Kon-Tiki 60th Anniversary
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Mahalo to Tiki Chris for reminding me that today is the 60th anniversary of the start of Thor Heyerdahl's epic voyage from Peru to Polynesia on a balsawood raft, named the Kon-Tiki. His theories regarding the East-to-West migration of South Americans to the South Pacific may have been disproven by modern DNA analysis, but the best-selling book and Oscar-winning documentary of Heyerdahl's journey was largely responsible for launching the tiki craze of the 50s and 60s, along with a whole host of knock-off products like the board game pictured above.
[Link: South Seas Cinema: Kon-Tiki]
Previous Heyerdahl Links at Eye of the Goof:
[Link: Sunday Tiki Worship]
[Link: At Play In the Fields of the Moai]
Comments
So Tiki is based on Balsawood ... and a lot of Rum?
Posted by: orangeguru | April 29, 2007 3:25 PM
Oddly enough, I don't think Heyerdahl had any rum on board. Too bad for him!
Posted by: MrBaliHai | April 29, 2007 3:29 PM
I guess you can't make a rum barrel out of balsawood?
Posted by: orangeguru | April 29, 2007 5:47 PM
I don't see why not. Although it might impart a rather strange taste to the rum.
Posted by: MrBaliHai | April 29, 2007 6:10 PM
I was wondering if I could induce to read my new book. It's called Voyage of the Manteņo, and it is the true story of how my colleagues and I built and sailed a series of balsa rafts very similar to Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki. We made many important discoveries about the ancient culture that invented these rafts, and along the way we lived and survived many harrowing adventures. People have really enjoyed reading it, and I have recieved quite a warm outpouring of praise; nevertheless, I could sure use some online reviews from interested Bloggers. If you send me your email adress, I'll send you the first chapter, as well as a couple of photos. If you find the time, I hope you'll check it out.
Thanks,
John
Posted by: John Haslett | April 30, 2007 2:22 AM
John, thanks for the tip. I'll definitely keep an eye out for your book.
Posted by: MrBaliHai | April 30, 2007 4:33 PM
The second half of this set features pictures of the Kon-Tiki Museum which we visited while in Oslo last April. In June, we actually went to Fatu Hiva, Nuku Hiva and a few other islands. There is a picture of Heyerdahl at the museum that looks just like King Kukulele!
Posted by: Brittanie | May 1, 2007 3:39 AM
Ha! He does look like KK. All he needs is the goofy hat and skirt!
Posted by: MrBaliHai | May 1, 2007 5:47 AM