The Day the Rains Came

You will receive this report a little later than written because, and wait for it, rant imminent, the hotel we’re staying in are robbers in terms of how they charge for Internet use. The hotel is fine in other regards but when logging on I discovered that they wanted to charge .75 cents per minute for time on line and that there was a limit to the amount of download at that rate, easily the worst rates met on this tour. The number of motels along the street from here that offer free Wi-Fi only highlights the situation.

Here’s the good news for all our readers, the weather broke today and in between two heavy spells of rain the rest of the day had intermittent lighter showers. This was our first spell of less than good weather since leaving home. We decided to make practical use of the situation and the family underwear got lodged in washing machines for the purposes of improving our social acceptability.

The heavy rain eased at lunchtime so we ventured out, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Craft Institute, Te Puai, our destination. The venue is an absorbing mix of the local thermal pools and geysers, exhibitions and events that reflect the Maori history and experience and the schools of carving and weaving that maintain cultural traditions of the local Maori community. It is difficult to understand the wonderful heritage of the Maori without some sort of immersion in their myths and beliefs but our fleeting contact has been sufficiently impressive in terms of appreciating the deep spiritual dimension to their culture.

Defiance - Maori style

Kauri Carving as Gift to China

The Carving School have been chosen to create a piece from a 2,500 year old Kauri Tree as a gift to the Chinese People. The work will be completed at the World's Fair to be held in Beijing later this year.

I've got my eye on you

Pohutu Geyser

Sheila in Geyser Land

We managed to get round everything, attend the cultural concert before heading for the car park just as the heavens opened for a spectacular downpour. Two very damp people arrived back at the hotel to prepare for the evening meal.