Oh hi! After a night of tropical rain and a bit of a soggy first day, I woke up still needing to pinch myself because I was sooo excited to be on Rapa Nui! My South Pacific dream come true...and the sun was out, yay! We naturally had to start by making use of the kitchen facilities to make a cup of tea with the last of our Clipper fair trade teabags (now 6 months old...nice)...and some fried egg sarnies...well done the Wiji.x
Now that it wasn't raining in biblical proportions we decided to see some of the sights and make our way off around the coastline to Hanga Roa.
Looking to the left of the campsite, with the red and white pylons marking the airstrip. The volcanic island rising right out of the ocean over 3000 meters above the floor of the sea, and just over 500m above sea level.
Looking back at the campsite Mihinoa, from the shore line, just across the road...wooooh! Tent still in place, check out the green one on the right...that's our tiny home with mega ocean view, just un-zip the door!
Looking to the right of the campsite (along the coast) to Hanga Roa, the town, and the craggy black volcanic shore line.
Giving a few indications of the enormous distances. Britain not featuring here though...far too far away for a mention.
The sign post was right next to the Chile Armada (Navy) building, handy then that the men in uniform chose to pop out of the building just as we were larking around with this part of the broken sign, lol.
Spot the horse with the huge willy. We tried several shots to avoid that one horse in particular, but it kept moving!
A modern sculpture carved in the red scoria stone, the same stone as the traditional Moai top-knots.
Me on Playa Pea, (on the south side of Caleta Hanga Roa) ...yes that really is what it is called and you can see why. In my O.C.D way, I was the first person to set foot on it that day...get in!
Not sure what this one is called as it was not shown on any of our maps or guides.
Ahu Tautira overlooking the fishing port...
Running back to get another piccy of Ahu Tautira...oooh the sun is out!
A modern carving with a giant fishing vessel anchored off shore.
Walking along the coastline...
Resembling a traditional Rapa Nui stone house with low door, called a Hare Paenga.
Hanga Roa Cemetery...with tombstones inscribed with Polynesian names.
The next three Ahu are collectively known as Ahu Tahai. Ahu are platforms and Moai's are the figures. This is Ahu Vai Uri, the Moai have been restored to their upright original positions.
Looking at them in turn.
Raised on the ceremonial platform marked by bolders, are Ahu Vai Uri. I am beside myself with excitement and awe!
Ahu Akapu, stands solitary looking inland from the coast.
Ahu Ko Te Riku, restored with red top knot and eyes. This is generally how all the Moai's would have originally appeared. The white's of the eyes would have been carved out of coral, according to the museum, and the pupils of the eyes were obsidian or shell. The eyes were only added once the Maui had been moved to its final destination and raised upright.
A modern example built in a traditional style, to resemble a traditional Rap Nui house (like an up-turned canoe).
Ahu Akapu, a solitary Moai, further along the coast from the museum.
Looking back at Ahu Akapu, on the coast.
Taking a break to marvel at the view. Oooh, love you!
A massive lump of coral.
Already catching a tan again in the windy sunshine, after losing all our colour in wintery Argentina. Get that factor 30 out!
We visited the Museo Antropologico Sebastian Englert for the second time to get a proper, more focused look at all the artifacts. This image below is an early Rapa Nui navigational map, made in 3D. The bamboo lines are currents in the sea and the shells are stars...how amazing and totally mind boggling!
The museum contained obsidian spearheads and basalt fish hooks, woodcarvings of figures and wooden tablets upon which the first language (Rongo-Rongo) was recorded. All knowledge of this was lost when Rapa Nui was invaded by Peruvian raiders who enslaved all the able-bodied men they could find. Tragically this included all the scribes and overnight the written language and its meaning was lost.
After the museum we went into town to get some supplies for the next day, checking out all the high priced shipped and flown in goods, ouch! Tinned tuna and pasta it is then...living the dream and eating on the cheap!
Then we walked back along the coastline to catch the sunset. Nice tanker.
Hanga Roa behind us on our walk home.
A man paddling hell for leather with one paddle in a canoe...he must have been a local because he wasn't just swept out to sea. It looked like an olympic sport, he really had stamina!
Back at the campsite after cooking, to catch the sunset proper, with the faux Moai in sillouette.
