Home ----TRIP: New Zealand 2013

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Welcome, this is the second half of a trip to Australia and New Zealand. This part covers the New Zealand portion, enjoy. Let us get started.
2 It is a little over 3 hours from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand. We are looking forward to exploring this beautiful country.
3 In Auckland we are staying close to the center of town near this street which is known as K Street.
4 We take a short orientation walk around town to get our bearings and know where to shop and which busses to take over the next couple of days. The architecture is old, well kept, and interesting.
5 We walk through a small arcade which seemed to be part conservatory, part coffee house, and part art gallery.
6 The walls are covered in artistic graffiti.
7 Interesting.
8 There is a lovely park between the business section and our hotel. It is getting late in the day and we will be up early for a city tour tomorrow.
9 Next morning after breakfast we are planning to meet a Maori guide. The Maori are the indigenous peoples of New Zealand who also populate much of the south pacific including Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, etc.
10 We wait here in front of the National Museum for our Maori guide from the Ngati Whatua tribe.
11 Here he is, and his name is Prince. First he will explain to us how we are to be greeted or met by the Maori. Prince will welcome us to the sacred land and sing us a welcoming song.
12 MOVIE ... Click next when finished. After the welcome and some description of his people he sings us a welcoming song.
13 The next portion of our meeting is for our group to choose a representative who will greet Prince with a handshake and touching of the forehead and nose. Wouldnt you know it, I was chosen to meet Prince and introduce our group.
14 MOVIE ... Click next when finished. After meeting Prince I introduce him to our group and explain to him that we are all Americans and would like to know more about him, his country, and his culture. Oh no, I have just been told that I must sing a song to Prince! Nobody told me about this, so I am thinking what should I sing? I looked to Margaret and she is horrified, she knows what I am thinking...so get ready, the next movie is a re-creation of exactly what we sang to Prince.
15 MOVIE ... Click next when finished. Prince was in tears laughing as nobody from America had ever sung him a song like this. He said he usually gets America The Beautiful, My Country Tis of The, or something along those lines. I hope everyone got a kick out of this and took it in a positive way.
16 Now we will follow Prince for a tour of the gardens and park.
17 The park is extensive and beautiful and Prince explains various flora and fauna.
18 The gardens are lush and full of local vegetation. We also get insights into the herbal qualities of some plants.
19 We arrive at a conservatory/hothouse.
20 It is Spring and everything is coming into bloom.