Friday, March 25, 2011 "Kiwi" Adventure

On Friday morning, we went to the Agrodome.  It is part working farm, part amusement park.  They have bungee jumping, a jet engine where you can simulate weightlessness, a farm tour and a great sheep and cattle program.  The Agrodome was founded by a New Zealand farm family in the 1940's and is located just outside Rotorua, where Reg lives.

Our first stop was the bungee jumping.  There was a girl up in the launching pad as we got there.  We soon realized that she had seconds thoughts about jumping.  After I watched her hesitate for a couple of minutes, I warned Reg that I was going to scream and then screamed very loud "Jump"!  That didn't seem to inspire her much, but it inspired her friends (about 20) who were watching from the ground.  They all started screaming encouraging words to her to jump. 

That didn't seem to work either!  After several rounds of 3 - 2 - 1 with no success, I yelled out "100 - 99 - 98 - 97"  all this seemed to do is get me some dirty looks from her friends.  She finally gave up and came back down!  It costs about $185 to do this - sorry - no refunds once they get you hooked up!

We noticed some strange looking long horned cattle in a nearby field.  We walked over and it reminded me that I was hungry for a nice big juicy steak!

mmmmmmmm  dinner time!

Those horns were just too tempting so I reached out and grabbed one.  Mr. cow was ok

with this for about 5 seconds and soon began trying to remove my hand by shaking his head

vigorously!  I lasted about two seconds of this!

It was then inside for the main event.  The sheep and cattle show!  It was great!  The MC had a great sense of humor and welcome guests from Japan, China, Thailand, America, Germany, France and many other countries in their native language.

Who has more hair in their "chinny chin chin"?

                                    The MC introduced us to at least 20 different types of sheep!

                                   The MC let several of the guest try their luck at milking a cow.

There was also a sheep shearing demonstration.  This guy was really fast!

                                                                     Finished!

On Friday night, Reg, Kevin and Larraine, Wendy and I went to dinner at an Indian Restaurant in Rotorua.  It was very good.  After dinner, we went to a local production of CATS - it was wonderful!  All of the actors and the musicians were local.  The director came from out of town.  The stage set was very professional, the music fantastic with about a 15 piece orchestra, the costumes were very well done, and the dancing and signing was great!  I really think I enjoyed this production better than the one I saw in Akron - which was a traveling Broadway company.  Wendy's son was the production manager for the show and had a nice part.