osutoraria

Kumiko sighed. "Don't worry. There'll be another one." They headed past a grungy looking cafe with dirty white tables and a neon sign and over to a queue on the left side of the wharf. There was an electronic timetable board with orange writing, almost impossible to see in the morning glare, advertising that the next ferry to Taronga Zoo was leaving at 7:45. They'd just missed the 7.15am ferry.

"We've got to wait almost half an hour!" Kumiko said.
Yuki looked at the queue, then at the old man behind the window collecting money. "That's okay." she smiled "We'll probably be here for half an hour anyway."

Kumiko nodded. They both sighed, then laughed.
"It's only 12 minutes by ferry to Taronga Zoo. We can save even more time by buying a combined ticket here. It's only $39 dollars each"
Yuki realised that the total would be about 80,000 yen. She raised her had to her mouth in surprise.

Kumiko just smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm paying. It's my treat, remember."

80,000 yen for a trip on the ferry and a visit to Taronga Zoo. She could have 3 days in a hostel for that much money, or have 10 meals or fly to Melbourne. She shook her head. "I don't think we should go. It's just a zoo, right?" Yuki said.

"Yeah, but it is a very different zoo. There the animals have convincing and personal habitats, there's a great bird show and the elephants are pretty cool. It's probably one of the best zoos I've been too. And you'll get to see some Koalas and Kangaroos!" Kumiko wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Okay. You've talked me into it." Yuki said. She smiled and decided that this was the time to take out her camera. She took a shot of Kumiko the Opera house peaking through one of the windows in the background.

Kumiko also took out her camera and they tried a few shots in the limited space they had in the queue.

Soon they were being served by the old blue eyed gentleman. He had white hair and a kindly face. Kumiko began to speak in English but the old man spoke to them in fluent Japanese.

"heeey" said Yuki in surprise. The old man laughed.

"Lots of people in Sydney can speak Nihongo. If you're unsure of what to say in English, ask if they speak Japanese!" he said with a smile.

He handed over their tickets and wished them the best on their journey. They put their tickets through the turnstiles and went down the black cement path to the waiting area.

After about 20 minutes a yellow and green ferry pulled in and they got on board. There were blue seats everywhere and several levels that they could sit. Kumiko took Yuki's hand and dragged her up the narrow steps inside the ferry to the second level. The view was great and Yuki could even smell hot food coming from somewhere. She suddenly realised that she hadn't had breakfast yet.

"It's not like the Happy Dog in Tokyo is it?" Kumiko said. Yuki laughed and agreed. She'd seen the sign as she came across the plank. No alcohol. So, no overpriced cups of Asahi beer. There was no DJ either.

In almost no time at all the ferry was full and it pulled away from the wharf, heading towards Taronga Zoo. Yuki took a few more photos of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the city skyline before they disappeared behind scaffolding and old cargo cranes.

She then left Kumiko upstairs while she followed the smell of hot food. She found it on the lower level, concealed by another queue of people ordering coffee. She joined the queue and suddenly realised she didn't know how to ask for what she wanted in English.

She remembered what the ticket seller had said and hoped that if she got stuck, the guy making the coffee could speak Japanese.

The tall, muscular barista smiled and asked her "G'day miss. What are ya after?" She hoped he was asking what she wanted.

"Um. Coffee. Chips. Please." she said in broken English. The guy smiled and asked. "Is that black or white coffee? How many sugars would you like? I'm afraid we don't sell chips. Hot oil, moving boat, not a good mix"

He spoke slowly and clearly but Yuki really had trouble understanding. "What black, white coffee?"
"Black coffee - no milk. White coffee - with milk"
"Black coffee please. Two sugar."
"Okay. What about food?"
She looked through the greasy glass and saw a chocolate slice with pink things in it, a single sausage roll and a single pie. She pointed at the slice and the pie.
"Okay. Coming right up."
Yuki breathed a sigh of relief. She wished she'd had more English lessons when she was younger. She started to think about getting an English tutor when she found her order in front of her. The slice and the pie were in separate white paper bags.
"$4.65 please"
Yuki looked at the money in her wallet and for a few seconds couldn't figure out how to make four dollars. Then she took the easiest way out and handed a $20 note. The man put the change directly in her hand, which was another surprise. He thanked her and moved to the next person.

She looked at the change in her hand and decided that it was probably right, knowing that it was far more stressful to try and argue if it was wrong, then headed back up the narrow staircase with her coffee and food. She realised that she'll have to practice using Australian money if she was going to be able to keep her job.

The sea was a bit choppy today and she could smell the spray on the wind. She sat on the seat to the left of Kumiko, to keep the morning sun out of her eyes, and carefully pulled off the coffee cup lid.

"So you had no problems ordering food, then." said Kumiko.
"Yeah. Easy!"
"If you do get stuck, the easiest thing to do is just point. They'll get the message"
"Okay. Thanks. Want some of the pie?"
"Haha. No thanks. Too fattening. I'd lose my beauty!"
Now it was Yuki's turn to smile. "I think you're a bit too thin to be in Australia. Look at all these people. Compared to Japanese they're all fat. But in Japan, I look fat. I'm pretty sure you have nothing to worry about!"
Kumiko grinned. "Thanks."

The ferry hit some rough waves and they even had a warning about it which meant Yuki thought she should try to hold onto the seat. The ferry rocked a bit but it settled down quickly and they were soon at the wharf for Taronga Zoo. Yuki finished her pie and coffee and followed Kumiko down the ramp then up some steps to Taronga Zoo. The slice she put in her bag for later.

It was almost 8.00am and they'd made it to the front door of the zoo. But to Kumiko's dismay the door was closed.

"I don't believe it. My guide must be wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"My guide said they opened at 8.00am. This sign says they don't open until 9am. This sucks!"

"You mean we've got to wait here a whole hour?" said Yuki.

Kumiko nodded, looking visibly upset.

"So, I could've stayed longer in Sydney Tower?"

"Um"

"And we didn't need to rush or line up at the time we did"

"Yeah. Yuki, I'm so sorry."

Yuki was silent for a moment then just smiled and said, "that's okay. It's still an adventure. I bet there's a cafe open somewhere nearby. Let's explore!"

Kumiko beamed. "Thanks. Let's go and find a good cafe."

They headed back down the path and back to the wharf. A nice cafe awaited them.