Sunsets, glow worms and a rather fine bull: anteros

anteros_lmc

Sunsets, glow worms and a rather fine bull

Mar 27, 2011 23:26

Hmm well, I went through the photos I took in New Zealand and I barely have a dozen that don't feature kids, cows or members of partner's family. So if anyone wants photos of exciting things like glaciers and rain forests I'll have to scan the pics I took last time I was there :}

You'll have guessed that we spent most of our trip catching up with family. Last Sunday we entertained 26 of partners clan for lunch. I cheated and hid in the kitchen which meant that a) I got lots of brownie points and b) I didn't have to make too much polite conversation. Meanwhile the kids (of which there appeared to be millions) entertained themselves by constructing a precipitous waterslide down a hill beside the house. This slide had the added thrill of ending just short of an electric fence. These kiwis are mad.

The following day we drove down to Waitomo to see the famous limestone cave formation which are home to millions of tiny glow worms. We only had time for a short tour but the caves were beautiful and the short boat trip on an underground lake to see the glow worms was truly stunning. It really did look like the stars had fallen into the earth. The other high point of the trip was when the local guide sang a traditional Maori song to demonstrate the acoustics of the cave known as "The Cathedral". Unfortunately you're not allowed to take photographs inside the caves so I've linked to a couple of CC stock images below.

We also spent a very pleasant afternoon at the salt water thermal hot pools at the foot of Mount Maunganui, the extinct volcano on the coast of the Bay of Plenty. The Bay of Plenty is a gorgeous and aptly named part of the country as there are farms, orchards, vinyards and things growing everywhere you look. Sadly with the crappy exchange rate everything, and particularly food, was eye-wateringly expensive.

We didn't go to the Maritime Museum in Aukland as it was too far away but I did discover that the SS Puke is not named after a queasy midshipman at Spithead. Puke is the Maori word for "hill" and is pronounced poo-kay.

All in all it was a reasonably peaceful trip. Family responsibilities were fulfilled without too much drama, daughter got to spend time with grandpa and cousins and we got a chance to chill out and not do too much. Still, it's very nice to be back indeed :)