Markings/tattoos

We had one of the chiefs explain about their face tattoos which they dont do now, not permanently anyway. Around

This guy had very little markings, he told me that its take him about two mi utes to put it on and these days he can do it without a mirror

nine years of age, they went to the tattooist and after a few meetings of chat, their marking were decided. One side was mothers side and the other side was fathers plus their own personality.

Only chiefs had any markings above the eye line.

The Sticks

One of the areas that we visited while at the Maori village was childrens games. Kids were taught it but it was to strengthen their hands and give them skills to defend themselves later in life.

The sticks were about six inches long and round, two of the women gave a demo, then they moved to sticks that were longer and they twirled and twisted them. The wrist movements were incredible.

Next they asked the chief to choose two men and two women to come out.  I was chosen! What the ? Not knowing what was coming next, I stepped forward to join the others.

First we had to learn some words, turned out we were learning left and right.

 Once we learnt the words, she would call the words and we needed to leave our stick and move to the next one. A few goes and we got them all right, then the sticks were moved further out. This time the other girl and I went out after two turns. Certainly did make one think.

The Haka

Not sure if the spelling is correct but what I mean is the Maori war dance.

Going out to the Tamiki village by bus, our tour cost included being collected at Blue Lake cp, taken into their main headquarters, then we headed off in a big 40 or so seater bus. On the way we had to select a chief. Their job was to greet the chiefs of the village, accept the hongi, nose presses and lead us around the village.

They arrived by boat.

Our chief had to accept the fern leaf from the Maori chief.
We had all been told that we had to stand, no smiling or laughing and definately no copying their actions.

 Later one spot all the guys had to do the Haka. Warren is in black over the chiefs left arm and John is towards the right in a maroon shirt.

Before we had dinner, they gave a performance including the Haka. These two were the oldest members and I think they were married.

A Hangi

I hope I have the spelling right. We went a Maori village and dinner at the end,oh boy what a feast.

We were invited to see the meal being brough up from the ground. First was the vegetables, potatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes. Then there were whole chicken and a tray of lamb.

Later when we went to eat, a tray of fish cooked in coconut milk was added, mussels and salad.

Dessert was pavlova, New Zealand pav we were informed by the bus driver after he had asked if they were any Aussies onboard. Cake and custard were offered as well. 

This was my meal.

Blue Lake caravan park.

In the main, we are staying at Top caravan parks, little bit more money but great facilities including camp kitchens which we are using.
The one at Rotarua was at Blue Lake about seven kms south of the city.

Very popular for swimming and boating, the lake has been divided off so everyone can enjoy whatever they want to do. One evening, we saw kids who had a pool ladder in the water, they climb up and then jump into the water, they were having a ball. It seemed that a lot of people came out after work for a swim, it was rather hot.

Six km walk around the lake.

Photo taken by John.

The water was indeed blue, there was another smaller lake around the corner called Green lake and you guess it, it was green. We drove up to the look out to check them both out and the colour difference was quite amazing.

Across to Rotarua

There were some hold ups on the way across. When we finally got to go, there were cars trucks and camper vans backed up for a couple of miles.

The scenery was pretty, though it was windy and up and down, there was even a short tunnel to go through.

We stopped to have lunch at Piopio. It was a small community that rallied around to keep their town viable after the banks closed the branches there.

They put in the giant easles and invited businesses such as a vet and others to come and set up shop there.

This was a cache just out the road near toilets and apparently where drivers change over. Cache was called the Giant Count. It was an electrical box, took us a couple of minutes to realise that the lines didnt go anywhere, then we had to work out how to get into it (a magnetic key slide underneath with key inside).

This large bush was on the side of the road, not sure if it was a roadside plant or in someones yard, very pretty.

New Plymouth

We made our way to New Plymouth, travelling independently. Funny thing was, we both stopped at a little town for lunch.

  In the middle of town was this great walkway through to public toilets and a carpark.
The yellow thing on the right, is a fridge that has been turned into a free library.
On to Stratford and we stopped again to go to a war museum, we were directed around the back and found ourselves at a funeral. Opps, apparently although it was called a war memorial centre, there was no museum, it was meeting rooms.
We went across the road to a quilt show.

  The town's quilting club was twenty one years old and as such some of the quilts depicted that.

Clock tower in the main street. A glockenspeil played at 10am, 1pm and 3pm, we were too late for one, too early for another, bummer.

Our spot for the night was on a bluff overlooking the breakwater, very nice sheltered by some hedges and only a few steps to the facilities.

The Giant Weta

I had read about this and wondered what on earth it could be. There was a sculpture in the very next town, we decided to drop  in and have a look.

I read it as they grew to 70 cms and we all thought thats massive for an insect so I checked and it was 70 gms, not cms. Still wouldnt like to come across one.

There was a Warehouse store just down the road so we purchased another pillow each and a sharp knife, plus a cultery set. There were no knives at all in the motorhome when we collected it, our purchases were only $21, got to love that store, wish we still had them.

Language

So nice to come on holidays and language is not an issue although there are so strong accents that we havecome across.

