Random Observations, Sydney

A few random non-golf thoughts on Sydney before heading to Melbourne and the Presidents Cup…

- The downtown area is arguably the world's most beautiful city--think San Francisco, only cleaner, warmer, a little less hilly and almost as difficult to navigate. Photos don't capture the scale and beauty of the harbor. And if you win the lottery, shack up in Rose Bay, join Royal Sydney and you'll live happily ever after.

-Driving on the uh, proper side of the road remains a challenge. The windshield wipers were activated in lieu of the turn signal on a 2:1 ratio. My rental wanted to veer left so I hugged many a line, earning plenty of honks, stares but unlike in America, never a bird flipping. When I left my shoes atop the car for four blocks, many kind Aussies tried to get my attention before one kind pedestrian came over to the car to hand them to me at the traffic signal. Also bodes well for the traction of that pair.

-Needless to say, the people are remarkably kind and patient. Me, driving like Woody Allen blindfolded, would be my evidence.

-Even the most touristy restaurant offers fresh, delicious tasting food. And when they make a fresh smoothie here, it's actually fresh and made with real, non-frozen fruit. Novel stuff.

-American accents often earn stares and at times, glassy-eyed awe. I suspect this speaks less to our empire's lofty place in the world and more to just how rare American tourism is with the price of everything.

-Yes it is expensive. And accessing the Internet reminds me of 2003, only three times the price and half the speed. What are you going to do?

- The fitness fanaticism here makes Californians look like couch potatoes. And they start so early.

- Koala bears and kangaroos live up to the hype. Thanks to reader Josh for the Koala Park Sanctuary tip.

- They read newspapers here. Papers are stacked in the hotel, with your choice of rag delivered to your doorstep if you so choose. And everywhere you look in the mornings, papers are tucked under arms or pored over at breakfast. And the papers themselves are quite bulky, full of these mysterious things called ads. Something else you don't see in America.