In which Piglet nearly eats the wrong Apple

The forecast was for a bright and sunny day after a few early showers. We decided to visit a less commercial 'geothermal steam and mud' place. A helpful person had recommended Orakei Korako as just such a place, so off we set.

When we arrived, we had to Journey across a lake to get to the volcanic features, adding an extra touch of drama to the event. The place had geysers, bubbling mud, steaming pools,  caves and boiling hot streams. Everywhere was hot and the place had a sulphurous smell like a traction engine steam rally - though  it was not unpleasant. Another amazing and spectacular experience. 

After lunch we journeyed back to Taupo, stopping en route at another place that promised mud, steam and bubbliness. We decided not to go in, but Shiny spent a little while outside inspecting the farmyard animals set out for viewing - hens, rabbits, guinea pigs and foul, a peacock (which donated a beautiful tail feather that Shiny gathered for Curly) ... and a delightful piglet. 

Shiny leaned over to scratch the piglet's back, but as he did so, his iPhone slipped out of his pocket and dropped into the piglet's enclosure. The piglet was delighted. He had never used an iPhone before, but he knew an Apple when he saw one and decided to give it a nibble. 

Shiny wasn't so keen on this and attempted to retrieve the phone, but being rather short in the limb department, found that he could barely reach. Meanwhile, piglet was manoeuvring the phone into his chosen nibbling position.

Shiny decided to give the piglet a gentle push in the opposite direction. The creature that had moments before been so friendly, now became possessive over his new acquisition and attempted to nibble Shiny's fingers.

A brief and undignified tussle ensued which resulted in the phone being retrieved without physical injury to either party, though both were a little ruffled by the experience.

We returned to Taupo and decided to walk alongside the river that flows rapidly out of the Lake. 28 rivers flow into Lake Taupo, one flows out.

We followed the river  as far as the spectacular falls of Huka - a Maori word meaning 'foam'. A delightful walk in hot sunshine, passing by a place where a hot stream joins the river. We hoped to bathe in the warm stream, but found it packed with locals looking like the display of lobsters in a French restaurant. Maybe another time...

When we arrived back at base Curly went for a dip in the icy waters of Lake Taupo. Shiny had more sense.