Appears not only the secong half of the post but also spellcheck disappeared?!?

I was ranting about the things here in Australia that you have to adjust to like the cars blaring ther horns at you as you step from the curb because you lookedleft not right and they do not from the sound of the costant horns like tourist from countries that don't drive on the same sid eof the road as they do....just a hunch. Then there is the constant discussion of weather, just like at home only here it is truly just another day in paradise.  They continually say another sunny day topping in the 32-36Celsius; which needs to be converted to Farenheit which is abalmy 89-104.  just like being at home in the summer but it is end of January, actaully first of February to be exact.  So my friends back home hows your weather?? And since the date is mentioned be ready for the transition to day/month/year.  I spent a few minutesonly a few aurguing that i was not checking out on August 2nd but February 8th; 08/02/2011.  on the oposite side of the worl i guess things get turnedupside down literally and figuratively.
My next rant is about food...I have never seen so many pasta dishes prepared morning, noon and night.  Excuse me let me clarify noodle dishes as it appears that spagetti noodles are the cheapest noodle option avaialble.  Ragoo, soup, grated cheese, chopped vegatables (cucumbers, bell peppers, anchovees-don't ask just about anything in a can or can be chopped make it's way into the pasta de-jour).  there is some creatitvity depending on several factor...primarily is there a female in the mix then the grub looks like a meal otherwise it is a sad pile of noodles with whatever is piled on top. Mmmm Mmmm Good.  thankfully I found the Pizza Hut that serves the $5.00 pizza.  I have also found the brekky place that is 1 block back from the beach strand that serves a full breakfast for only $8.99.  A steal compared to the $13 meal served on the beach.  While on the topic of food let me share the fast food horror story based on price.  the golden arches charge a mind boggling $7 for a hamburger no $1 menu here.  The chicken shack with the initials KFC charge a whopping $8 bucks for a chicken meal.  and please sit down for this one as the other burger joint that claims to be King is called Union Jack or something...the name escapes me but I will fill it in ina future post.  Thankfully I have only entered these premises just to squel at the menu pricng not to partake in the fine dining experience.  for those of you with a genuine taste for sushi, wraps, and anything asian this is definately your kinda country.  they are every other dining experience and seem to be on every corner similar to gas station back home.  Personally i have been pleasantly satisfied with alot of the smaller sandwich shops which pile and I mean pile on the ingrediant which I guess is the backpacker trend.  More is better to keep the hungry/undernourished coming back for more.  There is an underground of eateries that cater to the hosteling crowd.  At every location there seems to be restaurant and i use the term loosely, it is usuallya dive The one in Bondi is called the Hut the one in central Sydney is called Scubar.  You get the hint that if you buy a full priced cocktail usually $6-7AU they will feed you.  The food is usually pizza or um pizza.  there are quite a few nicer restaurants that the beach crowd doesn't seem to frequent due to the price point being over $10AU.  there are steak nights at $12Au which are nice wiith a side veggie and the steak isn't bad either. 

I think my plea for an American flag was lost in my previous blog.  Not a full size fly with proud from the front porch but one of those samll hand held about the size of the ones flown from the rear window during sporting events.  there appears to be a major oversite at the bondi Beach hostel where they proudly fly the flags of a good number of nations and the American flag is missing.  i almost started a national crisis when I brought it teasingly to one of the housekeepers.  they said that the American Lawyers that come occasionally to do research on the difference in the US and AU legal systems also brought it to their attention.  they firmly argued that it was not intentional but that truly there are not alot of US citizens that come to AU and hostel.  Hmmmm  maybe I should rethink my year of traveling....Not.  So if anyone wants to actively participate in my travels please send a samll Us flag suitable for flying in the common area lunch room.  Mail along with a note introducing yourself and referencing your truly, lodging dates (carefull here) 29/01/2011 thru 04/02/2011, room 409.  they will get a ick outa receiving such an itme from the States.

Ahhh speaking of signage, it appears that the Au government along with their attorneys feel the need to disclose in may areas on all beaches that the coastal waters are unsafe, riptides, crashing waves, slippery rocks, unsafe swimming conditions except within the red & yellow flags just to highlight a few.  This country surrounded by water also appears to be in a clean water crisis.  All the lodging facilitites Hostels, Hostels and eating establishments want you to conserve water with every opportunity.  The toilet fluch has the 2 button options for light #1 and heavy #2 flush options.  Water is not automatically provided at restaurants, but when asked they will provide, and at the Hostel they remind you to brush your teeth w/out the water runnign the whole time, to be mindful of how long your showers are and when washing dishes to please fill the sink and use water sparingly.   Interesting the little things that you find ascinating when you are out of your own confort zone.  Oh but lest i forget, all along the Coastal water walk there are the same shower (fresh water) facilities that are at most beach side cities however AU also has purified water fountains/stations so that you can refill you water bottles which they highly reccomend.  How sweet is that on a Hot afternoon at the beach.

 Clovelly Beach where the snorkelling is the best. 

Clovelly Beach (actual beach) oh and the pool

Bondi Beach YHA is at the top right (yellow building w/deck; the roof is blue so it blends in with the sky).  Saweeeeet view!!  ***** five star view,



Tamarama Beach located just down the street, hill, mountain, cliff from the Bondi Beach YHA. 
The Hostel is off the main streets so it is quiet at night without all the beach traffic/noise.