Pikitu Marae

Pikitu Marae

Last week Walker's school class had the honor and privilege to be invited to the Pikitu Marae for an overnight stay.  A marae is a sacred Maori meetinghouse used for such things as family meetings, get togethers and funerals.   The school was so kind to also invite Abigail to go with them as a learning opportunity for her and something for her to experience while she was here. 

The kids went to school in the morning and then boarded a bus with all their bedding in tow shortly their after.  They spent the entire day at the Marae learning about the history and ancestry of that specific Marae, the waka (canoe) that the Pikitu people used, learned how to play maori games that the children would have played, the boys learned the haka and how to cook a hangi.


All ready to go!

Later that night Cordell, Kristy (my sister who was visiting from the states), my younger boys and myself went to eat dinner with everyone.  They invited us to come and partake in the hangi with them and to see where the kids have been all day and where they would be staying.  They also allowed Cordell to spend the night with some of the other parents as something for him to experience too.  Really, this school has been so great to our family.  It's truly an honor not only be invited and welcomed to a Marae but to sleep in one is something that is unforgettable.  We are so thankful to the kind Pikitu people for allowing us to come to their Marae and giving us a detailed tour of the history and usage of their land.  It was truly remarkable and humbling.



Enjoying the feast together.

In front of the Pikitu Marae.

A Fun Filled Week for Sure

My sister was here all week and that pretty much kept us busy tearing up the town/NZ!  If you know my sister and me then you are aware of how much fun we can have together.  Her week here started out GREAT (read previous post if you don't believe me) and it didn't stop there.  We took her to some of our favorite sights as well as some new ones.  We had picnics on the beach, visited the glow worm caves, went on beautiful drives and saw some great sights like the diverse greenery, waterfalls and rivers.  We spent some time hanging out on the back porch reading, hanging out with the kids and going to the temple together.  It was a great week and we loved having her here!

Then the weekend came.  That's when we do most of our main activities because we have the time to get out of our small town and venture out a little more.  Sure my sister Kristy and I did our fair share of driving all over the place (I'm still amazed I am able and confident to drive this country now), this weekend was no exception.  Friday we picked up half of the family that had been staying at a Marae (I'll write about that later) and we all went to Rotorua.  It's not too far from our town and is one of the major tourist cities in New Zealand.  It's known for all their mineral, mud pools and hot springs.  They also have cultural attractions and events as well as any and all kinds of activities for adventure and thrill seekers.  This is the place where we had gone earlier to swim in the mineral pools.  We went to a place called "Hell's Gate" and I'll tell you what.  If this is what hell is going to be like, I only pray to be saved from a place like this or hope that it's this pretty at the same time. 

Hells Gate is Rotorua's most active geothermal park and is known as the "AWESOME BEAST" of New Zealand Geothermal attractions. Hells Gate has boiling hot pools and erupting waters with temperatures that reach over 212 degrees Fahrenheit; hot water lakes; New Zealand's largest active mud volcano and Southern Hemisphere's largest hot water fall.  There is a lot of history among the land where the native Maori people would cook food in the clear hot water pools, bathe in the water fall after wars to heal their wounds, and use different mud to cure illnesses.  It was an awesome site to see.  A stinky one with the hot steamy sulfur but amazing that holes from the earth were open and steaming with boiling liquid or mud.  It's just incredible.

After being able to walk around to see the different pools, lakes and mud areas we stopped off to learn how to carve wood at the wood shop.

Enter if you dare!

Darers go first!

 

He's instructing me how to carve.

 

Then we relaxed in the hot mud bath to clear any impurities from our bodies that the mud was said to do.  It was soooo smooth and warm and has left our skin super soft for days. 

Enjoying the smooth mud.

After cleaning up from that we headed off for our dinner "show" down the road.  We went to an amazing authentic Maori village nestled in the Rotorua forest, where they demonstrated Maori art forms, ancient rituals and traditions.  They did their traditional songs and dances, and then had a huge hangi (a traditional maori feast that is cooked underground).  It was so beautiful and a bit scary for the kids to see the history of their culture. 

Enjoying the Hangi feed.



So all in all it was a great Friday of Maori culture in Rotorua.  It's a gorgeous city with so much history and we could have spent all weekend there but sadly we had to move on.

Saturday we worked our way back up to Auckland but not before stopping in Hamilton for a picnic and to view the breath taking Hamilton Gardens one more time.  I wish I could live there or have the entire place as my backyard.   

Then we drove up to Auckland and just HAD to do another touristy thing.  We visited the Sky Tower which is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere.  No, we did not walk around the outside of it, no we did not jump off of it; we just took the elevator up and enjoyed the view.  It's a great panoramic view of all of Auckland.  On the outer perimeter it has partial glass floors so you can look down.  It was pretty cool or scary depending on your thrill level.  The kids took time warming up but then they had fun with it.

