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| Preparing to ride the Luge in Rotorua. Of course with our competitive nature we had to race. Luckily no one got hurt!!! |
| Glenn's Journal 01-08-03 New Zealand We were up and on the road by 9:45 am this morning making our way to Rotorua. The drive was uneventful overall while the landscape was spectacular. It is beautiful here but we also hear that it is more spectacular on the South Island. Maybe next time!!! Once we had arrived into Rotorua our first stop was the information center. Erin and I both picked up some brochures on things to do around town. After Information we headed out to the YHA Youth Hostel in town (Kiwi Paka YHA) and booked ourselves into a double room for the night. We would determine if we would stay another night once we knew what we would do in town. The host at the counter of the YHA was very helpful and helped us with things to do as well. She provided us some more information and things to choose from. As we placed our backpacks in our room Erin and I agreed on the Maori dinner and show for this evening at Mitai. It was a new company and had only been open a few weeks but it was on original Maori land and run by a New Zealad famous (award winning) Maori dancer. The other good thing is that it was not at a local hotel and it would be a much smaller group as it was so new. We also agreed to purchase a package deal for the Skyline Rides and Luge rides just up the road. It was noon by the time we got back on the road and we had to be back by 6:00 pm to be picked up for dinner. Our first stop was for lunch before we got too involved in the rest of the afternoon. After lunch we continued up to SkyLine Rides and Gondola where we took the gondola up to the top of the mountain. At the top there are activities including the "Big Swing", a Simulator, Helicopter rides, Mountain Bike rentals, and the Luge ride. We had purchased tickets for 5 rides each on the luge. You sit on this peice of plastic with wheels and a handle as a mechanical brake and you ride down the mountain on a sealed path. You must wear a helmet but knee pads and elbow pads are optional. You can go as fast as you can or as fast as you feel comfortable but you can have some pretty nasty concrete burn type crashes if you are not somewhat carefull. All good fun for the big kid in me!!! We spent a few hours riding the luge rides as fast as we could down the mountain and taking the chairlift back up. We finished this activity around 3:00 pm. Our next stop was the Agrodome where I had to try Zorbing. Zorbing is where you get INTO a huge plastic ball and then roll down a hill while trying to remain standing. Oh, did I mention the warm water that is thrown in the ball with you. It is a blast!!! The experience does not last long but is well worth every minute. I tried real hard to remain standing but once I had slipped it was almost impossible to get back up. After Zorbing Erin had agreed to go Swooping with me. Swooping is where we each get into a hanggliding harness, then you are pulled up to 130 meters high, and then once Erin pulls the rip cord we started our free fall and swing towards the ground. Erin was o.k. with the idea until we reached the peak and she thought it was too high. By then it was too late so she pulled the rip cord anyway and had a blast with it. I was proud of her for trying it out. We had a good time!!! We made it back to the hostel by 5:00 pm with time to take a short nap before dinner. We were picked up promptly at 6:00 pm and made our way to the Mitai by 6:20 pm. We were warmly welcomed by our host (who seemed nervous at first as they were all young and new at welcoming guests). We took the time to take pihotos and the other guests joined in. The group was only 14 people which made our experience more personal. We were first provided a traditional Maori welcome which followed by traditional Maori dance and song (including an English explanation of each). The presentation was provided in a small traditional village. The presentation was also completed by family members young and old. You could see, feel, and hear the enthusiasm the young dancers had for their heritage and it came out in their performance. It was truly enjoyable!!! After the presentation the chief allowed us a chance to ask questions prior to going in for dinner. The "hangi" or traditional dinner was prepared and served which included pork and chicken with salad, potatoes, stuffing, bread, and the famous "chocolate log" for desert. During dinner we heard more stories and songs about the Mitai and their history. Each table included Mitai family members that you could continue to ask questions of and learn more about the history of the Mitai. The small group atmosphere provioded such a personal touch to the evening we knew we were learning more than we would have at one of the advanced Maori dinners that seat 200+ people. After dinner we went on a tour to the stream and to see the glow worms. They are very interesting and strange creatures and at the same time beautiful in their own way. The stream had eels and trout in it along with the bubbles from beneath the surface from the springs running down the mountain. After our walk we returned to hot coffee or tea. We were driven back to our hostel around 10:30 pm. The whole Maori experience was well worth it. We were very glad we went!!! Once at the hostel we talked with Marcel and John from Holland that had enjoyed the Maori diner with us and were staying at the same hostel as us. We chatted until 11:45 pm when we decided we were plenty tired from the day and retired for the evening. |