A Maori Feast

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Kia Ora (a general greeting of good will & a diluting soft drink found in th UK)

A visit to a Maori Marae (village/meeting place) started with a short bus journey, the Maori guide entertained us with songs and chants along the way and even taught me how to say a few things in Maori. Our bus was now known as a waka and we elected a chief from the waka to accept a piece offering from the Maori warrior that met us at the entrance to the Marae - following me so far?

After the lecture about not laughing at or imitating the warrior's dance we were allowed out of the waka, where we stifled our giggles and watched the dance which resembled something like a chicken on a hot tin roof doing gymnastics while on speed!! We were then invited into the marae where we watched some traditional games , songs , chants and dances including the famous ferocious Haka. It took me a while to get into the whole thing but when I did I was hooked, a beautiful almost haunting tune almost had me in tears!!

Afterwards it was time to sample some more Maori culture, and about time too!! Our Kiwi experience guide told us not to bother too much with lunch because we would be getting a Hangi feast with more food that we could ever eat, and I was feeling very hungry by the time we were sat in the dining room smelling the delicious Hangi meal.

The Maori Hangi meal is cooked slowly in a pit in the ground, heated by hot rocks, the food i covered with a layer of soaking wet hessian and has a steamed/smoked flavour. Well we all ate like there was no 2mrw and rolled back onto the bus. Again our Maori guide entertained us along with our waka chief, Dave. We all sang songs while driving back to Rotorua Hot Rocks Hostel. At one point we were singing - She'll be coming round the Mountain..... and ou driver decided it would be funny to go around and around the roundabout countless number of times the only reason he stopped going round (which I almost thankfull for) was because he had a close shave with a car which was unaware of our reckless antics!!

I was glad to get back to the hostel and lay on my bed, when I awoke - I was still feeling full!!

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Photos

Maori song
The cultural evening educated visitors about Maori tradition and tools.

Tititorea - stick game
All the Maori games, chants and dances had a purpose. This stick game helped to improve peripheral vision.

The Haka
This dance has bee made famous by the All Blacks rugby team, which uses the dance for the same purpose as the Maori warriors.

Maori Warior
This warrior intimidated us with his dance & then offered us a peace offering which we were urged to accept for our own safety!!

Comments

[emma]

Cool
coooooooooooooooooooooool!