So Close and Yet So Far

Circling at 9800 meters isn't sitting well with the vegetarian meal we were served an hour ago. We've been delayed for landing at Melbourne International Airport due to heavy air traffic. I'm watching the little airplane on the movie screen move in slow, stacotic, clockwise pulses just south of Australia. Its red trail is winding in loops, a bit like a moth circling a flame.

We've gained two hours since we left New Zealand this morning. That's going to make this already long day feel even longer. First days are always stressful. Here at least we won't need to learn the mechanics of left-handed driving, but we will still need to find a car, find food, find a home for the night.

We will have a short stay in country number five; two weeks to tour from Melbourne to Adelaide along the Great Ocean Road. People we met in New Zealand gave us the idea. We've decided on a short Australia stay in order to see more of South East Asia. We've added a few countries to the itinerary and eliminated others. But that is becoming a daily event with us. So don't be surprised if we are suddenly somewhere else.

The Captain has just turned on the 'fasten your seatbelt sign' in preparation for landing. Turbulence is reaching an all time high so I think it's time to wrap up another entry and get ready to say hello to the land down under.