Well, it is almost certain you would have heard of Bondi Beach � Australia�s most famous strip of sand! It was from Bondi�s (pronounced Bond-eye) great arc of sand in the late 1880s that the first Sydney �cranks� braved the ocean � breaking an old colonial law that forbade swimming during daylight as indecent! (hmm). Slowly and surely, more and more Sydnesiders defied the ban at Bondi. In 1906, the world�s first lifesaving club (no, it was not called �Baywatch�) was setup on Bondi�s shores. Twenty years later, crowds of up to 100,000 people were reported at Bondi on summer days!

SEE PANORAMA OF BONDI BEACH

The place is at its best, not surprisingly, in summer. Activity kicks off at dawn, with the joggers on the promenade, bodybuilders by the shore and surfies catching a few waves before work. Sun-worshippers (aka sun bathers) arrive early, closely followed by TRUCKLOADS of Japanese tourists (hmmm). The Bondi Pavillion opens up, selling ice-creams and souvenirs, picknickers arrive with their fish and chips, and the activity continues until well after dark�when lovers take over the sand. (hmmmm!)