Nature comes packaged for tourists here, but we have seen it at different levels. There is the full on paid-for experience of the 'geyser blow' with the land around shaped into terraces to seat about 600 tourists at a time. The manipulated 'blow' comes promptly at 10.15 every day, rather than the unpredictable natural occurance every 36 hours or so - they throw in a soap like substance to break the surface tension of the water below and make the geyser erupt on cue - together with a 'geezer' with amplification adding his own witty introduction to the 'show'.
While the major geothermal attractions are highly organised , each feature with its own scary name, other smaller ones with less beautiful or dramatic attractions are more laid back but still have their cafes and shops and add on carving or weaving experiences, then there are the free spaces with safety walkways but no hype. No prizes for guessing which we appreciated most.
The 'cultural experience' is everywhere, supposedly giving the tourists what they want. As a lecturer of traditional Maori culture, 'M' is constantly horrified and frustrated at the incorrect information being churned out as 'authentic'. Frankly it is no worse than any other country - Scotland for a start- and it had started even in Connie's day. She spent many days buying Maori carving clearly on sale for tourists although it would have been genuine and traditional work , not 'made in Thailand' as apparently is some of the awful stuff we saw on sale today. In her diary Connie remarks ' We are in great hopes that a Maori dance will be got up tomorrow night for the benefit of the tourists.' She wouldn't have to look far for such an event tonight.
But looking beyond its packaging, the geothermal activity in this area is really beyond belief and can certainly give you nightmares if you care to dwell on what is beneath our feet
Amazing colors!
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