It was a rainy day, and we were on a group tour to Hobitton in Rotorua, New Zealand. You can’t go there just by yourself, and I wasn’t going to pay extra for a private tour. So we entered a vast grassland, the home of twelve thousand sheep. It was quite a sight. The set was constructed in 1998 after the director found the Alexander Family farm in an aerial search looking for the ideal charming little village. The rolling countryside and the vegetation closely resembled the author’s description of Middle Earth, so the site was adapted to become Hobbiton.
When I was little, Tom and Jerry were one of the few cartoons available. Although the cartoon was incredibly dull, I had to watch it many times when I hung out with other kids; also, my Mama loved it. The only thing that fascinated me was Tom’s cozy little house. Young me wanted to live in a place just like that. So when I peeked into Frodo’s house at Hobitton, I had the same feeling; it’s brightly painted and cozy-looking. It looked like something I could live happily in.
Unsurprisingly, my favourite part of Hobbiton was the tavern; it felt authentic complete with a real fireplace facing a cozy sofa. Since I didn’t watch the trilogy, I couldn’t relate much; it only reminded me of the TV series Hercules (geez, I am old). I had apple cider, the BEST one I have ever done. DELICIOUS! I wish I could have stayed longer inside the tavern and hung out with the “locals”.
The tour guide was the only part I didn’t like about our Hobbiton tour. She lacked passion and rushed us every chance she got. It felt like a secondary school study tour. Gah, I hate it! Anyways, Hobbiton is a must-visit attraction when you visit New Zealand.
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