Public Zone 公開區 > Travelogues 遊記相薄

New Zealand 紐西蘭 (24 Mar - 5 Apr 2005)

<< < (4/6) > >>

chin:
Cathedral Square Musician

One of the many characters on the Cathedral Square. The day before was a preacher.

chin:
Fire Alarm

We were staying in a hotel near the Auckland airport for one night, before driving to Rotorua the next day.

3:41 am in the morning, the fire alarm on the ceiling of the room started to scream. We jumped up and ran.

I managed to bring the camera and the video recorder. Some people actually managed to bring the whole suitcase, while some not even getting their shoes on.

We were told that someone trigger the alarm with smoking.

chin:
Blue Sky

When we were in the South Island, it was mainly overcast. But in the North Island, it was mainly sunny and hot.

chin:
Zorb

More exciting fun rolling down the hill inside the giant ball.

chin:
Te Puia Maori Center

We visited the Te Puia Maori center. The guide is wearing the typical Maori jade and bone pendants and earrings sold in tourist shops.

I must admit that we did not take any extra steps to understand more of the Maori culture. But what we have seen (perhaps superficially) was disappointing. I feel like there is not much depth there. All the Maori performances were effectively the same Kiwi Haka, virtually the same storyline.

I was planning to buy a Maori jade piece. Lots of the showrooms we went to have a dusty jade workshop completed with machinery, drawing board, etc... connect to the showroom. But in ALL of these visits, the workshops were empty, and we were told that the craftmen were off for the day. Probably the workshops were just part of the showroom decoration and pretence. In one of the showrooms, the "workshop" was just too artsy to be real.

Anyway, I did not buy any, because the one that I like best with a reasonable price was in Arrowtown in the South Island.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page