ST. KILDA FESTIVAL

We spent the day with thousands of others walking around St. Kilda. Highlights were all the bands that seemed to have set up in every available bar and venue in St. Kilda. Really bright sunny day and excellent for just relaxing listening to music. Also managed to force down a bit of food and fitted in a free Chiropractic Check from one of the many stalls here. Saw some wake-boarding competition and lots of 'surfy' type people having fun. Street artists and performers were also very entertaining and very much like those in Covent Garden at home. Great place.

VICTORIA NIGHT-MARKET

Every Wednesday during the Summer there's a night market here. We've been a few times and really enjoyed it. There are masses of stalls selling all sorts of arts and crafts type stuff, jewelry, clothes, and offering massages etc. It's very hard work trying to take Zoe around all the stalls without stopping every two steps to look at some earings or shoes or dresses... Still, there are masses of food and drink places here serving stuff from every culture imaginable. So far we've had Paella, Bratwurst, Chinese, Satay..... so Nick is ok. Also good beers on sale and lots of music playing. A very good vibe on the whole and an absolute must if you come to Melbourne.

MOONLIGHT CINEMA

In the botanical gardens in Melbourne throughout the summer, every evening there is a cinema in the open showing a different film every night. We went one evening to see 'The Golden Compass' (Dad, you wouldn't have approved!) It was an amazing experience just lying down on the grass under the stars watching a film. Managed to get hold of a couple of beanbags and free food, but didn't come nearly as prepared as some people who turned up with picnics, blow up beds, chairs, Doona's (see previous email) and all sorts of other comfy stuff. We were also treated to a few thousand bats flying over us at the beginning of the film which was really weird but cool. Another night we strongly recommend.

Nick