Wellington is more than Hobbits

From the moment we arrive, to the moment of our departure, there is one name that is synonymous with Wellington. Peter Jackson. He is more that it’s wealthiest citizen. He and his WETA production , effects, sound design, and film studios has made Wellington the third largest film production city. Today our tour is to visit the WETA Cave to learn about how they made the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, and many more movies. Then go up into the hillds to visit some of the actual sites used.

Wellington is a very pretty city as are all cities in New Zealand. This whole country is pretty. It is a fairly short drive around past the airport to the small subberb where all the WETA facilities are house in close proximity, many time right next door.

The WETA cave it turns out is a small demo house for tours of what WETA does and with the exception of the souvinier shop, NO PICTURES.

It was really interesting and I earned more about what else they did besides the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy and the Hobbit. They have done all the movies by that south african director who did District 9, Elysium, and Chappie. They were the major effects house behind James Cameron’s Avatar. They are leading produce of genuine plastic simulated authentic chain used in everything for Robin Hood to Game of Thrones. Chain is the small chail worn as protection armour by horses, and knights, and sword battlers to keep from getting sliced to pieces but is heaveier than crap for actors rather real knights. They also make the most realistic looking weapons of all kinds from knives with wooden handles to futuristic battle guns all from plastic.

The second part of our tour takes us into the park above the port where two famous scenes from Lord of the rings were filmed. This now had the feel of that “OMG you didn’t fall for that “let me show where something was filmed” gag”. This became camp before we even arrived.

I can’t believ I got to experience where these 10 seconds of film were shot, edited together with another 10 seconds shot in a different location to far to walk to. The forest di have a natural beauty to it though.

We journed down the path to the second filming site, while our guides who took guide tour lessons from Universal Studios Backstage Tour proceeded to tell us how difficult it was to do these shots, how underweight Sean Astin was, how many takes it took rolling in the dirt as if they had been part of the critical decision making team.

This is where on of the underpaid local extras broke his collor bone but his take was included in the final cut.

We then were bussed away to a senic overlook where it was optional to go up the 77 steps to the top to take pictures.

Then back to ship to begin some serious recovery.

None of us purchased the $75 Elfin ears. I was soooooo tempted Gabe……. even at the exchange rate that just seemed to high a price. I’ll find some Spock ears at a halloween shop instead.

Back to the ship and a world of Decadence

Back to the world of decadence. While the Maori were thought provoking and their oneness with nature and respect for the earth was a powerful message, lets not for get that we are on a cruise ship where your every whim is granted and food is available 24 hours a day. After a long 1 hour bus ride, we were diservedly thirsty. With a quick flyby of our cabins to drop off our cameras we make a beeline for the Aft deck and our favorite Bar Server, Erwin.

Yes your eyes do not decieve you, we have brought Fran over to the dark side and that is a Bloody Mary she has ordered. Later she will expand to a Margarita, and then a Mojito.

Jeff, Joe, and Babs were totally worn out from all that hiking and learning and needed a bit of relaxation therapy in the spa to prepare them for the night ahead of 3 course dinner and a show.

We were rewarded for our lengthy stay at the bar with a beautiful sunset as we left port. Next stop Wellington, home of Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings.

Bandwith Sucks at Sea

Since we have left the territorial waters of north New Zealand island, the bandwidth I am getting on the Ships internet is barely enough to update email which is taking 15 minutes to download 5 messages. I have now spent 175 mintues trying to upload the latest blog update.

I am continuing to Blog but updates will not be appearing till we get into a better satalite range or an onshore high speed hot spot.

This will take 10 -15 minutes to upload with ZERO pictures.

Napier, New Zealand

te tohu o te tangata

“The mark of the man"

Today we have stopped in Napier, New Zealand. Like most ports in New Zealand it primarily is used for export of Kiwi and Timber. Logging is a one of the primary exports as the trees grow fast on this land. It takes about 25 years between planting and harvesting timber so it is carefully managed and has become a very sustainable product. Like many things in New Zealand and its ancient people, there is a oneness with mother earth. There is a genuine reverance for that which the earth provides and that which mankind needs and a respect for the symbiotic relationship.

Today’s tour is of Arch of the Ancestors, a Maori experience. We arrive about noon to the port and again all meet in the Vista showroom for the announcement our excursion is ready for loading. Today all 9 of us are booked on the same excursion with Jeff and Babs being the late arriving stragglers. But we all make it on the same bus this time and our tour guide is a lovey woman named Christine. She is of Maori decent and shares many personal stories of growing up as we travel the countryside for about an hour till we get to the protected land where the Waimarama Maori are restoring an ancient village.

Christine teaches us a song which is used in the greeting ceremony as their warrior confronts our chief (not Joe this time), once they know we come in peace, the warrior signals the tribe and the call and response to welcome us in done in the form of a song.

No nga Tipuna (n-or n-ah tee poona) - From our ancestors

Kia Ora Kia Ora (key-ah or-ah, key-ah ora) - Be Well - Be Well

We are treated to a performance by the tribe and then broken into four groups to tour four demonstration sessions on the ways of the ancestors. Music, Fishing (eels), Tattoo, and Fighting. The Maori used sea shells, woooden and stone flutes, and wood blocks. In each group they talked of the fact that they come from mother earth and they needed to protect her. For mother earth provides all the signs and fruits to tell you what is needed. The dances and the songs are all about teaching the stories of life and survival from the ancestors to the new generation. Theirs is not a written language.

In order to get tattoo’d it requires the approval of the village council, extreme bravery, and a story that describes who you and your people are. On the left side of the face, it is reflective of your mothers heritage, about kindness and peace. On the right side it is your fathers side and reflective of war and battles. The women are tattoo’d only on their chin. Their tattoo’s are traditionally carved by bone and hammer into their skin. once opened as a wound, the ink from certain tpes of berries is rubbed in. When it heals it is a tattoo of three deminsions as it is both scars and inked design.

Children are inked in a temporary way as they have not yet had achievemnet to be worthy of a tattoo.

Our last stop on the rotation was with Tyler who taught the basic moves of using their wooden club/blade for both hunting and war parties. It is a skilled weapon as he deomstrated against Art and then taught Babs the 5 basic moves.

Lastly Tyler taught a game of coordination and Joan and Fran Volunteered. I was surprised when neither were eleminated in the first two rounds. One has to pass sticks to each other in a specific manner using both hands.

Time to leave this wonderful place and this terrific family who shared the ways of their ancestors with us. James Cameron filmed his movie Avatar in New Zealand and you can see many parralels in the native Navi from his film to the way of life of the ancient Maori.

Now back to the ship to live in total decadence.