Choose another map, showing:

• New Zealand (North Island)
• New Zealand
• Oceania
• Eurasia, Africa & Pacific
• The World

Other entries in Hamilton City

Maori war dances and authentic experiences

Today Noah and I visited a great place: the geyser parks in Rotorua. They have a park around these two large geysers where you can see traditional maori art and culture as well as boiling mud and HOT HOT springs (boiling water). The geothermic activity is cool to see as well as funny because it constantly smells like fart from all the sulfur and because boiling mud makes funny noises. The maori cultural aspect was much better though because it was so interesting. Did you know that the Maori people in New Zealand invented tatooing, only  they tatooed their faces by carving into them with bird bones and black dye. We also saw a traditional tribal meeting, some maori songs, and the famous war dance, which for me was quite incredible. Here are these huge guys slapping their legs chests, screaming, with bulging eyes and sticking out their tongues all while brandishing spears. It was definitely intimidating. We also saw some wood carvers and weavers and learned a little about Maori way of life, led by a maori tour guide. We left Rotorua feeling good and like we had seen something cool.

As we headed to Waitomo ( i think) to do some cave tubing, something did not sit right with me. I wasnt sure what it was, but for some reason I hated the idea of going some place just to do another tourist thing, it didnt hurt that this would be expensive, but also I had this sneaking suspicion that despite our driving and doing we were missing out on something here. After we had actually reached Waitamo and decided on a so-called Blackwater rafting trip, I pulled over and told Noah that I was pretty frustrated with what we were doing. We actually discussed for almost an hour about what we had been doing in New Zealand and our thoughts on what the trip should be, as it turns out I had never intended to not do the cave tubing, but by the end Noah was convinced that we shouldn't do it. As we had covered so much ground, i wasnt even sure what to do anymore, so we did what all great decision makers do in hard times: flip a coin. So here we are in Hamilton, not cave tubing, and wondering exactly how we will have a more authentic experience (which is basically what we decided was wrong. we didnt want to do any more tourist stuff, especially because this stuff might still be here in 20 years, but we might never be backpackers again Im not sure what that means. but as it turns out thats ok.)

Add to del.icio.us Add to reddit

Photos / videos of "Maori war dances and authentic experiences":