Olla populacione!!! Rotorua: went water rafting and sledging on Thursday. Very, very cool....the place Kaituna river, which is category 5 in the middle of the KIWI jungle. To keep it simple, only athletes can ride such a river, and after a full medical check up, I`VE PASSED. I know it may surprised a few of you, but IT IS true!!! No, serioulsy it is apparently the river with the biggest commercially riden water fall in the world (7 meters), and it s not me who s saying that but the Guiness book.... Photos posted.... very very nice feeling going through the water falls, but adrenaline rush quite limited, specially after the bungy jump. The Maori have been buried their deads in this river for centuries until 20 years ago, where the river has been opened to the public. The bones have been removed from the bottom and the caves alongside the river and re buried with the dead souls on an island in the middle of lake Rotorua. This is why all activities on the water are preceded by a pray in Maori to those ancestors, to the river god and for protection on the river.

Overall, amazing scenary far away from any civilisation form, good ride and good warm up for the sledging in the afternoon which was a bit more scary.... rafting wasn t the first time but sledging was. Much more physical than I thougth and I felt every cigaretts in my lungs during the ride, but excellent experience, to be done again (maybe on a bigger river) - Sledging was done on a river category 3+. Plan for Friday is the TE PUIA geysers.

With a big smile - Seb