How the Kon-Tiki Expedition Was Inspired By Travel
It is nighttime in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, July 1947. A wooden raft, pushed along by ocean currents, floats peacefully under the starry sky. Made of very large balsa wood logs at the base and a simple bamboo deck and half-open hut on board, the entire craft is 45 feet long and utilizes only hemp rope to hold the materials together - no nails or wire or any other form of modern technology.
Thor Heyerdahl is sitting on deck writing about the day's events in his journal. He is one of 6 men on the raft, and is also the organizer of the voyage. Two months before, they set sail from the Peruvian coast of South America with their eyes set on crossing the Pacific Ocean and arriving to the islands of Polynesia. Thor believed the ancient people of Peru once settled on the Polynesian islands, 4,300 nautical miles away, by following the ocean winds and currents in the sea, and he wanted to prove it.
A small flying fish lands in Thor's lap as he writes. He picks it up and gently throws it back into the water without a second thought. So many land on the boat that each morning, the cook collects them for an easy meal. They've also become accustomed to strange sights on this trip. During the day, dolphins and sometimes giant sea turtles swim next to them. The seaweed and barnacles that grow on the bottom of the raft attract a wide array of fish and, therefore, sharks. Once, a curious 30 foot whale shark circled them for nearly an hour, terrifying the men that its massive body would accidentally flip their craft. At night, bioluminescent creatures including giant squid turn the waters around them into glowing art displays.
Just a few weeks after that night, their raft reached shore near Tahiti. They had sailed for 101 days in the Pacific waters, over 4,300 nautical miles, and their arrival, although it hadn't been easy, proved that ancient voyage from South America to Polynesia was possible. It had been an epic voyage, one that engulfed the world with intrigue as they provided their updates via radio throughout the trip, a feat thought impossible, and considered a suicide mission by many in the beginning.
How did it all begin?
Ten years before, Thor, a zoological researcher, traveled to the isolated South Pacific Marquesas Islands to study the flora and fauna. While there, legends shared by village elders ignited his passion for understanding the connection between ancient Polynesian and Peruvian people. Rather than the original habitants coming from Asia, he believed they had come from South America.
Was his theory correct?
This expedition and the history surrounding it are so enthralling, we don't want to spoil the answer. You can read more about the Kon-Tiki Voyage in the Smithsonian Magazine if you are interested.
Had Thor Heyerdahl not ventured to the Marquesas Islands for his study, he never would have had the experiences that ultimately led to his Kon-Tiki expedition, a voyage that inspired millions, and changed the lives of many. Travel made it possible. That leads us to ask......
Which experiences will you have when you travel that will change the trajectory of your life?
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The Kon-Tiki Raft (Credit: National Geographic)
Map showing the distance covered. (Credit: National Geographic)
Reconstructed Kon-Tiki raft as it appears in the 2012 blockbuster film Kon-Tiki. (Credit: Norwegian American)
The Firefly Squid (Credit: New York Times)
OUR MISSION
Venture Road is a driving force in the world that establishes peace through cultural understanding and service. We exist to open eyes to see and ears to listen. With our immersive experience, we encourage a desire to bridge cultural gaps and join tables of global communication. And, we invite you to come along with us.
As always, thank you for your confidence and trust in Venture Road. We'll see you soon.