Māori Culture in Rotorua

Rotorua is one of my favourite cities in New Zealand. It doesn't feel like a city, it is small, and it is loaded with Māori culture - an interesting part of what makes Rotorua so unique compared to the rest of New Zealand. Rotorua is located in the northern central part of the North Island, about two hours north of Taupo. It also serves as the gateway to the Bay of Plenty. 

This city is very cool. One of the things that makes it unique is that there is a lot of Māori culture in the city. I found that when I went to any tourist gift shop anywhere else in New Zealand, standard items would be for sale: 

• Paua Shells
• Photographs of famous New Zealand sites, including the Coromandel
• Tiles with New Zealand icons, including ferns and Kiwi birds
• Māori  inspired jewelry
• Hats, T-shirts, Hoodies etc.

In Rotorua, it was slightly different. You would find Māori wood and jade carvings, for example. Māori masks as well. Māori carvings depicting the main figures in the famous legend about Hinemoa and Tutanekai are found in the Central Business District (CBD).

A Māori wood carving of Tutanekai in the CBD

One major attraction where visitors to the area can learn about Māori culture is Te Puia. This is a reserve that has a cultural tour almost every hour, and a Māori cultural show to end the tour. You will see a traditional Māori canoe, called a Waka, a school where Māori's learn to carve wood, and a Whare (pronounced Far-eh, with a soft F: 'Ph' sound). This is a traditional Māori meeting house.

A Whare

There is so much more to Rotorua than first realized. It is a very interesting place to visit. If you get the chance, go see it for yourself!

~Angie

Fiji Time

Fiji time...that is a concept in Fiji where things happen when they happen, if they happen. It's Fiji Time. Whenever.  Fiji time can be frustrating and liberating. You just have to embrace it. However, some things did happen on time - the boat was always on time and meals were always on time.

I really liked my short but relaxing trip to the Yasawa Islands. I went to Waya Lailai Ecohaven on Waya Lailai Island, which had good food and hammocks. I went snorkeling there and the coral was just as great as the Great Barrier Reef. The fish were not as good though. The ocean was a royal blue. It was very pretty. I slept a lot, just relaxed and read my books.

One morning I got up at 4am to hike up the mountain in order to see the sunrise from the top. The hike was supposed to start at 4:15am. A group of us waited for an hour before the guide showed up to tell us that the hike was cancelled. Fiji time. Since I was up already, I decided to watch the sunrise.

Sunrise in Fiji

At this resort there were a group of guys called the "Bula Boys". Every night after supper they would perform Fijian dances including dancing with fire. During the day they ran boat tours and shuttles to the Yasawa Flyer, the boat that took tourists to the different islands.

Bula Boys

Next it was Korovou Resort on Naviti Island. That was a great resort, but the food wasn't so good. Oh well. I relaxed in the hammock on the beach and had great views of the bay. Fiji was really relaxing and a great trip.

Another popular destination in the Yasawa chain is Beachcomber Resort on Beachcomber Island. 

Yasawa Flyer

For information or to book, please visit: http://www.awesomefiji.com

~Angie