Easter Island was a place I had long dreamed of visiting – not seriously, of course. It was far too far away for someone in Malaysia. It was destined to be one of those dreams you never act upon. I didn’t even know that it had a local name, Rapa Nui.
But I hadn’t reckoned on the rise of online travel platforms, the growth of the budget airline industry, worldwide digital mapping, smartphone translators, and the share economy. And so, at the time in my life when I was ready to flip my mindset upside down, and asked myself, ‘What if I did the places at the bottom of my bucket list, first?’, it was suddenly feasible to really go to Easter Island.
Emboldened by my experience with semi-unplanned travel in Nepal and India, I went with only a loose plan, greatly daring. Releasing the pressure of FOMO, I vowed to be content with whatever that the destination allowed me to see. <
I found Rapa Nui to be an excellent host indeed.
Additional stories published by others:
On Travelmag | The Independent Spirit:
Easter Island: Sculptures by the Sea
Was I the First Malay on Easter Island?
On Written From Travel: Comparing Mountains at Rano Raraku
Travel Sustainably is a Teja on the Horizon article series reviewing my efforts to travel more responsibly. This article reviews new things I tried when I travelled to CHILE and sustainability-related things I encountered while there. It covers what I did...
Regardless of whether you ended up having seven days on Easter Island because of choice (smart one, by the way), or because of flight windows (as was my case), you would have more time on the island than the typical...
Damn that’s cold! The shock of the entry cascaded across my whole body instantly. My skin felt like it would jump out of the suit and back onto the boat, if it could. I began to breathe faster, that was the...
I decided to hike to Orongo, after my successful attempts to visit the moai-era archaeological sites of Rapa Nui. As the ritual site representing the cult that came to be following the doom of Easter Island’s moai-building social order, Orongo...
One of the most fascinating short videos I’ve ever seen
Posted by Yevgeny Gindilis on Monday, 18 March 2019
‘Origami’ creations from the fronds of the nipa palm. Typically a craft of the Mah Meri women, it is used to decorate festival spaces, shaman huts, and also to create the conical totems that forms the focal point of the dance at the close of the ceremonies. Mahmeri Village,Pulau Carey,Kuala Langat,Selangor #mahmeri #mahmeritribe #mahmericulture #mahmeripulaucarey #careyisland #orangasli #harimoyang #ancestors #indigenousfestival #indigenousart #tejaonthehorizon #tejainmalaysia #worldtraveler🌎 #worldtravels #worldtravelcaptures #nsyftravel #muslimahswhotravel #femaletravelbloggers #wordoftravel #worldtravelig #exploremalaysia #discovermalaysia #leavethemainroad #backpackingasia #malaysiaculture #origamiart #nativeart #womenart #womencraft #nipah @ Pulau Carey ... See MoreSee Less
I remember learning how to weave palm leaves as a child when we were on a holiday in Goa. I enjoyed it so much my poor dad had to keep getting me fresh palm leaves for the next couple of weeks. It was an interesting craft and quite soothing. We used it to provide makeshift roofing for shade.
You know how bloggers from modernised countries exploring other cultures write about how travel exposes you to people who are outstandingly generous, hospitable, spiritual, etc. etc. and it expands you? OK, here's the update from the other side. The reverse way is also true. If you *are* from a generous, sincere, or some kind of good and true place, travel also exposes people who for some reason don't know how to deal with that.
Fortunately, this also expands you. ... See MoreSee Less
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![I was not planning on making any more trips after returning from my last big trip. But, I realised tomorrow’s solar eclipse is fully visible at Tanjung Piai, Malaysia! I can’t say no to that!
🌕🌘
[pic is actually a sunrise in Muscat, Oman]
#roadtrip #spurofthemoment #roadtrip🚗 #roadtripper #roadtripmalaysia #solareclipse2019 #solareclipse #annulareclipse #spontaneousadventures #spontaneousroadtrip #tanjungpiai #tanjungpiainationalpark #gerhanamatahari #gerhana #mengejarmatahari #tejainmalaysia #tejaonthehorizon #malaysiantravellers #offbeattravel #travelforfun #seizethemoment #seizetheopportunity #letsgotravel #astronomylover #astronomi #pencintalangit #travelforastronomy #darlingescapes #nsyftravel #femaletravelbloggers](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/77307344_573961786496678_1596290142476863114_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=0XCDD6q8jUAAX95wwhj&oh=0ae85a714ded5981bf96c0db0884ce1b&oe=5EB58881)
![So, what’s in my travel toiletries bag? The bathroom is one of the places where plastic and single use packaging dominates. I’ve been steadily swapping them out for reusable, refillable, solid, or compostible alternatives and while I have some tweaks planned to this, this is where I’m at. [swipe for the items I’ve yet to switch out]. See how much better the well made things look! And compare with how crappy the disposable things look... Which ones would you want to try out? Comment and questions below! #sustainableliving #toiletrieskit #toiletries #traveltoiletries #travelessentials #travelkit #travelsize #bathroomessentials #personalcareproducts #packtotravel #zerowasteliving #zerowastetravel #noplasticwaste #ecofriendlytravel #beatplasticpollution #refillable #menstrualcup #bambootoothbrush #solidshampoo #deodorantcream #reducereuserecycle #reduceplasticwaste #plasticnotfantastic #plasticfreeproducts #plasticfreetravel #plasticfreeperiod #plasticfreejourney #sustainablebeauty #thereisnoplanetb #positivechange](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/75443206_370638227139695_1251617257738746390_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=kVf-NMLH2sgAX8fj-Sm&oh=78b1de913d29ed51d00255dbbce3a1b4&oe=5E9D0809)
