Take Me to My Beach

Bondi Beach

After all those noodles a girl needs a day on the beach, and what better beach to laze on than Bondi?  The weather is getting warmer and although everyone refers to it as 'Spring' here, the temperatures are those of a British summer. God only knows how hot it will be when Summer actually hits; I'll probably have to go into hiding.  My first Saturday in Oz sees me rise early to a grueling abs workout followed by a step class. The instructor has more energy than a can of dog's piss and sings along to the tracks whilst busting out the moves we need to follow. It's amazing how many people are in attendance at 8.00am, and not a hangover in sight. After a glorious shower and applying double layers of sun cream, I head back towards Oxford St en route to the beach.  I find myself momentarily distracted by a cool outdoor market in Paddington selling all sorts of fried, tasty morsels and handmade jewelry. I'm enticed to a stall which is selling real honeycomb in a jar and offering out free samples (sadly this would leave my hands sticky for the best part of the day).  I leave the market and catch the bus to Bondi along with 100 other sweaty people. "Blimmin' tourists," I grumble as I struggle to find a seat. 

Fork it

As Bondi comes into view I'm slightly stunned by how blue the sea is and how golden the sand is.  The beach is stunning. Groups of sun-kissed bods are sprawled around BBQs or playing games of sandy bowls.  I take a walk along the shoreline and watch the surfers; the waves are small today and so they aren't getting much action.  I dip my toes in the cold water and suddenly think "SHARKS". My gaze is taken out to sea but I can't spot any protruding fins.  All this fish thought is making me hungry so I head to a fancy looking restaurant on the beach front and order sashimi and avocado salad.  Note to self: next time someone offers you chopsticks to eat a salad with say no and ask for a fork instead.  I finish the meal with an incredibly tasty coffee, at last! I'm a winner today.

If you can't beat them...

Appetite sated I walk to the next beach which is amusingly called Tamarama.  This is actually pronounced Ta-ma-ra-ma although Jen has taken to calling me Tamara-ma.  The walk along the cliff's edge is windy and refreshing and Tamarama, although smaller than Bondi, is just as beautiful.  There are lots of interesting looking objects on the beach which, as I get closer, turn out to be 'Sculptures by the Sea' which is a regular installation on this beach.  I pass some tough looking sumo wrestlers (see picture) and head towards a sculpture in the middle of a beach.  This sculpture consists of a collection of long rectangular mirrors that have been bunched together to make a cube shape.  It seems to be the most popular sculpture on the beach, mainly because you can take a picture of yourself in the reflection; so of course I follow suit and quickly take an awkward snap of myself.

After a bit more walking and sun-bathing (in the shade) my old friend jet lag kicks in again and so I bus home and dream of sumo wrestlers eating Toblerone with chopsticks. To read more about the cool beach sculptures go here.

My money's on the fat one