Falling in Love with Rotorua (Indie Edition)
16 Mar 2014
I’m going to be writing more about Rotorua later. This is just a quick snippet, because something beautiful has happened and I can’t hold it in any longer —
I’m in love with Rotorua.
I’m not supposed to be writing this blog post. Last week, I worked up a blog-post schedule for myself. I put a lot of effort into this, figuring in things like SEO and US work schedules, trying to customize my blog posts to things that you all want to be reading at times you want to be reading them. I even used google calendars, which, frankly, is a HUGE organization leap for me. But, to be totally honest, right now I don’t give a shit about any of that and I’m going to write about Rotorua.
There’s no reason I should love Rotorua the way I do. For one, it stinks. The whole town smells like one gigantic fart thanks to local sulphuric geothermal stuff (see, I don’t even know anything about this place that I’m in love with. Love just doesn’t make sense, does it?). And also, another detracting factor, there was a cyclone. No big deal, but it’s been raining like crazy for about 36 hours. Usually these two things would not add up to me falling madly in love. (To be fair, I’ve never encountered a place that smelled like a gigantic fart, before, so who knows…)
There is something magical about Rotorua. Maybe it’s the dirt. You see, the air might stink, but the dirt is sweet, fertile and feels like perfection beneath the tires of a bicycle. Or maybe it’s the fact that the streams run hot and you can stand underneath a waterfall of warm water and come out feeling cleansed and renewed. Or maybe it’s just the sunsets.
But I think it’s more than that. I think it’s me. I feel more grounded and solid in Rotorua than I have felt yet on this trip. We will be here for almost three weeks, which, given my current schedule, practically counts as living somewhere. We are staying with wonderful people in a wonderful place that fulfills so many things I want in my future life — the nontravel things that sometimes I forget about, the homey things that involve chickens and apple trees and a kitchen with hooks in all the right places. And I have a task, albeit a small one, of feeding the neighbor’s pet turkey, who happens to like to sit on the porch swing. Sometimes even the smallest things can make a place feel real.
There is something about Rotorua that makes me want to do things with my hands; it makes me want to create. I’ve been baking apple pies and writing poetry. Do you have any idea when I last wrote a poem? (Feel free to speculate in the comments–closest guess gets a prize!) Of course, it’s rubbish and I have no idea what to do with it, but still, maybe that’s okay and maybe there will be more.
So many times when traveling have I found places like this and vowed to come back, stay longer, maybe settle down for awhile–I never have. Not yet. Maybe Rotorua will be different. Or maybe that’s just how I am and it will never work out with me and any place. But I think maybe if I keep finding places that I love, I can collect little bits and pieces of them and bring them with me and someday, maybe, build my own home.
What about you? Have you ever fallen in love with a place unexpectedly?
This post is part of the #SundayTraveler link-up. Check out the this page for related posts!
Funny how that happens, hey? Sometimes those places just grab you – amazing that you’ve found that in Rotorua! It’s so cliche, but the last place I really fell in love with was NYC. Maybe I’ll find my next love in New Zealand. :)
New Zealand is DEFINITELY lovable. But not at all like NYC, haha. I hate NYC, personally, but that might be because I got hives all over my body the last time I was there. I did see Justin Beiber though, so it wasn’t a total loss.
Yes, I really loved Poland, Krakow was my favourite city, but I loved Zakopane too- the potential it had more than anything I actually got to do there. I think, when you sit still for a while, after moving for such a long time you feel really homely, even if it’s just a few days. I think I’ll enjoy Rotorua through photos if it smells like a massive fart, haha! I guess it’s the type of thing you get used to if you live there?
That’s so true about sitting still! I think traveling for a long time turns me into a nester every time I stop. It’s awesome to be able to create a sense of home in a few days though… I think it’s a skill. ;)
Yes! So glad you wrote this post – love in all its forms should be celebrated. (Sounds a bit hippy-ish, but I don’t care.)
My main impression of Rotorua seems totally different to yours. Not that I didn’t love it (it was still a place of beauty), but it was also a place of exhilaration for me – probably something to do with hurtling towards it at almost terminal velocity after jumping out of a plane two-and-a-bit miles high. So I don’t associate it with that quiet homey calm you’ve found. But if it’s a place of calm and stability for you (which it must be if you’re writing poetry there – congrats!), then I’m so pleased you’ve fallen in love with it.
Enjoy the rest of your stay there!
Yeah, I think jumping out of a plane would probably change my perception of a place. Just a little bit.
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This is the first time I’ve heard of Rotorua but it looks beautiful! And you can’t quite grasp the smell of the place through the photos, and I’m okay with that :) I’m glad you have fallen in love with the place!
I was really not keen on Rotorua, it was my least favourite place in NZ, so I was surprised to read your opening declaration of love for it! I do love apple pies though…
Haha, fair enough. I didn’t like Wanaka and everyone seems to LOVE it. Maybe I’m just weird ;)
Woo that sunset! Amazing! I try to keep with a schedule and plan out what I write and when, but usually I don’t. Good luck with your organization! And eat lots of pie. :) Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler!
I love it too and I’ve never even been there but all your NZ pics are gorgeous and giving me serious wanderlust. I laughed when I read it stinks since I wasn’t expecting that. Well if you can overcome the smell, the beauty is worth it!
Yeah, the smell isn’t terrible. We’re staying about 15 minutes north of town and it usually doesn’t smell here at all.
Syd, out of all places on Earth, you’ve chosen to fall in love with a stinky, rainy place?! Kidding! It actually looks beautiful (sunset, and warm waterfalls look awesome!). And chicken, apples and a pet turkey – this definitely would give anybody a sense of home (especially after being on the road all the time like you’ve been lately).
Haha I’ve never heard of this place, but it sounds lovely! Who cares about schedules-if you really have the urge to write about something, do it. That’s my philosophy anyway -we’ll see how it works out for me :) Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler :)
Yeah, it’s really the only philosophy that works…Haha.
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I live in Rotorua and it is a very beautiful place. I run a Mosaic and Painting School for people to drop in and paint a picture or make a mosaic to remind them of their stay.
Please see my blog at janetkeen.blogspot.com
I’ve lived her for over twenty years and I have been very creative since I have lived here. I write poetry , paint, write haiku and do a lot of photography. Don’t let the smell put you off, if you live here for a while you don’t smell it.
Yes, Rotorua is gorgeous! And you do get used to the smell…