Sydney Suburbs, continued: Bondi, Bondi Beach, Bondi Junction

BONDI
Location:	Bondi is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, seven kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council.
Name Origin:	Bondi is said to be a corruption of an Aboriginal word boondi meaning water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks. It has been spelt a number of different ways over time, e.g. Boondi, Bundi, Bundye. The current spelling was accepted in 1827.
About: ·       Historically, the attractions in the area were Bondi Beach and the shopping centre at Bondi Junction.  Both are dealt with separately below. ·       The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is one of Sydney’s most scenic attractions. Begin at the Bondi Icebergs ocean pool and traverse the six kilometre (3.7 mile) clifftop trail between Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee beaches. ·       Alternatively, take the road less travelled and stretch your legs on the seven kilometre (4.3 mile) Federation Cliff Walk from Bondi to Watsons Bay, allowing 1 1/2 hours each way. Walk up Military Road at the northern end of Bondi Beach to Raleigh Reserve in Dover Heights. Follow the timber walkway as it twists above sandstone cliffs, past Australia’s oldest lighthouse, and down toward The Gap, where you'll take in dramatic views across the Pacific Ocean

Gallery:

Bondi-Waverley School of Arts, Bondi Road

Residential building in Spanish Mission style, Denham Street

The Rectory, Ocean Street

Bondi Road, 1914

Bondi Road and Imperial Avenue, 1958

Old South Head Road and O’Brien Street, 1934

South Bondi, 1947

BONDI BEACH
Location:	Bondi Beach is a popular beach and the name of the surrounding suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Bondi Beach is located 7 km (4 mi) east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council, in the Eastern Suburbs. Bondi, North Bondi, and Bondi Junction are neighbouring suburbs. Bondi Beach is one of the most visited tourist sites in Australia.
Name Origin:	See above
About: ·       In 1809 the road builder William Roberts received a grant of land in the area.  In 1851 Edward Smith Hall and Francis O'Brien purchased 200 acres (0.81 km2) of the Bondi area that included most of the beach frontage, which was named "The Bondi Estate." Hall was O'Brien's father-in-law. Between 1855 and 1877 O'Brien purchased his father-in-law's share of the land, renamed the land the "O'Brien Estate," and made the beach and the surrounding land available to the public as a picnic ground and amusement resort. As the beach became increasingly popular, O'Brien threatened to stop public beach access. However, the Municipal Council believed that the Government needed to intervene to make the beach a public reserve. On 9 June 1882, the Bondi Beach became a public beach. ·       On 6 February 1938 five people drowned and over 250 people were rescued or resuscitated after a series of large waves struck the beach and pulled people back into the sea, a day that became known as "Black Sunday". ·       Following World War II, Bondi Beach and the Eastern Suburbs became home for Jewish migrants from Poland, Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Germany. A stream of Jewish immigration continued into the 21st century and the area has a number of synagogues and a kosher butcher. The area today is very multicultural with a lot of new wealthy Asian families and Samoans.

Gallery:

Towel hire, Bondi Pavilion, 1954

Barbed wire on Bondi Beach. WW2 1940s

Girls applying sunburn cream, 1930’s, Bondi

Christmas at Bondi Beach, 1944

Bondi Beach, 1920, from the North end

Bondi Beach 1910

This photo was taken on Bondi beach in 1936. The people are performing the popular entertainment called ‘Beach-o-batics’. The gymnastics on the sand were performed by members of the local Men's Gymnastic Club.

More Beach-o-batics:

Max Stewart hand-balances off Alf Stanbrough’s posterior, while Wal Balmus is in a reverse hand-to-hand balance. At this time, Wal was 47 and Alf was 56 years old.  Alf is on the bottom, Wal is on the right.

Black Sunday rescues

Taylor Swift, Bondi Beach 2005

Prince Charles surfs at Bondi Beach 1977

January 31, 1988: Princess Diana presents awards to lifeguards at Surf Carnival at Bondi

  

BONDI JUNCTION
Location:	Bondi Junction is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is 6 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the Waverley.
Name Origin:	In 1854 the "Waverley Tea Gardens", at the corner of Oxford Street and Bronte Road, were laid out with gardens, summer houses, quilt pitches and other games and was a favourite resort for afternoon teas and fun. The area took on the local name of Tea Gardens until the Bondi steam trams junctioned there with the trams to Charing Cross. Hence, Bondi Junction came into usage.
About: ·       Bondi Junction and the neighbouring area is well known for its famous rugby league team, the Sydney Roosters, still officially known as the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club. The clubhouse of the team is centrally located in Spring Street, Bondi Junction. ·       Bondi Junction is Sydney's fifth largest business district behind the CBD itself, North Sydney, Parramatta and Chatswood.

