Bondi and New Year

Thanks to our visiting friends from Mumbai, the Jalans, we got to dip our toes in the water of Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach a couple of weeks back. After a two hour long journey using three modes of public transport, the family and our visitors arrived at the famous destination.

There is no denying the atmosphere. There is something about milling crowds exhibiting generally friendly behaviour that adds to the charm of a place. Add to this the clear bluish green water, surf, cafes and shopping in the vicinity, and it is not hard to see why it is the city’s favourite beach destination, for serious surfers and casual picnickers.

The beach itself is a ten minute walk long crescent of sand, flanked by a rocky cliff at one end and a similar shelf on the other. The water was rather cold, as it tends to be in this part of the world, particularly for those looking for nothing more adventurous than a quick toe dip. However that did not seem to deter surfing and swimming enthusiasts. Mr Jalan though, was possibly a tad disappointed, as we did not come across anyone who was not at least slightly clothed.

It was a rather active end to the year, from a sight seeing perspective. In the space of two weeks we covered what we might normally do in 6 months – Gold Coast, Bondi, Jenolan Caves, and New Year’s Eve at Sydney Harbour. Hosting visitors who are committed to ticking off as many places as possible in a compressed timeframe shakes people out of their travel inertia.

For anyone who is planning a visit to Australia/Sydney, do not leave without a visit to the Jenolan Caves which is a 2.5 hour drive from Sydney. An overview of the wonders on offer is available on their website. The place is awesome and highly recommended.

2009 was the year in which I
• Saw the coral in the Great Barrier Reef
• Snorkeled for the first time
• Went on the insane Jet Rescue ride in Seaworld
• Experienced the acoustics of the Cathedral Chamber in Lucas Cave, Jenolan
• Had a palm reader in Jaipur tell me I will go back to India
• Truly got addicted to dark chocolate and acquired a liking for red wine
• Went on Facebook
• Started writing this blog

Have a great 2010.