Waiting for our tour at the caves, ours was at 10am, we were talking to one of the crew, we think that he ran our boat.
Anyway, there were a lot of Chinese lining up and we wondered if that was our tour but he told us that they were a bus group and because of time restraints would have their own tour and thenmove on. Warren and he had a conversation about tourists ingeneral then he said "Two dickheads ago" which surprised me, thenI realised he had said "Two decades ago" he was saying that it was the Japanese who were coming out and now it was the Chinese.

I had a laugh and told himwhat I thought he said. So far only time the language has caught me out.

But come on who says two decades,wouldnt one say twenty years ago?

Bason Botanical Gardens

Not sure if I have spelt the name right but we spent a few hours there on Sunday. We had the idea to walkaround the grounds as after all there was a path all the way around. Err, no! Once we saw the terrain.

We walked around the top area, the friendship gardens and giant  trees, had an interesting chat with two guys who were flying drones. Then we got into the vehicles and headed down the hill.

There was a series ofcaches called cache and play, we found cricket that had a small bat and ball, tennis, I was hoping for a small racquet but it was sistema box. On asharp there was frisbee. Luckily there was a parking bay too.
The guys tried out the frisbee golf then on to lunch in a small gazebo overlooking some greenery. The park was set out withdifferent areas and right down the bottom was a small fern house.

Picked up a few groceries on the wayback to camp ground.

Glow worm caves

Our farm stay was only 8kms from the caves and $30, compared to $55. We had a leisurely breakfast then packed up, it doesnt take long to pack up, then moossied on down to the caves.
 There were the glow worm caves or a combo of that and two other caves to explore.

We opted just to do the glow worms, that was a 45  minute tour and we did have other places to be.

Great tour, had to duck our heads for a little way then jt opened out, had some stairs to go down, then our guide sang a Maori love song as  noone wanted to volunteer.

No photos or noise when we got closer to glow worms. They were just fascinating we did have a torch light shone on some for a few seconds to show us how they were there. Then it was down and into the boats in the dark.

Once we were all in, we glided off. The crewy pulled the boat along by a series of ropes along the roof and bars along the walls. Boat ride was about ten minutes we disembarked then up several stairs but they were on a slope back to the reception area and of course through the souvenir shop. We had had our photo taken on the wat in but we declined to buy one. 

Little house on wheels

We picked up the van and trundled off down the road, Warren had selected a farm stay for our first night. We pulled in there about 2.30pm and it was hot! Luckily we had the forethought to buy a small fan at the town before we stopped.

As soon as we got electricity on, the fan went on to cool the van down. We do have A/C while we are driving.

Next was to organize our bedding and the configuration of the van, the bed goes lengthwise with the cooking at the back. Our bags go under the bed and we have left it up (the bed).

From the back, there is a little fridge and a couple of storage bins.

Well, hello Auckland.

Really do lose a day or more with travel. Left home yesterday at 8.30 to get the train to airport. Had alittletime to waitbefore we could check in, that was easy, only a couplein front of us then the cattle crushtogo through immigration,body scan and passport recognition.

Yay, didnt need to takeouttablet, phone,battery charger,it all went inthe same tray,nothing needed tocome out. Body scanner, beeped at me,noone else had beeped.I wasmotioned over to a girl who just touched myright shoulder,  that was where it flashed red, knew Ishould have tucked that AK47 under my bra strap better. Nah,shejust waved a hand over barely touching me thenIwas free togo.

Uneventful flight of two and ahalf hours think it was pretty full. Warren passport photo works okay in New Zealand,first time in years .

Our hotel was booked because of its closeness to the airport supposely within walking distance twenty minutes or we could get a bus or taxi. We didnt know the way togo but we saw taxis,ah cant be much.

Taxidriver pointed us in the direction of the bus and said it would be $6 each. Go tobus stop, where a group were waiting, nah,it was the smokers zone! So moved on but no we were in the right place! Over the years I have become less tolerateof smoke. Had togo back therebut luckilybus was coming. I board and ask driver for two tickets. No,have to purchase tickets from the machine on sidewalk. Had money out but only card will do.

Warren goes to check in at hotel, the Ibis same as we stayed in London however the one we are booked into in in the city. No problems sir,I will get you a taxi. 

Cost $35 and delivered to door driver says that a taxi from the airport would have been more and in a brochure I read that it is between $75 and $90 to the city. Same guy is coming to take us back to hire company this morning sowe can pick up the motor home.

Burger King was just down the road so an easy dinner, egg and bacon for breakfast. I said I would make coffee while Warren was obtaining breakfast. All the coffee makings,no jug ah but there is a microwave. Except I dont think that it has worked in years.

Work started at the construction site right on the dot of 7am, at least we will not be late for our taxi.

We are on the thirteenth floor.

AFLW

Or in full words, Aussie rules football womens. Their first round match on the weekend and we were lucky enough to have one playing here starting at 4pm. We were hoping it was not going to be too hot.

Turned out a great day match and weatherwise. No seating available so we took our own and sat right on the fence. Buses were provided as parking was limited, that suited us, we drove to the station and caught the free shuttle bus that was provuded free of charge.

 The young kids for Auskick went in and out of the gate just near us, four teams played at half time, some looked as young as three up to about ten.