前言: 第一日到達復活島遇到係海邊擺賣嘅 Carmen，首次邀請佢做訪問係當日嘅 5 點幾，佢話準備去同朋友茶聚，於是我第二日再去海邊，坐係樹下聽 Carmen 分享佢嘅故事。
1. Can you briefly share with us your background? Are you a local here?
I’m not a local here. I’m from the mainland in Chile. I visited the island in 2012 and 2015 respectively and I started to live on the island from 2017 till now.
I was a tour guide in Chile and I came to Easter Island in 2012 for a tourism conference for travel agency and tour guides. I started to have dreams about Easter Island frequently since then and I think that tells something.
Back then I had a good job with stable income in Chile but I felt bored with the routine and I decided to live on the island.
2. What do you like best about Easter Island?
Of course the landscape here and the island is quiet. Another good thing about this place is the low level of crime rate. I don’t have to worry about my property even if I’m away from my stall.
We don’t have discrimination on the island as well. People don’t judge you based on your background or costumes. You can even walk with bare feet in the town, which I don’t dare to do so in any other places in the world.
3. How would you describe your life here?
It’s simple but with quality.
The only bad thing on the island is when you are ill. We only have one hospital on the island.
This is one of the most remote places in the world and we have to import basically everything.
Occasionally if the weather is bad or the ocean is too rough, then we can’t have what we need and you realise we are living on an island.
K: As tourist I find the spending here is quite high, is it the same for locals too?
Yes but we understand because we have to import everything. For instance, if I want to buy a kilo of apples here, I have to pay for more than 300 Hong Kong dollars, while I only have to pay for around 10 dollars in Chile. People here try to get whatever they need if they travel to the mainland.
4. You mentioned you felt bored with the routine in Chile. How about your life in Easter Island?
Although this is an island, there is always something different to do. You never know what’s going to happen during weekends. My life here is not just about travelling from home to work and from work to home.
5. Do you think you will stay here for a long while or will you consider going back to the mainland soon?
I have not thought about it. After all, though I encounter both the goods and bads staying on the island, I don’t regret moving to the island.
後記：Carmen 係其中一個我係島上遇到最開心，有熱情嘅一個人。雖然島上生活比較簡單，但短短嘅傾談已經感受到佢好享受島上嘅生活。
P.S. Carmen 亦有分享，因為要維持公共服務同天然資源嘅供應，所以智利政府有管制住係島上居民嘅數目，希望復活島可以保持對環境保育嘅意識。
#Southamerica #Chile #EasterIsland #travel #南美 #智利 #復活島
有故事的人 Story Teller | Kenry Lee 