Palmerston North-Raurimu-Taupo

Crikey, it has been a long time!

Palmerston North continued to be relaxing. We stayed for 2 weeks in all. As far as our wwoofing duties went, we spent most of our mornings in the yard-- weeding, clearing sticks, cleaning out gutters, trimming vines, planting a few things, etc. We also did a bit of tidying up in the house before we left.

Our afternoons were spent biking around the town to such destinations as: the public library, the many secondhand bookstores, the small history museum, and to a few local parks. There was a park just up the street where we threw a frisbee around to get some fresh air and exercise. We also spent one afternoon at a tennis court where we spent plenty of time chasing my bad hits. My favorite spot to journey to was a large park called the Esplanade and it featured a cafe, aviary, rose garden, croquet field, and REALLY cool playground. There was a hamster wheel (which Brian and I both tried to conquer, imitating some other guys who got it running and then extended their arms and legs and went all the way around upside down--we were not as successful and ended up being flailed around, which was still pretty fun), zip line (Brian tried this, pictures to come soon), ground level trampolines (pits dug underneath), big wooden jungly-gym thing, and a few other cool gadgets that I was a bit envious of. Definitely not the sterile-safety first playgrounds popping up all over the states. We took our books to the Esplanade a few days and sat on benches. I was very frequently too distracted to read and preferred watching the kiddos having fun and the parents chasing them around. I guess I am officially still an ANSO major...

On our last day in Palmerston North, Rudyard and his friend Glen made us 2 really delicious meals-- the first was just toast with dips and the kicker-- mimosas. For dinner we had braised lamb shanks and couscous. Red wine accompanied of course. And for dessert: Don Pedros... whiskey milkshakes! In between we visited Glen's recently purchased "section" (a plot of land) a little way out of town. To one side the hills will be kept as a wildlife sanctuary. On another side there is a gentle running creek down a little hill. He plans to have a bed and breakfast... I am already starting to think about my return visit to NZ in 10-20 years to see how it has changed-- this will definitely be a stop! Then we drove along the Manawatu (the region) River that ran through a gorge, and then on to visit a wind farm. Manawatu is known for its wind turbines... there are heaps! (Again, pictures to come soon)

Sunday, we took the train to National Park village. The train ride was really beautiful. The tracks cut through some places that aren't visible from the roads, and over some really amazing bridges, high over gorges and rivers. We had a nice conversation with the two women who sat across from us and offered heaps* of suggested locations to visit.

*heaps is a pretty common term here, so you may notice it frequently in the blog as we travel around and spend time with more Kiwis.

We stayed Sunday night at a backpackers in National Park. It is a tiny little town next to the Tongariro National Park. On a clear day you can see 3 mountains from the front of the backpackers. It was absolutely gorgeous! The backpackers had a climbing wall which Brian took advantage of-- I was the spotter-- which meant I was on the ground and we were both attached to the floor and the ropes Brian took up with him. I am pretty good at watching his bum, so it was a good job for me!)

Monday morning we were picked up by Te Maari, our next wwoof host. She is an artist and yoga instructor. She and her husband Tom, as well as Te Maari's daughter Jess and son-in-law Earl and 3 year old granddaughter Taiaria live in Raurimu (just a 5 minute drive from the backpackers). We stayed in a sleep out with some great bunk beds constructed for the visits of their children and grandchildren.

Taiaria was a constant source of entertainment. She was shy for the first few days, shifting between avoiding, ignoring and just staring fixedly at us before running to her mum and burying her face. After 2 days she warmed up considerably. She played tug of war with Brian, using her scarf. She led us outside to play with her blocks, imploring me to help her carry some more pieces of wood add to her collection. She had us push her in her swing and follow her around the yard. One of the most entertaining games she played was fetch. She'd through a small piece of wood and have Brian go fetch, then she'd immediately do it again. So then he picked her up and held her down to the ground to get it and they took it back to the deck. Soon she would throw the wood as soon as she picked it up so Brian was chasing it much more. She laughed hysterically all the while. She hopped from low steps and even from the area rug to the main carpet below. She picked up her box of legos and then dumped it all out to pick it up and dump it out again, the same with doll house furniture. She eventually even ran across the room (unprovoked) and jumped into Brian's arms as he sat on the floor, and then jumped to me on the couch. She was a lot of fun for both of us.

We learned quite a bit about Maori culture. Te Maari was involved in some of the early Maori language schools which her sons attended. Taiaria attends a Maori pre-school so we heard many terms when they spoke to her. Te Maari was working on a banner for an upcoming eco festival. It featured some designs that are seen in a lot of Maori art-- the curl of the fern for example. Their house had heaps of art-- Maori as well as Native American which she studied on a visit to the U.S.