Gallery:

Bondi Junction in the days of trams.

Birrell St. & Railway via Bondi Junction bus, between 1915-1930

Birrell St. & Railway via Bondi Junction bus, between 1915-1930

Bronte Road and Oxford Street, 1902, being the junction after which Bondi Junction was named.

The same intersection today.

Thought for the Day

Continuing 100 Greatest Replies, Comebacks and Retorts

o-----😊-----o

27.

Ed Koch (1924 – 2013) was an American lawyer, politician, political commentator, movie critic and reality television arbitrator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. He served with the 104th infantry division in World War II.

After reporter Andrew Kirtzman insisted on pressing a point about an inconsistent statement Koch had made, Koch replied:

“I can explain this to you; I can’t comprehend it for you.”

o-----😊-----o

When George Bernard Shaw was still a young critic he was invited as a guest to a family party. When he came into the room, the daughter of the host was playing the piano.

“I have heard,” she said very sweetly, turning round to the visitor, “that you are fond of music.”

“I am,” answered Shaw, “but never mind! Go on playing!”

o-----😊-----o

28.

Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous author of detective stories, once came to Paris. He hired a cab at the railway station to go to the hotel.

“What hotel would you like to go to, Mr Conan Doyle” asked the cabman.

The writer was greatly surprised. “How do you know my name?” he asked.

“Well, it’s simple,” the cabman said. “The other day I read in the newspapers that you would probably visit Paris. Then I noticed that your suit was made of good English tweed.

“Wonderful!” said Conan Doyle. “You are a born detective!”

“Thank you, Sir,” the cabman replied. “But another fact also helped me to identify you.”

“What is it?” asked the writer.

“Your name is written on your luggage.”

o-----😊-----o

29.

Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating to Opposition Leader John Howard:

“He's wound up like a thousand-day clock! One (more half) turn and there'll be springs and sprockets all over the building. Mr Speaker, give him a valium.”

o-----😊-----o

30.

Author Truman Capote was drinking one evening with friends in a crowded Key West bar when he was recognised by a woman who had a few too many drinks.  She walked over to his table and drunkenly asked him to autograph a paper napkin. The woman's husband became angry at his wife's display of interest in another man.  He also staggered over to Capote's table and assumed an intimidating position directly in front of Capote.  He then unzipped his trousers and, in Capote's own words, "hauled out his equipment." As he did this, he bellowed in a drunken slur, "Since you're autographing things, why don't you autograph this?"  It was a tense moment, and a hush fell over the room.  In the silence, everyone heard Capote in his soft, high-pitched voice say "I don't know if I can autograph it, but perhaps I can initial it."

o-----😊-----o

31.

In 1881 former PM of Great Britain and now leader of the Opposition caught a chill which turned into severe bronchitis. He took to his bed, growing continually weaker.  He was aware that he was dying.  When he was told that Queen Victoria wanted to pay him a visit, he replied: “No it is better not. She would only ask me to take a message to Albert.”

Thought for the Day

Funny Friday

o-----😊-----o 

Coming back from the city in a taxi after a court matter on Thursday, I was wondering what to post for Funny Friday. Then the thought dawned: taxi humour. When I looked up the Bytes blog later, I found that in 2015 I had already used taxis and taxi drivers as a theme for a Funny Friday, No matter, I am reposting some of the previous taxi items, plus a couple that have been posted on odd occasions and some new ones. 

A warning though: there are risque items included so don’t proceed further if you may be offended. 

o-----😊-----o 

A man in a taxi cab taps the driver on the shoulder to ask him a question. The driver screams, loses control of the cab and swerves onto the pavement before stopping just inches from a lamppost. After checking to make sure the passenger is OK, the driver says "I'm sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me!" "Sorry. I didn't realise a simple tap on the shoulder would freak you out so much," the passenger says. 

"It's not your fault," replies the cabbie. "Today is my first day on the job after 25 years of driving a hearse." 

o-----😊-----o 

I took a taxi to my court appearance the other day. "What are you here for?" asked the driver. "My bankruptcy hearing. You might as well come too." 

o-----😊-----o 

Bob works hard and spends most evenings bowling or playing basketball at the gym. His wife thinks he is pushing himself too hard, so for his birthday she takes him to a local strip club. The doorman at the club greets them and says, "Hey, Bob! How ya doin?" His wife is puzzled and asks if he's been to this club before. "Oh no," says Bob. "He's on my bowling team." 

