Day 32 - Lake aniwhenua

Nice start to the day, got some food had a little fairwell walk around rotorua. At 1 I joined back on the stray bus and headed towards the lake. The first stop off was at some ancient tribal carvings, and the man that showed them to us it was his great great great.... ancestors that made them, it was a overnight hiding home back when the tribe's used to fight. Still alot of people don't know they are there which id cool. He told us a story of one of the chiefs back in the day for killed in battle and the chief to take over from him (his son) who was 14 died by his side there. Instead of buring the bodies they hide them and cover them in mud and things. And at this hidng hole there was a bump which had bones underneath, was very eery. The 14 year old that died by his father had half of his face tattooed, tattooing in that age was done like a carving but on the body! Crazy! Some men had there midriff tattooed to take some of the pain of what there wife's go through in childbirth. Ouch! There is a tribe west of this tribe I am staying with tonight that detest white people, due to the English taking over years and years ago. So that was reassuring to be sleeping a few miles away from them! We took a small drive through the lakes town called mudapuka and we drove past there primary school where they learn maurea as there first language and English as second then Japanese as a 3rd if they wanted! 
When we arrive at a tribe they welcome you by pressing noses twice, it's abit formal but it is seen as breathing the same air and becoming one. When we arrived we were greeted by Nadine who buzzes off life! She is amazing! We watched them prepare dinner where they stack the food and put it in the ground on boiling hot stones then cover it with damp rags and dirt,  luckily the veg etc was on the top. Then I had a weaving class, where a lady called mage showed us how to make a bracelet out of flax leaves, it was really good! Hopefully they will stay in one piece as I travel around. Then we all sat for dinner which tasted amazing!!! Like a bbq taste but underground! With sweet potatoe, salad and aoloi! Then Nadine told us a beautiful story about where our money has gone too to the point where she nearly burst into tears, maybe cause she is pregnant but it did really hit a nerve that there are some beautiful people in this world. All our left overs were put into food boxes and we are taking them down to the local school tomorrow as many of the children go without meals. So looking forward to meeting the mudapuka school kids tomorrow.
Today has been the most rewarding day of my trip and really truely made me realise how lucky I am