I'm Dreaming of a [Very] Rainy Christmas

Had it been 60 degrees cooler (Farenheit), we might have had some snow. Unfortunately for me, however, the Christmas season occurs right in the middle of Sydney's summer. No Blizzard of '09 for me...Oh well...

Witness to a Crime

Standing atop the Kings Cross Hotel rooftop bar sipping a beer, both my friend Daniel and I suddenly noticed down below us a man in a hat start sprinting down the street. Impressed at first by his speed (no Bolt, but getting there...), five seconds later we were flabbergasted when a young woman followed suit. Clearly the not-quite-Bolt sprinter man had stolen her purse.

Oh dear, I thought. We have a chase on our hands.

Gripping the balcony with enthusiasm, Daniel and I--both 100% enraptured--watched as a somewhat overweight policeman started to run after the two of them as well. Sadly, he only lasted about one block before the other two rounded a corner and sprinted out of sight.

Drama drama drama.

Um, Beach Please

The other day, the American crew (Dane, Daniel, and myself) decided the 40 degree weather--that's Celsius, folks--presented the perfect opportunity for a little beach time. But although over the past few days we've become Bondi Beach's newest resident beach bums, which my drastic change in skin color and my poor companions' lobster-red backs will prove, we decided perhaps it was time to explore some new waters...literally.

Since starting work in Bondi, I've been told by pretty much everyone I've met that the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is a must-see and must-do. Supposedly the cliff views are stunning, the beaches exquisitely refreshing, and the walk itself just overall quite fulfilling. So today, armed with our beach towels, "swimmers," and copious amounts of sunscreen and aloe vera (for the first degree burns) we set off south towards Coogee Beach.

Ah, and it was breathtaking. Halfway past the amazing rock faces, and in between one turquoise-colored body of water and another even more turquoise-colored body of water, we all lamented the fact that not even one of three of us had thought to bring a camera. Oy vei. To make up for this, however, we instead chose to sample each beach we passed (about five or six total). Consequently, I have collected my thoughts bellow and written reviews for each body of water into which I dipped my toe, as well as corresponding beaches. Please read on for more:

1. Bondi Beach: Beautiful people, beautiful people, beautiful people galore. Beware the perfectly sun-kissed and chiseled bodies. You thought you were hot once? Prepare yourself for somewhat of an ego dump...Bondi-goers are are a good-looking bunch. Makes for some good people-watching (yes, and many women go topless, so beware of gawky teenage boys too). Other than that, waves are gentle and the water is relatively warm and shallow. The perfect dip.

After swimming, don't let yourself forget to walk along Campbell parade to buy yourself some delicious gelato or a perhaps somewhat over-priced meal along that main arcade.


2. Tamarama Beach: Neighborhood beach otherwise known as "Glamarama." We didn't actually stop to swim here--much smaller than expected and very few people. Pretty, though, as most Australian beaches tend to be.


3. Bronte Beach: Known as one of the best surf rescue training beaches in Sydney, let alone New South Wales, Bronte is definitely home to some serious agua. While a fair amount choose to brave the somewhat daunting waves, others go with safer options: either sticking to land/the small and quaint sandy beach area, and/or going for a dip in the saltwater pool adjacent to the water (the pool's water level actually rises and falls with the tide...kinda cool, right?). Besides that, there's really not much else to Bronte, besides it's two public lavatories and beachside surf rescue school. In fact, the beach itself is enclosed by large cliffs on which stand very impressive homes.


4.Clovelly Beach: Oh hey there, kids. Clearly a popular choice among families, the guys and I were almost shocked to see so many children under the age of 10 in one location. From a man in a speedo wrestling his son to the ground in order to apply sunscreen, to little Australian children on mini surfboards, I knew I had reached some sort of Aussie surf life breeding ground. I kid you not.

Besides that, water is essentially a long channel from the ocean. Hence the water lacks the violent waves of Bronte or Tamarama. Definitely one of my top picks.


5. Gordon's Bay: Beautiful water with a vibrant underwater ecosystem is for snorkelers. So is Gordon's Bay. 'Nough said.


6. Coogee Beach: While Bondi Beach may be frequented by the beautiful, we noticed a not-so-subtle change in the demographic of Coogee. One word: mullets. Other than that, pretty much an exact copy of Bondi with slightly bigger waves and slightly less people.

Rain, Rain, [Please Don't] Go Away

It's raining. Ah, and how wonderful it is. For a city that is already suffering from a drought, the rain is a god sent.

