Rotorua

I flew to Rotorua solely to attend a Maori cultural event. I attended a concert of traditional song, dance, and performance with a delicious meal called a hangi (pronounced "hungi"). Hangi style cooking is wrapping food in flax leaves and putting it underground using the thermal steam in this area to cook. It was a good time. The warriors displayed their defiance with wide eyes and outstretched tongues, while the woman performed with the poi (a ball at the end of a rope that they swung around skillfully). After the performance was the meal (see menu). The venison was the best. The last picture is my covert camping adventure in the California Redwood forest in Rotorua. Ask me about that later. I am Auckland bound in an hour for my last night in New Zealand. I have to make one more New Zealand post, however, so watch for that. Until then, cheers!!