21May06 Sunday
Today was spent in Rotorua doing some sightseeing. We started out at the Agrodome for the sheep show. It was similar to last year’s but we still enjoyed it. The nineteen different breeds of sheep were put on display. The emcee sheared a sheep on stage which is interesting. It’s amazing how the sheep seems to be paralyzed when put in the sitting position for shearing. We learned that the world record for shearing sheep was 720 in one shift. The two types of sheep dog were demonstrated – the barking dog and the constant eye dog. One herds by barking at the sheep and the other by silently staring them down. One good sheep dog can handle about 2000 sheep. We all got to pet the dogs after the show. Paul Lupo’s favorite from last year was there again.
Fred from our team volunteered to milk the cow on stage this year and he did a very admirable job.
After the Agrodome we went across the street to the Zorb facility. No one from the team volunteered for that experience. The Zorb is a big round clear plastic ball about 15 feet in diameter. They put you in it and then let you roll down a hill. It’s an interesting concept to having fun. Today they were only doing wet rides where they put warm water in the ball with you and you kind of float in it so that you’re not spinning around with the ball.
From the Zorb we drove down to the old part of town to see the 1880’s bath house. It’s a beautiful old Victorian style structure that overlooks some lawn bowling greens and the botanical gardens. The bath house was built as a place to come and enjoy a hot mineral bath or mud bath and had numerous small rooms for guests with various sunken tubs. The building now houses an art exhibit and other historical exhibits. One of the interesting baths featured an electrical therapy bath where you became one electrode and the water the other. It doesn’t sound like a very pleasant experience.
From the bath house it was back to the campground and into the hot mineral baths. We shared the tub with a New Zealand farming couple and had a nice chat with them. Then it was a shower and get ready for the Tamaki Hangi feast and show. Joan and I felt that they had improved both the facility and show since last year. The bus driver wasn’t as humorous as last year’s but the he still had everyone singing and having a good time. We set up Jim as our chief and he fit the role well.
We felt that the Mauri’s were very sincere in wanting to have us understand their culture and what they are all about. If I understand correctly Mauri is now the official language of New Zealand. The show was well done and the Hangi feast was excellent with lamb, beef, chicken, fish, kumara, potatoes, etc. And of course for dessert pavlova and a number of other choices.
It was a very good day.
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