Tales from the South Pacific, July 13-29, 2011 - Page 13 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Looks like it was another great day. I love that you got to see some of the native wildlife up close. Glad your sinus issues continue to improve. Looking forward to the next leg of your journey!
__________________
Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Jade is so beautiful. It must have been very interesting at the factory. Zorbing?? I've seen film of this-- no way!
The Jade Factory was very informative, because the artisans who carve and polish the jade were the ones who told us about it and showed us. The Zorbing was a lot of fun--to watch. It's coming up the next post and at least I took pictures this time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sounds like a nice relaxing morning! I hope the new meds help kick the congestion to the curb!
After the big breakup, I never had as much trouble with the congestion because I kept it damped down. I was too worried about the pressure changes on the flights and getting my ears stopped up not to take or use the medicine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dlandmom2
Interesting how certain countries require prescriptions while others don't, isn't it? Glad you were able to get something that worked!
The nice lady at the pharmacy was very helpful and certainly made a good recommendation. I was actually careful not to use that too often, also being wary of a rebound effect.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sc507
I think you need to go back so you can take some pictures of the jade for us
Works for me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
That sounds like just what you needed to be on the road to recovery. Nice, relaxing morning, coffee, and a nice tour. Looking forward to your next installment!
Thanks--it was relaxing and I also got in some exercise with my walk, though not as much as the whitewater rafters!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chancho
This trip sounds amazing. My son and I are scheduled to go on an EF trip in 2014 with a school group. The plans are Italy & Greece. I am excited to see that as an adult you had a good time on this tour. I would hate to wait 2 yrs and then not enjoy myself.. Everything looks beautiful and I can not wait to hear more.
As you probably saw, this was my second EF Tour; the first was Greece, which was absolutely amazing. Maybe you will get my previous extraordinary Tour Director, Rob. I hope yours goes well and you will write a trip report!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I remember when Sue and Steve were over here they were staggered at how easy it was to get Sudafed (don't ask me which one) - but we can get it over the counter, while it's apparently prescription in the States, so things do vary from one country to the next.
Right now here in Alabama you don't have to have a prescription, but you cannot just grab it off the shelf and pay on the way out. You have to show ID and they put your purchase in a database. You are limited as to how much you can buy in a period of time. The bill to require a prescription--I understand why but what a pain--died in our largely do nothing state legislature this year. They were too busy making a bad immigration law worse.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny
Well, Larry, White Water Rafting ain't all it's cracked up to be... you could get really wet and cold!! after all it was winter!
And they did. The rafters said they had sufficiently protective gear that they did all right, it was the getting into and out of it when they were more exposed that was the issue. OH, and their hands, I think.
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
All caught up and I have to say you did and saw some really interesting things in Rotorua. I'm sort of jealous you got to see some live Kiwis because every time I visit the National Zoo in DC, I go into the little darkened Kiwi exhibit hoping to see the little suckers running around and ...nothing. Nada. No Kiwis...ever.
I'm so sorry. They were pretty elusive at Kiwi Encounter, too, but I did see several of them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BostonTeaParty
This portion of your trip brought back delightful memories of summers past (interesting that you were enjoying these attractions during winter). The luge looks similar to the Alpine slide at Attitash Mountain in New Hampshire. Such a simple idea - careening way too fast down the mountain on a 2-mile concrete track riding a plastic sled controlled by a hand brake! It's been many years since I've ridden, but it is exhilarating!
That's about the size of it! I'm glad you're enjoying the report.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Sounds like a very nice and relaxing morning.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrDolphin
Sounds like you had a nice relaxing morning, just what you needed. Can't wait to read more!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
Glad you were able to find sinus relief! It sounds like you had a wonderful morning!
I did something similar on my April trip to WDW. I slept in one morning and met up with folks later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Two4Disney
Frame worthy!!
Thank you. I should do that!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Looks like it was another great day. I love that you got to see some of the native wildlife up close.
It was fun, and I saw even more amazing wildlife in Australia.
Our next stop was at a place where you could go "Zorbing". I gather that this was invented in New Zealand. You enter through the center axis of a very large plastic ball that has a somewhat smaller inner chamber. In most cases, this has heated water inside. You are then sent rolling down a hill, whereupon you slide all around the inside of the ball until you get to the bottom. There is a variant where they strap you into a dry ball, but I can tell you that I would never do that, because you cannot move, which means you are going to be going a$$ over teakettle down that hill, rather than just sliding around.
Our motor coach, which is hiding the office and changing rooms for Zorbing.
Oh, and you can race if there are enough people who want to do it. The folks who are getting into the balls with the heated water (all but one of our crowd) changed into bathing suits. They tried to wrap up for the ride to the top of the hill and got pretty cold when they got out at the bottom of the hill.
And did I mention that you can have more than one person in a ball? This of course means that you are sliding all around and presumably into each other.
And they're off!
Picking up speed.
Almost home!
The competitors going back for a picture. Very quickly.
Some of us bystanders. The ball in the background is a model for illustration purposes.
Some of the young folks from the next run freezing while waiting for their picture to be taken.
Once everyone was done Zorbing, we got back on the bus and headed to our very late lunch, stopping in Matamata.
Some scenery along the way.
Very, very green.
We had a very late and very short duration lunch on our own. Sue and I did take a minute to take a picture in Matamata:
Fans of "The Lord of the Rings" will recognize Gollem (AKA Smeagol).
Peter Jackson filmed the Lord of the Rings in New Zealand, and it was near here that they filmed the outdoor scenes that took place in Hobbiton. Sladj told us that two of Peter Jackson's staff who were scouting locations found what they thought would be a perfect location for Hobbiton. It was on a farm that was somewhat secluded, where access could be well-controlled. The two staff members approached the farmhouse and knocked. The owner answered, but was very dismissive and told them "no", and asked them to leave. They turned to go, but the man's son walked them out, explaining that the NZ All Blacks soccer team had a game going and that if they sat and watched the game with his Dad rather than pulling him away from the game that they might get a better answer from him. The All Blacks won and the farmer said yes!
More scenery on the way to Auckland.
We actually watched the movie "The Whale Rider" after lunch on our way to Auckland. It is a wonderful movie, very much about native tradition and customs. And it's beautiful, too.
We got into Auckland about 6:30 PM and unloaded the bus in record time. We had adequate accommodations, though nothing special, which was okay because we would be leaving VERY early in the morning for the airport to catch our flight to Sydney. Our wake-up call is for <gulp> 4:30 AM.
Coming Up: Auckland to Sydney and a lot of rain.
__________________
"&Larry"
A beautiful day in the neighborhood!
Last edited by LLaffinPlace; 07-21-2012 at 04:55 PM..
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Wow - Zorbing lookings... interesting. I am usually all for doing something new - but I am not sure that one would be something I would want to do. 430am.... UGH!!!
Zorbing - those crazy Kiwis! Can't wait to see what happens in Sydney.
I agree - the Whale Rider is a good movie. And, your story about the farmer and watching the games - I have never see people as crazy for their sports as those in New Zealand and Australia, so sounds like the son gave good advice.
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