Looking through the glass floor.

Pretending she's falling through.

He had to do it too.  This one turned out freaky!

They are not afraid of the edge!

Then we had to say goodbye to Kristy at the airport and goodbye to another great weekend.  We were all pooped by then and were ready to get home and crash.  I'm sure she felt the same.  Thanks for coming to visit and if anyone else wants to come then I'm sure we can be good tour guides.  Let me know if you enjoy thrills (bungy) or like the leisure (reading on the patio under the hot sun) way of doing things.



What goes down must come up and much more!

This past weekend was yet again another GREAT one.  How could it not be when A) we are still in New Zealand B) We spent the weekend in Auckland, a city with so much to offer and C) My sister Kristy came in town to visit for a week.

Saturday we picked Kristy up early in the morning from the airport then went to "One Tree Hill".  Due to some political activists who had taken a chain saw to the only tree left, it is now known as "None Tree Hill."  I'm not sure U2 will change their song though.  It's a beautiful site giving tribute to the Maori people and the city.  Great views of the entire city of Auckland that is named "The City of Sails" for all the thousands of sail boats in it's harbour.

Following that we drove around the city a little while until we pulled up to our next event.  We hadn't told Kristy what it was going to be simply because I didn't want to give her time to panic.  Next on our agenda was to bungy jump off the Harbour Bridge (sorry mom and dad).  This is the bridge where bungy jumping was invented and first started.  So we got all our gear on and made the long walk along the bridge then climbed the stair case up higher and higher to the pod where everyone in our group waited and watched until it was our turn.  Kristy went first then I was the last on in the group to go.  Down, down, down, 141 FEET DOWN!  I can't write all that we felt because it was well....INSANE!  The longest free fall towards water that just did not feel natural.  But man, was it so much fun!  Something I'd do again for sure!  Thanks Kristy for being brave enough to do this with me.  Something I've wanted to do for a very, VERY long time!  I can now put that on my personal resume and check it off my bucket list!

Maybe we can use this for our "Amazing Race" application

Haven't looked down yet!

THIS IS AWESOME!

Whoaaaaaa!  Holy SHiZ!

After we changed our pants and got back on to solid ground we thought we'd get a little closer to the water by setting sail like the locals do.  We took an hour tour of the Auckland harbour on a nice sail boat.  They offered hot chocolate, cookies and simple sail instructions.  They let the kids participate in stearing the ship and other on deck duties.  It was so peaceful and beautiful to see the Auckland skyline from the water.

The next day we woke up in Hamilton and went to the Farmers Market and got some great food.  Farmers Markets never seem to dissapoint and especially ones in New Zealand.  Our goal was to pick up some food that we could take with us for a picnic lunch at the beach.  Fresh bread, cheeses, sausage, vegetables and fruit.  Mission accomplished.

Walker loves his carrots

Love the cheese!

On the way to the beach we took a detour to check out a site off the beaten path.  We've quickly learned that any marked road or any sign indicating there might be something down that way is well worth checking out.  So we did and we were not let down!  We hiked down a path and came upon the most amazing and stunning waterfall I had ever seen in my entire life.  This is the one I've been looking for my whole life.  The ones you see in magazines, on comercials for travel agencies and wonder where are they and how do I get there.  Never walked up to one in Hawaii but yep, here it is in New Zealand!  Just breath taking!

 We finally ended up in Raglan where we had our picnic, enjoyed the nice weather and walked around.  It was a different type of beach that we had been to.  The sand was black unlike the normal white/brown sandy beaches we had been going to.  It was a nice surprise.  It was nestled in almost like a cove setting with cliffs and rocks on each side.  It was so calm there.  Not crowded at all so it was easy to enjoy ourselves. 

 

It was a perfect way to end our crazy weekend!  I hope we didn't do my sister in too much.  If anyone else wants to come visit, I'm sure you'll get the full New Zealand experience!!!  And the week is not over yet!

Happy Camper!

Looks like Abby survived a week in the New Zealand Bush!  She was a little worried and nervous leaving the family behind, being on her own and going to a new place to do new things but she did it!  We are so proud of her and she said she had an amazing time. 

I went to her camp in the middle of the week as per a prior agreement we had before she left.  If she could make it half way through the week when we visited then she could make it the other half.  I also wanted to see where she was camping, what it was like and basically to make sure she was she was ok.  I missed her while she was gone.  When I got there she was in good spirits, gave us a tour and was ready to be off for her next adventure.

