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Chile and Easter Island

There is no dock or pier on Easter Island. It is very difficult to receive supplies by boat ont he island.

Coming back to shore.

View of the Ahu Vai Uri with its variety of moai statues The Ahu Vai Uri, whose name could be translated as dark water or green water, is the platform with the largest number of erected statues. Its construction dates from 1200 AD. and its five restored moai are a sample of the different styles of how they were carved

The first one on the right is currently a piece of rock that is barely recognizable. However, the one that follows, much better preserved as such as the first on the left, has a lower and more robust body than the rest and shows a grim expression

While we were at the area a photography shoot was taking place with 2 ladies dress in native attire. The area is called Tahai.

The owner of the restaurant, Vaiuri at Tahai beach, we had lunch and a dinner later in the evening.

The beach at Tahai where the restaurannt Vaiuri is located is the best place for sunsets. Unfortunately the early evening we went for a sunset brought rain.. the blessing of the gods instead.

Ahu Ko Te Riku is the last and singular platform located further north. Above it rises a single moai of 5.1 meters high that was restored with all the elements that adorned the old finished statues. On his head it carries a pukao, a cylindrical piece carved in red scoria from the Puna Pau volcano. This form, which according to different opinions, represents a hat or a hair bun, was placed in the last phase of construction of the ahu. It is believed that the original pukao of this moai was used to carve the Christian cross that is found in the nearby cemetery to Tahai, but there is not even the certainty that it had one. The other differentiating element of Ahu Ko Te Riku is that it supports the only moai that has eyes of the whole island. It is thought that when a moai was installed in its ahu, the eye sockets were carved and, after that in a ritual ceremony, his eyes, made of white coral and obsidian pupils, were inserted in. At that time the statue was considered to come alive and could project the mana or spiritual power to protect its tribe. Therefore, all the moai look towards the interior of the island, as in Tahai, which is where the villages and their inhabitants were, and not towards the ocean.

Spending years in the restaurant business I am always interested in the kitchen area for the restaurants. The kitchen with family working at Vaiuri was very simple. The food excellent.

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