Time in Taupo

I think I have finally cracked it! After many unsuccessful attempts, dozens in fact, I have sorted it. It may not sound significant but I now know the best order in which to apply lotions. Don't laugh, I'm serious. It's been a problem.

The problem, for me at least, in being in a warm place is the amount of gunk I have to apply. I get up in the morning, have a shower and then apply moisturiser, insect repellent, bite cream and sun block. But not necessarily in that order. By the time I'm finished I'm no longer clean and more than a little worried about the amount of chemicals covering my exposed skin. How do I know that they won't react with one another and turn me into a walking WMD. The last thing I need is a UN weapon instep for crawling all over me. Has every combination been tested though? It's a worry. If I'm not a risk to the public at large then what is that stuff doing to my skin? Will I wake up in the morning to find myself a strange hue of blue? 

Anyway so far nothing has happened other than becoming a magnet for sand. The other day, after applying another lotion layering system, I went onto the beach only to have the wind whip up the sand and send it in my direction. I resembled a human piece of sandpaper or some strange performance artist. 

Anyway, since you asked, the preferred layering arrangement is; anti-histamine cream then moisturiser, sunblock and finally insect repellant. Just don't go near any beaches, or builders merchants for the matter.

But that was not the point of today's travel blog - I just had to get that off my chest. No today we have been staying with some friends in Taupo and it has been wonderful - particularly getting the low down about life in New Zealand whilst getting some tips about customs. For example a Fluffy is not an item of clothing but is instead a 'flat white' without the coffee. Essentially a milky drink. But who knew? Anyway it was great. No better then that.

We also managed to cram in a visit to another thermal area. I still can't get used to the fact that the earth behaves this way. Yes I have read it on text books bit to see it up close and personal.... well it is unreal. And unsettling. What we think as solid earth isn't really all that solid. Boiling mud, sulphur pools and jets if steam are not something that the earth should be doing. 

Well that's me from Taupo. Tomorrow we move on again towards Napier. Back to the sea. Oh and back to the sand. Hhmmmm, maybe I need to review my lotion layering system.....