h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The plane ride form Hong Kong to Melbourne, Australia was an excruciating 9 hours long. Jack, our Australian tour guide, claimed to have started as a cowboy, which may or may not have been true, but he looked the part.

"It'll be late afternoon by the time we get there, mate," he told Scribbles and me. "We'll grab a quick bite to eat when we get to the airport, and then be off for horseback riding along the beach near Geelong. We can watch the sun set. We won't have time for much this evening..."

"Not even the Opera House?" I wondered.

"Maybe you have the Sydney Opera House in mind," Jack said softly.

"Maybe"

"Melbourne does have an opera house, but the opera company is getting ready to go away -- to China, in fact."

"So, we're coming to China as they prepare to go the other way?"

"That's about it."

The beach was beautiful as we rode along. With Winter approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, it was amazing to see signs of Spring in Melbourne. It was 50 degrees F in Boston, while here it was 70, and headed higher.

"I haven't noticed any kangaroos yet," I observed.

"The closest 'roos would be in You Yang Park, but like any wild animals they're not eager to be seen," Jack said.

We did take an excursion to You Yang, but did not see any kangaroos. Bad luck, I guess, but we couldn't spend much time there, as an even longer flight to Maui [11 hours] awaited us the next day.

Love to see what your adventures will be like in China.

I've already been to China, i.e. Hong Kong.

[Amy P]