maya magazine issue 3

vestibulum:

lorem

dolor

lorem

dolor

Exploring

the unfamiliar A taste of adventure to

welcome the New Year

+

Issue 3 | January 2009

FREE SUBSCRIPTION

Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand

There’s nothing like an unexpected adventure to bring out the best in you. I experienced the ride of my life aboard a two-seater plane soaring through the crisp and balmy Auckland air. A few days later, I had to steady my pounding heart as I was driven through one of the world’s most famous racetracks in Monterey, California.

Johnnathan Samaniego is a lot braver than me. He chases the adrenalin kick and finds himself enjoying the thrills of Rotorua.

Back in California, at the Getty Villa, I was transported back in time as I admired the adventures of the ancient Roman and Greek cultures captured in their art.

Whatever its form, a new adventure enriches you. I came out of mine with a heightened sense of being. Whether it is a new hobby or a spur of the moment weekend trip, may you come out of your experience feeling refreshed, confident and energized.

May this year bring you exciting adventures!

p4

p8

p10

2 Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand


Keep up the good work and continue what you have started. You're making the Pinoys proud. Ernie Cuison, The Warehouse Congratulations! What a refreshing magazine, very classy and full of varied timely articles. Virginia Russell, Auckland City Council A friend forwarded MAYA to me... at ako po ay nag enjoy sa pagbabasa ng inyong mga artikulo... kakaiba po ito at lahat ay may substance... Goodluck po and more power sa MAYA... Corazon Sitchon, Hamilton Salamat sa writers ng MAYA. I enjoyed reading the second issue! Marie Pollisco Lopez, Christchurch

lette

rs



The adventure starts as soon as you get in the car – the long drive to Rotorua from Auckland is a visual feast. Herds of cows, sheep, alpaca and horses dot the lush greenery and farmlands along State Highways 1 and 5. Hills and crystal clear lakes frame the road. Rotorua sits on a volcanic rift, stretching in a 200km line from White Island off the coast of Bay of Plenty to Lake Taupo and the volcanoes of the Tongariro National Park in the Central Plateau of the North Island. Its geography is home to many thermal wonders such as geysers, bubbling mud pools and craters of various sizes. From its city centre to its numerous scenic walks, Rotorua offers a truly memorable experience.

rotorua fever BY JOHNNATHAN SAMANIEGO

Photos Left The Lady Knox Geyser spewing water and steam Right The Zorb rolling down the hill in a hurry



City Centre Attractions Most accommodations and the Visitor Information Centre are situated along Fenton Street. Tourist attractions are within walking and commutable distance. At the end of Fenton Street is Pohutu, New Zealand’s greatest geyser, which reaches an amazing high of up to 30 meters. The Rotorua Museum is beautifully located within a vast garden, with Lake Rotorua as its backdrop. On display are art exhibits and hydrotherapy apparatus from different periods. The Polynesian Pools are thermal pools of various mineral content and temperatures. If you like to unwind and relax, head to the Polynesian Spa and try one of their pampering packages. Thousands of trout varieties are bred in Rainbow Springs’ natural pools. If you’ve got kids, purchase fish feeds at the entrance. They will enjoy watching the fish gather. Other wildlife species including the nocturnal kiwi and the tuatara, the lizard-like descendant of the dinosaurs, are also on display.

Fishing and Barbie, anyone? We stayed in Hamurana Springs. The view is magnificent. It overlooks Lake Rotorua and Mokoia Island. Visitors, mostly fishing enthusiasts, park their cars and speedboats by the lakeside. They say no trip to Rotorua is complete without a fishing expedition at the lake, a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. When not in the water, they set up barbies along the lake’s promenade and enjoy a relaxing afternoon with their families. Natural wonders abound Known for its boiling mud and geysers, the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland towards the way to Taupo, approximately 30kms south of Rotorua, is a must-see destination. This place is most known for its two amazing natural wonders – the Lady Knox Geyser and the Champagne Pool. The Lady Knox Geyser erupts every morning at 1015. Ok, that was weird, how did they know it would erupt at that time everyday? You see, the eruption time is determined. The eruption is aided by a staff member who throws in soap powder to create tension and allow for the spurt

The Champagne Pool Rainbow Springs



of water and steam. Yes, at about 1015am. Is the trick a letdown? Not really, as Lady Knox’s show of force is awesome! Several trails away, the Champagne Pool is causing a stir, or rather, a bubble. I couldn’t contain my excitement. The body of water is blue and steamy, with mineral deposits along its sides creating a rainbow of colours. I threw a bit of sand into the water, and true to its name, the water fizzed out, as if I’ve just poured champagne into a glass. Around the village are many colourful water formations, rivers and falls lined by silica deposits formed over the decades, silica terraces and craters of boiling mud and hills of sulphur formations amidst the lush greens with perfectly marked walking trails. Fancy an adrenaline rush? Try the high-speed luge cart that zooms down the hill at Skyline Skyrides. This is an exhilarating experience. Various route options are on offer - you can choose the scenic (easy), the advance or the intermediate course. I tried all of them and want to do it all over again! Take the combo tickets and you’ll get value for your money. The gondola ride midway up Mount Ngongotaha is a treat in itself. The view of Lake Rotorua, the city centre and the countryside is breathtaking.

