, were built-in. Only 58 statues had a pukao. A little more than 90% of the moai came from the quarry of the Rano Raraku volcano, though some were built in the Poike with white trachyte, red slag, and even with basalt.

The Tongariki ahu

Of all the ahu in Easter Island, the most prestigious one is certainly Tongariki, which has 15 statues located in front of the Rano Raraku quarry, less than 2 km away.

Like all the other ahu, the Tongariki was devastated during the time in which the clans that fought against each other rejected the worship to the ancestors. Although the Tongariki exposes 15 statues, other 17 older moai were found at the base. Some of them still remain at the site (in fact, three ahu were superimposed in the same place throughout history). Today, the specialists study cubic meters of valuable archives. As for the statue that lies on the ground in front of the ahu, it is not a moai from Tongariki, but a statue that was being transported. The eyes hadn’t been sculpted yet, since it had just left the quarry of Rano Raraku.

Hopefully, the sea will not wreak havoc again, because it would ruin the restoration work that lasted over 2 years. In light of this excavation, and with modern equipment such as cranes or computers, it is possible to estimate the genius of the ancient islanders to lift all the ceremonial platforms in the island only with the strength of their arms. Today, the Tongariki ahu, whose left part was restored in 2001, is the biggest South Pacific monument (the professional tour guides of the island will show you the petroglyphs and other details associated with this impressive monument.)

Ahu Uri A Urenga

The Uri A Urenga ahu is located a bit further than the airport, to the left of the route leading to Anakena. It does not attract much attention. Its restoration took place in 1972 under the direction of William Mulloy. Oriented facing the eastern sun, it surely had an important role in the Polynesian astronomical calendar. We must remember that 1,500 years, ago the Polynesians who sailed the immense ocean in their double canoes followed a route. They used maps made of sticks and shells, they knew the currents and the dates when they changed direction, and above all, they knew the “celestial map” provided by the stars. Thanks to the knowledge they acquired through the observation of the stars, they could decide where to go and how to return during any season of the year. There is almost nothing left of that skill.

Ahu Vaipu

Below the Rano Aroi lake, in front of the Rano Raraku quarry that is seen from afar, is located the “central” ahu, the small ahu Vaipu or ahu Ava Ranga Uka. It is made from poorly assembled stone blocks, and a 3.4 m long statue made of tuff lies on it facing the sky. The eyes haven’t been sculpted. If this moai was destined to be placed on this altar, the builders did not have the time to install it, nor to place its two coral almonds. This place is accessible through the cannon (Ava Hanga Uka) created by the waters of the Rano Aroi. Geographically speaking, this ahu is located exactly in the center of the triangle formed by Rapa Nui.
Ahu Akivi

This enigmatic ahu is also called “7 moai”, and it is located northwest of Hanga Roa, near the underground network Te Pahu. The seven moai look into the faraway ocean (unlike the rest of the statues that always face the island in order to protect the clans with their Mana). Nobody knows with certainty the exact role of this ceremonial place, though many believe it was used by the island’s astronomists. The moai are lined up with their back to the eastern sun, oriented according to the solar line of the equinox. A minute ahu observes them from the other side of the plain.
Ahu Akahanga

Beyond Vaihu, on the road of the south coast leading to Rano Raraku, the pavement goes along a set of amazing statues, which are essential to visit. In fact, two ahu go around a small bay. The first, the Ura Uranga Te Mahina ahu, has five fallen statues. On the other side of the bay, the Akahanga ahu is composed by at least 16 statues, possibly from different periods. Some lay fallen by the sea. Near this, it is possible to observe what used to be an islander town: natural caverns, foundations of shiphouses, etc. Approximately 100 meters away from the great ahu lay the remains of a much more rustic ahu that does not have any statues. This means that the construction can only be subsequent to the great ahu (otherwise, the stones would have been used for the foundations of the main building.) This small rudimentary ahu shows that after the statues of the ancestors were demolished, the islanders who fought for the island maintained worship practices that were very similar to the previous ones. They used smaller statues such as the half-built ones on the top part of the Rano Raraku, and more rustic ahu, which are testimonies of a time of decadence. Almost in the center of the bay, there is a big statue laying face down. It is in perfect state and dates from the period of splendor of the Rano Raraku quarry. The design is exceptional; though the statue could not reach its destination (the eyes are not open). According to oral tradition, it wasn’t destined to seat at the Akahanga ahu, but in the minute construction where it rests. Some people believe that this mound of stones harbors the tomb of Hotu Motu’a; others believe it is located on the other side of the island, near the Ura Uranga Te Mahina ahu.

Ahu Nau Nau

The most representative ahu in Easter Island is the Nau Nau ahu, located in the spectacular beach of Anakena. It is one of the few ahu that is almost completely restored (the right part hasn’t been restored yet); although the archeological work carried out was not very extensive. Symbolically, this ahu is one of the most important, since King Hotu Matua and his people disembarked on this beach between the years 400 and 600 of our era. They came from the land of Marae Renga, in the island of Hiva. The legend specifies that seven explorers were sent before the migration.

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