When they are seated, a waitress asks Bob if he'd like his usual and brings over a Budweiser. His wife is becoming increasingly uncomfortable and says, "How did she know that you drink Budweiser?" "She's in the Ladies' Bowling League, honey. We share lanes with them." 

A stripper then comes over to their table, throws her arms around Bob and starts to rub herself all over him and says, "Hi Bobbie. Want your usual table dance, big boy?" Bob's wife, now furious, grabs her purse and storms out of the club. Bob follows and spots her getting into a cab. Before she can slam the door, he jumps in beside her. Bob tries desperately to explain how the stripper must have mistaken him for someone else, but his wife is having none of it. She is screaming at him at the top of her lungs, calling him every four letter word in the book. 

The cabby turns around and says, "Geez Bob, you picked up a real bitch this time." 

o-----😊-----o 

A taxi driver in Manchester was sat in his cab, hands down his pants, doing a routine testicular cancer check, when a gorgeous girl with great big boobs climbed in. 

"How much to Oldham?" she enquired. 

He said; "You can hold 'em for nowt, love, if I can hold yours as well!" 

o-----😊-----o 

A Japanese man hailed a cab and told the driver to take him to the airport. During the journey, a Nissan drove past the taxi. The Japanese man said to the driver "Nissan, very fast! Made in Japan!" After a while, a Toyota sped past the taxi. Again, the Japanese man told the driver "Toyota, very fast! Made in Japan!" And then a Mitsubishi overtook the taxi. For the third time, the Japanese said to the driver "Mitsubishi, very fast! Made in Japan!" 

The driver was a little angry, but he kept quiet. And this went on for quite a number of cars. Finally, the taxi got to the airport. The fare was over $300. The Japanese exclaimed, "Why so expensive?" The driver said "Meter, very fast! Made in Japan!" 

o-----😊-----o 

A drunk staggers into the back of a taxi. He leans towards the driver and says, "Excuse me, have you got room for a lobster and 3 bottles of wine on your front seat?" "I think so." says the driver. "Good," replies the drunk, then threw up. 

o-----😊-----o 

A successful businessman flew to Vegas for the weekend to gamble. He lost the shirt off his back, and had nothing left but a quarter and the second half of his round trip ticket. All he needed to do was somehow get to the airport, and then he'd be home-free. So he went out to the front of the casino where there was a cab waiting. 

He got in and explained his situation to the cabbie. He promised to send the driver money from home. He offered him his credit card numbers, his drivers license number, his address, etc. The cabbie said, ''If you don't have fifteen dollars, get the hell out of my cab!'' So the businessman was forced to hitchhike to the airport and was barely in time to catch his flight. 

One year later the businessman, having worked long and hard to regain his financial success, returned to Vegas and this time he won big. Feeling pretty good about himself, he went out to the front of the casino to get a cab ride back to the airport. Who should he see out there, at the end of a long line of cabs, but his old buddy who had refused to give him a ride when he was down on his luck. 

The businessman thought for a moment about how he could make the guy pay for his lack of charity, and he hit on a plan. The businessman got in the first cab in the line, ''How much for a ride to the airport,'' he asked? ''Fifteen bucks,'' came the reply. ''And how much for you to give me a blowjob on the way?'' ''What?! Get the hell out of my cab.'' 

The businessman got into the back of each cab in the long line and asked the same questions, with the same result. 

When he got to his old friend at the back of the line, he got in and asked, ''How much for a ride to the airport?'' The cabbie replied, ''Fifteen bucks.'' The businessman said, ''OK,'' and off they went. 

Then, as they drove slowly past the long line of cabs, the businessman gave a big smile and thumbs up sign to each of the other drivers. 

o-----😊-----o 

Corn Corner:

A patient sobs to his doctor: “I feel like a pair of curtains!”

Doctor: “Well pull yourself together man!”

A patient bursts into a doctor’s office, "Doctor, I believe I'm a deck of cards!"

The doctor calmly replies, "Go sit in the waiting room, please, I'll deal with you later."

I ate four bowls of delicious alphabet soup. 

After that I had a massive vowel movement.

I had a dream last night. This voice said, "On your marks, get set, go!"  

I woke up with a start.

o-----😊-----o 

Thought for the Day

20 of . . . Illegal Parkers

Something came up at our weekly trivia night last night about illegal parking.  I said tio Wayne that this Bytes would therefore show pics of parking arseholes and how, in some cases, they had been dealt with . . .

For local readers, don't forget that America drives on the right and drivers sit in the left seat.