Spinning through the world
Orakei Korako is a great place to visit that we learned about from our Tongariro guide. We are glad we went there as it was on the way to Rotorua. It is a sacred Maori place where there are hot springs and mud baths. These are at boiling temperature. Many are used to cook food as you needed to only but good closer by for it to cook underground.
Now off to Rotorua where we will be for a day.
We checked into Piper’s Lodge and went for a run. I found the mountain to beach bike path and saw the mountains we were to be hiking on and between in the distance.
Another kiwi statue… Love it!
The next morning we were picked up and on our way to the crossing. This is actually an active volcano we are crossing. To be completely accurate all of the North Island is active with volcanoes.
This hike is 19.4 km and not for the faint of heart. It is a lot of up and down mountains with high elevation, including loose rock, and very hot conditions. You have to pack lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. Proper hiking shoes are required as well as extra gear for changing weather that pops up. People die out here often and there are helicopters often to pick up people who fall or have medical conditions.
The landscape is littered with pumice. The lava could rapidly leaving pores.
Manuka is a bush that bees love and Manuka honey is made.
The chemicals in the water cause the algae itself to turn orange.
Love the signs. It was not bad at this point but you could see where we need to go.
The lakes that form are a brilliant color but you would not want to drink or swim in them. The fumeroles around here are vents from the volcano. The stream that comes out has toxic chemicals in it and they land on the ground. When it rains it is washed into craters and becomes these lakes.
I shot a video of the rising steam:
From the Tongariro site:
Tongariro National Park is New Zealand’s oldest national park and a dual World Heritage Site. The Tongariro National Park is rich in both cultural identity and dramatic, awe-inspiring natural scenery. Unique landforms, including the volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu ensure the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is considered a world-renowned trek.
After abseiling we are at the Huhu Cafe and then drive into the little town of Otorohanga. There was a lot bird park. We did see a kiwi but it was in the night exhibit and no photos allowed. The kiwi is the only bird with nostrils at the end of their beak. They are most vulnerable when they are starting out on their own and conservation efforts are trying to help them.
We walked downtown thought most places were closed. We saw a display about Sir Edmund Hillary (first to climb Everest and humanitarian) and all we wanted to know about New Zealand. A few things we saw…
Now the 2+ hour drive to our next adventure: an 8 hour trek through the tongariro crossing. A tough hike.
They are not really glowworms. I’ll tell you what they are later in this post…
When we wanted to go to see them we were going to do the usual tour where there are 50 people all on the same slow tour. I hate crowds and want to do more adventure. When Caroline found a company that uses a farmers land to abseil into a cave then climb out a ladder it seemed the perfect thing to do on this trip. We chose the 4 hour Lost World Tour.
Luke was our guide and he was great at making you comfortable and helping all the way. I had rappelled in college but had not done this. It was easy in the end. Along the way though we told him he was crazy every time he showed us the next step, but we did it.
We walked to the entrance and along the way we practiced clipping our rings to the guide ropes so if we fall we don’t go far. There are new sections of ropes you tie on to along the way and doing it wrong means you owe Luke a beer.
At the entrance of the crevasse, we tried not to look down. One step at a time… First you sit on a little bar away from the platform. Small leap of faith… (I seriously needed to remind myself that I just jumped out of an airplane and this should be easy…)
Then you learn how to control the rope along the way. You just slowly lift the rope from your right hand to go down a little at a time. The weight of the rope below keeps you from going to fast. (As you go down there is less rope below you so you speed up along the way and have to wrap a foot around the rope for more control.) We are clipped to Luke so there is even more security. Before we knew it we were descending into the caves. Easy peasy.
It was great having a guide, someone to make sure we don’t screw up, and who takes pictures of everything so we could just enjoy. Oh…and he carried water and snacks for us.
At the bottom the top looked so far away as we had abseiled 100 meters down. The biome changed as we descended.
The hardest part was climbing up, over, and down the rocks. I’m sure we were very complaining. He would tell us what to do and we said he had to be kidding. I’ve never been comfortable with rock climbing and now that I’m older I am well aware of my limitations. That lead to much sliding down on my butt.
It was incredible though. Eventually we made it to the glow worms.
