Lazy ass dolphins
Trip Start
Sep 08, 2005
1
9
36
Trip End
Nov 29, 2005
Paihia,
New Zealand
Sunday, October 9, 2005
We can't believe how lush NZ is. The forests are really dense. Our coach driver (John) was really funny in a dead-pan sort of way. Arranged accommodation at The Mousetrap Hostel. This place was spotlessly clean and they were so friendly. Great. We had a look about town and took a dander up round Waitangi (where the British and Maouri signed the treaty). Cool.
Went out that night to a bar called the Sand Pit. Didn't stay there long coz it was really crazy. There were women and men stripping for prizes (e.g. cheap underwear). It also happened to be national nude day and there was one guy running about completely starkers with the NZ flag painted over his bits!!!!! It wasn't a big flag (ha).
After this we moved onto the Beachhouse bar and this was a cool place. There was a great band on. Ended up pissed AGAIN. Got the munchies so we tried to make toasted crumpets as quiet as we could (never going to happen). Good craic.
The next day we went to Russell (by ferry) which was NZ's first capital and also the first european settlement. Bought a really class map of old NZ which still contained references to New Ulster, New Leinster and New Munster!!! (No new Connaught though).
Went out on a cruise around the Bay to see the dolphins and also to go through the 'Hole in the Rock' (a big hole in a rock). Very cool though. Saw some dolphins but they were feeding so they didn't play very much (feckers) so we didn't get any pics. Sailed through the hole which was cool and then continued on to see some NZ fur seals (also lazy feckers). On the way back to Paihia the captain told us how the town got it's name - the missionaries on seeing the land said it was really nice here and asked the local Maouri tribe what the Maouri word for lovely or good was. In Maouri this means 'Pia' and the missionaries said yes it was 'Pia' hia (here).
Came back and went to the shops. On the way we saw these Maouri people getting changed into their traditional clothes (in the middle of the street!!) and then they kayaked over to a nearby island and did the Haka - Tracy thinks they are a bit scarey looking.
