Adventures in the Land Down Under (Read 10,847 times)

[André DiMera]

Chapter 31

AIRPLANE
A few days later, Mia and Nicole were on another airplane.
MIA: So, this place is the capital of Australia?
NICOLE: Not quite. It's the capital of New South Wales, and one of the two largest cities in Australia. The other largest city is Melbourne.
MIA: So, what's the capital?
NICOLE: Canberra, which is also in New South Wales.
MIA: Cool.

BUS – SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRLIA
Eventually, the plane landed. Nicole and Mia got out, got their bags, and boarded a bus that would take them to a nearby hotel. They were chatting with the bus driver.
DRIVER: This your first time in Sydney?
MIA: It's mine, yeah.
NICOLE: I was here a long time ago.
DRIVER: Well, welcome back. Hope you enjoy yourselves.
MIA: Thanks.
NICOLE: We will.
They were looking out the windows.
MIA: Whoa!
Mia pointed to a Coca-Cola billboard.
MIA: That is one old billboard!
NICOLE: It's still there? It was old when I was here, and that was a while ago.
The driver laughed.
DRIVER: It's all part of an attempt to preserve old landmarks around Australia.
MIA: What do you mean?
DRIVER: Well, there's a law that was passed saying that if a famous landmark is so many years old, it's a historical landmark and can't be taken down. That Coca-Cola advert is so old that, by law, it can't be taken down.
MIA: Cool!

RADISSON HOTEL
They were unpacking.
MIA: So, why is this state called New South Wales?
NICOLE: Kind of a funny story, actually. I remember Lauren telling me about it a long time ago. When the first Europeans got to Australia, they anchored in what is now Sydney Harbour. When they got off their ship, the captain, a man by the name of Cook, proclaimed, (bad English accent) “My God, this place looks just like Wales!”.
Mia laughed.
NICOLE: They didn't really have any other basis for comparison, so Wales was the closest they could come to it. So, since it was in the southern hemisphere, it was new, to them at least, and it looked like Wales, they named it New South Wales.
MIA: Nice!
They finished unpacking then went outside. They caught a bus to...

SYDNEY HARBOUR
MIA: I can't believe we're actually here!
Mia and Nicole stood just outside the doors of the Sydney Opera House.
NICOLE: It's exciting, isn't it?
MIA: Totally! I've seen this place in pictures a million times, but never this close!
NICOLE: Come on, let's take a look inside.
Mia and Nicole went inside the uniquely designed building. The inside was just as unique as the outside.
MIA: Man, I'd imagine this place has great acoustics!
NICOLE: From what I've heard, it does.
MIA: This is so beautiful! I love this place!
NICOLE: Me too.

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for including the pictures André DiMera. It helps us to share their Australian adventure.

[heroicmuse]

Wow! Thank you for including us on this tour André DiMera! The Sydney Opera House is so gorgeous. All its missing is Chloe singing there.

[Kpatch]

I am so jealous of Mia. Those pictures of the opera house made me feel like I was there. André DiMera, is that really what the Great Barrier Reef looks like??

[André DiMera]

Kpatch - it's much bigger than that. That's only a small portion. I think the picture may have been enhanced a little, but it is very colorful in real life.

I'm glad you're all enjoying this story! Thank you so much for the comments! Tune in tomorrow for a day at Sydney Harbour, and the finale on Thursday.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 32