So these glowworms. They are really not worms. They are the larvae (maggot) of a fly. There is a chemical reaction with their excrement and an enzyme that makes them bioluminesce.
What is cool about them is that they eat insects and they do this by creating a silk like thread that hangs down. When an insect gets caught it is reeled up then eaten. Once the larvae is ready it becomes a pupa and then an adult.
The only role of the adult is to mate. The males die after fertilizing eggs as does the female as she needs to lay eggs in many small clusters. The first eggs to hatch cannibalize all the others. Life is rough…
The way back out was a little more difficult. We climbed a few more rocks and ended at a ladder. One by one we climbed 137+ rungs of a ladder straight up to get out. We are attached to a rope at the end that Luke could also use to help pull us up. So no likelihood of plummeting to death. A good thing. Luke went first, then Caroline, then me. It seemed like a long time before the rope was sent back down to me to attach to. It is daunting.
I found it easy at first, then the rings were further apart, and the air a little thinner… But knowing that in advance helped to just keep climbing until I got there. A short walk back to the van and we were on our way back…
Afterwards it was time for lunch at Huhu nearby. Salad and sweet potato skins! Then touring the neighborhood town. We found a bird park which I’ll blog next. A good day.
And then we were off from Queenstown back to the North island for more adventures. Here are some views from the airplane (and coincidentally closer to where I was too have between skydiving.)
Our flight back from Queenstown was diverted to Hamilton as there was debris on the runway. There is just one runway at Auckland airport so that causes quite a problem. Or plane needed refueled as well. That delayed our plans to wander around with a rental car as it took 3 hours longer to get there.
On the radio we heard that a 737 from Singapore had to be diverted to another city and that it was just as small. They usually don’t get larger planes like that.
It took a little over two hours to drive to Te Anamuto and stay at the Old School House. It is beautiful and was a school house beginning in the 1800’s. They provided historical articles about the schoolhouse. The owners are friendly and had just made bread and chocolate cookies for us. They also stocked eggs, milk, and butter in the fridge.
We stopped in the town just before to grab something to eat at a grocery store as we really did not have lunch either. We also picked up items for breakfast and snacks the next day. Before eating our dinner, we strolled down the lane and snapped some pictures at sunset.
The next morning we headed to Waitomo and the glow worm caves. As it next stop after that is in the middle of nowhere, I may not be able to post right away.
Here are the rules for being a school teacher in 1915.
And pictures of the school house…
I really wanted to skydive from Glenorchy (with skydive southern Alps) which is nothing but landforms and an hour and a half drive from Queenstown. Unfortunately, mountain ranges and the Sea make for wild wind currents and it is often postponed. We headed out again for the second time and halfway there they radioed to say it was cancelled.
I decided to flip my reservation to NZ Zone in Queenstown and would skydive a few hours later. It still offered fantastic views but not the Mordor/Lord of the Rings view I had wanted. I had a little time to find lunch and walk around. It took a long time as there were many bookings and it was a beautiful day.
I had to wait longer than anticipated as this skydive zone is near the airport and their flights are on hold when airplanes are flying in or out of the airport. As it is Chinese New year, there are more flights than normal. I met a wonderful woman from Finland who is an au pair in Auckland. We chatted for a few hours.
Finally it was time. I took the preschool mascot, Percy, with me. Caroline brought him along on our trip but she was not going sky diving. He is having an adventure and the preschool class is looking forward to what he had done. I was a good sport to take extra pictures of him at the skydive center.
My tandem partner was Will. I paid for the photo and video package where Will interviews me and films while we are sky diving. As I did not bring a computer on the trip with me I will have to post these separately. I know they make an adapter for phones to use with USB and will have to try to find one of those!
I was more concerned with being on the edge of the plane waiting to jump out but once your are in position it is a split second. I was also worried about the somersaulting we would do initially but it was the easiest part. Once you are free falling the force on your face and ears is immense and a bit disorienting. Once we reached terminal velocity, he opened the parachute and we were gliding. Of course the spinning around had my stomach in knots but it was fun. The landing was easy. They are a top notch facility and the views in NZ make it stunning. One more thing off the bucket list.
