Installment 1:
The seemingly endless flight from Los Angeles to Sydney was on final approach to Kingsford Smith when the cabin lights came on, and the descent of the plane gradually awakened me. I grasped at the elusive dream that quickly faded with the return of my conscious thoughts. What
would have happened with that giggling and tightly bound flight attendant? Sighing, I realized I would never know. Still, Qantas had certainly delivered on the promise of a restful trip, and it hadn’t hurt that the travel package I won included a suite in first class in their amazing new A380. My long legs stretched gratefully on full length bed until the (
untied 
) flight attendants came through to mother us awake and take the bedding away.
I settled back into my luxurious seat and watched out the window as we drew near to the airport. Although this was my first time to lay eyes on Australia, it was strangely familiar to approach the runway over water, just as I had done so many times flying into San Francisco back at home. I marveled at how quiet and smooth the new A380 was, even with the landing gear down and flaps extended. However, as uber-comfortable as the plane was, they still hadn’t found a way to shorten the trip, so I was relieved when we finally touched down and were able to exit to the terminal.
I followed the flow of passengers to customs, and waited in line for my turn. Security was typically tight, but it appeared that people seemed to pass through without incident. I expected to be quickly through, and I started to be excited about finally being in Australia. I still couldn’t believe that I had won the trip as a promotion for open water swim events just from having participated in our humble little Catfish Crawl “one mile swim†two months before in Pleasanton, California. When my name had been drawn for the grand prize, a first class travel package to swim in an open water event in Sydney, I was stunned to learn my lifelong dream of going to Australia was going to be a reality. And now, I was actually here. Two more minutes, and I’d be through customs and on my way.
The customs clerk was polite and professional as he asked me the usual questions and made his entries on the form. Everything seemed in order, so I was surprised when he asked me to step to the side for a few moments. Another clerk assisted with my luggage, and we turned aside to a desk where he indicated I should have a seat.
After another brief wait, a young customs official repeated the previous questions, and then asked to inspect my luggage. I opened my bags, only a little apprehensively, because everything still seemed reasonably routine. Naturally they have to inspect a few passengers more closely, and this appeared to be my “lucky†day. He looked through my bags, idly muttering to himself as he perused the typical contents of a tourist’s luggage – my clothes, toiletries, brochures, swimming equipment, etc. He paused a bit when he pulled out a small backpack sized bag with a drawstring. He felt the contents, and asked if he could open it. I blushed, because the bag contained a few items I carried for my self-TUGs. Still I agreed, because there was nothing illegal, though it might be a bit embarrassing. He began pulling out the soft nylon rope, the padded leather wrist cuffs, and blindfold. He chuckled a bit, and continued, looking more closely at the ball gag, and a few even more
personal items. Now I was blushing furiously, as he had all of these items laid out on the table.
“What have we here?†a young woman’s voice remarked with amusement. I looked up chagrined to see that a pretty young woman, apparently the supervisor, had noticed the contents and come over for a closer look. I absolutely wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. I couldn’t believe my personal things were being inspected out in the open like this.
With a firm tone, but a bit of twinkle in her eye, the supervisor asked “What are these for?â€
There it was, that pleasing and wonderful Australian accent that sounded so sexy to me. I stammered a bit, feeling hot in the face, unable to look up at her, “They’re personal items for games and play.â€
“Must be interesting games†she remarked professionally, but obviously enjoying my discomfort. “Please stand up and hold your arms to the side.â€
I complied, hoping this would all be over shortly. Her assistant waved the security wand up and down my body, and I cringed hearing it beep each time he did so.
“Sir, I’m afraid you’re going to have to remove some of your clothing, so that we may search further,†she informed me. “Please follow us to an examining room.â€
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I was about to be practically strip-searched in a foreign country, and I hadn’t even been here for an hour! I nervously followed the lovely supervisor and her assistant to a room, and wondered what I was in for. All I could think of was that I hoped they didn’t ask me to demonstrate the use of my TUGs gear!