Rotorua

DSCF3575, originally uploaded by ponyshow.

Jan 7
Drove all day from Auckland to Rotorua. This is some countryside.

DSCF3580, originally uploaded by ponyshow.

Photo-op spot just outside the town.

zorbing, originally uploaded by ponyshow.

Zorbing is the coolest thing ever. One to three people jump inside the inner ball with a bunch of water and slosh around as the ball rolls down a hill. As our one professor said, "So if you've always wanted to be a hamster..."

DSCF3610, originally uploaded by ponyshow.

The whole group went to Tamaki Maori Village outside of Rotorua. This is the welcoming ceremony type thing. The dudes in a line are the representative "chiefs" of each busload of peopl and the Maori guy is doing an intimidating dance type thing. It was really amazing. Unfortunately my camera died before the haka (dance) performance, but that was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. We also had a traditional-type hangi dinner, for which the food was cooked on heated stones for...ever. Everyone was nervous about the food but it was actually quite fabulous.