bigideasjust4u: Journey from Wellington to Lake Taupo (Part 2)

From Wellington, we had to go on State Highway One where we will have to travel through Waiouru to Turangi (vice versa). From Waioura, we will have the chance to wind through a unique alpine semi-desert, called the Rangipo Desert. It is the most striking near-desert experience you can have on the road. It was cold on this desert road, which was about 13degree. As you could see from the photo below, it is really looked like a desert. And the mountain from far is Mt Raupehu. During winter, this mountain will be covered with snow, Tony said that he will bring me to Mt Ruapehu for skiing this winter if we have a chance to. I was so happy, the last I went skiing was back in 1997..that was 15years ago..keeping our fingers cross..hoping we can materialize this skiing plan...

Majectic Mt Ruapehu from far

As a storm was brewing we definitely need to get out of desert road fast as well as we hope to get to Lake Taupo before it got dark. After driving for 4hours, we finally arrived at Lake Taupo. We settled at Boulevard Water Motel for the night, it is a lovely motel that has breathtaking Lake Taupo and mountain views but too bad we were always down on luck with weather as it was raining and it was also starting to get dark and we can't really see the beautiful lake and mountain. Just hope we got better luck with the weather the next day to admire before we leave this place.

The motel is situated right on the lake edge where the views, the water and the mountains do not get any better. Taupo is famous for many things and one of them is the 'Hot Water Beach', the motel is just right next it.

Their suite is lovely and is equipped with in-room spas, king size bed and full kitchen facilities.

One word of caution if you are TALL: Beware of the ceiling fan, since the ceiling is pretty low. While putting on his shirt, Tony had one of his hand hit by the moving fan. Luckily, he just got some bad bruises though it really hurts. God blessed him as none of his fingers were fractured. I was the one to be blamed, I turned on the fan feeling hot after the spa.

That night, we had so called dinner at "Milano Italian Restaurant", why did I say so-called "Dinner". We ordered 2 appetizers, 2 main and a glass of white wine. Shortly, our appetizers-Garlic Bread and Calamari Cristo arrived. After we finished, Tony was not served with the glass of white wine. We called the waitress and asked for it, not apologetic at all she came back with the long waited white wine. We waited for 40mins, there was a group of 4 persons came in and seat at a table beside us. Their orders were taken, and about 15mins later they were served with their meals. I can't believe it, they came in later and they were served first. I called out to the waitress and asked where were our dinner? Again, did not apologised at all she said she will check. And they realised they did not put through our orders. How could this happened ? It was really ridiculous... If our order was not put through, why did we received our garlic bread and calamari cristo in the first place..Below were what we were served..but NOT the main dishes. We left at once...feeling disappointed and gutted with the kind of service.