Had a lie in today as we didn't leave the backpackers until 9am.
Rotorua is not what I expected - I thought there would be lots of Moari traditional things and history but it seemed to be a non descript town.
I walked with 3 of the girls to the Government gardens and then along the lake where there were lots of birds including black swans. The gardens were nicer than the town and had wood carvings hot springs dotted here and there and the information centre near the gardens was a really impressive building. In rotorua you can smell the sulphur as you drive in - pretty powerful.
We're staying in Trekkers - backpackers and I must admit it really clean , well-equipped and comfortable - though saying that I had a bad nights sleep as some people were really noisy last night.
I popped into the Polynesian baths, which has lots and lots of mineral pools where you can go and laze for 2 or 3 hours but it was getting late so I didn't feel I had enough time to indulge. I did spend some time in their shop though as every product had a tester so I smelled quite nice by the time I left.
In the evening we went to the Mitai which is a cultural village and the locals told us about their traditions, demonstrated some of their skills with weapons, sang and performed the Hakka. They were scantily clad uin loin cloths and tattooed bodies. We had a 'hangie' which is food cooked on hot stones.. They lay the stones on a bed of firewood, light the wood - place the food in 'containers' and lay them on top of the stones, cover them with soil and then cook them for 3 and half hours. Apparently whether they cook for 30 or 3000 - the cooking time is the same.
There was lamb and chicken, potatoes (baked, scallops and sweet)with salads I'd never tasted before followed by chocolate cake, trifle and fresh fruit salad. The food was superb and you could go back for as much as you could eat.
Afterwards we walked through the bush and saw the gloworms, listened to stories of their ancestors and watch the pools bubbling up through the sand.
A real good and entertaining time and a nice end to the day
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2 comments:
Mmmmm.....food sounds yummy... and eat as much as you like.....well wasted on you. Sounds like a job for me and Yas! Seems you're having a ball in NZ with lots of culture.....funny toilets, loin cloths etc etc...Looking forward to seeing the photos! Take care!
Love Trish xxxx
Loin cloths and tattoed bodies! I think you are enjoying yourself...as Trish said food sounds fab, although The food has sounded good in all the countries you have visited!
Keep enjoying! xxxx
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