Feasting, Spontaneous Horse Adventures and Sore Bottoms

Well hello my friends. I did start to write this entry yesterday but the computer wouldn't let me rotate the picture and i soon ran out of time trying. So I'm back, and I've managed to do it, wahoo! This here picture is of me and my noble steed Eno, who allowed me to escort him on a two hour trek of a forest just outside Taupo. (There would also be a photo of Sally and her horse Tiger, but the camera ran out of batteries at the most inopportune moment, as cameras are wont to do, but fear not we have video footage of said beast).

So yes, we went a riding, but that was not the original plan. Oh no. Alllow me, if you will, to take you through our tale, for it is most uninteresting. It began on Wednesday evening about halfpast 5 when we were waiting in reception to go to a maori experience night which had been recommended to us by a fellow traveller (aka Jo). I had nipped off to the loo, leaving Sally alone (or so I thought), but when I returned who should I spy with the beauteous Sally but Sarah, a lovely lady we had met in Paihia the previous week. Great was my surprise and joy, as she was also to accompany us to the evenings festivities. So Tim the bus driver came and picked us up and transported us to the venue where we were treated to a traditional maori show with dancing and singing and thrusting. Very entertaining. Then came the food, and oh the food that came!! there were potatoes and kumara (sweet potatoes), chicken and lamb (oh the lamb!!) and gravy and mint sauce, and stuffing, and other stuff, lots of other stuff. And for afters chocolate log (there were healthier options, but i took no notice of those!!) As many helpings as you liked. I think the average for backpackers was two trips for each course. We were stuffed to the point of feeling sick. Ooh i'm running out of time so i'd better be brief now. We went on a bush walk - more gloworms (pretty). Next morning we had planned to go lugeing but we started talking horses and decided to do that instead and ended up driving down to Taupo with Sarah and going trekking there (a thing none of us had planned). Sarah wasn't supposed to have travelled past Auckland, and had planned to drive back up on the thursday, but (and this was solely her decision) she ended up staying another night. We went out for a meal that evening and it was so so so so good - all of it. Ah man the noises and faces we were making, we were in heaven!! Aah no time, must go. Sorry for the rushed end. Byeeeee. xx