Nose Job

Friday, January 10th, 2025 again had a slow rolling start.  We had no structured activities until noon so the 3 members of the Anseth party could choose their own wake up times.

I got up earlyish, around 7 and went for a walk.  What we need to discuss about Rotorua is that it has a faint to aggressive sulfur smell secondary to the geothermal hot spring found all around town and throughout the nearby region. I noticed it a lot yesterday, less today unless I was looking in a thermal spring.  I guarantee your first couple hours here you will be a little like “ohh  that smell, oooh that smell.”  Luckily we are an adaptable species and quickly this annoyance disappears.

Olive tree from my morning walk

Heading towards Lake Rotorua 

Planes on the lake patiently waiting for action.

Lake Rotorua 

Māori totems near Lake Rotorua 

Thermal springs are steaming this morning

They have all the thermal springs in town fenced off to protect the kids and the dogs

Multiple thermal springs

Sculpture in the park among the springs 

Zoom in to read the details. I am getting a little lazy but if you’re reading this you have thumbs.

More thermal springs

Flowers are pretty

Look at this archway!!! Look at it!!!

It is for short kings. 

A beautiful sculpture on the edge of the springs

The title “Kairau”

After my walk, I stopped back at the hotel for a complementary breakfast. As I sat quietly enjoying my mango/apple/orange juice and some toast, a woman by the window fainted and slid out of her chair and onto the floor.  Ashley wasn’t around to tell me what to do, so I got up to check.  Fortunately, it was just a vasovagal episode.  The woman was responsive and moving everything fine and in a short time she sat up. Seems like every other trip something medical pops up. Weird

After a long breakfast we prepared for some whitewater rafting with River Rats rafting company. We planned to raft the Kaituna River only 15 minutes out from Rotorua. The rafting route only takes about 2 hours but in the middle there is a 7 meter(23 ft) drop off the Tutea Falls.  There are 2 small drops one drop was like 3 meter and another around 4 meters that serve as the foretaste of the feast to come.

Our raft consists of England Katie and her blonde haired boy friend up front, Jacob from Kent, UK and Ashley Grace, (cool row) Scott behind Jacob and Katie behind Ashley and the captain guiding us all Zach.  We got on our gear, the Anseth all wore a fleece top under their life jacket because someone didn’t bring the sunscreen along. Zach gave us the safety meeting.  Zach said the raft usually flips 1/10 times. If it does flip, try to hang onto the raft.  If it flips and you get bounced off the raft ,curl up in a ball and the falls will spit you out.  

So off we went into the Kaituna River

Team Anseth, Ready to paddle

Jacob from Kent, UK

The whole crew in the boat

The first  falls 

The team entering the first falls rapid

Down and out, no worrries mate

Paddle. Paddle, paddle 

The first one was too easy so this one we took backwards  (zoom for a good look at KT and Ash)

Down the rapids

We are taking on some water but still sea worthy 

Tatea Falls

Entering the slot.  “Get Down!!”

Her we go. No turning back now.

In the falls.  Zoom in and notice my head position.

In too deep. Zach said he felt like the boat elevatored, which is hitting the hole with the nose and almost bouncing back up.  As we were breaking it down on the bus home, he thought we might cartwheel at this point.

Where the @&$! did we go???

Signs of life.

Almost flipped right here.

Popping out to safety. Mostly intact 

We did it. During the fall, I ended up getting kicked forward and Jacob ended up getting kicked back so I banged my nose on his helmet and got a bloody nose.  It was glorious, enough danger to get an injury, not enough danger to die.  As I wiped the blood of my face, I thought to myself  “this was awesome”. It was also confirmed by the smile on Ashley and Katie’s faces. After that we had some smaller rapids.  We swam through one, stood up on a little one and messed around on the last one.

They are best friends 

Face wash time.

Cleaning in progress 

So refreshing 

Jacob and Me. “Name your favorite dinosaur?”

Getting dunked

Whoa!!!! (Yell it like Ric Flair)

“T. Rex, did we just become best friends?”

“Do you want to practice karate in the garage?”

We all survived and we are all smiling.

Back at the hotel, TB and LB image if you had this in 1994. That would have been heaven.

We regroup at the Pullman and then headed out to or Māori experience.

The amount of work to spell a reference correctly for this section was a challenge, so I turned it over to my friend, ChatGPT.  It was surprisingly accurate.

Rotorua, located in New Zealand’s North Island, is a vibrant hub for experiencing Māori culture. The city is home to several iwi (tribes), including Te Arawa, who have lived in the area for centuries. Māori culture in Rotorua is deeply connected to the region’s geothermal landscape, natural beauty, and rich traditions. Here’s an overview:

1. Cultural Performances

Rotorua is famous for immersive Māori cultural experiences. Visitors can attend pōwhiri (traditional welcoming ceremonies) and watch kapa haka performances, which showcase traditional songs, dances, and the iconic haka (war dance).

2. Marae Visits

You can visit marae (Māori meeting grounds) like Te Puia or Tamaki Māori Village, where you’ll learn about Māori customs, legends, and ways of life. Marae visits often include storytelling, feasts, and opportunities to interact with local hosts.

3. Hangi Feast

A hangi is a traditional Māori cooking method where food is slow-cooked in an earth oven. Visitors can enjoy delicious hangi meals featuring meats, root vegetables, and sweet treats, offering a taste of Māori culinary heritage.  We crushed this and it was delicious.

4. Geothermal Connections

Māori in Rotorua have long utilized the region’s geothermal activity for cooking, bathing, and healing. Places like Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village allow visitors to see how geothermal steam and hot springs are used in daily life.

5. Art and Crafts

Rotorua is known for its Māori carving and weaving traditions. At the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (in Te Puia), visitors can see artisans creating intricate wood carvings, stonework, and woven textiles that tell ancestral stories.

6. Legends and Storytelling

Māori culture is rich in oral traditions, with many local legends tied to Rotorua’s lakes, mountains, and geothermal activity. For example, the legend of Hinemoa and Tūtānekai is a well-known love story set at Lake Rotorua (Hinemoa lived on the island in the center of Lake Rotorua. Every night he would play his flute at the edge of the water for his love Tūtānekai.  One night after hearing his song she swam across the lake to meet her love.  Despite their families disapproval they consummated the relationship and the Māori in this region are the ancestors of that relationship) #girlpower

7. Te Reo Māori Language

In Rotorua, you’ll encounter the Māori language (Te Reo Māori) in place names, greetings, and cultural explanations, reflecting its importance to the identity of the people.

Rotorua offers a holistic immersion into Māori culture, blending ancient traditions with modern interpretations, making it a must-visit destination for cultural enthusiasts.

Entering the Māori Village

A traditional Marae, a totem for the ancestors at the apex, the roofline arms coming down with 3 fingers representing birth, life and death and the up right post like a warrior in a wide stance welcoming you.

Ashley was about to finish this older lady on the Māori stick game.

Discussing Māori tattoos. Originally very painful. Right sided tattoos for the parental side of the family, left sided tattoos for the maternal side of the family. Complete lower body represent skill in combat

Dancing 

Greetings 

The gala

More Haka

The classic Haka face 

You can watch videos on YouTube of the NZ national rugby team ,the All Blacks, doing the Haka, Māori doing the Haka and even a member of NZ parliament.  It will get you every time some check it out.

More tomorrow. Hopefully my nose isn’t broken?!?!?