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It's Thursday morning, I'm awake at 6am, so naturally it must be Christmas morning; AKA it's time to visit Hobbiton!
One of the biggest reasons of New Zealand is The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit so to see this place is going to be surreal but my number one to-do!
We were driving to the Shires Rest cafe just outside the movie set to catch our tour bus so we set off about 8.40 to get there for our tour at 10 - what happened next wasn't so good!
We stopped at a junction...only for a kind 71 year old woman to drive into the back of us as she wasn't looking; poor Rosie needs a new bumper and plenty of dents knocking out of her - not going into detail here, but we were off on the way after some roadside DIY and we changed our tour to 11 - easy!
Our satnav directed us past the first turn off twice and told us we went past the Shires Rest twice, the 2nd meaning Jen did a u-turn in the road only to be called a 'hazard on the road' by a passing bus driver (who was on his way to Hobbiton! Ha!)
So we got there, tickets in hand, and on the tour bus we go - I've got Jen videoing, the driver commentating about the set approach where trailers were etc....and I've got The Lord of the Rings theme song playing in my head of course!
We jump off the bus after 10 mins and head inside...and we see the hobbit holes, all 44! There's loads of pictures and I can't really say much about the experience other than it was phenomenal, walking round seeing the houses and getting right up outside Bilbo and Frodo's pad!
It looked just like in the film so it was incredible to stand in places we see in films, I even got offered to jump over the same fence Bilbo did in the Hobbit (I declined due to fear of tripping over it!!).
We did get to go in the Green Dragon inn for a free (!) drink; mine was a sharp apple cider while Jen had a crisp ginger beer! Both were delicious and Jen even stole the local cats chair!
We can explain all about it in person if you want to know as it's not something words can do justice for :)
After we got back, this time without unwanted bumps, we sat around whilst we awaited our 2nd activity at 18.30...a Maori experience evening at a Maori village which included a special meal!
Again this is an experience words can't really describe, the bus journey to Tameki was full of laughter and some Maori language lessons as well as learning their ancient greeting which is shaking hands with right hand, placing left hand on their right shoulder and pressing forehead and nose together twice followed by saying 'Kia Ora' (not the juice) - Kia Ora means good health to you.
After arriving there was the opening ceremony during which it was forbidden to laugh as that would be seen as an insult. Jenny found this extremely hard and had to bite her cheeks to stop herself. It's all on video, as is a lot of the night to explain it better; after entering the village there were several activities about Maori village life to watch and some to take part in.
There was learning the Haka, which is their war dance. (I got picked and it was funny - must see video), learning about the tattoos on their faces and what they signified, training for warriors, their crafting, games and instruments.
Now a brief outline of a Maori feast; they cook food in a 'hāngi' which is basically an earth oven, here's an explanation definitely 100% written by me....
To "lay a hāngi" or "put down a hāngi" involves digging a pit in the ground, heating stones in the pit with a large fire, placing baskets of food on top of the stones, and covering everything with earth for several hours before uncovering (or lifting) the hāngi.
We saw our food carried out of the ground which again is on video...and headed down to the entertainment but whilst the food was prepared...this was amazing!
Songs, dancing and stories; and if course the actual Haka; all on video so watch this too!
The dinner was a buffet of chicken, lamb, snapper, mussels, stuffing, carrots, sweet potato, boiled potato's and salad - the food tasted incredible and was even followed in with passion fruit pavlova which was pretty good.
The drive home was active..the bus driver leading us in songs until he asked everyone to sing the Fresh Prince of Bel Air song! Halfway through people forgot the words which left me and Jen very disappointed!
Of course...the rendition of 'she'll be coming round the mountain when she comes' was accompanied by driving round and round and round a roundabout!
It might be brief but the two activities are difficult to put into words, but pictures and videos hopefully give you a better idea!
Off to Taupo with the Great Lake tomorrow, onward and upward!
Ka ke te (which means goodbye)
Dave and Jen
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