Afterwards I met Caroline and we took the gondola up the mountain to the luge track. It was impossible to film the luge while running the cart, but you can see part of the luge in one of the pictures. It was incredibly fun.
We ate at Public near the beach. It was great. Beetroot salad, grilled cauliflower with carrot mash and fried squid rings. They source locally and have local foods. I also tried alcoholic Ginger beer and a nice ale.
The next morning I had to pick up the USB with the photos and video from NZ Zone. I ran through the gardens to the store then back to the Queenstown motel apartments which was a great place to stay. I did not get to hike much for to all the cancelled skydiving attempts but will be hiking back in the North island.
At the airport to go back to Auckland I love how laid back everything is. You easily print boarding tickets and luggage tags and then drop off your bags. Mine was under the 7 kg limit so was able to carry my luggage on. You have to wait if you are too early before going to the gate. This is how they let you know.
You also walk to the tarmac and board the plane there. Yes it is a small airport but everyone is friendly, helpful, and laid back. I really like Queenstown and New Zealand!
After arriving Queenstown and renting a car we found somewhere to eat and I headed to sky dive. We missed it on the renting if this spectacular vehicle.
Queenstown is beautiful.
On the way to the skydiving site the company had to cancel the flight due to a horrific accident blocking the road. There is only one road out to the area. I rescheduled for two days later and we were able to start driving to Te Anau where we would spend the night before being picked up for kayaking. It meant we could travel in the day instead of when it was getting dark. There already is a learning curve with driving on the left side of the road.
We also had time to get in a run before dinner. Te Anau is quiet and beautiful.
It was a two hour drive from TeAnau to Milford sound for kayaking. We left the rental car at the hotel and traveled with the tour company (Rosco’s is one of the best). Milford sound does not have residents just the dozens of people who work seasonally there. The kayaking was in the open Sea so much choppy water, frigid water temperature, and cool temperatures.
I took a lot of pictures and videos while kayaking but they are in my go pro and need a computer to get them uploaded which I will do when I return to China.
On the way back we stopped to look at some of the sights. First stop was a waterfall at a place called the Chasm.
Another few stops along the way.
We drive back from TeAnau to Queenstown and checked into a motel apartments. Here we meet up with some of Caroline’s friends from when she taught in Cairo.
More adventures await!
We traveled to the CBD, Central business district, to pick up the ferry to Waiheke Island. It is best to book a hop on hop off tour that includes a ferry ride to and from.
We boarded the hop on hop off bus at the ferry terminal and went to the first stop at Oneroa Village. This is the heart of the island with many cafes, art galleries, and shops.
We did some shopping in the galleries and shops. Many beautiful things to look at. This island is so beautiful and quiet. It would be fun just to stay here for awhile.
We took the next bus to the stonyridge winery. They also have Olive trees on the property and the setting is very picturesque.
Before we went to the winery we inquired about ziplining. Usually advanced booking is required but we were lucky to get two of the last few spots available. We were picked up by a van to go to the ecozip line stop. This is something I have always wanted to do. It was pretty fun and the company owns the land over an old section of jungle. Ziplining with them helps to preserve the area from development.
After the ziplining there is a 25 minutes walk back where they give history of the area and point out various plant species.
Onetangi beach was our last stop. Here i waded out into the waves then walked along the beach. I also enjoyed blood orange sorbet.
After the ferry ride back, we stopped along the water to eat raw oysters before stopping at a grocery store to pick up salads to take back to the hotel.
Now to reorganize bags as we will leave some here at this hotel as we fly to Queenstown in the South island for a few days before coming back up to the North island.
I did manage to get some sleep but my body does not know where in the world I am. We are staying at the Holiday inn Auckland airport which is a 6 NZ ride on the yellow bus from the airport. It is also walking distance to the winery. The views on the walk were gorgeous. We actually ran along that beach in the race.
My 10k at the Villa Maria winery was a little slower (59:04) than my usual but not bad considering. The winery is just beautiful. It actually is located in an old volcanic crater.
