Rotorua - Mean Maori Mean

New Zealand has some beautiful scenery. I forgot just how green this country really is. While driving to Rotorua there is a stretch of road that is just covered with punga trees, rich green foliage and its just a beauty to drive through.



While in Rotorua we drove around and did a bit of sight seeing. Rotorua is famous for its sulphur geysers and the lake. So we drove around and got a few snaps.



That night we went to "The Mitai Village". This is where you get to experience some maori cultural traditions. We got picked up from our motel on a shuttle. it was a cold night with a little bit of drizzle but it stopped once we got there.



The whole cultural experience consisted of hangi (maori dinner cooked under the ground), watching maori warriors canoe down the river, maori show including explaining of maori tatoos, dances, traditions and then a bush walk to see glow worms at night. In maori tradition you have a chief that talks on behalf of all visitors so they asked for a volunteer to be our chief. Of course I volunteered Paul (much to his unliking) but he did such a great job. Here are some pics of the night.



Paul being told what his chiefly duties consist of. He had to lead us all in, accept the warrior challenge and pick up the token saying we came in peace, give a short speech thanking them for inviting us and then the traditional hongi (pressing noses).



This is when the maori warriors came down the river on a canoe. This was quite stunning to see as they werr chanting and so we couldn't see them initially but could hear them. They had fire torches and we were all watching on the side of the bank.



Paul and I next to the long canoe (waka) which is at the entrance of the Mitai village.



This is art of the show where we saw cultural dancing. These are the women swinging the poi balls.



This is after Paul had accepted the token on behalf of all of us visitors. He was an awesome chief and did such a great job.



Haka more cultural dancing with the men doing the haka. This place was awesome and we met some cool tourists people from Aussie,USA, Spain, Canada etc. We had a great time.

Bungy 3.... (I know, will it ever end)

Well I thought I'd show you my bungy video. Warning I look extremely scared. When I showed my family they couldn't stop laughing and I was like um this isn't funny. But as I watch over and over again I can't help but crack up. I look like a stunned mullett!!!!! This is by far the craziest thing I have ever done. So I hope you enjoy it.

Salsa

So one of my favorite things ever to do in Provo was my Salsa dancing class. I was tutored by the wonderful Arieh and Marcy. Talk about style, finesse, grace yet sultry and sexy!!!! It was the best thing that I did besides teaching and talk about living the good life. Not only did I learn to dance but I made some wonderful friends for life! My two favorites are Marcy and Arieh. Arieh started with unco, unsexy and turned me into something to behold (that's just my opinion), and Marcy gave me all the funky female moves that I've never ever seen let alone thought I'd enjoy. I love that their teaching is so soulful! All in all I absolutely love these two. Here is a picture of me with the wonderful, talented and best teachers of salsa, ballroom, and anything work talking about!!



The night before I left Provo I went Salsa dancing with Paul and was joined by some wonderful friends Lindsay, Rosie, Ova and Connie. Love and miss you guys heaps!!!



If ya ever bored in Utah check out Arieh Marcy and the crew at Salsa Chocolate http://www.facebook.com/pages/Provo-UT/Salsa-Chocolate/48122754266

The Luuuugggggeeeee

We were all about the fun factor when coming to NZ and the Luge was no exception. This is in Rotorua and it is a track coming down the mountain that you luge down. You catch the Gondola up to the track luge down and then catch the chair lift back up. Paul and I went 3 times and on the last time we managed to get in the camera at the same time. It was a foggy morning so it was fun coming down the mountain in the fog and of course we captured some good moments. Before we started out to the Luge we had a huge breakfast at the "Fat Dog". It was this cool little cafe with the hugest kiwi breakfast and we loved it so much we give it a huge shout out.



Paul with the 'Fat Dog" in the background!!!!!



This is us on our way to the Luge track on the gondola. Paul and I would wave at other Gondola's on the way up and down just to spread some love.



One of the Luge tracks. There were 3 (Scenic, Intermediate and Expert).



Paul and I getting ready to hit the track with our lovely helmets. We thought we looked awesome.



Us caught by the downhill Luge camera. I came around the corner behind Paul and yelled "CAMERA" and we both started cracking up laughing and then I smacked into the barrier. Well at least we both got in the picture (save us paying for 2) and had a blast as we always do!

Cheers Mate!!!

One of the best places to eat is at the Pub. Paul had never been to a pub or eaten there so we ate dinner at the pub with my cousin Crystal. It was so much fun. We would have tried pub eating in Utah but you can barely find a pub in the whole state let alone one with decent meals. The pub we went to was the "Cock n Bull".



This is Paul and my cousin Crystal outside the pub. It happened to be Pub trivia night the night we went to the pub so we played and I think we were in the bottom 5 (ha ha). We didn't win any beer, wine or money but we had a blast.



This is my choice cousin Crystal kind enough to hang with us and play happy hostess. It sure was fun hanging with her.



The 3 of us happy and content after a great meal and coming in at the bottom of the pub night trivia. Ya ever want a good meal head to the pub. Cheers!!!

(Trivia question how many times did I use the word pub?)