This is what the non 'Lord of the Rings' plains look like.  I took this shot from in side of the plain that  I was on.
 

  A look at the Sky Tower from down under.
 

The Sky Tower is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, I believe.
 
 

Map of the world from down under.
 

  This is a view of the Railway campus from the harbor.

  You can see the Sky Tower from the harbor.
 

  Before morning tea on the first day of orientation.  This group did a few cultural dances.
 

  Another part of  this one dance.
 

  This is part of the gateway to the Maori meeting area.  They call this part of campus the Marae.  It is where the Pōwhiri was held.  We were welcomed with customs that are 1,000 years old.  Since we were such a large group 3 worriers came to see if we came in peace or not.  The majority of what was said was spoken in Maori.  (the wh if pōwhire is pronounced like an f ).
 

  This was the second speaker that welcomed us.  He also spoke in Maori, he made a joke about the fact that we are here to study and not chase boys and girls.  I knew there was a joke because those in the audience that did know Maori laughed.  I know what it was about because another speaker told the rest of the group in English the basics of what had been said.
 

The man on the far right is the vice chancellor of Maori things at the university.  The man to the left of him was our first speaker, who also spoke all in Maori.  The later told us that he is a descendentof the man/chief who first welcomed the British to colonize New Zealand.
 

  This is a view of the Railway campus and the garden in front of it.  The garden is called the Te Taou Reserve.  Surrounding the garden is a parking lot, a road goes up and around to the doors of the campus/building.

  My room is not big.  Here is one corner.  To the right is the door.
 

  This is another corner.  The wall with all of the hangings on it extends to behind the door.
 

  This is the last corner of the room.  I am on the ground floor, so my view is part of the ramp that leads to the indoor parking lot behind/inside the building.
 

  This is the small kitchen area and bathroom that  Cherrie and I share.
 

  This is what the communal kitchen on the main floor looks like.  If I want to cook or bake this is where I would be.  In here there are lockers, one for each 'apartment', so Cherrie and I share a locker.  In this locker there is a larger fridge, freezer, and 1 shelf.
 

  On the main floor there is also a place to play chess. :)
 

  Learning how to get around down under.
 

  During the time I was at the Domain museum there was a bit about Maori culture.  When they shake their hands it is to show that everything has a spirit/live.
 

  He is holding a flute, like what the ancient Maoris used.
 

  This is the short poi ball dance.  In ancient times worriers used to use it to make their wrists supple.
 

  This is the short club.
 

  This is the long stick.  It was used to improve flexibility in the arms and shoulders.  Now it is used in dances.

  More of the dance with the long stick
 

  These are the short sticks.  In ancient days warriors used them to improve hand & eye coordination.  They are now used in dances.
 

  More of that dance.
 

  More of the short stick dance.
 

  This is the long poi ball dance.  Here is is using two, one in each hand.
 

  More of this dance.
 

  This is the same dance, but now she is using four poi balls.  This is very difficult and is supposed to be a symbol of one of the local birds.
 

  More with four.
 

  This is part of the war dance.  The men used to slap their skin so that they could handle more pain.
 

  More war dance.
 

  This is one of the spears that would have been used.
 

  One of the warriors and I.
 

  One of the dancers and I.
 

  Food Hut.
 

  Ancestral Home, must remove shoes before entering.
 

  Very long canoe with intricate carvings.
 

  I would say that is an outrigger canoe, but here it is called a vaka tapa.
 

  This are wood carvings  that would have hung above a chief's door.
 

  This is a carving out of jade.
 

  On the left are NZ chisels and on the right is the ink pot.  These were used for tattooing.
 

  These are tattooing chisels from Fiji.  Don't think I'll be getting any tattoos in the pacific islands.
 

  One type of fishing net.