At camp they went on Bush walks, made Bivi huts (shelter out of trees and sticks), went to see glow worms, met a real Hermit (mountain man) living in the bush.  Saw a wallaby on a hike.  Learned how to canoe, cook her own meals and try a variety of new foods.  She also was the emcee at the camp talent show before the big disco/dance the last night. 

Off to camp!



;Dorm where they slept.

Top bunk was said to be a lot warmer.

Home from camp!

We are glad to have her safe back home with us as well as her new thicker accent she picked up even more from all the kids while she was with them for an entire week.

She had at one time told me she didn't want to leave camp because of all the fun stuff she was doing, learning and becoming.  I just smiled and agreed with her knowing exactly how she feels.

That was not in the brochure!

We've been here for a little over one month now and there are many things we've learned during our stay here so far.  Some I've had to learn the hard way and some just by observation.  Some came easily and some by desperation.  Here is a little of what we've learned and I'm sure there is more out there but for starters....

• McDonalds is universally the same no matter where you go.
• Roundabouts are fun.  I haven't seen a traffic light or stopsign in weeks.
• Don't put your laundry out to line dry the same time you decide to barbeque unless you like your clothes to smell like hamburgers the rest of the week.
• Shoes are options.  If the Principal of the elementary school or your Physicial doesn't wear them then that is a clear sign of how this country is run.
• Drive Through restaurants don't exist except in major cities.  Cafes and Fish and Chip shops however are dotted along every street.
• NZ has THE BEST ice cream in the world.  Popular flavors are Hokey Pokey and Orange and Chocolate Chip!

• The air smells so good and you can't even see the air like you can in Bakersfield.
• I miss Downy dryer sheets.
• Tortillas and any mexican food for that matter are just not the same.
• I am pro school uniforms!  I can start a soap box discussion on that topic any day.
• I can actually live without cable and a cell phone. GASP!
• I miss Sonic on an exhausting day.  Ok, on any day really.
• PUMP water (and most of all bottled water in NZ) comes from our little town of Putaruru.  Check a PUMP water bottle the next time you are at the store.
• Best treats in NZ are L & P soda and Golden Crunchie Candy Bar by Cadbury.

So if you have a trip planned for New Zealand or it's some place you would like to visit.  I hope these little bits of information will be words of advice well taken.  I didn't find them in any brochures I've been looking through.

First Day of School for T and Maddy

Today T and Maddy started their first day of school.  They get to go to preschool two days a week from 9-3 and here's the real kicker....it's for FREE.  Seriously, this country is so great.  I am not making this stuff up!  The government pays for it as an incentive to get kids to participate in an early learning program before they enter school.  I'm all for it.  I was worried that it was such a long day and that they would be worn out, hungry, tired and cranky.  Nope, they loved it.  They played hard, ate well, cleaned and participated with the class.  I think they just loved getting out to a new environment with new toys to play with.  So two full days of school plus the hour class at the elementary school, this is finally what it feels like to have all my kids in school.  There's that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow I've been dreaming of.  I have a long list of things I'd like to do already.  Serenity now.  Don't get me wrong, I will miss them but this is good for everyone for the time being.

How to Survive "The Bomb"

TGIF!  We LOVE the weekends around here.  That's when we pack our things and hit the road for another adventure.  To discover new sights, explore new terrain, learn something interesting, and just have fun.  This weekend we had some great plans until word of "The Bomb" started to spread.  It was a huge storm that was planned to hit Friday night and Saturday.  The weather men told people to stay in and they were cancelling events around parts of the North Island that were outdoors because of the rain and expected 90 pr/hr winds.  Telling people to prepare with torches (flashlights) and food on hand.  Oh great.  Now what?

We had already purchased tickets to the Chiefs vs. Blues Rugby match and there was no way we were going to miss it.  So Friday night we went to Hamilton and braved the weather with everyone else.  The storm hadn't really hit yet so it wasn't so bad.  Plus dad was a hero and got us front row seats in the covered seating area.  The next level below us would have been in the rain.  The Chiefs are a Rugby team from Hamilton so there were a lot of fans there.  They were giving out flags so of course my kids scored those!  It was a great game and the even kids said they had a lot of fun.  I had fun as well.  What woman couldn't when the entire game only lasts 80 min?  I'll take that over a football game any day!

 

The next day we went to a museum to see Maori artifacts and learn the history of the country.  It was pretty cool.  It was also a kid's museum so there were a lot of hands on things for them to do.  Good for my boys who feel a need to touch everything everywhere we go.

After the Museum we did a little shopping at the mall which is called "The Base".  Picked up a few things for Abby's camping trip next week and a few other things we can't get in our small city of Putaruru.  All in all it ended up being a great weekend.  Regardless of the "Bomb" that we got stuck in on and off here and there we made the best of it and still had fun.  I think we survived it alright. Although I think it wore some of these kids out pretty well.