Rotorua!!

I took the intercity bus from Auckland to Rotorua. We unfortunately broke down for an hour in Hobbitown, now famous for "movie set tour" where the woman at the information booth reminded travelers that "it doesn't look like it did in the movies." Hmmm. No thanks.

Rotorua is located on a bed of geo thermal activity on the ring of fire, where massive earth plates collide. There are pools of sulfurous boiling water and mud everywhere, and the town itself is rather unpleasantly perfumed.People mainly flock here for the spas, the interesting earth formations and the Maori cultural offerings. I went to the museum this morning and learned quite a bit. It is housed in the old curing bath house ... where people used to come from all over the world to bathe in the healing mineral rich waters.

Rotorua as a town is not very large, and there honestly is not a lot going on . I went to the grocery store (the Pak-n-Save where they do not have bags to put your goods in) and made myself a nice dinner then spent the evening watching movies at the hostel. Not very exciting, sorry.

I'm going to the Mitai tonight, which for a costly $75 you can see a maori village, hear stories and dance and experience the traditional hangi feast. Should be pretty cool!

Tomorrow I am heading to Lake Taupo, adventure capital of the north island. They offer the cheapest skydiving in the world! What kind of moron would I be to pass that up?

I talked to my future boss Adam, and he is going to arrange for my bus ride to Milford sometime next week from Queenstown. I am getting excited to havea home base and to meet my future coworkers, as well as settle into a routine where I feel less like a tourist.

Cheers to all! I got a cellphone, so if anyone wants to call me email me for the number.