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Rotorua, a place to remember

4 February 2010 16 Comments

Many people tried their luck in last week’s photo quiz. From dark chocolate, coffee cream and dessert to spinning wheel of a potter to a smelly gutter… the answers showed how our imagination flies. :D

@lemonicks.com/Travel

The deceiving photo….

While posting I had made a small mistake and later didn’t want to correct it. Foxnomad was intelligent enough to catch it. I was wondering if somebody would do so. :)

Well, the answer is ‘a bubbling mud of a hot sulphur geyser’ in Rotorua in New Zealand. The winner is Zhu. I have enabled all comments on that post. Go and check. :)

@lemonicks.com/Travel

Another hot mud bubble. They make gurgling sound similar to when you cook something with thick gravy.

Besides beautiful cities, tallest tower in southern hemisphere and breathtaking scenic countryside, there is one more place in New Zealand which we can not ignore. Rotorua.

On our visit to New Zealand, Rotorua was very much in agenda. We were told it was a place to remember. And truly so.

The area is well known for its extensive geo-thermal activity; gushes of steam poking up in not only this volcanic area but all places including busy streets.

@lemonicks.com/Travel

Famous for its hot sulphur geysers; the place smells incredibly of it.

This spectacular geyser erupts throughout the day, bubbling up from below the ground and shooting up to as high as 30 metres, displaying the awesome powers of nature and in a matter of seconds that the background is hidden from our view in haze.

The paths make their way though volcanic landscapes with pools of bubbling, boiling mud all over the place.  We were not allowed to go very near it and at places there were barricades as well, for, we don’t know when a volcano suddenly decides to welcome us in its own style. :)

@lemonicks.com/Travel

Hot burning lava

The ground beneath our feet was damp, soft and hot forcing us to tread carefully. Extinct volcanic craters made way for Rotorua’s crystal lakes.

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A closer look of red hot lava

The Rotorua is entertaining in any weather, at any time of the year.  A must see place if you happen to be in New Zealand.

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16 Comments »

  • Ram N said:

    “the world” …..

    # 4 February 2010 at 10:05 AM
  • anjuli said:

    This was absolutely fascinating!! I would have never guessed the picture- it is good to know, coz it was driving me crazy :) ….If I go to New Zealand, I definitely want to go see the Rotorua
    anjuli´s last [post] ..Long Road==Jan 27 2010 My ComLuv Profile

    # 4 February 2010 at 2:19 PM
  • Zhu said:

    Yeahhhhh!

    I loved this place but it took me a while to get used to the smell. But after a few days, you don’t even smell it anymore.

    I also remember Rotorua as the city which has a “drive-through liquor store”. I found it hilarious.
    Zhu´s last [post] ..On Campus (Part III) My ComLuv Profile

    # 5 February 2010 at 8:19 AM
  • A said:

    Lol..i thought it was chocolate…

    # 5 February 2010 at 9:36 AM
  • Anrosh said:

    something like hotsprings ? if you live around mumbai , a place called varjeshwari has something like this .

    # 5 February 2010 at 10:56 PM
  • Anil said:

    I might’ve mistaken it for a scoop of ice cream :-)

    I do not know what it is like to be around sulphurous geysers, but would be curious of the smell around the place.
    Anil´s last [post] ..The Notorious Cannon by the Hazarduari Palace, Murshidabad My ComLuv Profile

    # 5 February 2010 at 11:45 PM
  • Vamsee said:

    It is very fascinating to go to these places and see the volcanic activity. Yellow Stone and Lassen Volcanic National Parks in the US have similar features. It does take time to get used to the smell!!
    That last picture is quite scary…I mean being so close to red hot lava.
    Vamsee´s last [post] ..Compliments of the Chef – Food in Bangkok My ComLuv Profile

    # 6 February 2010 at 4:04 PM
  • Anil said:

    I did cheat…but lovely pictures nonetheless :)
    Anil´s last [post] ..Rating Dublin’s Popular Tourist Attractions My ComLuv Profile

    # 9 February 2010 at 11:05 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Ram,
    Le Monde :)

    Anjuli,
    Ha Ha… only one person got it right so I guess it was quite confusing. But keep trying in all quizzes.

    Sure, it’s place not to be missed. :)

    # 12 February 2010 at 7:02 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Zhu,
    Yeah, it was a sight to see sulphur everywhere… on the road, in the air and in our nostrils as well !
    Next time I am going there for a longer period to enjoy it fully.

    A,
    See, how wrong you were ! :P

    # 12 February 2010 at 7:08 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Anrosh,
    You were near to the answer. :)

    Varjeshwari? never been to.

    Anil,
    You are not the only one to mistake it for icecream. :)

    You must have done practicals in science labs. Remember the smell ?

    # 12 February 2010 at 7:11 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Vamsee,
    I have read about those volcanoes.

    Yes, the burning lava was pretty close and at some places there were barricades/ staff to dissuade us from going or touching it.

    Anil,
    I don’t think you cheated. You were smart ! :D

    # 12 February 2010 at 7:14 PM
  • Namita Chandra said:

    Very Interesting reading. New Zealand is high on my list of places I want to see. Planning a trip to Bangkok in the near future. Any suggestions. Your comment on my blog knocked me out of the blogger slumber I had gone into. Thanks
    Namita Chandra´s last [post] ..Amsterdam to Edinburgh and The Low countries My ComLuv Profile

    # 16 February 2010 at 12:26 AM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Namita,
    Hey, welcome again ! :)

    You must visit New Zealand one day. There is so much to see that I want to go there again.

    Never been to Bangkok but going to Thailand very soon. Keep checking this blog for updates. :D

    # 18 February 2010 at 6:15 PM
  • Siddhartha Joshi said:

    Amazing! What do you do to be able to afford so much travel? I am willing to change jobs :)
    Siddhartha Joshi´s last [post] ..Konark Sun Temple – despite the oddsMy ComLuv Profile

    # 6 December 2010 at 3:24 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Siddhartha,
    Well, I am a backpacker. I do not stay or use five star things and prefer to be with locals enjoying local cuisines.

    And have you heard this “Where there is a will, there is a way: ? :D

    Keep coming.

    # 6 December 2010 at 6:11 PM

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