紐西蘭遊學日記-施凱智(28-29.07.2011)

    Taupo, a crater lake, located at the centre of North Island, the Maori said that it’s the heart of the fish (NZ is a big fish). Being biggest lake in NZ, it discharges to the longest river-- Waikato River, it flows over a spectacular waterfall—Huka falls.

    Because having geothermal activity, you could found some mud boiling and the scent of the sulfur permeates the region. The geothermal activity also brings up hot springs.

    

    The second day we headed to the snow mountain, 40 minutes after departing from the hotel, we still drove around the lake, because it’s too big. From a distance,  we could see the Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu, the Mount Doom in film” The Lord of The Ring ”.

    Driving for another while, we stopped, changing over to a smaller bus and driving up to the mountain. As the attitude increased, more and more ice covered the ground, and the vegetation disappeared gradually. Finally, we reached the top of the mountain, the snow was everywhere, ground, floor, rocks, and roof, and they reflected the sunshine, so you had better were your sunshine. Due to the ice on the ground, it was very slippery, watching your step while you are walking was the most important thing you have to concern about.

    I supposed Mt. Ruapehu a desolate place, but to my surprised, it was full of tourists here, most of them came here for skiing, you could see that they were all well prepared.

(all white, but also all people)

    We had a “snowman building” first. It looks easy to make a snow man in the comics, but not in the real life, the snow was not willing to gather, not to mention that rolling the snow into a big ball. The snowmen we made all became castles eventually.

    Sleigh, used to be a means of transportations in the snowy region, but now most of people ride it just for fun. We are no exception; there is a small hill with a long slope, on the top of it. You sit or lie on it, singly or doubly. The friction of the snow is so small that the gravity will pull you down easily. Steer the sleigh with your feet, you will find yourself excited while riding on the uneven slope.

    Riding a sleigh is fun, but after a short period of excitement, what you have to do is to walk unto the long slope with a board, that was not fun at all!