10 november

Luckily the view is also very impressive. We leave a bit before 10:00 so we are on time for the Lady Know geyser. This is geyser doesn't jettison water by itself, it needs some soap to get going. Has to do with some physics around water surface tensions and stuff. I didn't really pay attention to the facts. The geyser however was pretty impressive.

After the Lady Knox geyser we went on to the Tauringo national park. Due to the cold and wet weather (ok, this was the one exception to the good-weather-the-whole-trip story) only a small group takes a walk around the park. The rest of us get into some cafe and enjoy the hot chocolate and write some letters home.

After the park we continue to the marae. The warrior of the tribe isn't there but the welcoming ceremony is done in the normal way. Our chief (by democratic voting) impresses everybody (including us) with his speech.

After the simple but good dinner we also get a performance in some traditional maori songs by the tribe. Afterwards the maori go home and we talk a bit more. The night is spend in the communual home.