Rotorua continued

E has taken her mud bath, it was hot but so relaxing and rather messy. She finds that she is forgetting to put cream on her hands, which she does about 10 times a day otherwise. We have visited a park which took all day (not a K day) mostly because K wanted a picture of the geyser blowing. And it blew. About 30m up in the air of almost boiling water. There was a chilly wind that day but we could sit on warm stones to wait so we weren't cold. Other stones were too hot to sit on. In the park we were treated to Mauri hospitality. The men met us, brandishing weapons, shouting, sticking their tongues out and rolling their eyes. When they understood that we came in peace the women sang for us. Then there was a little concert of singing and dancing before the audience were invited up on stage, the women to play a rythem instrument and the men to learn a war dance. Afterwards K had som typical Mauri food, hangi, cooked in the ground in a basket. Chicken, potatoes, carrots, sweet potato, corn on the cob, and other veges.

Today we took a trip round the lake. Stopped first for a gondola ride up a mountain which gave fantastic views. Up there was something called luge, a kind of go cart, with 3 tracks down the mountain. That was so much fun we had 3 goes each. Continued on to a spot right opposite Rotorua and had our picnic. We followed a track along a river through a redwood forest which made us feel tiny. The trees were huge. Then we came upon the spring that the water came from, a great hole in the ground. It was wonderful to watch the clear water spilling over to make the river, and the trout playing lazily in the pool. Further round the lake was a waterfall. There was an awful lot of water thundering along so I was very disappointed when we arrived at the waterfall and it was only 8m high. (Those who know High Force will know what I mean) Then 4 people came along in a raft and went over, disappearing completely under the water but resurfacing after a couple of seconds. Apparantly people do this for fun. We arrived back rather hot and sweaty as the cool winds have gone and it seems like summer, but having booked the mud we had to go. Now about 3 hours later the hot relaxed feeling is still with me. Why can one not take a mud bath in Stockholm in November. No pictures yet from N Z but hopefully soon.