So, dear clouds, keep on keep on...because all of us down here are very grateful.

p.s. My rainy day: laundry, Season 2 of Californication, and take-away Thai food.

The American Invasion

As I've very easily gathered over my past two months here, Australians have a love/hate relationship with all things American. While they love our music, they hate our politics. While they absorb our celebrities, Hollywood films, and all things pop culture, they shun many aspects of our government leaders and policies. While I've had a thirteen-year-old girl excitedly ask me if I know Britney Spears (if I know her personally, that is...supposedly we Americans often gallivant around with once-innocent popstars), I've also had a man berate me for my country's idiotic election of a man named Bush.

So what will these Aussies think when six bright-eyed Americans step off the plane this coming week? Yeah, that's right. My two friends Dane and Daniel from Stanford, as well as the four other members of the Strand/Sylvester family are coming to this marvelous not-actually-emerald city of OZ.

So what will Aussies think of this American invasion? My guess is this: first of all, I doubt they'll even notice. Secondly, if they do happen to notice the crew of American tourists strolling their streets--or hear the American accents, they'll smile jovially and say something along the lines of, "Ah, you're American! Whereabouts are you from?" While this love/hate relationship may exist here Down Under, Australian hospitality and amiability far and beyond comes first. All will be fun and dandy.

Ah, people are just so friendly here...

And Presenting...Stan Walker!

The newest (and first) music video of Australian Idol's most recent winner, Stan Walker:



I know, kind of typical pop...but just oh so catchy!

The Kindness of Strangers

I have never been the type to offer up my room to a total and complete stranger, or show someone around my city and offer to take them out for a cup of coffee before I've even met them. Though I have never viewed myself as selfish or unkind, in the past I have tended only to extend my hospitality and friendship to those whose name I know or to faces with whom I'm familiar.

My dad's family centers very much around the idea that when one family member is in need, all other members do their best to help. In other words, what one brother, sister, father, or mother might experience, is experienced by the rest of the family. I myself have seen this unique kindness rendered in various situations--from watching my dad and uncle work to rebuild my grandparent's house after it was destroyed by Katrina, to the open "our home is your home" invitation my aunt and uncle have made available to me ever since I moved to California. Dad once told me that he wouldn't have ever achieved what he has today if it weren't for his family.

Coincidentally, my parents have raised me and my siblings very much the same way. I would do anything for any of them. They're family, and in my opinion, that's what families do.

Which brings me to my point. They're family. These are people I know and love dearly...I would never think twice about giving them a place to stay, or providing them with a home-cooked meal. I feel the same way about my closest friends--and even for the most part with just plain ol' friends. But never before have I ever even thought of extending this idea to encompass those I'm unable to even call mere acquaintances--to people who I flat out just don't know. I'll be honest: in the past, I could have cared less.

Enter Australia.

Over the past few months, I have been at the mercy of complete and total strangers. I wouldn't have survived here in Australia if it weren't for these people who seem to welcome pretty much everyone with very open arms.

When I first got here, I thought it was really odd. Why the hell would someone want random people staying in their spare bedrooms, on their couches, or eating with them every night for dinner. Not only is it an invasion of personal space...I don't know, it's just weird. Naturally, the extremely paranoid hypochondriac in me thought of all the terrifying reasons people might want to open up their homes to two twenty-two-year-old girls. Yeah, I know, there are a lot. But at the same time, again, I don't know what I would have done if Jules and her family, for example, hadn't taken me in at last minute (even Jules had never spoken to me before...that's pure blind faith right there). My time here could have likely been very lonely.

Yesterday I thanked Jane (Jules's mom) for the 2349823423947th time since getting to Sydney. To which she said: "It is our pleasure. Seriously. I can't tell you what Ed and I would have done if it weren't for the kindness of strangers while we were traveling at your age. Or what Jules would have done in Europe, for that matter."

I guess it's kind of a pay-it-forward thing. Once someone has showered such kindness on you, how can you not afford someone the same kind of favor later on in life? Since getting to Australia, I've discovered a whole new kind of community here, based solely on trust and friendship--one in which everyone is everyone's family, and consequently everyone is treated as such. Granted, I'm not going to be running any sort of homeless shelter in my basement when I get home(I'm still no Mother Teresa...not by a long shot). But I can tell you that I do have a much deeper empathy towards the life of a wandering traveler.

Alright, time to go find some friends with whom to sit cross-legged, join hands, and belt out a heartfelt rendition of "Kumbaya."