Lets go visit a zoo.

I have not brought up much about the hotel or things that are unusual in New Zealand.  The people are very nice and helpful.

New Zealand has interesting slang terms.  Much of those are actually Māori words.  It is not unusual to hear Kiwi's speaking a mix of English and Māori.

EH added to end of a question or for agreement.  "Cloudy EH?"
YEAH NAH  for not sure of something "Want an soda?" " Yeah Nah"
Chur meaning great or awesome.
THE WOPS  way out of town.  It's out in the Wops.
CHOCKA something being full or filled up.
SUS suspicious.
Māori words:
AWA  word for river.  HAKA to dance or a dance.  KAI food. MOANA the sea.
MOTU mountain. NUI  large.  WAI  water.
Seeing and hearing Māori words is normal here.

The plugs are different.  Everyone has a switch to power on and off the plug.  We ordered adapters before this trip because the plugs are different than European plugs. Oh and like in Europe, they are 220 volts not 120 as we have in the US.

Up early again but not quite as early as yesterday.  We had a nice breakfast at the restaurant. After a quick stop back at the room, we called for a cab to take us to the Auckland Museum.  The reason we wanted to go there was to hop on the Blue line bus heading to the Zoo.

The cabs have been running about $12 to $14 NZ dollars per trip but I have been giving them a $20 NZ which is the equivalent to a $12 US.  Very reasonable cabs so far.  Foreshadowing, later that would change. 

​The ride to the zoo was nice and only a short walk from the stop to the entrance.  Once inside we started the tour.  The zoo is divided into areas dedicated to areas of the world. 

​Native to NZ, Australia, South America, Africa,… ​

Our first area was the ring tailed lemur. Next, the tiger who had just had babies but she was very shy and difficult to find.  

Then crocodile, Emu, some Australian birds, Lace Monitor lizard…

Interesting fish and some plants.

Next several types of monkey….

They had a newly introduced Orangutan and one of the older established Orangutan had a 6 month old baby who was starting to get adventurous.  At one point, he was high in a tree above mom hanging on by just one hand.

We saw two demonstrations.  One of Australian lizards and skink plus a huge cockatoo.  

Another demonstration was of several types of birds that flew over the people watching many times.

Several Galapagos tortoise and other turtles.

We even got to see a tortoise run.  Okay, for a tortoise.

There were also very helpful volunteers throughout the zoo helping to find animals and answer questions.

The cheetah area was very interesting as the two sisters were being fed.  They ran to be put up then someone came out to put chunks of meat throughout the enclosure.  Then the cheetahs were let back out to run around finding what was left for them. 

We all wanted to see the Kiwi.  They are a nocturnal animal so the enclosure was very dark.  Kiwi are about a foot tall with a body about the size of a football.  (not a soccer ball but almost)  I got a couple of pictures with the phone as it has a night mode.  It worked better than I expected. I just wish they would have held still a bit longer so I could have gotten a less blurry picture.

Off to lunch at the zoo cafeteria and then the last section which was dedicated to Africa.  There were elephants, rhinos, lions, red pandas, and a very young giraffe baby with the group of giraffes. Some ostriches with one pair that got very frisky while we were there.  He put up quite the show before she would let him approach.

By the time we finished the last section, Betty was ready to return to the Hotel.  Actually, she was probably ready long before that but did not want to stop.

​We got off the Blue line when it returned to the Auckland Museum and took one of the waiting taxis.  This was a big mistake.  Instead of the Coop Taxis that have run $12 to $14 NZ, the independent taxi was $26 NZ.  Double.  Ripped off to say the least.

Back at the room Betty was ready to get a shower and relax.  Shawna and I went to the bar for a drink and then decided to get something at the restaurant which is connected.  Basically just around the corner.  Even after finishing our drinks, deciphering the rules of Cricket that was on the bar TV was still impossible.  I have heard that Cricket has the most complex rules of any major sport in the world.  I can believe it.

Dinner at the hotel was fantastic as always.  I had the flat bread pizza and Shawna had Prawn cocktail. After that, we shared the Lava Cake.  Very nice. 

 Time for bed and a busy day tomorrow when we embark the cruise ship around noon.