The first weekend I as here I met us with 3 US teachers (Jaime, Melissa, Jenny) and we rented a car and drove 3 hours south to the "tourist" destination on Rotorua. Renting the car was quite an experience as the do drive on the left side of the road and the driver is on the right side of the car! There were no accidents and we didn't even get lost! We also stayed at a hostel (quite nice actually) that was the size of the bathroom at home!
When we arrived in Rotorua we took a gondola ride up a "mountain" and then each of us rented a luge to ride down the hill. We started on the scenic ride, and eventually ended on the expert lane where we each caught air after going to fast over a jump.
Melissa and I then went inside an 11' ball filled with water and soap called the Zorb (google it) and rolled down a hill. I will try to post some pictures eventually!
We also went to a Maori (native peoples of NZ) ceremony where they performed and did the famous Haka dance. At the end we were catered to a traditional Maori meal that had been cooked under ground.
On our way home, we decided to take a 3 hour detour and stop in Waitomo to take a tour through caves and jump in a raft that took us deep in the caves to observe "heaps" of glow worms about our heads. They were amazing! I would like to go back and take a trip that is offered in the caves called blackwater rafting! I am not sure if I will have enough time.
Last weekend we took a ferry into the city for $5 and walked around. We were not there very long so I am going to have to go back! We took a tour of a marine museum called Kelly Tarlton's which is underground in an old sewer plant. It was amazing, there was one whole section where we got to observe penguins. Another section where there we huge stingray and sea turtles. The last part was when we hopped on a conveyer belt into a glass tunnel where sharks, fish, and stingray were floating all around us!
Tonight is Guy Fawkes day...a little like 4th of July in which they buy fireworks. They are celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes was not able to bomb the British Parliament.
Time for school!
~Kylie
1 comment:
As you can guess, we are really jealous. Sounds like such a great time. I looked up the Zorb and I think I would like that trip. Not sure about Shirley.
So Kylie... what does "Kylie" mean in New Zealand?
Thanks for including us. We will be checking in. I have never been part of a blog. Maybe Shirley has???
Tom and Shirley
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