So we get back on the road and head off to Rotorua once again, this time we are going to Whakawerawera. Compared to the other geothermal area this one is mostly about the Maori culture that surrounds it and still lives in it. Upon arriving the stench of sulphur comes back, boy I did not miss that. Anyways the geothermal park was not nearly as colorful or interesting as Waiti-pu but the culture was quite amazing. We started with a Maori ritual dance, it was quite intense and wish that there was a way to truely capture the experience as it is beautiful yet intense at the same time. One of the best parts was going on a guided tour with one of the villagers who lives in the geothermally active park. We learned all about how they use the heat for taking baths in mineral water, washing clothes, and even cooking. They prepared a meal for us made entirely in a boiling hot geothermal pool. Ham and chicken, with corn, carrots, potato, and kumara (sweet potato) it was a very comfort food type dinner as well as packed with minerals from the pool. It was pretty neat, however right across the geyser was a very commercial upscale park. The Maori dont have the funds to be able to compete with a multimillion dollar park so it seems they need to compete on the cultural portion of the market. This seems to be a odd connection to my project really.
A community who protect the landscape funded only by tourists who come for the cultural and natural experiences... and on the opposite end of the spectrum a very much commercialized tourist run industry taking advantage of natural attractions for profit...
Seems pretty darn close to an ecotourism vs tourism relationship.
No comments:
Post a Comment