Afterwards we took an Uber into Auckland and visited Mission Bay. We saw ice cream and my general rule is that I get ice cream flavors that I have never had before. We chose a gelato shop and I had a cone with green apple and pineapple lumps. Pineapple lumps is a pineapple lolly candy covered in chocolate. Both were good and I found some of that candy in a convenience store to take home.
We visited the Michael Joseph Savage memorial. He was the first Prime Minister of the Labour Party and died while in office.
Views from the top of the park.
We then walked along Biddick’s Bay. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and if course I dipped my toes into the water. It was cool but not too bad.
We stopped at a Good George Craft House to try some local beer and have a bite to eat. I chose battered fish and if course there was fries and fried cauliflower. Not my usual fare and left me very full despite the fact it was not heavily fried.
A good first day and tomorrow we explore Waiheke Island.
It was great that Harlan Chambers was able to visit me here in Guangzhou. He is working on his doctoral dissertation in Shanghai. He was excited to see museums and eat all the food in Guangzhou. Once he arrived he fell in love with this city. It really is a great place to live.
When we had time we toured the area as I still had classes and this is the last week before Chinese New year holiday.
I had not yet visited many of the museums here and only a few in Dongshankou. He did his research! It was nice to see areas of the city I had not explored and especially try new restaurants. Harlan is fluent in Mandarin and made it so much easier though I am happy that I am able to figure out some of what is being said with some of the vocabulary I already know.
The Martyrs Memorial Park commemorates the death of the Chinese communist party against the Kuomintang in the Guangzhou uprising.
Chinese and Korean people and Chinese and Soviet people blood Pagodas.
There was much singing in the park and I love when you can see the love people have for their country and their history.
After touring we realized we were close to Beijing Lu and I thought he would want to see the old temple, Jade Buddha, and eat at the restaurant in the temple. It was tough to only make a few choices to eat and not order too much food.
Guangdong history museum was very enlightening as I had only a small knowledge of Chinese history. I now know a little more but will really have to start at the beginning to put it together as there is such a long and complicated history here.
Peasant Movement Institute was a school with a united front to assist peasant and worker movements. It brought together the nationalists and communists along with an alliance with Russia in the 1920’s. Many of the former students were killed in the 1927 failed uprising and are memorialized in Martyrs Park. Sun Yat Sen, Peng Pai, and Mao Zedong were key in this movement.
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. This place was fabulous with an octagonal roof. There was history of Sun Yat Sen and his influence throughout the works when he worked with other revolutionaries and fled or asylum.
All the building specifications had to be exact to be able to achieve the roofline and make a sound building. In the center is a large theater. Sun Yat Sen was devoted to education and helping common people for their future. This is a lasting legacy to his work as the theater is used for that purpose.
Walking behind the memorial Hall are monuments. Lots of stairs to get to the top where the memorial monument to his life is found.
This memorial is a part of the Yuexiu park which is massive and the largest park here in Guangzhou. We only covered 1/3 of it but it is spectacular and a park I had yet to see. I will come back to look more closely.
The 5 rams sculpture is based on a legend of 5 immortals riding on rams into the then barren land of Guangzhou 2000 years ago carrying sheaves of rice. Once leaving the rice behind, Guangzhou became prosperous.
This is the old Guangzhou city wall which is an ancient relic here in the park. I love seeing how these trees will find ways to send roots into the ground. Nature is fantastic.
As it is now a couple weeks to chinese new year, the decorations are now going up. This year is the year of the rat. Displays are impressive everywhere you go.
In Huacheng Square, the pedestrian street I like to run is also creating displays.
The Canton Tower at dusk.
On the way back home we went through Taikoo Hui. It is a very upscale mall and of course we stopped for fabulous ice cream. In the valet area we saw this car. It must be expensive and rate a as everyone was taking pictures of it.
THE bookstore in Tianhe. 6 floors of books and other items and you can find people reading in the aisles…. You will not see this in America.
There is some odd looking good that taste fabulous. This is matcha, black rice, and blueberry cheese.
A Tom and Jerry exhibition in the One Link mall in Tianhe.
At school we had another lion dance celebration which is fabulous. This is long but showed the athleticism, culture, and acrobatics.
Of course he didn’t fall. It is part of the act.
More great acrobatics.
Happy Chinese New Year.
