It's come to my attention that as much as I hate tourist locations, they are tourist locations for a reason! Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, as the locals prefer it is the island of giant stone monuments made by a long extinct civilization. Rapa Nui is the Polynesian name for the island. And it's amazing.
The island has a tragic history both culturally and environmentally. Historically, it was said that people from the South Pacific, quite possibly Polynesia set off in boats to find this island. When they arrived it was a land of plenty. Lots of trees, lots of fish, lots of animals. But the people were unaware of the impact they had on the ecosystem. They cut down too many trees for the boats that they used for fishing and ropes they needed. They hunted the animals and birds on the island to extinction. By the time the Europeans had arrived their population had fallen from a high of 15,000 to 2-3000. They even had to resort to cannibalism. Then the explorers introduced diseases, the Peruvians (Spanish colonizers) conducted slave raids and disease and lack of food decimated the population. Of the original people, only 111 remained. The kings and royalty were the only ones educated in literature. They were taken as slaves and died in Peru, so the written language has been lost. It's a sad tale.
The culture revolved around massive stone statues called Moai (mow-EYE) which were created to symbolize ancestors who were deified. They were worshiped and could hold the power to win wars, produce harvests, and create fertility. The people carved the statues from the volcanic rock and then cut them out of the rocks. It is amazing to think about how this "primitive" culture did all that with the tools available to them. After they made them, they transported them all over the island. Usually, they were placed on the coasts with their backs to the seas. The ocean was the spirit world and the island was the land of the living. So they would watch over the people and protect them.
I got there and was excited to see the Moai. I rented a car and went all over the island over two days. I went to a traditional Polynesian show. I went to see many standing and fallen Moai. I even went to the beach. These are the photos and videos I took. Enjoy.
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| View of Hanga Roa |
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| Artsy picture |
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| I'm the 8th Moai |
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| View from the tuna empanada place |
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| Entrance to the show |
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| Dancers |
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| 15 Moai |
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| Fallen Moai |
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| Fallen Moai in front of the 15 |
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| One of my favourite pics |
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| Different fallen Moai |
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| Broken neck Moai |
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| On the Moai path |
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| I am the 3rd Moai |
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| Carving it in the mountain |
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| so many Moai! |
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| See if you can find the Moai being carved in the mountain |
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| I love it here |
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| Fallen Moai |
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| Far from everything! |
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| Palm trees and cool breeze |
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| Anakena Beach |
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| Rainbow |
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| The only one with eyes |
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| Ta'hai Moai at sunset |
The island has a tragic history both culturally and environmentally. Historically, it was said that people from the South Pacific, quite possibly Polynesia set off in boats to find this island. When they arrived it was a land of plenty. Lots of trees, lots of fish, lots of animals. But the people were unaware of the impact they had on the ecosystem. They cut down too many trees for the boats that they used for fishing and ropes they needed. They hunted the animals and birds on the island to extinction. By the time the Europeans had arrived their population had fallen from a high of 15,000 to 2-3000. They even had to resort to cannibalism. Then the explorers introduced diseases, the Peruvians (Spanish colonizers) conducted slave raids and disease and lack of food decimated the population. Of the original people, only 111 remained. The kings and royalty were the only ones educated in literature. They were taken as slaves and died in Peru, so the written language has been lost. It's a sad tale.
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