Night then, we were really tired after hoofing it about with excitement...hope it doesn't rain, lol.
Now that it wasn't raining in biblical proportions we decided to see some of the sights and make our way off around the coastline to Hanga Roa.
Looking to the left of the campsite, with the red and white pylons marking the airstrip. The volcanic island rising right out of the ocean over 3000 meters above the floor of the sea, and just over 500m above sea level.
Looking back at the campsite Mihinoa, from the shore line, just across the road...wooooh! Tent still in place, check out the green one on the right...that's our tiny home with mega ocean view, just un-zip the door!
Looking to the right of the campsite (along the coast) to Hanga Roa, the town, and the craggy black volcanic shore line.
Giving a few indications of the enormous distances. Britain not featuring here though...far too far away for a mention.
The sign post was right next to the Chile Armada (Navy) building, handy then that the men in uniform chose to pop out of the building just as we were larking around with this part of the broken sign, lol.
Spot the horse with the huge willy. We tried several shots to avoid that one horse in particular, but it kept moving!
A modern sculpture carved in the red scoria stone, the same stone as the traditional Moai top-knots.
Me on Playa Pea, (on the south side of Caleta Hanga Roa) ...yes that really is what it is called and you can see why. In my O.C.D way, I was the first person to set foot on it that day...get in!
Not sure what this one is called as it was not shown on any of our maps or guides.
Ahu Tautira overlooking the fishing port...
Running back to get another piccy of Ahu Tautira...oooh the sun is out!
A modern carving with a giant fishing vessel anchored off shore.
Walking along the coastline...
Resembling a traditional Rapa Nui stone house with low door, called a Hare Paenga.
Hanga Roa Cemetery...with tombstones inscribed with Polynesian names.
The next three Ahu are collectively known as Ahu Tahai. Ahu are platforms and Moai's are the figures. This is Ahu Vai Uri, the Moai have been restored to their upright original positions.
Looking at them in turn.
Raised on the ceremonial platform marked by bolders, are Ahu Vai Uri. I am beside myself with excitement and awe!
Ahu Akapu, stands solitary looking inland from the coast.
Ahu Ko Te Riku, restored with red top knot and eyes. This is generally how all the Moai's would have originally appeared. The white's of the eyes would have been carved out of coral, according to the museum, and the pupils of the eyes were obsidian or shell. The eyes were only added once the Maui had been moved to its final destination and raised upright.
A modern example built in a traditional style, to resemble a traditional Rap Nui house (like an up-turned canoe).
Ahu Akapu, a solitary Moai, further along the coast from the museum.
Looking back at Ahu Akapu, on the coast.
Taking a break to marvel at the view. Oooh, love you!
A massive lump of coral.
Already catching a tan again in the windy sunshine, after losing all our colour in wintery Argentina. Get that factor 30 out!
We visited the Museo Antropologico Sebastian Englert for the second time to get a proper, more focused look at all the artifacts. This image below is an early Rapa Nui navigational map, made in 3D. The bamboo lines are currents in the sea and the shells are stars...how amazing and totally mind boggling!
The museum contained obsidian spearheads and basalt fish hooks, woodcarvings of figures and wooden tablets upon which the first language (Rongo-Rongo) was recorded. All knowledge of this was lost when Rapa Nui was invaded by Peruvian raiders who enslaved all the able-bodied men they could find. Tragically this included all the scribes and overnight the written language and its meaning was lost.
After the museum we went into town to get some supplies for the next day, checking out all the high priced shipped and flown in goods, ouch! Tinned tuna and pasta it is then...living the dream and eating on the cheap!
Then we walked back along the coastline to catch the sunset. Nice tanker.
Hanga Roa behind us on our walk home.
A man paddling hell for leather with one paddle in a canoe...he must have been a local because he wasn't just swept out to sea. It looked like an olympic sport, he really had stamina!
Back at the campsite after cooking, to catch the sunset proper, with the faux Moai in sillouette.
Night then, we were really tired after hoofing it about with excitement...hope it doesn't rain, lol.
1 comment:
Wow, you are finally there. How wonderful! It is much greener than we imagined, like Wales with big statues. Fasciniating. xx
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