Thermal springs and geysers
Trip Start
Jan 25, 2007
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82
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Trip End
Jan 25, 2008
Rotorua,
New Zealand
Thursday, September 20, 2007
With a multitude of thermal pools and geysers to choose from I decided to go to the Te Puia park where the largest geyser in the area , Pohuta is situated. Inadaition there are bubling mud pools and hot pools, all very cool, the place seems like some kind of prehistoric landscape, all that's missing are the T-Rexes.
In the same park there is also a Maori village and cultural centre and as part of the admission we had a traditional Maori concert. This started with one of the group being choosen as chief. He was then greated by one of the warriorr from the village who did a kind of mini Haka before leaving a fern on the ground
.
. The Chief had to pick the fern up to indicate that we came in peace and then after the Chief and the warrior rubbed noses we entered the village for the concert. The music was very similar to Hawaiin music which makes sense as the Maoris are a Polynesian culture. They also did a Haka for us although not the one that the All Blacks do as that's a war dance and would be slightly inappropriate considering we were coming in peace. They then took a few of us up on stage to show us a few moves from the Haka. I'm afraid I don't have any pictures but I was up there doing the eye bulging and sticking the tongue out ! Was good craic although I doubt we would have scared anyone out of fighting us if it had been a real war dance.The next day I was supposed to leave on the Magic bus but for some reason they decided not to pick me up. I waited around for twenty minutes before calling their head office. They admitted they had made a mistake and paid for my bus ticket up to catch the bus again the next day so panic over, I wouldn't have to stay another night with the stench of sulphur. Looking back I think I may have filled out a form on the bus incorrectly which led them to believe I was somewhere else but naturally I wasn't going to own up to that one!
