PERTH WITH PALS

Is she excited, or what?

Dearest Friends,

Our last year in Indonesia, we decided to use the kids' fall break to join two other families on a trip to Australia. We figured, in all likelihood, we'd never be this close to it again. The kids were ecstatic, not just because we were going to Australia, but because we were going with their best buddies, Chris, Kevin, and Austin H. Austin's little sister Katie would be there as well, but she was only four or five, so she didn't count as far as the big kids were concerned. Besides, she was a girl.

On the recommendation of friends who had been there before, we were able to rent little bungalow-like rooms that could each sleep an entire family, and which had living areas and kitchenettes. Yes, they were a far cry from the Singapore Hyatt, and no, the drapes didn't actually match the bedspreads, which could be disturbing to some, but hey, they were right on the water. Besides, we didn't plan to waste too much time in them!

First order of the day was to rent some boogie boards.

That's where we discovered that all those rumors you hear about the flies in Australia are absolutely true! Second order of the day was to find hats with bobble corks on them.