Chief in black water

We left Aukland at 7.30am on Friday to start our mooch down the north island. Auckland is a big old characterless city. It holds over 1.4 million people and is New Zealand's biggest and most multicultural. It has a great museum with a very good Maori section but that's about all you can say for it.
I had no idea when I got off the bus that we would be stopping in Waitomo for three hours. That's the thing about these package deals, you just have to do what you're told, although most of it is good and Waitomo is a classic example. I had no idea when I woke up that morning that I would be floating down a mile of black water in caves with glow worms lighting up the roof like stars. About 20 of us put on black wet suits, white gum boots and red miners' helmets and trudged off over fields in the rain - we looked like a daft punk video gone wrong. It was great fun and the water was filthy!
Yesterday evening we went to a Maori village. I was chosen as one of five chiefs - I know, but candidates were in short supply. It was pretty difficult keeping a straight face as the Maoris did their challenge dances, I struggle not to grin in the most mundane situations and this was pretty ludicrous. However the Maoris didn't seem to mind as they selected me out of the chiefs to receive their present. OK it was only a silver fern, but I was pretty chuffed nontheless. I was supposed to go skydiving today but it was called off because of the weather (no, really) so hopefully I'll be able to do it tomorrow. Have a good time at work though, won't you.