Christmas Day on Bondi Beach

I went down to Bondi Beach yesterday, on Christmas Day. I was there late arvo. It was an absolutely beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky, fairly still and not stinking hot.

I caught the bus from Bondi Junction down Bondi Rd. I saw this Santa inflatable atop a store. Seeing him up there in his iconic winter gear with the clear blue summer sky behind him brought home the incongruity of the festival in the southern hemisphere.

I've long thought that Christmas in Australia was kind of surreal with all the wintry imagery. But in a way that adds to the charm.

I wandered down to the beach itself. Not surprisingly, it was absolutely chockas. Being from Perth originally, where the beaches stretch for miles and there's usually comparatively little development close to shore (although that is changing, on Scarborough Beach especially) I'm always struck by the density, and intensity of Sydney's beaches.

Yesterday that effect was compounded. There were just so many people all over the place. It was amazing to watch them all moving about independently as far as the eye could see. They were like a swarm of ants crawling over a picnic!

Looking north from the grass I noticed a crowd forming near the centre of the beach itself. I think this is what's called a "flash mob". I could see that they were bouncing up and down to music.

I walked down to have a closer look. I was struck by how many of them were taking selfies with smartphones. And a few had selfie sticks.

It was such a contemporary sight. It seemed to confirm that popular stereotype of millennials as narcissistic, hedonistic and addicted to recording and sharing every moment of their lives they possibly can ... Though I shouldn't be too judgemental. I was taking these photos of them, after all!

In any case it's good to know people are enjoying Christmas right across the globe in whatever way they wish. I'm glad it's still going strong. Hope you all had a good one also!