Yes we are alive - just!!! on 20th we were ...
Trip Start
Sep 19, 2002
1
22
129
Trip End
Sep 22, 2003
Taupo / Rotorua, New Zealand
Friday, November 22, 2002
On 20th we were booked onto the sky diving at 1530. However, the weather
(which had been fabulous the day before) was cloudy and windy. To pass the time
and see of the weather changed, we got a bus up to the Craters of the Moon
thermal area. The bus was only a few dollars but the area was free. Basically
this park area kind of happened in a big way when they built a hydro electricity
power station nearby and the changes from them using all the water in the plant
caused this area to become really active. There are lots of little holes in the
ground and in the sides of these big craters that spout steam and smoke. The
craters happen when the holes get blocked and the pressure builds up and then
the things blow leaving a big hole. The ground is quite warm as well and this
is all because of the fault that virtually breaks New Zealand in half (and causes all the earthquakes and volcanoes etc). At the bottom of some craters you can see the
water boiling away and you can hear hissing from the holes as you walk past.
There is a designated pathway to stop people standing on unstable ground and sinking in the hot mud burning their legs and feet but we still saw some people searching
for that elusive photo opportunity by wandering around in the bush and on the
edges of the craters. On the path itself at one point is a lot of mud and pumice
from where there was a big eruption a few years ago
