The longest place name in the world.
Located on the far and very remote eastern shores of North Island, New Zealand. Land of sheep, more sheep, one very rough bar and absolutely no mobile phone signal of any kind.
Don’t ask us to pronounce it, we cannot. But if it helps you pronounce wh as “ff” and it sounds naughty near the start if you say it right.
Tonight we will be stopping at the Chapelwick B&B in Parangahou, where I was looking forward to eating the little tub of Pringles I bought, only to find that Mr Fogg ate them 3 days ago and put back the empty pot. Guess who’s running to Wellington?
[Posted from Mrs Foggs super cool iphone]
We have clocked up a long list of things seen and experiences and met lots of different people doing them:
Had lunch and enjoyed the views at the Auckland Sky Tower
Had fish & chips on the beach in Devonport
Panned for gold and explored a gold mine
Took a narrow gage railway ride to the Eye Full tower!
Drove the windy roads of the Coromandel Peninsula
Lived like hobbits for two nights
Went caving at Waitomo and floated 65 metres below the surface in an underground lake gazing at hundreds of glo worms
Visited Hobbiton – shhh don’t tell anyone!
Went up the Skyline Gondola in Rotorua
Did ALL THREE of the Rotorua Luges and laughed so hard all the way down
Dragged Mr Fogg to a Maori cultural evening and hangi and learnt the Haka (but avoided having to sing on the bus on the way back courtesy of the Londoners on the coach who belted out “I’m a Londoner”- to which we do not know the words, oh dear good job I didn’t have to pick a song, at that moment could only think of the words to Postman Pat!)
Experienced a thermal spa bath in candlelight ( aww how romantic eh?)
Tramped all the way round Tai O Wapu thermal park and awed at the steam, the colours and the uniqueness of the landscape
Did a marketing exercise for Tilly Hats to the locals in a gift shop ( well done Mr Fogg)
Tramped up to Huka Falls and watched 200,000 gallons of water a second spill through a small gap in the rocks.
Enjoyed countless meals of NZ lamb (yummy), green lipped mussels (huge) and NZ steak (huge)
Sampled plenty of New Zealand local wines ( although for us a surprisingly small amount consumed for a change)
Upset two hoteliers with our honest Trip Advisor reviews- tell it like it is!
We LOVE travelling!!!!! Now how long does that visitor visa let us stay??
And finally we are sat here in Taupo having breakfast before a long drive south to the longest place name.
Work, what’s that? Wonder if any of our lottery tickets have won, because we know how we would spend it all.
[Posted from Mrs Foggs super cool iphone]
One of my favourite is to see how long I can go without buying shampoo or shower gel by collecting the lovely little bottles each hotel leaves you in the room. These things are tiny (20 to 30ml at most) but are often really good quality products and they fit into my little wash bag nicely.
We have been in NZ for 10 nights and I’ve managed a nice little collection of shampoos, conditioners and even some body lotions. All carry memories of each place when I use them. But this time, only one shower gel so we had to buy one in Auckland.
Just call me a borrower!
[Posted from Mrs Foggs super cool iphone]
So as we sat chatting and eating, in bowls Cap’n USA in the architypal shorts and polo shirt, bellowing as loud as he can to a waitress “You might just be in a position to save my life”. It would appear “They” (no explanation who they would be of course) have sent him round in circles looking for the chateau by the lake, “now if you look at this map it shows the chateau here and it shows us here”, all of this without taking a breath or allowing the waitress to confirm she had no idea. And still he continues, when it became obvious the waitress had no idea, he starts with the chef until he gets what he wants. Then his poor stressed looking wife disappears to the loo and Cap’n USA then sets off again “See, we travel all over and EVERY time I lose her” he bellows.
What was impressive was how patient the staff were and how kind they were in trying to help. Now that’s NZ! Personally I would have given him directions that brought him full circle, just for a chuckle (but then I have dubious parentage).
People Watching from here.
The last stop on this walking tour was this pool of naturally occurring funky coloured water (The Devil’s Bath) that contains all manner of volcanic spewings making it very dayglow.
You get a bit of spiel about how this was discovered by prisoners washing their clothes and hey presto a money making attraction is born (cynical hat on). You get the feeling that if this was the US they would have a play re-enacting the discovery complete with convict outfits oh and a theme park. The guide then puts a bio-degrade able washing tab into the geyser and runs like the clappers (notice it is environmentally friendly even though there are approx 200 people that have driven in cars to witness it).
All told very impressive and wet, hot tip, do not sit near the front but if you do sit behind a Foggy wearing a rain mac.
Mrs Fogg got wet here.
Being the cultural guru that I am (think Les Patterson except drunker and that is getting close), I can tell you I was not actually looking forward to it. You have to remember Mrs Fogg dragged me to a similar Hopi Indian event in Arizona (minus the food) and it was the worst thing either of us had been to (well besides a time share meet and greet).
I was surprised, it was well presented and the people actually believed what they were saying and doing, so passion did show through. All told it was a very good evening, nice heap of food and good company too. I now feel culturally enlightened and did I mention the food?
We decided to go for a stroll when we came back but were advised not to by the hotel owner to prevent being mugged (eek) or murdered like someone was last week, ok that’s nice then.
And now a little hassle the B&B in Hawkes Bay have emailed to say they have double booked (nice considering we confirmed in Oct), so we are rapidly replanning.
Today we hit the three Luge rides going from sedate to nutter and then later tonight we are off to the Maori village to eat and be educated (oh well looks like they will only be 50% successful there).
Tomorrow we head off to Taupo via some thermal springs.
Billy No Mates Ate here.