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Kia Ora!
I've just tried to upload photos, but with no luck; the program seems to have froze. Maybe next time... :S
My sunburn has progressed, and I am now peeling (for the first time)...
Anyway, we have started our tour from Auckland all the way down to Christchurch (the Sheepdog pass on Kiwi Experience if anyone wants to know; we also did the Awesome+TopBit pass). The first day, from Auckland to Mercury Bay, was quite boring actually...the driver said we'd have a short 30 minute walk down to Cathedral Cove (one of the places we stopped at on our journey), but it killed the whole bus load and we were all knackered. Very pretty, secluded spot though.
Actually, I can't remember too much of all this, or what order it was in as it was a couple of days ago now...
The next day (yesterday??) was from Mercury Bay to Rotorua, where the Earth's crust is only 12km (instead of about 30) so there are loads of steam vents and gysers and such. There was a place to go learn about it all, but Adam and I went luging instead. It was awesome (or sweet as, as they say here)! We did one each of the beginner, intermediate, and advanced luge tracks (and also got to go in the gondola and chair lifts). Most of the guys went straight for the advanced track, and as it was quite fast, they got thrown from their ..things, and got quite torn up. A lot of them were missing their shorts, and one nearly missing their toe. I didn't go so fast though, so I was fine (although I did go off road for a few seconds on one of the hairpins..). So much fun, and cheap!! On our way to Rotorua, we also stopped at the place where they filmed part of Lord of the Rings, Hobbiton, or Matamata as I believe the place was.
That's one really good thing about these buses; we almost always stop for food along the way so Adam and I are eating quite well. We've also stocked up on raisins and dried fruit for snacks. Breakfast is sometimes quite difficult, but today we stopped at a bakery like we often do (they have the BEST sausage rolls here!!).
That night in Rotorua (last night?) we took part in a traditonal Maori feast/celebration thing. It was so so good. Each busload had a "chief" where they would be challenged by the local Maori people, then we'd be let inside their "village" (rebuilt I think, I don't think they lived there), and they would show us their customs, fighting skills, singing, etc. It was quite frightening (a lot of intimidation techniques) but they were really friendly (with a good sense of humour!). We were then lead inside where they told us part of their ancient story from about 1818, acting it out and singing and dancing in the customary way. It was really amazing. Unfortunately, my camera was dead so I have absolustely no pictures of this which is a massive shame. One guy caught my eye and did the whole dancing, tongue waving thing, straight at me, then winked at me! It was really funny. Finally, we had a traditonal Maouri hangi feast, where they cooked the meals underground using hot rocks and stuff (definately worth a read about it!). The food was delicious, I especially liked the sweet potato and the fish. The most memorable trip might have been the bus trip home however (driven by one of the people taking part in the celebration thing). First of all, he got everyone to sing a song of their homeland, so the English had to sing a song, and the Italians, etc. I said I was british as I didn't want to sing on my own...but it was really hilarious. He was the most random guy. Then as we were nearing home we were going around a roundabout, and he got the whole bus singing "She'll be coming round the mountain"--and then I realised we were still going around the roundabout! So we went around and around this roundabout (remember this was a big bus so that's an impressive feat), until the song was finished. Then he found another roundabout and we did it again (with a different song)! It was so much fun. I wish I had something to remember all this by.
Anyway, today we headed down to Waitomo. A kind of boring morning (didn't really want to try Zorbing), but then we stopped at a place where we can take part in all these different activities. As both Adam and I may be passing on the bungy jump and skydiving whilst we're here, we decided to do this one-of-a-kind thing (only one location to do it at, here!), called the Schweeb. Definately look it up, but it's this sort of Monorail race track thing. The first time I got bang on the woman's average, but the second time I lost 15 seconds off my time, and was 84 out of all the girls (under 20 I think) that tried it from the UK (which was 500 people I believe)!! I was very please with that result, although it was because I started going in 4th gear and couldn't be bothered to change it down. Rather exhausted after doing it twice.
After the hectic check in at this hostel (rather unfriendly staff), we ran out of time to do the Black Water Rafting today so will do it tomorrow, at the relatively late time of 8:45 (one of the hikes we're doing means we start at 5:45!!). We're doing the boring one without absailing or zip wires etc, but it still should be quite good. Only about 30 pounds per person! (NZ$100) We float down rubber tubes and jump off waterfalls in these underground caves, I've really been looking forward to it. Another good thing to look up if you have the time.
I could probably go on much longer but I'm running out of time--I'll update later!
Having a great time though! Time for dinner....
Cristina
P.S. Realllllly hope we geat an ensuite bathroom soon as these hostel showers are a bit of a difficulty...
P.P.S. The photo I've used for this blog is of Rotorua
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