Auckland Museum

   (Nancy, Hannah)

      Well yesterday, we got to go to the Auckland Museum. None of us really knew what this was, but it turned out to be really neat! It started out and we were suppose to be picked up at nine fifteen. So Hannah and I were got ready and were waiting to get picked up. It came to be nine fifteen, and no one was there. We thought, oh it's okay they are just a little late. It got to be about nine thirty, and we are starting to be just a little bit worried, but not too much yet. So we keep waiting. It gets to be ten o clock and we decide we should call Jim. Well he answers and says, "He hasn't got you yet, well keep waiting. We are waiting for you so just wait." Then about ten fifteen James comes to pick us up. Turns out he got a little bit lost coming to our house. But no worries. We weren't left and the group waited for us! 
       Anyway we got there and Jim gave us our tickets and everything we needed then we got to go explore! This museum was so cool!

  (Anna, Nancy, Rebecca)  

    On the first floor, everything they have is dedicated to Maori, and the culture of the Maori people. This was really neat to be able to see all of the things they had made from many years ago. We got to see a typical house, some of their boats, and a sacred house. In the sacred house, you always remove your shoes. We were able to remove our shoes and go inside. This was really neat. The wall designs were so detailed.

(Jessica, Christine, Nancy, Emily)

       After we had wandered around for a little while, we went to a Maori Culture show! This was one of the highlights of my day! We got to see the haka!

     We also got to see some the dancing. The girls with the poi were so amazing! Especially since Paea tried to teach us, it was so hard! I couldn't even believe it! They were so good! We also got to see them do the te raka. We did this in class with two people. Even though I was the champion, it was still hard. Then they started doing it with three people, I was so impressed! I was amazed!

    After the show, we and explored the museum a little more. The second floor was all about the natural history of New Zealand. This was really cool. They talked a lot about the volcano, and one of the eruptions. They even had an eruption house. We were able to go in and see what it would have been like to be sitting in your house during the eruption. I decided that is something I am very scared of.

 

    On the third floor, it was all dedicated the wars. This was really interesting to me. I've decided that in the states I forget that the different wars effected the other countries as well. Like I know that they did, but being over here and seeing their memorials made me understand it a little bit better. This was really neat. 

    After we had finished looking around the museum, we went over to Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium. This was pretty cool. It's right off of mission bay. The first thing we did was go to the Sting Ray encounter. This was so cool. I have never seen sting ray this big in my entire life! They were gigantic!! The sting ray would come right up by the edge, and even put their fin over the edge. Sometimes they would even splash you...needless to say I got a little wet here. They were fascinating.

 

     After the show we went over to the penguin ride. This was really cool. They had it set up so you got in a little car/snow car like you would in Antarctica, and then they took you around, and you were able to see a lot of penguins.

 

(Allison, Nancy, Rebecca)

      After the little ride, we went under the water to look at the sharks and the fish. This was really neat. You stepped onto a moving track, and it just took you around. There were fish all around us. The sharks looked really scary. Their eyes are bead eyes, and I decide I really don't ever want to come across a shark. Although this was really neat to be able to see them so up close!

(Janet, Anna, Nancy)

    After we went to the shark thing, we got to go play in the little kids area! This was so much fun! We all enjoyed this. Some of the stuff was  kind of hard. They had you match the sounds to the animals, but they were sounds of different penguins. It was pretty hard. It was really fun!

 

(Back: Kara, Nancy, Anna Front: Allison Christine Diana)

(Christine, Nancy)

    Once we had played, it was time for us to start heading out. As we were walking out though, they had the most poisonous fish known to man. I thought that was pretty cool. Scary, but cool so I decided I would take a picture to show you!

     Anyway, all in all, it was a really fun day! I enjoyed it a lot. Tomorrow we are flying out to the South Island for about two weeks, so there won't be very many updates. I'll do what I can, but most will come when I get back!