Ok Butkus.

[Java]

so that’s – 50 meter lap pool.  This Japanese dude mid 40-50 shows up w his family.  Throws down 4 laps.  Whoops now 5 and he’s heading back.  6 laps.  I assume just to get his daily exercise. Me?  I’m sitting in that spa at the other end loosening my knee which I twisted on the glacier.  Konnichiwa beaches !!
That’s why these dudes life to 94 man.  Is it worth it?

you wouldn’t believe the super market   New world    oh man it makes staters and Vons  look bad   Wow oh wow   And you pump your gas first here   Then pay   If you don’t they have your cars pic and license and you go in a dead beat database    My rental truck is in it for Bp  someone from February rented it  drove away  so I go to bp and they start giving me a hassle until they realize it was 10 months ago and the culprit was an “old man” and his wife  their words  not mine   And obviously I am a YOUNG man  so they let me get gas  have to emphasize that because San Clemente thinks I’m his age

 

[Java]

I hate else. Oh these are pics of the room.  Got a suite.  Don’t remember paying for that.  Wife is impressed.  Gas is petrol.  You pay after you pump.  And you know how you drop Shaka everywhere?  Even in places that make no sense?  Lot of these people do that with “sweet as”.  So like see ya tomorrow dude!  “Sweet as”. Is like see ya.  Or your team scores a goal.  “Sweet as”   Yahoo.  What else. Ok you got my instructions?  “Sweet as”.    Having a good day”sweet as”. And some people drop it in like we say uh or um.   So right in the middle of a convo they say sweet as and you’re like “sweet as what?  Are we talking about food?  What did I miss?”

 

also. If something is great or your team is doing well?   “We are smashing it”  smashing is good.   And everything that is an I or eh or e sound is eeeeee.  Like I read a magazine last night is I reeeeeed a magazine lost neeet you have to pause.  Think and then you’re like ok I got this.

im queenstown now.  945 and still a bit light out.  Keep forgetting.  Further south.  All day light summer which this is. Here.

every hospitality worker and tour guide is either in their area for the summer or been here less than a year. I’m curious what adult citizens do for work.  Really blown away by no tipping.  Glacier hike guides in the states would expect $50 to $100 tip.  Wasn’t even set up for it.  They all thank us for them having a job.  It’s crazy.

supermarket has all the products but none of the brands.  Nice wide clean aisles.  Nothing locked down. America has changed a lot with ghetto culture the last 30 years.  For the worse.

[Java]

[Java]

[Java]

don’t know what I’ll do with a proper fireplace but I have one.  See what I did there?   They drop proper everywhere.  It’s funny 

 

[Butkus51]

Thanxs Bruddah Java for your most recent update.  Shaka, dat’s a very nice hotel and room you guys stayed in.  Shoot dat would be a $350+ type room in USA.  I’m a swimmer.  Oh, the pool looks like 20 m to 25 m.  Yeah, 50 m is very long and don’t know of any hotel with a 50 m pool.  Most motel/hotel pools are pretty small, but Vegas hotels have big pools.

Funny how you got a mistaken identity at the gas station.  Ya, can see how some tourist would take advantage of not paying for gas; heck they figure they are leaving the country anyway.

Hah, we get a big kick with another country language or slangs.  Yeah, Hawaiian Pidgin English is pretty bad.  The kicker, all da Hawaiian islands have their own version of Pidgin.  Neat, the New Zealand English has a funny twist too (Sweet as, Smashing, etc).  Someone told me, in Ireland, Irish English is difficult to understand?

I wrote in my 1st response, the beach water must be cold. I looked at a map, notice dat NZ was close to the Antarctic, just like Alaska and Canada.  Did you see anyone surfing da waves?

Are there our American fast food chains in NZ (McDonalds, Starbucks, Pizza chains, Taco’s, Subways?).  How’s their fast foods restaurants for quick meals; are they good?

Looks like your vacation is purely on da go sight seeing and little sporting or leisure activities, relaxing at the beach or pool.  But, you guys are walking a lot which is good exercise.  I bet the plane ride was like 13 to 14 hours.  Dang, I do not think we would do well on a long plane ride like dat.  Shoot 5 hrs to Hawaii and East Coast is da Max for us.

Again, thanxs a lot for all the pictures and stories.  Give my best to your wife.  Enjoying your post very much.  Your NZ vacation has to be the Best WW post of 2025…  Cheers

PS.  Will you be able to see USC vs TCU, Alamo Bowl, 12-30-25?  Hope so.  Search around for a sports bar dat will have da game?

[Author]

Posts