Rotorua

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Word-of-Day-Challenge-Culture

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culture

the arts and other manifestations of human
intellectual achievement regarded collectively
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This young dance troupe gave us…

…a peek into their culture…

…via song and dance.

Similarly, so did these Maori dancers…

…in Rotorua,

New Zealand.

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FOWChallenge-Boutique

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boutique

a business or establishment that is
small and sophisticated or fashionable.
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When we visited Rotorua…

…our accommodation…

 

was Hamurana Lodge,

a nice boutique hotel.

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Fandango’s One-Word Challenge:…Boutique

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Word-of-Day-Challenge-Fractures

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fractures

the cracking or breaking of a hard object
or material

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Sunday-Stills-Favourite-Holiday-Spot

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Initially my thoughts turned to

Africa for this challenge.

However, a little more thought and

New  Zealand it is.

New Zealand is sometimes referred to

as Australia’s seventh state;

and I must confess it is a

home away from home in my opinion.

Now for some random images from our

2018 road trip around a small part

of New Zealand’s North Island.

Near Matamata we spent a couple

of nights at Buckland’s Airbnb.

This window view, from our room,

was enough to keep me happy.

 

If the view appears too rural for your liking,

there is always accommodation in Matamata itself.

We were there to visit the Hobbit Movie set

which is less than 5 kilometres from

Buckland’s  airbnb.

The third of Waitomo’s Cave was Ruakuri Cave.

The only cave where photography

was freely allowed.

To reach the cave floor we had

to negotiate the spiral down.

And there was no magic way of getting

out of the cave without negotiating

the same spiral to ground level.

While in the Ruakuri Cave…

…there are plenty of sights…

…to view or photograph.

Several nights were spent in Taupo,

located on the north-eastern shore

of Lake Taupo.

About 15 minutes out of Taupo is Huka Falls.

Not big in either width or height,

however, big in water throughput.

 

Taupo also provided an extensive range…

…of flora to photograph during our visit.

About 90 kilometres to the south of Taupo is

Tongariro National Park

where I was able to capture this image of

Mt Ruapehu

At Rotorua we spent a night or two at

Hamurana Lodge

a Boutique Hotel out of Rotorua.

Using Hamurana Lodge as our base

we were able to visit

Whakarewarewa – Living Maori Village…

…and enjoy lunch cooked in a thermal spring

the traditional Maori way.

We arrived back in Auckland a few days prior

to No 1 Son’s wedding.

Number 2 Son and his wife had been sort

of shadowing us during our road trip.

As Daughter-in-Law celebrated her

birthday the day before we arrived

in Auckland we all met up for

a family celebration.

Dinner in Auckland’s Sky Tower.

New Zealand is a peaceful friendly country

with a wide variety of attractions.

AND it is roughly a two and a half hour

flight from Melbourne.

Compare that with a 14 hour journey

from Sydney to Johannesburg.

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Sunday-Stills-Favourite-Vacation-Spot

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Cee’s-Hunt4Joy-Dance-It-Out

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Some farewell entertainment at

Sausage Tree Safari Camp…

…near the end of our first

African Safari, 2013.

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Dubai fire dancer.

 

 

Whakarewarewa Maori Village dancers,

Rotorua,

New Zealand.

 

Belly Dancer,

Dubai.

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Cee’s-Hunt-for-Joy-Challenge: Dance-It-Out

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Word-of-Day-Challenge-Bucolic

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bucolic

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
“the church is lovely for its bucolic setting”
synonyms :rustic, rural, pastoral, country, countryside, 

agricultural, agrarian, outdoor, idyllic, unspoiled

 

I am not sure if Hamurana Lodge fits

the bucolic theme of today.

However it is location on the

outskirts of Rotorua is ideal.

If this scene is not bucolic,

then I am not sure what is.

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Word of the Day Challenge:   Bucolic

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Word-of-Day-Challenge-Applaud

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While not necessarily applauding…

…the girls in this African Dance Troupe

are clapping their hands.

 

Both the African and the

New Zealand entertainers had us…

…on our feet dancing along.

All entertainers were warmly applauded

at the conclusion of their performances.

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Word of the Day Challenge:  Applaud

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Tuesday-PC-Wk162-Tower

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Towers from all over.

Eiffel Tower.

A Leaning Tower at Pisa

Dubai’s,

Burj Khalifa

 

Towering Redwoods in Rotorua

New Zealand

Light house towers.

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Pic-and-Word-Challenge_Wk187-Red

 

I shall commence with an image

which may not quite fit.

Part of the Californian Redwood Forest

on the outskirts of Rotorua

in New Zealand.

Bicycles in Lille sporting lots  of red.

 

A specimen from the Dahlia Farm

near Geelong in 2018.

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Pic-and-Word-Challenge_Wk187_Red

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Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Roads

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Before our visit to New Zealand last year

we booked all accommodation

long before leaving Australia.

Therefore it was a bit of a surprise to discover

we had booked a place so far out of Rotorua.

But what a wonderful entrance to

Hamurana Lodge.

We were given a local welcome

shortly after entering the drive.

 

Just wish we had more time

at this beautiful accommodation.

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