Rangitoto Island (Volcano, Road Trip Day 5)

All of the rocks are lava and there is no dirt on the island.

Views from the summit.

365 steps to climb.

Hobbiton! (Road Trip Day 3)

Samwise Gamgee's original hobbit hole.

A nice view of Bag End and,a tree that cost 1.5million!

Hobbit Holes everywhere.

The Shire.

Sets from The Hobbit an unexpected journey wich we got to see before the movie was released! 

Back to the lord of the rings.

Tricksy little Hobbitses.

Bag End!

Hobbits home.

The party tree from Bilbo's birthday.

The mill and bridge.

Party tree and Hobbit holes.

The Green Dragon pub.

Green Dragon pub again.

Hobbit signs.

Road Trip Day 3: Lake Taupo to Rotorua

I petted a pig! (C)

And touched a peacock! (C)

Walk like a duck, instead of an egyptian! (C)

Steamed corn from natural hot springs at Whakarewarewa (pronounced "f*ckaraywaraywa"). That's a living thermal hot village. It is still in use. People still live in it even though it is on top of a hot spot. The crust that we were walking on of their land was only 30 cm deep and then it was boiling water. We could see our shoes steaming... (G)

Their way of cooking. A steam pot. They put their food in this area, close the lid, and it cooks! And they can leave it as long as they want and it won't burn. (C)

Penny diving! It's when people drop a coin in the water and kids dive in to try and find it. And when they find it, they hold it up, say thank you, and put it in one of their cheeks for safe keeping. (C)

Geysers.

This is a Maori dance. They stick out their tongues. On their waist they had pois. Pois are like a sponge wrapped in plastic that has a string on it. And they hold it in their hand and twirl it around and hit themselves with it with the tune of the music. My poi is short. Griffin's one is a bit longer. (C)

On the lake (Tikitapu, or blue lake, in Rotorua).