Rite of passage

“Having a towering, tattooed man press his nose against mine has to be one of the more unusual and enjoyable greetings I have experienced,” describes Victoria Mitchell for Scottish newspaper The Press and Journal. “When arriving in a new country, you might be welcomed with a firm handshake or a polite bow, maybe even a kiss on each cheek. The hongi, a traditional Maori welcome, made an interesting start to an unforgettable trip to the country also known as Land of the Long White Cloud. This exchange meant I was no longer considered a visitor, but rather as one of the people of the land.”