Saturday, November 16, 2013

Mission Australia 2013 - Day 10

Bondi Beach 
Awake well after 7, we thought it would be wise to catch the bus earliest from Central so that we can visit some more places downtown after Bondi Beach. Again served a fine Indian breakfast of poha, we left wearing borrowed clothes to Bondi. Due to the weather, the ambience at the Beach was nothing compared to what I had expected. Rarely could I spot skimpy clothing, for even the adventurers were seen heading to the waters wearing diver wet suits with their surfboards.

Aboard the Red Bus again
Approaching Bondi
Bondi Pavillion
My favorite Bollywood Pose
Piggy-Back
Idling there for some time, catching up with the events back home on phone; we started strolling away from Bondi to catch the red bus again when Neha suddenly (yet expectedly) expressed her desire to visit one of the Direct Factory Outlets (D.F.O.s). We had been told earlier that there is one in Homebush, not far from Strathfield and could alight from the train at a station very close to the DFO. As usual, we found it quite far against the “walkable” directions that we had been advised – it took us nearly 30 minutes to reach.

Neha went on a window-shopping spree – her favorite pastime whereas I loitered around here & there trying to take care of Ayana. One thing I could never understand in AUS that why the shopping centers closed down at 5 PM because I was used to our Indian system (& even US) that major shopping happened after office hours. Nonetheless, Neha was again left purchase-less (which she was bound to regret later) & I made a call to our Uncle for directions to his home.

He had to re-arrange for the baby seat to pick us up. Back at home, we were again treated to a sumptuous evening supper on which we gorged hungrily & later due to the heavy downpour, Mrs & Mr Gupta both decided to give us a hitchhike till Liverpool. The day ended with chit-chat with Sanjeevji about the next day’s planning.