Rotorua and the Chief

It's now Friday morning in New Zealand, which makes it midday Thursday in the US.  So for your today, which was our yesterday, we took an all day tour in Tauranga from Mount Manganui to Rotorua.  We saw farms and sheep and kiwis growing (think overhead grape arbors).  We saw abundant tree ferns, redwoods, crystal clear rivers and lakes and waterfalls.  At Te Puia, which is a Maori historic area, we saw geysers, fumaroles, mud pots and geologic conditions quite similar to Yellowstone.  

The best event of the day, however, was the Maori dance presentation inside the meeting house. But to get inside the meeting house, the audience "tribe" had to first select a chief, who had to bravely greet the warrior sent out to ascertain if the approaching strangers were friend or foe. I am happy to report that as Audience Chief Tom behaved himself, he was handed the fern leaf and they decided we were friendlies.  

I do have some pictures to post and even a video for posterity.  As soon as I figure out how to post this on the ship wifi, I will work on how to add the pictures.  

Our today, your tomorrow, is a sea day, so we can all recover from our adventures.  Tom is in the Japanese soaking tubs upstairs, I'm in the Coffee House with a cappuccino.  Enjoy your day, today!