March 15th This morning our host came by to pick us up for the trip to Rotorua and Lake Taupo. Travelling light! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) On the way to more fun & adventure ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) First stop was a roadside fruit and veggie stall. Pumpkins. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) More pumpkins. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) All sorts of pumpkins in a row!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Want some white peaches? Yum!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Next stop is a glass blowing place called Lava Glass Many nice pieces of glass artwork. Glassblowing place. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Glass water feature. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Soon after that we arrived in Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. Hmmm…… ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) This way…. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The devil is sleeping??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Where, where??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Some explanation … no devil. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) eee … it stinks!!! .... ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Bubbling or farting muds!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) It’s hot & stinky!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Steaming hot & stinky!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The devil wants to be a write eh!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Hehehe!!! Funny tree. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) More information. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Hmmm…. ??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Mystery solved. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Lovely. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Opals??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Nope, no opals!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Wild life? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) No getting lost here!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Nice view. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Green lake. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Blue lake. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The final walk. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Can fry eggs or not??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) No eggs but smell of rotten eggs!!!. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Oysters??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Lots of sulphur. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) It’s green!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Devil’s bride was here? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Hot champagne??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) How to make champagne naturally. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) More info. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Yellow, yellow, yellow. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) It was already in the evening after we did the Wai-O-Tapu so we headed straight into Rotorua to check-in to the motel we had booked. The motel. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The inside. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) This is the first time staying in a motel for us and we were surprised that the room is more like a studio apartment with an additional room in the loft. Anyway we went looking for dinner after that. First stop after driving around for a while was Pig & Whistle. After intense study of the menu, it’s a no. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) No, no, no not Asian!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Interesting …. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Kurious Kiwi Analysing the menu and …. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) It’s a yes … happiness ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Water in a glass bottle, interesting!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Lovely green lips mussels, yum!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Smoked Kahawai Pie. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Kahawai Pork spring rolls. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Kumara ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Kumara Never knew what pulled pork was until I ordered this. Pulled pork. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Yummy!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) It was back to the motel for a good night rest after dinner for more excitement and adventure for the next day. Sleep was a little difficult with the air smelling of Rotorua’s farts. Good night … nope I did not fart!!! but then again who knows!!! Next more of Rotorua and to Taupo.
Lol KK,..you are hilarious you just got me laughing out loud here at your bedtime comments . Very interesting tour and of course the food and how it was served,..looks very tasty,..i bet that smell was in your nose for a long time,..who knows how long it will be with you
Thanks KK for the reminder, can smell 'that smell' again I have walked that park many times and does not get any better. Years ago when we lived not far from there and there were no restrictions a friend's dog fell in and the master went in to save it, you can imagine the outcome....not good!Horrible thing to happen. I try not to think about it. Your photos are great, looking forward to seeing more.
Looks like a very interesting place.... but too bad it stinks so bad! Glad you finally found a restaurant that you liked... the food looks great. Looking forward to seeing more of your vacation!
Another great post KK. I particularly liked that photo of Blue Lake. I like all the links you include, very informative. The hubby and I want to visit that part of the world some day.
Thanks Eileen, as I was enjoying myself too writing the post and looking at all the pictures, feels like I was there all over again. Thanks Philip, the food is great and no the smell don't stay with you. The water is just as pure or else we would smell like Rotorua after a bath!!! You are welcome Chocolate, that is horrible!!! Yes it is an interesting place Cherylad, it just stink for a while and after that it is no longer repulsive. Donna S Thank you Cuatro-gatos, make it happen, it's worth it!
Wow, What a great vacation KK. Thanks for sharing it with us. I am glad to see it and not smell it. Sometimes we wish for a scratch and sniff screen, but not for this one.
I could smell the sulphur just by viewing your photos KK. The Yangmingshan national park volcano in Taipei was my experience of this. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely photos, KK, thanks for posting them. I have to say I want to see these places myself now, and have a hearty meal at the end of the day.
Great tour KK, thermal vents are always interesting. I sure would not want to be around if the area exploded again. Jerry
Frank, my youngest daughter just came back from a holiday in Taipei and she too went to Yangmingshan, guess you know what was her comments Thanks Droopy, that is wonderful!!! :-D Thanks Jerry, there geyser close to that place and is called Lady Knox Geyser and it erupts everyday at 10:15am. Explode??? I would not want to be there too!!! Can you imagine the smell!!!