I have a new hair cut!

Magic mushroom

We found this huge mushroom while walking by the Yarra river... Today's the food and wine festival and Melbourne knows how to celebrate ! Along with a bunch of international students, we went to the beer tasting session down in Federation Square. We only stayed for a couple of hours and left with a huge smile on my face !

Studying hard - Group assignment !

I recently received numerous complaints about this blog, it appears indeed that some people think my life as a student is not very challenging. Let me address these concerns:

I am only off on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Everything else is class time.

There is a lot of pressure on the grades. If I fail a class, I may have to take the exams again (and stay for another semester, what a waste).

Job search is intense and takes a lot of my time.

It rained at least 5 times since we have been here, forcing me to study in the library.

Group meetings are difficult. We have strong arguments and fights. It's not always clear who has priority on catching the good waves.

If you feel you can make a difference and help an underprivileged student getting through his exams please donate to bplomion@gmail.com. Your donations will buy my essential course materials such as a new surfboard, caisse of white wine and a new pair of flip-flops.

Thank you!

Melbourne port

Here's a pic from the StKilda pier, minutes away from Dowtown Melbourne. Yes, there is no wave and that's not quite the surf spot we expected. But this is still a fun place to relax.

Outdoor cinema

That was out first outdoor movie and was really an incredible experience. The setting was just amazing, after-all we are in the Royal Botanical garden, one of the most prestigious parks in Australia. We came early with tons of food and wine. After an hour, half people out there were pretty drunk, reaching for their pillows ! The movie sucked (Marie Antoinette) but we had a great time watching the birds and bats (!!!) fying over our head !

Ikea coffee table

This is by far the weirdest office building I have ever seen. It is right in the middle of Southern Cross train station, in central Melbourne.

This is typical Melbourne: a great mixture of old victorian stuff with sleek new construction .... Did we say Melbourne it reminded us of London ?

Temperatures have suddenly dropped ....

... Just Kidding !!!

Temperatures have only dropped from 35 to 25 Celsius degrees here ...

This is just a distant memory from Montreal !

Tree House

Here are some pics from last week end. We drove on the Great Ocean road and stopped at several sights, amongh which this amazing metal structure in the middle of a National park. You can explore the forest suspended about 30 metres high and the tower on one of the pics is 47 metres high. Needless to say, we had vertigo and were a bit freaked out when the wind was blowing as the whole structure shakes at the same time.