NEW ZEALAND
Click Here to view my New Zealand Pictures
This couldn't be a proper New Zealand tribute without a ridiculous story.
First, I need to set the tone. New Zealand is about as lovingly backwards as a place can get.
There is nothing "normal" about its people, its traditions and its landscapes.
For this reason alone, I love New Zealand.
Back to my anecdote...It all began in Murchison.
"Murch", as it is affectionately referred to, may have a population of under a hundred people (I don't know but its probably close).
It is a spot along the mighty Buller river, which was affected by an earthquake in the late 1960's.
This is all besides the point, but in typical Kiwi style I must ramble and ramble some more.
Back to my story...
Svenja, Marla and I had been traveling from Nelson (North) to Punakiki (West) on the South Island.
Embracing the strength of the NZ sun we stopped for lunch on the side of the road.
Within minutes a barefoot, shirtless, ZZ Topp-style man came trotting along on his Clydsdale.
With a simple "G'day" the conversations came rolling along. Within minutes the girls informed me that
"Steph" would love for us to come to his farm to see his horses!
The girls had already both gone for a ride in the first 10 minutes of our encounter... I dunno, girls just love horses
The next thing I knew we were eating dinner with the family, swimming naked with Steph, and sleeping in his house.
I was waiting for him to ask any of us if we wanted to be adopted...the hospitality was unlike anything anywhere in the world.
We went for a ride the next day, which was utterly awkward for my horse but grand for the girls... and off we went in the car towards Punakiki.
Leaving Steph's farm was bittersweet, although his family members were a bunch of rednecks, we really enjoyed our time there.
Before leaving NZ we had decided to go back to the farm...
When we arrived at Stephs place the second time there was nobody home.
These were the types of people who didn't mind when strangers walked into their house, so we did just that.
We looked for Steph in the yard only to find a DEAD POSSUM...
I told Svenja (beacause I always know what's right) "Oh the dog must have killed it"
She said:"Honey, the dog has three legs."
Hmm... either it was the world's slowest varmint, or it had exhausted itself in the hot sun I thought to myself.
So we sat and wondered about the dead possum.
When Steph returned we informed him in a concerned manner that there was a dead animal in his yard.
"Aw yeah brah" said Steph, "That's tanights tea(dinner)."
And Low and behold... possum tastes like chicken.
Enjoy the Photos: Thanks to Mathias, Fant, Bill, Cov, Yvonne, Britt, Nords,
Neill, Steph and the possum "Dirty Frank", and Ryan the world champion hackysack player.
New Zealand Pictures
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Click Here to view my New Zealand Pictures
This couldn't be a proper New Zealand tribute without a ridiculous story.
First, I need to set the tone. New Zealand is about as lovingly backwards as a place can get.
There is nothing "normal" about its people, its traditions and its landscapes.
For this reason alone, I love New Zealand.
Back to my anecdote...It all began in Murchison.
"Murch", as it is affectionately referred to, may have a population of under a hundred people (I don't know but its probably close).
It is a spot along the mighty Buller river, which was affected by an earthquake in the late 1960's.
This is all besides the point, but in typical Kiwi style I must ramble and ramble some more.
Back to my story...
Svenja, Marla and I had been traveling from Nelson (North) to Punakiki (West) on the South Island.
Embracing the strength of the NZ sun we stopped for lunch on the side of the road.
Within minutes a barefoot, shirtless, ZZ Topp-style man came trotting along on his Clydsdale.
With a simple "G'day" the conversations came rolling along. Within minutes the girls informed me that
"Steph" would love for us to come to his farm to see his horses!
The girls had already both gone for a ride in the first 10 minutes of our encounter... I dunno, girls just love horses
The next thing I knew we were eating dinner with the family, swimming naked with Steph, and sleeping in his house.
I was waiting for him to ask any of us if we wanted to be adopted...the hospitality was unlike anything anywhere in the world.
We went for a ride the next day, which was utterly awkward for my horse but grand for the girls... and off we went in the car towards Punakiki.
Leaving Steph's farm was bittersweet, although his family members were a bunch of rednecks, we really enjoyed our time there.
Before leaving NZ we had decided to go back to the farm...
When we arrived at Stephs place the second time there was nobody home.
These were the types of people who didn't mind when strangers walked into their house, so we did just that.
We looked for Steph in the yard only to find a DEAD POSSUM...
I told Svenja (beacause I always know what's right) "Oh the dog must have killed it"
She said:"Honey, the dog has three legs."
Hmm... either it was the world's slowest varmint, or it had exhausted itself in the hot sun I thought to myself.
So we sat and wondered about the dead possum.
When Steph returned we informed him in a concerned manner that there was a dead animal in his yard.
"Aw yeah brah" said Steph, "That's tanights tea(dinner)."
And Low and behold... possum tastes like chicken.
Enjoy the Photos: Thanks to Mathias, Fant, Bill, Cov, Yvonne, Britt, Nords,
Neill, Steph and the possum "Dirty Frank", and Ryan the world champion hackysack player.