We only had one thing on our list of things to do in Rotorua today, a trip to the AgroDome for a highly educational sheep show! It might sound lame, but I was looking forward to learning more about the cute creatures that inhabit New Zealand. There are 70 million sheep in this country...compared to the population of 4 million humans. We arrived extra early at the show to look around. I had read in a brochure that at the end of the stage show, there was a surprise of 5 volunteers being asked onstage to feed baby lambs. Ever since I woke up today, I was convinced and determined I wanted to do that. Since we were early however, we were able to visit with the lambs up close...and there was no one else there!
The cute lambs and their baby dog neighbors!
so cute...
pucker up lambie!The lambs were adorable, wobbling around to sniff and nibble our pant legs and sweatshirt ties. I loved playing with them. After ten minutes, one of the workers came in to let some of the lambs out to go to another area. The two lambs left behind were pretty ticked off, racing around the pen (and me and Bret), bleating at the man. It was hilarious to watch the little lambs. Soon the AgroDome was bustling with throngs of Asian tourists piling out of tour busses, and we took a few more pictures before settling into our seats.
Bret's new friend...
All the different sheep breeds on stage...
A sheep farmer took the stage and introduced one sheep breed at a time to the crowd, explaining what each was known for and how to care for it. The sheep were pretty well trained, climbing to their appropriate stoops for all to see. After all the sheep were on stage, he actually sheared one, in about three minutes. We each received wool and learned about all of its properties. Next, we participated in a sheep auction and giggled as audience members made fools out of themselves on stage milking a cow. Lastly, the sheep dogs came on the stage to demonstrate how they corral the sheep; they even jumped on the backs of the sheep! Finally, the presenter asked for 5 last volunteers. Of course, since I was in on the secret, I shot my hand up instantly, waving frantically, and was called right up (probably helped it was the same guy we had seen with the lambs before the show), where I was handed a bottle for a supposed drinking contest. On the count of three we were supposed to drink (yeah right!) when five little lambs came rambling across the stage, fighting for the bottles...I got to feed the lamb!
We hung out with the sheep a bit longer...check out this dude...and then went to check the natural sulfur springs of Rotorua (which made the town stink of rotten eggs)!
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