SYDNEY HARBOUR
MIA: That is huge!
Mia and Nicole were gazing up at the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
NICOLE: It sure is. Welcome to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
MIA: Wow! How big is it?
NICOLE: It's over 3,500 feet long. It carries eight lanes for road traffic, 2 train tracks, a pedestrian walkway, and a bicycle lane.
Mia whistled.
MIA: Impressive.
Nicole nodded.
MIA: What are all those people doing on the side of it?
NICOLE: Climbing.
MIA: They're climbing the bridge?
NICOLE: Yeah. It's something they do for fun.
MIA: Nice!
That evening, Nicole and Mia got some dinner, and then sat outside on a boardwalk at the harbour.
MIA: Look at that sunset!
NICOLE: Almost as nice as the one we saw off of Ayers Rock.
MIA: Yeah, almost.
Both got up to throw away their garbage. Then, they sat back down on the boardwalk.
NICOLE: So, what was your favorite part of the trip?
Mia thought for a moment.
MIA: I don't know. That's really hard! One of them was definitely that sunset off of Ayers. And another was the Great Barrier Reef.
She thought for a few more minutes.
MIA: I just don't know. It's all been amazing! And, seeing it with you, made it even more awesome.
Nicole and Mia hugged.
MIA: What was your favorite?
NICOLE: Well, like you said, there's just so much to choose from. Seeing Lauren again, going to the outback, the Sydney Opera House. It was all great. But, spending time with my daughter...that was the best part.
Mia and Nicole hugged again.
MIA: I love this trip! I love you!
NICOLE: I love you too, kid.
MIA: Seeing as you mentioned Lauren, I was wondering, have you given any thought to my request from a couple of weeks ago?
NICOLE: Which request was this?
MIA: Going back to Erinsborough when we're done with the trip.
NICOLE: Yeah, I've thought about it.
Mia waited for an answer.
MIA: And?
Nicole laughed.
NICOLE: Yeah, why not?
MIA: Seriously?
NICOLE: Yes. It'll give us a chance to see everyone again, plus meet some new people. See just how much Ramsay Street's changed since I was there when I was young.
MIA: Awesome!
NICOLE: But, before we go there, there's just one more thing I need to show you.
MIA: What are you gonna show me?
NICOLE: Wait for it.
As the sun continued to go down, the boardwalk got more and more crowded. There were almost more people there now than there was earlier in the day. Soon, the sun had set, and it was dark, save for the shop lights on the boardwalk. Even they began to dim, though.
MIA: What's that?
In the distance, Mia could make out a bunch of tiny shapes coming from the sea.
NICOLE: You'll see.
As they got closer, Mia could see an army of miniature penguins.
MIA: Oh my gosh! They are so adorable!
NICOLE: They sure are! Most of thee are babies, and their eyes are very sensitive to light, that's why they wait until sundown to come out, and why the shops lights are dimmer after it gets dark. They also ask that people don't use flash photography to take pictures of them, as it may blind them. The adults eyes are a little less sensitive, so you may see a few of them out in the day.
MIA: They're just so cute! This is so awesome!
Mia and Nicole watched as the heard of small penguins marched from the sea into Sydney Harbour.

[Kpatch]

Penguins! Cute. I was hoping they'd go back to Erinsborough so Mia could reconnect with Lauren's son.

[André DiMera]

Kpatch - I think you'll be happy. Lauren and all the other "Neighbours" characters live in Erinsborough. Tune in tomorrow for the finale!

[heroicmuse]

Aww those penguins are sweet. So glad for the bonding between Nicole and Mia.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 33

TULLMARINE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA)
Nicole and Mia were picking up their bags and heading out to get a rental car.
NICOLE: Well, here we are again.
MIA: I can't wait to get back to Erinsborough!
NICOLE: You know, me too. I like the feel of that place. It's nice.

CAR
Listen to this for the remainder of the chapter. A few hours later, Nicole and Mia were in the car again. They drove passed the sign that read “Welcome to Erinsborough”.
MIA: I'm excited to see everybody again. I know we only really got to see them a couple of days, but I liked everyone we met. Except Paul.
NICOLE: Well, you're not alone there. Paul has that effect on a lot of people.
MIA: But Lauren, Matt, Paige, Amber, Imogen, Josh, everyone else we met was really nice.
NICOLE: It's just a shame we didn't have time for you to meet Josh's dad. You met Terese, his and Imogen's mother, but you haven't met Brad yet.
MIA: Wait, Josh is Terese's son?
NICOLE: Yep. He spends a lot of time with Amber, though.
MIA: Makes sense. They used to be a thing.
NICOLE: So, are you gonna try for him?
MIA: Maybe. I think so. The nice thing is, he's single. So, there won't be as much scheming involved.
NICOLE: That's always nice. I do love scheming, but sometimes, it's nice not to have to work so hard for what you want.
MIA: I can imagine.

