Restaurant Review - Ravesis

Corner of Campbell Parade and Hall Street - Bondi Beach

Ravesis is the cornerstone of Bondi Beach social life. Ideally located facing Bondi Beach and in the most popular spot in Bondi Beach it attracts the beautiful people from all over the Sydney. It boasts a trendy bar, restaurant and hotel.

Ravesis is generally packed everynight of the summer and every Sunday all year round. It has a repuatation for being uptight, pretentious and expensive. I would generally have to agree with this supposition.

We decided to try out the restaurant having drank in the bar before. It was a rainy and windy evening and the restaurant was empty and there was a Christmas party taking place in the lounge. When we arrived at the empty restaurant we were told 'we have only two tables left' which was slightly surprising since the place was dead.

My wife ordered a 'spanish pizza' and I ordered a prawn and chilli ravioli. The food arrived relatively quickly and it was absolutely horrbile.

The pizza was cooked on a frozen pizza base and the toppings were cheap store-bought meats with some flimsy rockey thrown on it. My wife (a pizza lover easily satisfied) said 'it was the most disgusting pizza she ever had in her life'. The pasta was no better - the ravioli was obviously cooked from frozen and for some reason they threw in some sun dried tomatoes (not on the menu) and a heap of butter and a couple of cooked prawns which were well cooked. The ravioli had no taste and was no better than something you would receive at a school cafeteria.

Total cost $25 for the pizza, $28 for the ravioli. Biggest rip off in my life. Problem is that they have the best location and view in the area and people believe it is the spot - so that is why they get away with it.

Whatever you do - never, ever, even consider eating there.

Rating: 0.5/5

Thai protests

Recent news has been dominated by the atrocities that have taken place in Mumbai and one has been present in the background of recent news. I am referring to the protest and uprising that has occurred in Thailand.

Essentially the reasons behind the protest are predicated on the fact that the new government is essentially the puppet of their predecessor who was peacefully ousted in 2006 (the current PM is the brother in law of the corrupt Thaskin). The thing that bothers me the most is what is reported in the west. Most headlines read:

Protesters lift Bangkok Airport Siege - Hopes raised for the thousands of travellers stranded in Thailand as seige ends (The Guardian);

Thai flights resume after weeks of protest (CNN);

Mind you these two reports are two days after the government resolved to abolish the current government and remove the PM from power, however, throughout the protests the thing that dominated the airwaves was the plight of the western tourist. Should we not be commending the willingness of the Thai people to peacefully protest and bring about change to a corrupt government. This is a true case where the power of the people has wrought change in a country that has dealt with corruption on a wide scale. This is a true case where a peaceful protest will never find commenserate headline space as that of the violent outbreaks.

As for the 'stranded' travellers - this is in itself a true misnomer. It is true that some passengers were in limbo for approximately 13 hours, however, after the initial take over of the airport they were free to leave the airport without any hassle from the protestors. It seems that the majority of people were happy to stay put and moan and complain about how their governments would not help them. Here is a simple idea: you are in Thailand - enjoy yourself a bit longer and feel relieved that the protestors did not turn to violence. Or take a train ride to KL, Singapore, Phucket, Koh Samui and find yourself a way home another way. Surely, the airlines would be more than happy to offload you from another destination.

The inconveniece imposed on western tourists absorbed the headlines for this event rather than the peaceful protestors who have done something not seen often these days: effect change without resorting to violence.