MEMOGRAPHER | Travel Photo Journal

Moai are massive monolithic figures at Easter Island, and they are what the island is famous for. The statues are a part of the worship of the ancestor gods and built to honor important people of the tribes who passed away. Native islanders, called Rapa Nui, carved the idols with stone tools from compressed volcanic ash in approximately 1250-1500 A.D. Many know Moai as the Easter Island Heads. Truth is that all of the heads have bodies covered up with soil. Many statues have never been transported and stay at their birth place- volcano Rano Raraku. Others were transported around the island and placed on rectangular stone tombs called Ahu, tombs for the people that the statues represented. There are 887 registered Moai on the Easter Island. The tallest statue erected is almost 10 meters (33 ft) high and weighed 82 tons (181,000 lbs).

My Bed-n-Breakfast was located just 5 minutes walking distance from Ahu Tahai. So the sunset shots have been taken there. Moai in sunrise photos are from Ahu Tongariki. “Heads” are from the volcano Rano Raraku. The first/top photo has been taken at Ahu Anakena (Anakena Beach). Moai in the last photo is a modern production, a prop for the movie Rapa Nui (1994). Don’t forget to watch it before going to the island. For the convenience of those who are planning their trips to Easter Island, I have created a Large Printable Map of Easter Island (Rapa Nui). I highly recommend to rent a car or scooter and explore the island on the wheels.

If interested, here is another post with photos of Moai- Mystery Of Easter Island.
More photo posts from Easter Island can be found here.

Click on image to view full size.
gmeanm3r

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

16 Comments

Agness says:

June 4, 2013 at 23:59

Those photos are spectacular mate. Well done. Never been there, but hope to make it very soon. Love the yellow-redish sky!
Agness recently posted..Honoring Hiroshima, Japan For Less Than $25 a Day

- Memographer says:
  
  June 6, 2013 at 20:41
  
  Thanks, Agnes! You should make it there. I would plan four full days for the trip.
  
Jessica says:

June 5, 2013 at 01:41

These are stunning. Easter Island seems like such a fascinating and mysterious place – I’ve always wanted to go.
Jessica recently posted..Sunday Snapshot: Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

- Memographer says:
  
  June 6, 2013 at 20:43
  
  Yes, it is a fascinating and mysterious place, Jessica. I would recommend to go in the summer time (South American summer) and get some quality time on Anakena beach. I’ve missed that part :(
  
Maria says:

June 5, 2013 at 17:38

So THIS is where you’ve been! fantastic trip Memo and I am captivated by the 3rd shot… head seems to be looking up as if you’d just asked a question and it was about to answer.
Maria recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Bangkok

- Memographer says:
  
  June 6, 2013 at 20:57
  
  Thank you, Maria! Yes, you are right, that’s how it’s happened. I asked a question and the “head” was about to answer when I took a photo ;)
  
TammyOnTheMove says:

June 5, 2013 at 20:32

The statues look amazing and the scenery is just brwathtaking. I loooove your photos. Really want to go!
TammyOnTheMove recently posted..Behind the Berlin Wall – Life in Communist Germany

- Memographer says:
  
  June 6, 2013 at 21:13
  
  Thanks, Tammy! Moai and scenery are what the Easter Island is famous for. Stay tuned for more photos!
  
zoomingjapan says:

June 5, 2013 at 22:43

There are Moai like that in Japan as well:
http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/miyazaki-sunmesse-nichinan/

Of course they’re only a replica, but after visiting I could imagine how great the real thing must be.

Your photos are great and just convinced me that I HAVE to visit! :)

- Memographer says:
  
  June 6, 2013 at 21:18
  
  Thanks for the link, Jasmine! I haven’t heard about this place in Japan. Very interesting.
  
  - zoomingjapan says:
    
    June 7, 2013 at 08:58
    
    If you have a chance to maybe you can visit and then compare it to the real ones.
    And I should probably go and visit the Easter Island! :)
    
    - Memographer says:
      
      June 8, 2013 at 10:49
      
      Lets do that! :) Japan is in my To-Do-Go List for soooo long. May be next year…
      Memographer recently posted..Easter Island: My New Friends Moai
      
Andrew Graeme Gould says:

June 12, 2013 at 09:31

The moai look so imposing in your shots, Alex. A very nice showing of them here, then!
Andrew Graeme Gould recently posted..Santiago, Chile: Foto Prensa 13 photography exhibition

- Memographer says:
  
  June 13, 2013 at 07:29
  
  Thanks, Andrew! They are imposing indeed.
  
Colleen Brynn says:

June 30, 2013 at 07:56

When were you in Easter Island? As you know, I LOVE the island… it is such a unique spot… and good for the soul! I would love to hear more about your trip there!
Colleen Brynn recently posted..Happy In Nizhny

- memographer says:
  
  July 2, 2013 at 14:59
  
  I was there during Holy Week of Easter in the end of March. Wanted to visit on Easter Sunday :) but, had to leave a couple of days earlier. Thanks for stopping by, Colleen. You can find more stories by following this link
  http://memographer.com/tag/easter-island/
  memographer recently posted..Photo Trilogy: Rapa Nui – The Island. The People. The Museum