wow.. I am really pleased I'm back up to date with this.. more posts to come, I won't leave it so long..! So, today I am in Rotorua, but only until tomorrow morning and then I'll be heading to Lake Taupo.
However, yesterday I went to Waitomo, in search of the glowworms. Many thanks to my Grandad and Aunty Les for the lovely Christmas present to go on this trip - I had a blast and it was the best day I have had so far. When the sheet came around for this trip, there were three options, 1) a little walk and then a boat ride, 2) caving and tubing through the caves or 3) abseiling and zip wiring and pot holing through the caves. Obviously, I was not enthrauled by option 3, but at the same time, I thought option 1 was for the whimps, so I went for option 2. Warning bells did go off when I paid for the trip and was waiting outside - I saw the sign which said "Take a leap of faith over the waterfalls"... now, I did not know how to take that to be honest and thought it would be an optional thing at the end of the day.. if we wanted to.
So, the afternoon began and we arrived, we were fitted with wetsuits and given the safety talk.. then we went down to the river and found a rubber ring for our bottoms and that was when the guide (Matt), took us to a ledge on the river and asked us to jump off backwards, into a rubber ring, without hitting ourselves on any rocks and land in the ring into the river.. as a test before doing it in the caves.. So, you can imagine what's going through my mind at this point.. so much to think about and is there a technique to getting it right? what happens if I make a fool of myself? etc etc. Before I knew it, I was doing it.. actually jumping into the unknown.. and it actually felt great!
All in all, the trip was 3 hours and it was split between caving and walking through the caves, as well as sitting in the rubber rings 'lazy river style' and jumping off these waterfalls in the dark, with just a head torch (I know, I was giddy about the head torch action too) and rocks everywhere.. which, in normal circumstances, I wouldn't have even gone near, but I knew it was in a controlled environment and would be safe. Oh, and I almost forgot, we saw the glowworms.. loads of them, and they were pretty.. also, learnt the truth about the glowworm and it all revolves around hot sex.. so, yay for the glowworm..!!!!! It was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed myself... the caving... obviously.. - also got the CD of photos to prove that I actually did it..!
The evening was pretty good too, I went to the bar with some new friends and we had some drinks, played on the juke box and generally had a good time. We have also decided our complete itinerary and will definitely be in Queenstown for Christmas along with a couple from England and a group of guys from Sweeden, who, apparently celebrate Christmas on 24th??? So we'll be having celebrations from 24th - 26th I think, just to make sure everyone's included!
Today was Rotorua, famous for the Maori culture and also the hot pools of mud that bubble (and smell of rotton egg..). We arrived just after lunch and had a wander around - Most of the group are staying in Base hostel tonight, but we heard it was like a jail and so, we're in YHA.. actually worked out very well because it was way cheaper, a really lovely hostel and Base does look like a jail, so yay for us! When I say us, I mean that Vicky and I have made friends with two girls travelling alone.. Jess from Holland and Abby from Korea. Abby is a special moment in time, she worked for a year in AUS in a hotel and still hasn't picked up very much english - we took her under our wing because yesterday, she thought she was going on the walk and boat ride to see the glowworms and ended up with us doing the caving.. you should have seen her face when they presented her with a wetsuit.. immense.
This evening we went to a Maori culture show, where we went into the sacred land and learnt more about the history of the Maori's and also what they still practice now - all very interesting, including the dancing, which did look like that from the Rugby.. The food was ace as well.. and I had Pavlova, we've now decided that we're going to attampt to make a Pavlova in the hostel before leaving new zealand, maybe at christmas, just for fun.. I will take photos.
Tomorrow is Lake Taupo, which is where they recommend you do the skydive as it's cheaper. I didn't put my name down because I'm still not sure about it all - I've made the first step with the jumping off the waterfall, so it's a one step at a time thing. What I am doing is an 8hr walk through Tongariro Crossing - I have my walking trousers, boots, water, lunch, fuel (chocolate) and everything that can prepare me for this - apparently it will be a massive challenge, but I would like to do it, otherwise, I'll regret it.
Basically, if you don't get another post from me, it's because I am either still trying to cross the river, or I didn't make it...!!!
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