Judy.Ted and I don’t
often go to touristy places; in fact, we can be real snobs about it. Typically
we prefer meeting people, understanding cultures, and walking or hiking.
Museums are a great introduction to a culture, but ultimately it’s the people
we meet who make the difference.
But sometimes you
just do the touristy thing and are so very glad you did. In Rotoroua, we went
to Te Puia, a Maori cultural center, saw a performance of dances, toured the
geysers and mud pools, and saw a Kiwi. I gained a real appreciation for the
geology of this country, and understood better the Maori. And when we were in
Auckland, we rented a car, and, with our friend Mikaela, headed to the Waipoua
Forest to the north to see the Kaori trees, up to 3000 years old. We even hired
a guide, Kevin, a young Maori.
And that’s when I
remembered why people do touristy things. There were only the three of us, so
it was easy to hear Kevin’s stories about medicinal plants, about the wisdom of
the Kaori tree itself, about myths. I wept as he chanted while approaching the
Father of the Forest, Te Matua Ngahere, 3000
years old, with a 120-year-old Kaori growing in its crown. He greeted the tree
and sang a song. It was so clear how much he loves this forest and these trees.
It was sacred, to him and, because of him, to us. It’s a day I won’t forget
soon.
Kevin singing to Te Matua Ngahere
Ted, Mikaela, and me in front of Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest
Not that we
ignored the meeting other people part.
When we returned to Auckland, Mikaela’s Servas hosts, Shayne and Greg,
and ours, Sue and Bruce, had gathered to make us a beautiful meal and share
stories. We were cared for by Sue and Bruce as if we were family.
And in Gisborne,
where we stayed with our old friend Tom, we visited the little town and the
beach (Gisborne is the first city to see the sunrise), climbed up a hill to a
spot where we watered native plants he and friends had planted in order to
reclaim the bush, and devoured the fresh fruit and vegetables from his garden.
Tourist sites and
friends. Good combination.
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