12/12/09 - From the Depths of the Earth...

We headed off to some nearby caves today for some optional excursions. I was torn between the abseiling through caves or tubing through caves but considering what I'll be doing tomorrow I decided to go for the tubing.

After getting into our wet suits and walking past some very nice scenery we arrived at our cave. Getting in involved climbing down a ladder through a very small gap and then going for a slide down a smooth rock. I realized that this trip would be fun when I found myself in complete darkness and up to my knees in water. I was thankful for the head torch.

The caves were fun to traverse, often on hands and knees and twice underwater briefly, but I'll just mention my two favourite moments.

The first was when we formed a chain in our rubber rings, turned our head torches off and then drifted down an underground stream staring at the glow worms in the caves roof. There are millions of them in the caves and the effect is like viewing green stars.

The second was “Pinball Alley”. This is where you position yourself as though you are going down a flume and then speed down a narrow stream bumping off the walls. Great fun.

Unfortunately due to the nature of the trip I couldn't take my camera. You'll have to take my word for it when I say it was awesome.

In the evening we were staying with a local Maori tribe. We spent the evening being shown their customs (including a very aggressive introduction ceremony) and then taking part in some ourselves. Brent, our bus driver, has Maori roots and had fun painting some of our faces. I believe the addition of shades worked out fairly well.

The most enjoyable part of the evening is when we were taught and then performed the Haka. This was like learning a new kata for me and is what the All Blacks do at their rugby matches after their national anthem. I believe it is more intimidating when they do it however...