New Zealand - Rotorua

We reached Rotorua in the evening after several hours drive down south from Auckland where we landed earlier in the morning. Carrying our big backpack, we started navigating to our hostel. It was an interesting walk as we observed the people and place. Then we came across this Nerdsville which we eventually forced Bernard to pose with. LOL...

We stayed in this HotRock place which has a rather cosy reception counter. From our room, we can see this stretch of road admist the greeneries and the nearby geysers. The road was broad, with the surronding grass patch neatly kept. Traffic is light and certainly makes for a very good drive. Anyway, with the help of the friendly receptionist, we got our activities all planned out for the next day. We had a mini bus catered for our activities which started with the gondola/luge, followed by Zorbing before we head for White-Water rafting. These were fun activities we did, especially the Zorb and Rafting. Only kel, Chris and CY did the Zorbing. Me and Bernard didn't. Haha.. I wasn't that sure I wouldn't puke inside the big ball. But I did regret slightly after seeing the happy faces of their after the zorb. Never mind.. I shall have that in my itinerary the next time :)

The highlight of the day came as we head for white-water rafting. You see.. we were all so excited about white-water rafting . It seems to be one of the must-try activity here. So we grabbed a brouchure, scanned through it and before we know it, we scheduled ourselves for an afternoon rafting trip. And before long, we were happily on our way to the rafting river in the van, the rafting operators started to introduce us to the history of the river we will be on later.
Then something about a 7m waterfall was mentioned.. Hmmm, since when rafting involves waterfall?? Haha.. And i tot it was a joke they cracked. Until we were on the river then we found out it's true. Haha.. Frankly speaking, I wasn't feeling all that easy once we got in the river. just feel a lack of control there.. We managed to conquer all the small waterfalls (1m and 2m) and some short rapids. Then came the 7m waterfall test. Not knowing what wil actually happened, we all headed for it, remembering the drill to execute upon nearing the fall's edge.
Then came the plunge into the water........................................
Not long, I felt we all dropped into the water. The raft did not make it. So I kind of loosened my grip on the raft and.......... I was SWEPTED on and on by the water current. I made somersaults like over and over inside the water. I started to panick as I was still submerged after quite a while. Struugling didn't help, and I lost grip of the paddle as well. CHAM LIAO I thought.... I continued to try swim up to surface. After dunno how long, then I surfaced. Relieved I was... I started swimming towards the nearest rock wall, and clinged onto it before I was rescued on board.

That rafting incident became the point of discussion for the remaining of the day, and the next few days that followed. All except Chris got flunged off the raft. But I was in water the longest. 30secs plus according to the instructor. It was dangerous man.. But an experience nonetheless.
Will I try rafting again? Eh.. Maybe. But definitely no waterfall again :)

Rafting experience aside, the rest of Rotorua stay was very pleasant. We had our first own cooked meal with ingredients purchased from the nearby mart. Dinner was pizza (Cheap @ $1.99 NZD but taste sucks), broccolis, sausages and Spaget. It was a satisfying meal. Breakfast was bread and Jam. I never eat this combi at home and I was surprised it tasted so good.

After staying in Rotorua for 2 nites, we carried on with our road trip. Travelling south, we headed for our next destination - Taupo.