Road Trip!!!

We were quite honoured last weekend to witness something that people love to watch, but may never actually get to see in person. Yes.....we saw the All Blacks (the creme de la creme of NZ rugby players) perform the Haka in front of a 25,000+ crowd, WOW!
The game against Ireland, although wasn't the best, was a fantastic experience. The opening ceremony (this was the first game of a test) went off with a bang, literally. They had fireworks on the ground and the final explosions were huge vertical puffs of fire, I really can't think of another way to describe it, but I'm sure the people at the front of the stands had their eyebrows singed as we could feel the heat come off it from about 10 lines back!!
Unlike football, where they segregate the fans because of the very likely event of a brawl, we were surrounded by giant green leprachauns!! Well not literally, but you get the gist. The behaviour and at times the respect of all the fans here leaves much to be desired for, especially when you're standing next to an Irish group who are applauding the All Blacks for scoring a fantastic try.

Anyway, listen to me getting all hooked on Rugby (it really is hard not to get swept up in the moment here).
The next thing I know Colin will have bought me a season ticket for Everton!! This may not be such a bad thing as long as they start to win a few matches!

For the weekend we drove to a place called Cambridge, just outside of Hamilton (where the game was played).
Chris, bless him, drove most of the way there and back and the day after the game, they took us to one of the thermal springs in Lake Taupo where we had a quick dip. It's amazing how the geo-thermal activity causes the water to run hot and cold. Here we are in our togs (NZ word for swimming costume) it was about 15 deg that day, if that and we're sitting in water, which felt like a bath. Awesome experience and a great way to end a fantastic weekend!!!