November 6, 2015 Rotorua NZ

You can't come to Rotorua without taking in some of the Maori culture. Our first dose came via the Whakarewarewa village. Ostensibly a real Maori village, albeit with western style houses, this is located at the geothermal pools and has been home to Maori for hundreds of years. We had a good look around the thermal activity: mud pools, stinking (literally) hot sulphur pools, boiling bubbling water pools, geysers and steam pouring out of the ground all over the place. Even under houses! The benefit is that you don't have to pay for hot water, cooking or heating. We took in the show where a Maori group give a song and dance performance of some traditional songs ending of course with the Huka. And if I hear one more word about rugby and the world cup I shall scream. The show was good, but then instead of 'audience participation' they had a school group come up on the stage and sing a few songs, including the Huka. It was damn good considering the youngish age of the kids, especially one well built fellow who was really getting into the warrior thing.

Mud puddle. Wharerewarewa NZ

Geyser. Wharerewarewa NZ

Chief. aka our guide, showing us some pretty nifty moves on the poi.. Wharerewarewa NZ

Judy and her new best mate. Me trying to recreate a photo from 1970, but there were no obliging Maori children around. Wharerewarewa NZ

Judy and I and a warrior fierce. Wharerewarewa NZ

Doing the Haka. Wharerewarewa NZ

Wharerewarewa NZ

Tiny tiny bees busy making Manuka honey. Wharerewarewa NZ

Main street. Wharerewarewa NZ

We did the tour with a chief. (Chief I discover means head of the house, so you can call me Chief Brian in future). It was really interesting, a bit of history, a bit of religion, a bit of culture, a bit of politics, but all done so smoothly it was really good. After that we had lunch there, electing to take on the Hangi Pie rather than the full blown Hangi meal. It was so good,  I went back and had a second one.

The second dose of culture came in the evening when we went to the Maori Hangi at the Temaki village. It's a short bus trip out of town to the village, but our bus driver caught us all unawares by going through his repertoire  of Hello and various bits of small chit chat in no less than 62 languages.

Someone on the bus gets elected chief. (no, I slunk down real low in the seat) The chief has to lead us up to the gate where we are challenged by fierce warriors doing the Huka. When we didn't run away, the head warrior lays a peace offering at our feat. Fortunately we picked it up, signifying that we came in peace, at which time a conch shell heralds our passing through the gate. We are split into groups and go around to various whare (houses, huts pronounced faray) where we are shown different aspects of Maori life and tradition. Finally, we are taken to a small arena where the Hangi meal is explained and the food dug out of the fire pit. The food is taken away to be dished up, we are led into a theatre for a show, which seemed disarmingly similar to this mornings one. Not to worry, sweet as, alls good.

After the show we are led into a large dining hall where we are seated and given a huge buffet to enjoy. Eat as much as you can - go the backpackers!

On the ride home this mad as a hatter driver started up again, making us sing a song for each country, and he knew them all in the proper language and all. When we were near the town, you come to a roundabout. He starts singing the Wheels on the bus go round and round, and so we did, about ten times. I tell you, it was pretty damn funny. Further on, near the terminus, someone points out a police car - No worries bro, he's my cousin - going for coffee - sweet as

Anyhow, a truly good evenings entertainment - I'd go again just for the bus ride.

Today we changed to European culture by going to the museum. This museum was built in 1908 as a bath house, along the lines of the bath houses in Bath and Harrogate in the UK. This one was a disaster from the start: the pipes dissolved, the timber rotted to bits, they ran out of money etc etc. Eventually it was all sorted and they had a long period of pampering the rich and idle, but eventually it closed and was left empty for years and years. A night club  operated for a while during the 1980s and 90s but then that closed and it was left to rot, literally.

Fortunately it was rescued by the powers that be and restored and turned into a museum. They have a sections set up like the old baths, and one wing given to the Maori story. It was a good few hours spent wandering about, and as its in the middle of the beautiful Government gardens, it was a pleasant time.

Princes Gate. Rotorua NZ

Government Gardens. Rotorua NZ

Museum. Rotorua NZ

One of the original baths for 'taking the water' and other treatmens. Rotorua NZ

A deeper plunge type pool. Rotorua NZ

An old boy, stuck in his mud bath. Rotorua NZ

Two at a time mud bathing. Rotorua NZ

The Blue Baths. Rotorua NZ

Finally, to finish the day we slipped out of town to view the Green and Blue lakes. The Green lake is privately owned and a no-go zone. The Blue lake looks like it would be a fantastic picnic ground and water sports kind of place.

I had a spa and swim in the hotel's pools before we spent a pleasant hour sitting out at the tables in the street drinking wine and apple cider. We only came in when the sun finally dipped down behind the buildings at about 7.

Princes Gate hotel. Rotorua NZ

Anyhow, that's us, we are on the road again in the morning.