marylonghorn: The very Kiwi Christmas

Merry Christmas to all!

I hope you have had lovely Christmas celebrations with your loved ones. I enjoyed a sunny Kiwi Christmas here in Taupo with new friends.

But first, an update!

I have spent the past week and a half in the town of Taupo on the North Island. Taupo, located on the northeast side of Lake Taupo, has a population of approximately 23,000 people, a number that increases in the summer months as both Kiwis and international travelers holiday here. I am currently working for accommodation at a local hostel where I have made many new friends. Each evening, we enjoy a spectacular view of the sunset over Lake Taupo from our balcony (these pics were taken from my phone so they aren't the best, but they'll give you an idea). Be sure to look for the mountains in the background. It's really a million dollar view:

Taupo is a gorgeous place, as you can see, surrounded by the mountains, the hills, and the lake. There are a ton of outdoor activities to do both on and off the lake, and Taupo is known as the adventure capital of the North Island (Queenstown holds that title for the South Island). I will be here for a bit longer and plan to explore the area more... by land, sea, and air! :-)

Walking along Lake Taupo

Bright sun over the lake

One of the lake's beaches

A natural hot springs along the river

The hot spring source... water over 40 degrees celsius!

Christmas Eve was spent on the beach with friends, in true Kiwi fashion. At the end of the day we headed back to the hostel and in the kitchen, Dave, a trained chef (and the only true New Zealander in our bunch), threw together a lovely iron chef-style meal utilizing all our bits of random food. On Christmas day, we hit the beach again and cooked a delicious Christmas dinner which included roast chicken, kumara (sweet potatoes), carrots, green beans, English-style bread pudding, and gravy. Of course we all ate way too much!