Definitely put the Zorb experience in Agrodome on your to-do list. It is the culmination of my Rotorua trip. Many may liken this adventure to an episode of Takeshi’s Castle. A person gets in and stays inside a rubber bubble suspended within a bigger rubber bubble that rolls down the hill. You can choose the straight hill or the zigzag route. Since it is summer, I chose the hydro Zorb with water inside the smaller bubble. I felt like I was inside a washing machine set at high speed! That was ultimate adventure. Other attractions located within Agrodome are Freefall Extreme – sensation of skydiving with a column of wind suspending the adventurer five metres above the ground, the Swoop – bungy jumping and flying combined, the Shweeb ride and various sheep show and farm tour. A trip to Rotorua will not be complete without visiting the Agrodome. There’s no denying that Rotorua is one of the must-see places in New Zealand, and perhaps around the world. Fondly called as Stinkville, one easily forgets the rotten egg smell of sulphur and the surreal steamy surroundings

Johnnathan Samaniego is a financial analyst. He is a self-confessed nature lover and a fitness buff. When not working, he is on the road with friends, looking for his next big adventure.

Audie Mallare, Rafael De Leon and the author enjoy the breathtaking view of Rotorua

The Luge’s thrilling ride down the hill



Pinoy Calendar

SINULOG FESTIVAL ‘09

+

JAN 9-17 | NINE-DAY NOVENA STARTS AT 7PM

Good Shepherd Church

Telford Avenue, Balmoral

JAN 18 | FIESTA CELEBRATION

Malaeola Samoan Catholic Community Centre

6 Waokauri Place, Mangere (off Tidal Road) 10.00am Procession 10.30 Sinulog Dance 11.00 Concelebrated Mass 12.30pm Bring-a-plate Picnic 1.30 Cultural Presentation

Image from dlionshare.com

JAN 9 | FEATURING ANNA DE GUZMAN & JACKIE DAVIS BALDWIN

Eastgate Christian Centre

5 Ben Lomond, Pakuranga

Ticket price: $10 adults/$5 kids

FILIPINO FAMILY CAMP

JAN 23-26

Hunua Falls Prebyterian Camp

Registration fee: $100 per person inclusive of accommodation and food

Contact Alfredo Lim on 09 576 1500 or 021 243 7671

THE CONCE FUNDRAISING CONCERT

Contact Miriam or Oscar on 09 570 1139

What’s up, Kabayan?



+ Auckland by air

The sky and the ocean embrace in the horizon. The landscape below turns into puzzle-like pieces, an amazing panorama of nature’s own and man’s civilization.

Look Ma, no hands! Autopilot is not so scary after all (yeah right!)

• Awarded ‘Best Built Aircraft’ in New Zealand • Travels up to 300km/hr flying straight and level • Took 1800 hours to build • Costs $180,000 and an additional $40,000 to add

navigation and radio equipments

When Dave Cogan is not on the ground running his design company, it is very likely he is 5,000 feet above sea level, flying MIS, his Van RV7 two-seater aircraft. In addition to being a licensed commercial pilot, Dave is also an aerobatics instructor. He learned to fly ten years ago and the passion has been burning ever since.

[Meet the pilot]

Meet MIS

Want to experience it yourself? Dave is licensed to take passengers. Scenic and aerobatic trips

start at $200 per hour. Call Dave on 09 366 4742 to book.



!PASSPORT REQUIRED

California Dreamin’

Welcome to the Skip Barber Driving School’s racing weekend.

A group of about twenty drove, flew and traveled from all over the US to Monterey, California for three days of intensive Mazda MX5 and Formula racing car training. Hardworking business people turn into seriously competitive petrol heads, all in the pursuit of the elusive number one spot. The world famous Laguna SECA racecourse becomes a playground and every driver becomes a child again.

Editor’s note: A special thanks to Laura German for organizing this weekend experience.

Adventures in the Sunshine State



J Paul Getty was one of the world’s first billionaires and a self-confessed incurable fine art addict. He collected over US$200million worth of fine art. In the 1950s, he bequeathed his collection and formed a trust that would manage his art collection and make it accessible to the public.

The Getty Villa is a re-creation of the Villa dei Papire, a first century Roman country house excavated in the 1700s and is believed to be the home of one of Julius Caesar’s wealthy uncles.

The Villa first opened its doors in 1974, has undergone nine years of renovation costing US$275 million. It houses collections of ancient Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities.

… the beauty one can find in art is one of the

pitifully few real and lasting products of human

endeavor. The beauty endures. A work of art lives

– yes, it does live – through the generations and

centuries, providing what is perhaps the only true

continuity of man’s history. J Paul Getty



Barangay Pinoy Out & About in NZ +

Mortgage consultants Rene Dulay, Patrick Pardo, Mel Pardo, Ces Tan and Net Butiu celebrated New Zealand Home Loans’ Massey office opening.

Ethan Matthew’s dedication was held last January 4 at the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church. He is shown here with his older brother Dylan.

The Pinoy Golf Club competed for the Iceman Trophy at the Pukekohe Golf Club last month. Alex David (wearing yellow and black shirt) won the tournament. The event was sponsored by Victor Cagayat.

Maya is a free electronic newsletter distributed to the Filipino community in New Zealand. To submit photos, community-related announcements, feedback and requests for subscription, email [email protected]. Please feel free to forward copies to your family and friends.

maya magazine issue 3

Documents

new zealand issue

new adventure

new year issue

celebrating filipino

new zealand theres

new hobby

lake rotorua

rotorua fever