[mechidna]

Hello all!

Well, we've been here about two months now and I have to say that we (I) absolutely love it. We found a little rental house outside the city and in about 10-15 minutes, I can have my daughter to school and be at work in the CBD. They people are absolutely fantastic. Never too busy to stop and say 'hi'. It's a lot different than in Auckland. No offense to any Aucklanders, but they're too busy to stop and say hi or really even look at you. I prefer the small-town feel of Rotorua. And it is not as stinky as I thought it would be. My daughter loves her school and is starting to make friends. We have a VOIP line so we can call the states anytime and I haven't been homesick yet. Maybe because she is so often...

Anways, just a quick stop to say hi to everyone and we are still here.

I like the new look of the board!

[Avalon]

I have to say I love Rotorua!

Been through there on every trip, and always stop at the Polynesian Spa. It may pong a bit - but when you are lounging in the rock pools - who cares?

Also spent a lot of time in Indigo - drinking coffee - a great place, and the first time I ever saw birds flying around inside a coffee shop.

Ill be heading through again in october when my parents arrive - time for another Spa Day methinks.

[kiwidebs]

One of my closest friends from high school lives in Rotorua. We pop down to visit everytime we're in NZ. I love it there. Lots of lovely forest walks and fantastic lakes for swimming, boating, canoeing.....

Debs

[Avalon]

Don't forgett Zorbing and Luging!

[mechidna]

Well, I haven't hit the spas yet. But it is on my list of things to do. I have to say that zorbing and luging are very much not my thing. I like the gentler more safe things in life.

Then again, I have my second cold since arriving. I hope this one is not as harsh as the last one. We think it may have been the flu, but not really sure.

[kiwidebs]

Hi

Try the luge - its fantastic. There's a slow route and a fast route - I only ever went down the slow one and had a ball (and I'm not a dare devil at all!!). Zorbing, however, just looks vomit inducing (literally yuck!!)

Debs

[Annierobrigado]

hi!

so glad to hear from another place in nz... rotorua, i've just seen on tv when they aired the amazing race there. looks amazing, and green.

do you have pictures? hope you can upload some, so we can see how your neighborhood looks like. if you don't mind that is

[mechidna]

I'll have to try the slow luge. It sounds better than the zorbing, which I agree, does look a bit vomitous (is that a word).

I'll have to get the images off my camcorder. I do have a view of lake Rotorua from my house and most of the way to work. It is breathtaking some days. It's is beautiful around here and quiet away from the city.