Australia & New Zealand

After seeing the All Blacks rugby team get defeated (by the referees, of course), we headed about an hour outside of Rotorua to Murupara, a landlocked Maori tribe. We were greeted with many prayers and customs. We performed our song we practiced...Imagine singing a childs song in a foreign language! It was fun. We were then greeted with the traditional nose touch and hand shake.
The Maori cooked us a traditional hangi meal. Meat and vegetables are placed on a pit lined with white hot stone. It is covered with cloth layers followed by a mound of dirt. We all ate family style together. We learned the Haka done by the rugby team and the story behind it. We played a traditional game and song. They very sincerely welcomed us into their community and family.
We spent the evening on our own and went into town for dinner.
Tomorrow it is Hobbiton Day!!!!Les mer