Tonight I am going to learn a lot about the ancient Maori culture and traditions with Mitai.

Our guide introduce us to the Maori traditional welcome. We first have to elect a chief for our international group. Our chief of the day is from England and he is a good chief: tall and strong. Then, it's time to have a look at the Maori way of cooking meat and vegetables. The idea is to dig a hole in the ground and to lay down very hot stones and then to put the food and to cover with humid leafs and wet towels.

Then we move to the serious stuff: we have to convince the Maori warriors that we come in peace.

Then the tattooed Maoris perfom dances and songs with weaponry.

We can then participate as they teach us the Huka war dance: 'Huka! Huka! huhukaaaaaa!'. It's very fun because you use your feet, your arms, your teeth, your eyes and your tongues to look as scary as possible!

Then we move to our dinner: yummy ;-) There is lamb, chicken, potatoes, kumara (NZ sweet potato), stuffing, desserts, drinks, etc.

We then follow our Maori guide for a bush walk in a native forest. We learn it all about the silver fern and other NZ native trees.

After seeing a few glowworms in the forest, we go to visit the Sacred fresh water springs and marvel at the huge eels (NZ fish snake).

I had a great time!