Feb 7 morning

Stopped at Huka Falls, which was on the itinerary for yesterday. The entire huge Lake Taupo drains through a narrow gorge. Churning whitewater cascades down to a twenty-foot falls. Then back to turquoise and back to dark blue, calm and peacefull. Powerful and beautiful.

(Chunlin's photo above)

Drove awhile and now we're at Waiotapu. Or more precisely, sitting at Lady Knox Geyser, waiting for its daily 10:15 eruption. Hundreds of people from all over the world (Japan, Germany, Israel, . . .) all wait patiently as well. Soon.

Burble burble burble, boom! goes the geyser. Water blows across the crowd and people hurry to get out of the way. Just a heavy (cool) mist is all. It tames back down and we drive back to Waiotapu proper.

Trail up, trail down, bubbling pits everywhere.