Backpacking to sulphur land

I believe many knows that volcanic mud has been a beauty secret for centuries with many benefits to our skins.

So, there I was backpacking alone in Rotorua, Waitomo and Taupo. Few days back, I was pretty sick and tired of the ways my relatives treated me, plus from the painful ordeal my grandmother had shown me- she knew I didn't like staying in their house due to too much restriction and there was also curfew, so I told my other aunt that I wanted to stay with them even if there is no one at home, I was fine, however my grandma started to say "'You can get out of the house, if you do not wish to stay here!". Well, who ever knew a grandmother whom everyone said to be sweet and loving towards their grandchildren turns out to be like this- like mine!

Of course I told my mum about it, and I had the urge to pack my bag and waited at that nice auntie house rather than staying with monsters. I hesitated and found solution by throwing two birds with one stones. I was going on a trip and at the same time, avoiding them was the best choice.

I couldn't remember which site I booked and how many days I stayed there as it was 2 years ago, in 2013, however I think I remember some of the places while looking back at the pictures.

So early in the morning, took a bus to town and got on a tour bus that brings us to Waitomo. I slept throughout the journey- I am not a morning person! In Waitomo, I stopped at the infamous glowworm grotto, I toured around the cave with rather low ceiling and narrow pathway guided by a tour guide. I remember one part where the tour guide led us to an open area with really high ceiling and urges us to sing because it echoes beautifully, just like the cathedral. As the land tour ended, I was led to the river and jumped onto the boat and was steered inside a huge cave, which was illuminated by thousands of tiny lights from the glow worms suspended on the cave. It was really beautiful, like shimmering stars blinking through the dark sky and I had to strained my neck to look above the whole time while the guide continues with his talks. The younger glowworms glow brighter than the older ones. Sadly I couldn't take any pictures inside as the flash light from the camera will cause some disturbance towards the worms. But I remember snapping at least a picture of the cave from the outside.

After the tour, I headed back to the bus, I wasn't really keen on buying any souvenirs. Lunch was provided and I ate, drank and happily fell asleep in the summer heat again. The next stop, Agrodome. In the tour package, we were given three choices; to agrodome, ride luge, relaxing in their thermal pools and of course I chose Agrodome because I had tried to ride luge in Queenstown and I wasn't really keen in relaxing in thermal pools alone, is weird to go for a dip alone.

Anyway, at Agrodome, a 60 minute tour of sheep shearing documentary, a tour around the farm on a one cabin train-like vehicle that was attached to a tractor and hand-feeding animals (the sheeps reminded me of the movie black sheep), and lastly a sheep dog demonstration by keeping the little lambs at bay- it was absolutely adorable! In the meantime, I made friends with two lovely Japanese woman who looks younger than their actual age, it wasn't easy as my Japanese was weak so we communicated in English instead.

The final tour brought me to Te Puia, New Zealand's Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. There was a 45 minute traditional song and dance, as you may see at the bottom of this post. I found the website to provide more insight of the dance.

"Visitors are treated to perfect harmonies, the rhythms of the Poi dance, the ferocity of the Haka and the complexity of the Tititorea (stick games)"- credits to Viator.com.

When the performance ended, a tour guide led me and my small groups under the same tour around to view the history of Maori, the carvings, weavings used flax fibres and a replica of traditional Maori village. The guide continues to walk to Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. It was already hot with the insane heat from summer and the added boiling mud pools makes me sweats buckets! Also, not forgetting Pohutu Geyser, that shoots up hot air a few metres off the ground that reminded me of Ol 'Faithful (only seen it on television). It was a fantastic tour and I really can't phantom how remarkable New Zealand is with all the fascinated natural resources and how well it was maintain.

After a day tour- the coach bus dropped me off at the backpackers hotel in Rotorua which I booked and stayed with 5 other strangers. Sad to say, no matter where I go, I just can't make friends, wonder what did I do wrong. I remember walking all the way to their local supermarket to buy food as I was too cheap to buy one. So I walked almost half hour to buy raw food too cook. My memory was a bit fuzzy but now thinking about it, I am surprised how much I am willing to walk.

I'll hold onto the tour at Taupo for awhile and will continue this sulphuric tour.......
As for the pictures, it was inside my old handphone, and I have trouble to read the microSD card. Darn it! Sorry, I'll make sure to upload as soon as possible!!

xoxo luv sapphirejest