For our wwoofing duties Brian scraped some little trees that had sprouted in pine needles on the tin roof of an old wool shed. We then planted them along a hill that faces a shed that they hope to convert into a yoga studio. We also dug weeds from a few garden patches (and discovered some potatoes in the process). One afternoon we painted the base coat of one of Te Maari's banners.

On Tuesday morning, September 27, we heard on the morning news that Mt. Ruapehu (an active volcano clearly visible out the east window of the house) had erupted a bit in the night. We could see dark ash on a part of the mountain. That afternoon Jess drove us up to the ski field at the mountain for a better look. The ski lifts were closed as the volcanologists did some tests to see if it was going to spew any more. It was determined safe and things resumed the next day but it was pretty cool to see. The evidence of volcanic activity is all over this country--land formations, rocks, hot pools and streams etc. It is pretty cool.

We left Raurimu on Friday morning en route to Taupo. Tom dropped us off at a highway corner that leads to the entrance of the park and ski fields where we started our day of hitching. We were pretty confident that it wouldn't take long to find a ride because it was the first weekend of a two week school holiday there were a lot of people heading up to the mountains for the end of the ski season (Spring is coming!). We waited 30 minutes and then were picked up and taken the 5 minute drive to the actual entrance of the park. At this corner there was a man who lived in his camper van which proudly displayed a "NOT FOR SALE" sign. He invited us in for a cup of tea. We declined as there were considerably more cars driving the opposite direction from where we hoped to go and we needed to charm as many drivers as possible! He brought out a large chunk of pumice stone from the mountain which he had carved into a Maori style figure. It was almost a foot high and about 4 inches wide. We couldn't accept it simply because it was so big (though weighed very little), so he gave us small rocks which he told us were obsidian.

We were picked up after about 20 minutes by a young Russian guy named Paul who was attending Auckland University but had been visiting friends and skiing. It was nice talking to him for the 40 minute drive to Taupo. It was a glorious sunny day Friday and we arrived in Taupo a little after 10am. We found a backpackers and dropped our stuff to explore the town.

After some coffee and window shopping we headed out for a walk along a popular walking trail that leads to Huka Falls. On the way to the trail we passed Taupo Bungy which is a tall tower from which you plunge toward the river. Nobody was so plunging at the time so we continued on to the trail. The first part of the trail comes to a spot at the river where a hot water stream meets the cool river. There were several people lounging in the warm water. We just dipped our toes in and then continued on our way. The walk along the river was beautiful. It made me think: This is what NZ is all about, what we came for! The falls were pretty cool, not super impressive, but still cool. The Waikato River provides heaps of energy for the country both in hydro and geothermal capacities. So it was cool to read about that.

After the walk we made some yummy dinner (spinach and cheese ravioli in butter and sage sauce with asparagus and some bread) and then crashed.

Saturday we visited the Gypsy Fair (kinda lame) that was visiting Taupo and then stopped in at the museum and art gallery. We topped off a relaxing day of strolling the town with huge gelato cones. Then we took a nap and made dinner (omelets of free range eggs purchased at a little farmers market and mushrooms, spinach and herby cheese) and then crashed.

Sunday we were picked up by the managers of Tauhara Centre which is a retreat a few minutes outside Taupo-- but still on the lake. The centre is up a hill and the lake is visible through the nice big trees from the lawn, dining room, hall, and sanctuary and even from a few rooms. We have spent 2 nights so far and have spent our two mornings working housekeeping detail. I swept, mopped, washed dishes and have become an expert at making beds in the hospital corners style. Whoo! So far we have been between groups but the next group arrives tomorrow and we start on kitchen crew. There are several other wwoofers here-- Dorine and Nic from Germany, Tim from Ireland we are expecting another American woman and a guy from Japan too. It is nice to meet other wwoofers and get their stories about good places to wwoof and places to avoid.

We aren't sure how long we will stay here, at least through this week and perhaps into the next week or weekend. There is no computer at the centre for us to use so we are taking advantage of the happy hour rates at a Taupo internet cafe. Hopefully we will do this again soon so I can get some pictures up. Brian's latest should be up, so check them out!

Daylight Savings started here this weekend so we are now one more hour ahead of you! Haha... maybe.

Tomorrow is my mommy's birthday: Happy Birthday Mum! I love you!

So until next time,
Cheers!