LASSITER'S
Nicole and Mia walked in. Terese was typing at the computer.
TERESE: Welcome to Lassiter's. How can I help you?
She looked up and smiled.
TERESE: Welcome back!
MIA: Hi, Terese.
NICOLE: Thanks. Ya got a room for us?
TERESE: Funnily enough, the same room.
NICOLE: Sounds good.
TERESE: How was your trip?
MIA: Awesome!
NICOLE: It was really great!
TERESE: That's excellent. You know, Josh wouldn't stop talking about you guys for days after you left. He'll be excited to see you're back.
MIA: Cool.

RAMSAY STREET
A little while later, Mia and Nicole made their way to Ramsay Street.
NICOLE: Well, Lauren says Brad lives across the street. So, this must be the place.
They walked up to a house, and knocked on the door. A man, Brad Willis, answered the door.
BRAD: G'day.
NICOLE: Brad? Brad Willis? You look so different!
BRAD: Don't tell me...Nicole Walker.
NICOLE: Yep, it's me.
Brad and Nicole hugged.
BRAD: Oh, it's good to see you!
NICOLE: You too! This is my daughter, Mia. Mia, this is another of my old friends, Brad Willis. He's Josh and Imogen's father.
MIA: Nice to meet you.
BRAD: You too, Mia. How're you goin'?
MIA: Good, you?
BRAD: Pretty good. Well, come on in. Come in.
Mia, Nicole and Brad walked in the house. Brad called up the stairs.
BRAD: Josh, come down here, please.
He looked back at Nicole and Mia.
BRAD: You know, when Lauren told me you guys were here middle of last month, I was hoping to get to see you.
NICOLE: We wanted to see you, too, but we had a rather unexpected interruption.
BRAD: Gotcha. Well, you're here now. And it's great to see you!
NICOLE: You too!
Josh came down the stairs.
JOSH: What's going on...Mia?
MIA: Hi, Josh.
Josh ran to Mia and gave her a big hug.
JOSH: Hey! It's great to see you!
MIA: You too! How are you?
JOSH: I'm good. How're you?
MIA: I'm great.
Josh then gave Nicole a hug, it was a bit smaller than the one he gave Mia.
JOSH: Hullo.
NICOLE: Hi, Josh.
JOSH: So, was the trip good?
MIA: It was amazing! You and Imogen were so right about Uluru! It was beautiful! Speaking of which, where is she?
JOSH: Oh, she's over at Amber's. Come on, let's go over and you can tell us all about the trip.
Mia looked at Nicole.
NICOLE: Go on.
Mia hugged Nicole.
MIA: Thanks.
NICOLE: No problem. See you later.
Josh and Mia walked hand in hand across the street.
NICOLE: You know, I think we're gonna like this place.
BRAD: How long are you gonna be in town for?
Nicole thought for a moment.
NICOLE: I don't know yet. A while, probably. We might even find a place to stay, other than Lassiter's, if we're here long enough.
BRAD: Well, that's good. Always nice to have some new good neighbours. Especially when they're good old friends.

THE END

Tune in to SPRING(ING) AHEAD tomorrow, 4/24

[heroicmuse]

*applause* You always make me tear up in a good way at the end of your stories. Great job André DiMera. Looking forward to your new story!

[fluffysmom]

I really like the ending. It was good to see Nicole happy and bonding with Mia. Thanks for writing this very enjoyable story André DiMera.

[Kpatch]

I love it. I feel like Nicole and Mia have found a real home where they are loved and welcomed. Fun story André DiMera. Thanks. Looking forward to the next one.