Rotorua, New Zealand

     One weekend several of us decided to take a day trip to Rotorua. Rotorua is known for its geothermal energy and you can smell it from miles away!

Here is one of the hot thermal springs.

They had a little pool that we could soak our feet in. The minerals in the water are supposed to be good for your skin. 

That is Judith in the middle. She is a missionary at THOP and is from Germany. 

Jenny and I visited this Maori Village. The Maori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. This village is unique because its sits on hot thermal pools and boiling mud pits. They use the energy to cook, heat, and bathe. 

This house had to be evacuated because the steam was causing the floors and walls to rot. 

There are other houses in the community that are not directly on top of thermal pools. 

The entire community cooks their food in these steam ovens. One of the ladies that works in the little restaurant is putting the meat in now. 

The corn on the cob is being boiled in one of the thermal springs inside a fabric web. 

This is where the entire community takes their baths before 8 AM and after 5 PM.

The Marae

We got to watch the Poi dances and got our picture taken with two of the dancers. 

The Haka is a war dance. It involves the stomping of feet, shouting, facial contortions and sticking out their tongue. 

Afterwards we drove to Kerosene Creek which is a river that has natural hot springs underneath it. So basically it is like being in a river hot tub!

Afterwards we visited a Redwood forest. I have never seen a Redwood before so it was kind of exciting!

The most humongous pig I've ever seen on the side of the road, and I grew up on a pig farm so I've seen a lot of piggies!!