I have not done a blog about food in a long time, so this is much needed!!! Especially after our delicious feast at the Maori dinner! The Maori are indiginous Polynesian people of New Zealand and we watched performances and learned about their lifestyles 300 years ago. They demonstrated games that children played to teach coordination, gender duties, a typical day at the village, and how they cook dinner. This was particularly surprising- they use fire to heat rocks and then put the rocks in the earth. On the rocks, the Maori women layer the food, from what they need heated most to least (dessert is usually on the very top). They showed everyone how it worked by digging our dinner from the ground and it was so interesting! The meal was a buffet of chicken, lamb, seafood- even though I don't like seafood, I had a New Zealand Mussel (and I learned that I REALLY don't like those), potatoes, pasta, hot chocolate, and dessert!
The way that the Maori people were painted was unlike anything that I have seen. Women had black paint on their chins and lower cheeks. And, like women, men either had black paint on their chins and lower face or had it covering their whole face. Most men also had it all over their arms, which looked like a tatoo. Here is a picture from a dance that they did at the dinner!
And on a much different note:
For some other meals, we prepared Spaghetti and Pasta at the hostel!
Sure, it was not as delicious as the Maori feast, but we tried to let our inner chefs shine through! All hostels typically have a kitchen, so it is easy to prepare a meal. We bought pasta, sauce, and a salad from the grocery store and created our own meal. It was a nice way to have a cheep (and fun) dinner! AND I am now an excellent noodle maker- what more could I ask for? haha
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