Umamiblog

Hi folks, yet another warm day here, fantastic. Have already drunk my body weight in water today and have made it to the beach for a swim. I think I’ll head back again later. I’m quite envious of Australians if this is what their summers are like. Mind you, I don’t think I’ve seen any since I’ve been here…

No kidding, there are literally no Aussies in Bondi. Take my 6 bed dorm room I am staying in. They’re all from the British Isles, 1 (very noisy) Scot, 1 Irishman, and 3 Poms. The hostel in general keeps following that rule. There are a few Europeans, a few Candians, and even fewer Kiwis but the majority are from the British Isles.

The beach here at Bondi is rather interesting, it looks gorgeous but can get very very crowded – so much so it gets difficult to find a place just to put your towel down. It makes you realise how much you take for granted coming from NZ. I can remember several times swimming on the beach and only having to share it with another group several hundred metres away. In contrast it is packed like sardines here…

There are some other interesting differences. Richie helped point out that motorists here don’t slow for or try to avoid pedestrians at all. They instead just use their horn. We witnessed a little old lady crossing the road with her walking stick. A car tooted their horn at her and *then* braked, screeching to a halt inches from her… Be warned.

As most of you will know, its Richies birthday today. He’ll wake up shortly before dinner probably and then it is cheap drinks in the bar here (last night was Mexican night…) They are definately taking care of him here and hopefully I’ll be able to upload a photo soon of the present they made for him. These internet computers have had their capabilities severly reduced. Almost all you can do is use a web browser.

It’s going to be a VERY long night. Richie managed to get his dirty little hands on about 30 guest passes to Home, a night club in Sydney. Apparently its the largest club in the Southern Hemisphere and notoriously hard to get into (if you’re a male…). I’ll let you know how we get on.

There is a fast food frachise here I’d never seen before. One of my Aussie favorites is Red Rooster (which is meant to be make it to NZ in 2005). This one is called Oporto and was first started here in Bondi. It is fast food with a Portugese twist. Its delicious and a refreshing change to McD’s and BK. I’ve heard there are Oporto’s in Chch and Auckland so if you get a chance, try it…

And on that note, I’m off to get some lunch, I wonder what I’ll get