9am and things are basically going according to plan. There are three tours of the island available: two half-day tours and a full-day tour. Gonzalo warned me yesterday that the full-day tour needs to be booked a day in advance but hopefully I can squeeze in two half-dayers today and the full-day tomorrow.

"No. What? Wait, is the morning tour full or the afternoon one? Oh, in that case I'll book the afternoon tour for today then please. What? Oh, really? I'll go for the morning one instead then please. Is that OK? Great."

Nicole from my hostel who I met over breakfast and bumped into in the booking office found this funny. They just couldn't make up their bloody minds! But it's all booked now: morning for today, full day tomorrow then another morning tour on Wednesday. That leaves me with two afternoons free for... not sure yet.

Richard and his mum were on this morning's tour bus. So were most of the tourists on the island, it seemed. It was obviously the right tour to book. I'm happy. After all, it could have been just Red and me. Talking of Red, where is she?

It was raining. Hard. The cape I bought back home especially for Easter Island was laying forgotten in my backpack in my dorm. I needed it. I was about to get soaked...

First stop was Ahu Akivi, a platform with seven large moai. Alexandra, our guide, told us in Spanish and English the legend of these moai. Legends may not necessarily be true but what is true is that these moai had been toppled and restored in the 20th century. In fact, at one point, none of the 400 moai on the island were standing. What toppled the moai isn't completely known: warfare of earthquake. How the moai were transported up to a dozen kilometers from the quarry where they were carved to their locations also isn't completely known. The Rapa Nui people would tell you they walked.

The rain ruined my photos. Rainy scenes are one thing but rain on the lens is another. I'm not satisfied.

We visited the lava cave and quarry where the topknots (the moai's headdresses) were taken then headed back, all of us were completely soaked and cold.

I showered and changed just in time for the sun to come out. What awful timing. I thought I may as well hire a car and revisit the tour sites on my own to get some better pictures and make the best of the afternoon, so I did!

The Grand Vitara is the first left-hand-drive, manual car I've driven. All my life I thought it'd be awkward to change gear with my right hand but it's not. Not really. A few times I reached down with my left hand and hit the door but hey.

I got some awesome shots and loved every second. I feel for those who didn't bring their driving licence to afford freedom on this island.




I spent sunset on the east of the island then headed back to town in the dark.

I met with Richard and a few others for a lovely (but expensive) steak dinner with wine before heading back to my hostel for some rest before the big tour tomorrow.

What a day! What a place!