Hyde Park- end of an era....sort of

All great cities seem to have a Hyde Park- London, Chicago, Sydney... and they are all wonderful additions to each city. Whats nice about Sydney's is that it's close enough to the CBD that you could take your lunch there on a sunny day and just hang. But what I love most about this outdoor space is the wonderful canopy that the trees create. It's quite a sight, especially at night when all the trees are alight with fairy lights (what the Aussies call white Christmas lights). Brilliant!

Bummer is, these trees are sick, so the city has decided to take them down, and replant. But it will take another fifty years before it will look like this again. To get an idea of what I am talking about, check out this photo on Wikipedia.com of what it looked like at the beginnning. For those Art Deco fans, it looks like an original plan for a larger, longer fountain will be put into place- and it's decoFab!

Archibald fountain, the very center of the park

one of the many features... a wonderful turtle!

Food- glorious food! My food observations here have been at a constant. I mean, I spend most of my days planning meals, so how could I not hone in on the good (and not so good) stuff. Also, I figure that I can only write so much about myself before people get bored, so here goes...
Restaurants- I might have already said this, but, for reintertation's sake- When you go to a restaurant, think of almost everything you could want (this includes, but is not limited to: water, salt, pepper, wine, soda, extra napkins, sauces), and ask for it the first couple of times you see your waiter. Because if you wait until they come back around after your food has been served to get these things, it will be cold. There are hardly any checkups, and I always feel like the American Asshole when I have to stop the waiter in the middle of him/her serving another person. I am sure that if you go to a 4 star restaurant in the CBD, this won't be the case, but as I cannot afford the latest trendy chef, casual dining will be your mode, and this is your service. The no tipping thing freaks me out (in case you didn't know- they don't tip for most services here). The restaurants I feel I should tip at, don't have that handy line on the credit card slip, the ones I feel like I did everything short of cooking it myself, have not only "the line", but a handy converter should you feel like tipping in the 15- 25% range. I have been admonished by all Aussies for tipping, but I say, do it when you feel theres been good service. Or if you want to make sure the bartender remembers you. (insert wink here)

Now onto the good establishments I have found so far... In Dee Why, on the beach, there is a very nice cafe called "the Sandbar". The food there is very good, and they have some nice variety (Read: It's not Italian). I have had the steak 3 times, and its been really good. The only bad call was when they gave me some spinach on the side one of the times I ordered it, and they seasoned it with rock salt and pepper. BAD MOVE. Everyone knows Spinach needs to be washed to death before you can eat it, so seasoning it with something that leaves it feeling SANDY, is a bad idea. The Ceasar salad there was kinda iffy too for my Yank palate. Not enough anchovie paste in the dressing, so it tasted limp, instead of fresh and lemon-ey. Desert was nice. Try all of them. Another Dee Why establishment- "the Seabar" is shite. Don't eat there if you can help it. The food is pretty, but deadly undercooked. And to round out, my 'so far' thoughts- I have had the BEST thai food here in Aus. I can literally remember everytime I have had Thai because I don't eat it very often. BUT, I have to say, in my limited experience that "The Thai and I" is some good eatin'. I am on a mission to eat my way through their menu while I am here.

Now I am off to take more pictures.... cheers ya'll!

Whoa. What have I missed?

After a couple of days with NO internet (it's hard sometimes), I just read that Helena Bonham Carter will be joining the Harry Potter cast. Cool, I am down with that. But if they get her wierdo boyfriend Tim Burton to direct, I am starting a massive "HELL NO" campaign. I have loads of time on my hands, people. Don't make me actually use it! Tim needs to stick to his semi-fringe, semi-mainstream market.