Midsemester break day 2 - Mountain biking in the rainforest

Juuuahaha! New Zealand indeed is the perfect country for outdoor activity - freaks like myself. Today, we went to W.... (name to come) a forest just outside of Rotorua. It was a fantastic feeling to breath in the fresh air of the woods again! We rented mountain bikes from a couple of guys working for PlanetBike and set off into the trails. And Andreas/Audun/Stig/AS and all other mountain bike addicts: Rotorua rules, you gotta come down here!

Jorgen, inspired by Gunn Rita Dahles recent victory, is showing off in the tracks. Jorgen was the only one of us who actually had done mountain biking before...

First off, the bike was totally controlling me. It shifted and breaked in all directions - tnx to the man/woman inventing the helmet! But after a couple of fall-offs I was back in (or got fragments of) control. The forest, the tracks and the service attitiude of the kiwis helping us when we got lost made this a fab and exhausting day!

Oh yes! We like this country!

Here is a review from our visit to the Tamaki Maori village, which we visited in the evening.

1. The Waka

Enrouting to "Tamaki Maori Village", our guide instructed us on the rules and protocol of entering av "Marae" (Maori village). When entering these sacred places it is customary for the welcoming tribe to send out a challenge of piece. The warrior went through movements and recited chants until a piece offering (a leaf) was placed in front of us tourists - the "visiting tribe".

2. Te Wero (the challenge)

On arrival at the venue, nobody could enter the fortified village until the Powhiri (formal welcome) had been performed. This part of the ceremony looked quite humourous, but it was emphasized that we were not allowed to laugh, smile or peak our tongue. All of the tourists had to wait behind our chief (a poor australian picked out by the guide) throughout the ceremony.

3. Marae (the village)

After Te Wero, the "Karanga", or welcome call, echoed across the courtyard, followed by the Powhiri (welcome dance). We were then able to enter onto the village grounds where the "Tangata Whenua" or people of the land demonstrated different activities such as poi twirling, hand games and weaponry displays.

4. Hangi (earth oven)

It was now time for dinner - the traditional HANGI, which has been under the earth on hot rocks for three to four hours. The rocks are heated to a white hot state with some native timber. They are then put into a pit dug in the earth. The baskets of meat are put directly on the hot stones. This is a somewhat different way of cooking than what I am used to in Eden Cres or Botterud. Before eating, we blessed the food with a "Karakia" or prayer. Obviously, Magnus did not perform the Karakia in a proper manner, since he got seriously ill and puked 10 times the following night...

5. Poroporoaki (closing ceremony)

The evening ended with this official closing ceremony. There was a waiata (song) and a few whaikororo (speeches) before we were safely transferred back to Planet Nomad Backpackers.

Maori cooking

Maori warriors

Maori dancers