The great Down Under mix-up
James had always dreamt of visiting Sydney, Australia. He imagined the iconic Sydney Opera House, sunbathing at Bondi Beach, and meeting the friendly Aussies. One day, he finally booked his flight, packed his bags, and boarded the plane with dreams of kangaroos and koalas.
However, in a series of unfortunate events, lack of sleep and a serious oversight on his ticket booking, James found himself landing in Sidney, Montana, instead of Sydney, Australia.
As the plane touched down, James peered out of the window, expecting to see the bustling cityscape of Sydney. Instead, he was greeted by vast plains, farmlands, and the Big Sky Country. “Wow,” he thought, “Australia sure looks different than the postcards.”
Exiting the airport, James hailed what he believed to be an Australian taxi – a pickup truck driven by a friendly Montanan named Hank. “G’day mate!” James greeted, trying to blend in. Hank, a bit puzzled, replied, “Howdy! Where can I take ya?”
“To the Sydney Opera House, please!” James requested enthusiastically. Hank, always up for a joke, decided to play along. “Well, I can take you to the local barn where they’re having a hoedown tonight!”
As they drove, James marveled at the unique Australian landscape. “I never knew Australia had so many cows and wheat fields,” he mused.
Stopping by a local diner, James tried to order some authentic Australian food. “I’ll have the Vegemite sandwich and a flat white,” he said. The waitress, bemused, replied, “Honey, we’ve got a meat pie and coffee. Will that do?” James accepted, thinking it was a local variation.
Later, James decided to look for kangaroos. Venturing into the fields, he instead encountered a herd of deer. “Wow, Australian kangaroos sure look different up close,” he thought.
That evening, at the “Opera House” (the barn), James danced the night away with locals, thinking he was doing the traditional “Australian barn dance.” Everyone was too polite (or entertained) to correct him.
The next morning, hearing that tourists often climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge, James sought a similar experience in Sidney. He stumbled upon a local railway bridge over the Yellowstone River. With determination, he began his ascent, much to the amusement and concern of local fishermen below. Reaching the top, he took a triumphant selfie, captioning it: “Conquered the famous Sydney Bridge!”
Recalling tales of Australia’s famous surf culture, James decided he couldn’t leave without catching a wave. Renting a surfboard from a confused local, he headed to the Yellowstone River. Though the river’s calm waters were nothing like the Australian coast, James made the most of it, paddling around and declaring himself the “King of the Yellowstone Surf.”
Eager to see kangaroos, James visited a dude ranch. Upon seeing horses and cattle but no kangaroos, he asked the rancher, “Where do you keep the roos?” The rancher, chuckling, offered him a horse ride instead. James, always up for an adventure, accepted and spent the day learning to rope and ride, all the while believing he was mastering the art of kangaroo herding.
James had heard about the dangers of the Australian Outback, so he packed extra water and set off on a hiking trail, believing he was trekking the wild outback. Encountering a local snake, he exclaimed, “Crikey! An Australian python!” (It was actually a garter snake.) He also befriended some prairie dogs, believing them to be a unique type of wallaby.
Discovering that Sidney had snow, James was surprised. “I didn’t know Australia had ski resorts!” he exclaimed. He headed to the nearest slope (a gentle hill on a local farm) and tried skiing for the first time. The local children joined him, sledding down the hill, as James marveled at the “Australian Alps.”
Determined to explore the Great Barrier Reef, James donned snorkeling gear and plunged into a local pond. Though he didn’t find any coral or exotic fish, he did have a close encounter with a curious turtle, which he mistook for an “Australian sea tortoise.”
Throughout his trip, the people of Sidney, Montana, welcomed James with open arms, sharing in his enthusiasm and joining in on his misadventures. By the time he realized his geographical blunder, James had fallen in love with the genuine warmth and beauty of Montana. And while it might not have been the trip he planned, it was certainly one he’d never forget.
