Australia and New Zealand Photos, Page 6 of 6

December 2001 - January 2002

After traveling to Rotorua on the North Island, we visited the spewing geysers, bubbling mudpits, and oozing silica terraces of this highly active geothermal region.


Chloe, Celeste, and Alyssa somehow managed to pile into this tiny Maori dwelling.


We learned a good deal about Maori culture at this reserve.


It's surprising to think of paying good money to see a sheep show in New Zealand, but the Agrodome's show was a high point of our visit to the North Island. Here a shearer uses first the ancient hand shears, then modern electric shears to demonstrate this fabled art.


Hard to believe this much wool came from this one sheep, or that the sheep could end up so tiny after shearing.


Ed was invited onstage to participate in a "drinking contest" to see who could feed a whole bottle of milk to their lamb first. Unfortunately, he was first encouraged to drink the unpasteurized cow's milk himself, an act that caused acute illness over the next 24 hours.


Fortunately, Celeste did not drink the milk herself, but she had a grand time feeding it to this cute lambie.


After the lamb's meal, Celeste gives her a goodbye hug.


Before leaving Rotorua, we participated in a traditional Hangi, a Maori feast and cultural show not unlike a Hawai'ian Luau.


After the Hangi, this Maori warrior allowed us to pose with him and even hold his spear, which is considered an honor.

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