{"id":34,"date":"2023-09-28T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.wordpress.com\/?p=34"},"modified":"2024-12-09T03:21:44","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T03:21:44","slug":"hobbits-and-healing-waters-surprisingly-unrelated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/28\/hobbits-and-healing-waters-surprisingly-unrelated\/","title":{"rendered":"Hobbits and Healing Waters (Surprisingly Unrelated)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Activity level: \ud83c\udf36\ufe0f\ud83c\udf36\ufe0f\ud83c\udf36\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Modes of transportation: \ud83d\ude97 \ud83d\udc5f \ud83d\ude8c <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After landing we made our way to the rental car which was a short walk from the terminal. We tried to do the aisle pickup, but according to the attendant: \u201cwe don\u2019t have as many liberties here as you do in the states\u201d, so no free car selection. She was also extremely unimpressed that the fanciest car we\u2019d ever driven was a Tesla (she asked).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_8536-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Our rental was the most electric blue Toyota we\u2019ve ever encountered.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We hit the (wrong side of the) road at 6am, and, despite having a full first-class breakfast in the air, we were feeling a little peckish. Regrettably, the only place that was open that early was McDonalds aka Maccas. We did try to have uniquely New Zealand flavors such as a \u201cfluffy\u201d (steamed milk served with a marshmallow) and a \u201cbig brekkie sandwich,\u201d which was sort of an abominable mish-mash of a Big Mac and a full breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_8542-1-edited-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_8542-1-edited-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_8542-1-edited-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_8542-1-edited-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_8542-1-edited-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_8542-1-edited-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_8542-1-edited-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After settling our hunger but not our stomachs, we were on our way to the magical land of Hobbiton. Along the way, we passed beautiful green rolling hills, many sheep, more green hills, and many, many more sheep. We think we might have also seen the Windows 95 screen saver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_8609-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-42\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Windows 95 vibes from our car window.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The weather got a bit stormy on the drive, but the rain cleared up the second we started our tour of middle earth. Hobbiton was like a fairy town. Apparently, they tore down the set from the first three movies and rebuilt them more permanently when they filmed The Hobbit Trilogy (at least that\u2019s one good thing that came out of those movies). They really did a fantastic job of making sure it felt like a real hobbit town, from the details on the houses, to the scenery, to the crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_8555-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-43\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Not a stock photo &#8211; this is actually what it looks like!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fun fact: the entire shire is only featured for seven minutes out of the entire 6 movie series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_8557-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We also got a complementary beer in The Green Dragon and a limited edition free mug due to the construction on set. Who knows how we\u2019re going to get that home. Sarah wants to carry the mug for the remaining 57 days of the honeymoon, which she is very allowed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_8601-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We also went into the shire area with a bus full of people, and only came back half-full. Hopefully they find their way back out of middle earth (pro tip: find some eagles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-videopress\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"VideoPress Video Player\" aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='421' height='750' src='https:\/\/video.wordpress.com\/embed\/s8rQ6OKB?cover=1&amp;preloadContent=metadata&amp;useAverageColor=1&amp;hd=0' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent=\"true\" allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script src='https:\/\/v0.wordpress.com\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js?m=1725245713'><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After Hobbiton, we continued on our journey to another magical land of the healing hot springs. We were still getting used to driving on the wrong side of the road, but luckily we made it to our destination with only 3 close calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before that, we checked into our hotel quickly and had dinner\/lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant named Saigon 60s, which had fantastic food. Sarah couldn\u2019t wait 15 days to actually be in Vietnam to have Vietnamese food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_8612-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-52\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We got a couples massage at the Polynesian Spa (neither of us had ever had a massage before), and we both still don\u2019t know whether you\u2019re supposed to talk to each other during it. They also &#8220;stole&#8221; and washed Eric\u2019s swim shorts by accident, so he almost had to go home in a robe. Despite getting a full 7.5 hours of luxe sleep on the flight there, we were exhausted and took a nap in the thermal-water heated stone lounging chairs, overlooking the lake. Then, we had one more dip in the hot springs and went on our merry way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5056-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5058-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Beautiful lake view after the massage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Eric wanted to ensure our first stay was special, but even after emailing the front desk at booking that it was the first night of our honeymoon, they put us in a room with two doubles ???<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Ah well, it didn\u2019t matter much because after a long day of sleeping on a flight, napping in the car, touring Hobbiton, getting massages, and napping again, we slept great. Jet lag is real. The hotel had beautiful views of the natural hot springs surrounding the city, and it was the best sleep Sarah\u2019s had since we started wedding planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_8614-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">We only packed backpacks for 60 days but Sarah made sure to bring a hair iron and Eric brought his gaming laptop. He would like to note that he is not picking his nose in this photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eric and Sarah arrive precisely when they mean to, and stay longer than they want to.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":46,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[54,55],"class_list":["post-34","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-zealand","tag-hobbiton","tag-rotorua"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3505,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34\/revisions\/3505"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}