Red Letter Rotorua
Well yesterday was a bit of a red letter day. Not only did it rain for the first time in ages but after 3 months Jamie decided to get a hair cut. He was beginning to make me look like James Bond compared to his tramp like appearance but now he's got the same cut as me. Maybe people will be more likely to realise we're related now. Strangely most people have been suprised to hear we're brothers. Quite the opposite to what we're used to.
Add to these occurrences we went fishing and I caught 4 up to 4lb and Jamie even managed a couple.
Rotorua is the perfect spot for someone with flatulance problems. There is funny smells round every corner and if you happen to drop one no-one suspects a thing.
The Maori call this place Rotovegas and you can see why. The streets are lit with neon signs and the tourist paths are paved with gold for those who happen to own a thermal reserve of any form.
On our way here we stopped in at Hell's Gate. An over-hyped and over-priced area of thermal activety. OK the bubbling craters and steam vents are interesting but they aren't exactly awe inspiring and to charge $25 (10GBP) is just a rip off. We went to the Craters of the Moon in Taupo which isn't quite as bubbly and boily but only asked for a donation.
AnotherThermal reserve is Te Puai. A maori owned area which has a Marae (sacred maori town hall thing) and more importnantly a few geysers. The biggest geyser is Pohutu (Big Splash in Maori) which shoots up to 25m in the air at various times in the day. We were lucky enough to see it in all it's glory. Quite a site. The most frighteming aspect of the area though was the throngs of tourists coming off their tour buses and being shown around on little electric trains. The train would stop and these hoards of people would come streaming towards you cameras flashing and bellies wabbling. It was an even more bizzare experience when the group were Japanese, like being rushed by a gang of dwarves.
Anyway it's still a bit on the cloudy side so we're going to leave our last hefty donation to the Rotorua economy till tomorrow when we go to see the Wai-o-tapu reserve which has another geyser and the colourful champagne pool.
Will keep you fully informed of course.
Add to these occurrences we went fishing and I caught 4 up to 4lb and Jamie even managed a couple.
Rotorua is the perfect spot for someone with flatulance problems. There is funny smells round every corner and if you happen to drop one no-one suspects a thing.
The Maori call this place Rotovegas and you can see why. The streets are lit with neon signs and the tourist paths are paved with gold for those who happen to own a thermal reserve of any form.
On our way here we stopped in at Hell's Gate. An over-hyped and over-priced area of thermal activety. OK the bubbling craters and steam vents are interesting but they aren't exactly awe inspiring and to charge $25 (10GBP) is just a rip off. We went to the Craters of the Moon in Taupo which isn't quite as bubbly and boily but only asked for a donation.
AnotherThermal reserve is Te Puai. A maori owned area which has a Marae (sacred maori town hall thing) and more importnantly a few geysers. The biggest geyser is Pohutu (Big Splash in Maori) which shoots up to 25m in the air at various times in the day. We were lucky enough to see it in all it's glory. Quite a site. The most frighteming aspect of the area though was the throngs of tourists coming off their tour buses and being shown around on little electric trains. The train would stop and these hoards of people would come streaming towards you cameras flashing and bellies wabbling. It was an even more bizzare experience when the group were Japanese, like being rushed by a gang of dwarves.
Anyway it's still a bit on the cloudy side so we're going to leave our last hefty donation to the Rotorua economy till tomorrow when we go to see the Wai-o-tapu reserve which has another geyser and the colourful champagne pool.
Will keep you fully informed of course.
posted by PeterZ at 12:44 PM
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