Argh. Eaten so much. But had a fantastic cultural evening.
After returning to the hostel I met up with Kirsty and Sarah and after booking oru next two nights accommodation for Taupo, we decided to utilise our free beer/wine voucher for the pig & whistle. Jolly nice pub, chillaxed there for a bit before getting ready for our Maori hangi and concert night
It began just a block away, with some introduction videos to the Maori people and the evening. We then got on our bus with an awesome driver called Mark. He said hello/goodbye/thank you/etc in 52 different languages/accents flawlessly, and was in general highly hilarious. A worthy man on the bus was chosen, as chief, apparently being a rugby player is a must. Once we arrived in the village, we were treated to a traditional welcome, or a "challenge of peace". This involved women singing, and warriors performing and demonstrating their prowess in front of the chiefs from each bus. A peace offering is then laid out and a chief is selected to accept it.
Upon entering the village we were allowed to wander around, where we saw various demonstrations of traditonal methods, tools and weapons. Questions could also be put to the chief of the village. At the sound of a horn, we were led through to a little concert hall where we were treated to some amazing dances, songs and love stories. All maoris seem able to sing, dance, perform amazing hand-eye coordination, look scary but also be amazingly friendly at the same time. Next we entered the dining hall for a great hangi feast.
Hangi is the way the food is cooked, using heated stones in a pit. It's very similar to a big roast. The food was sublime though, potatos, carrots, lamb, chicken, fish, stuffing, mussles, salad etc etc. Dessert was passionfruit and kiwi pavalova, fruit salad, steamed sponge, custard and cream. Everything was buffet style and phenominally delicious. I finished off Sarah's veggie samosas as well. We washed it all down with New Zealand fruit punch and coffee.
The process of Hangi was then explained, then we perused the shop before the ending ceremony where we all stood, held hands and sang. The drive home was fantastic as Mark got each nationality to sing a native song and he led the singalong. Obviously we got God Save The Queen. Then at a round about he started singing " round the mulberry bush" and 3 of these massive coaches circled the roundabout loads of times, to much hilarity and blocking of all other traffic.
As we were dropped off, Sarah got a photo of Mark's tongue and we chuckled all the way home. Rotoura sure stinks more when it's not raining. Sleep time. Magic tomorrow.
Wednesday 5 March 2008
5th March 2008, 16:00
Woke up today after a really cold night and some crazy odd dreams that made me believe I'd actually killed a load of people by running a boat so hard the propeller shattered. Anyway, met my suspiciously organised white water rafting pick up out side hostel. Took about 20 minutes to get to the HQ where we signed our lives away, got suited and booted, and headed down the river.
We got split into 2 boats, one of 6 and my boat which had 5 of us plus a guide dude. I got put in the front left cos I was the only guy and was probably a mug. Ini mini mieni mo sorted the other front person. We were safety briefed, what to do if flipped or we fall out etc. The way we traverse the rapids is by the guy yelling at us to paddle forward, or back, then the two of us at front have to paddle in unison and others follow us. Our guide was a pretty awesome dude and did some mauri river chanting before we went off to respect the river.
First test was a 1 metre and 2 metre waterfull drop, which we survived excellently, and participated in various victory shouts afterwards. We took some rapids in our stride, then flew down the 7 metre waterfull (where 10/20% of boats flip) perfectly, posed for a victory photo and cheered. Next our crazy guide made us go down some rapids standing up (which the other boat didn't do). He then suggested we go for a swim, which resulted in a flurry of clambering back in once next rapids came faster than expected. Finally, we did some "surfing" in the last rapid, which basically involved us at the front being totally drenched/drowned. Awesome.
After carrying the boat, on our heads, back to the van, I bought a CD of photos and we got dropped off back at the town. After inspected photos, you can see the entire boat and all of us were submerged at the bottom of the 7 metre waterfall. Sweet.
Had lunch and then decided to walk around Government park, which was really pretty and sun began to come out. I randomly ended up outside an Elizabethian building, that turned out to be the Rotorua Musuem. The first video/movie is worth the entry fee alone, all about the eruption here in the 1880s. Fantastic reenactments and "interactive elements". To top it off, and after confirming with the front desk, Bret from Flight of the Conchords is in it! Grand.
Rest of museum was good as well, mixture of old bath houses resotred, war/maori history and hot spring explanations.
Am currently sitting on waters edge looking out towards another Sausalito like town that I don't have time to see. Walking through the woodland next to lake, very nice. Must push on.
We got split into 2 boats, one of 6 and my boat which had 5 of us plus a guide dude. I got put in the front left cos I was the only guy and was probably a mug. Ini mini mieni mo sorted the other front person. We were safety briefed, what to do if flipped or we fall out etc. The way we traverse the rapids is by the guy yelling at us to paddle forward, or back, then the two of us at front have to paddle in unison and others follow us. Our guide was a pretty awesome dude and did some mauri river chanting before we went off to respect the river.
First test was a 1 metre and 2 metre waterfull drop, which we survived excellently, and participated in various victory shouts afterwards. We took some rapids in our stride, then flew down the 7 metre waterfull (where 10/20% of boats flip) perfectly, posed for a victory photo and cheered. Next our crazy guide made us go down some rapids standing up (which the other boat didn't do). He then suggested we go for a swim, which resulted in a flurry of clambering back in once next rapids came faster than expected. Finally, we did some "surfing" in the last rapid, which basically involved us at the front being totally drenched/drowned. Awesome.
After carrying the boat, on our heads, back to the van, I bought a CD of photos and we got dropped off back at the town. After inspected photos, you can see the entire boat and all of us were submerged at the bottom of the 7 metre waterfall. Sweet.
Had lunch and then decided to walk around Government park, which was really pretty and sun began to come out. I randomly ended up outside an Elizabethian building, that turned out to be the Rotorua Musuem. The first video/movie is worth the entry fee alone, all about the eruption here in the 1880s. Fantastic reenactments and "interactive elements". To top it off, and after confirming with the front desk, Bret from Flight of the Conchords is in it! Grand.
Rest of museum was good as well, mixture of old bath houses resotred, war/maori history and hot spring explanations.
Am currently sitting on waters edge looking out towards another Sausalito like town that I don't have time to see. Walking through the woodland next to lake, very nice. Must push on.
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