Zorbonaut in training

One neat thing about life is that on occasion you can be completely surprised by what you find just around the corner. Such was the case when we arrived in Rotorua, or Sulfur City, as it’s known locally. Amid the pungent scent of sulfur (little wonder there’s no sulfur-based men’s cologne) we arrived in town having been warned by some good friends to be prepared to experience the “Niagara Falls of the Southern hemisphere”. No problemo! We had a plan and it focused on the Kiwi sport of zorbing. What never heard of it? Mon, Dieu! Well if you’re even a casual watcher of ESPN 8 “The Ocho”, you’d likely know that zorbing involves getting inside a gigantic plastic ball and rolling down a hill. We’re really not kidding here… So anyways, we arrive and decide to do the ‘more aggressive’ wet zorb (you can also do a dry version in which you’re strapped into the ball), which involves partially filling the inside of the plastic ball with water, jumping in, and sort of slushing down the hill side. For good measure, it was also decided to try the zig-zag hill, instead of the pansy straight shot. So in went the water, my laundry and I. Believe me when I say the words to accurately describe being inside a jumbo sized washing machine, rolling wily-nily down a winding grass gutter in the Kiwi country side haven’t been created yet. What I can say is that I would encourage anyone to give it a go, or spin as the case may be, and that I’m looking forward to recounting great zorbing adventures in the bar a bit later. :)