I hadn't ventured into the city of Melbourne since arriving here a week ago, but yesterday I saw Melbourne at it's best, at night. It was perfect timing as the annual Moomba festival was taking place from the 8th to the 11th of March. Moomba is the aboriginal word for 'let's get together and have fun' so basically it's Melbourne's excuse for a party, which I think is great! It's the longest running and largest free community festival in Australia. It is celebrated over the long Labour Day weekend (Labour Day was yesterday and is a public holiday) and on closing night a huge fireworks display is done. Other events during moomba include watersports on the Yarra River, live music, a birdman rally and kids and youth events.

Although we didn't actually set out to attend the fireworks display last night; my Godmother and her Mum were taking me out to a play by the Melboune Theatre Company called 'Other Desert Cities'. As season ticket holders they were already going and amazingly, as I class as youth (under 29), I was able to obtain a great seat for about $30 (£20).

The play, about a family in crisis at Christmas in Palm Springs, held a forum session afterwards to allow the audience to ask questions to the actors, set designer, theatre manager and the sound technician. They consequently made a joke about the extraodinary, record-breaking heat here in Melbourne saying we were about to become another desert city. The stage design was beautiful, with a glass box on steps as the back of the house including a section of swimming pool; the beauty being that the stage was reflected in the pool and the pool reflected in the glass (picture above)

The air-conditiong in the theatre had frozen us so stepping outside into the heat to thaw was a welcome relief. So after coming out at about 9pm we were in good time to see the fireworks display at half past. Melbourne is really quite beautiful all lit up at night and the fireworks added to the ambience and community atmosphere. After cramming onto the bridge over the river to watch them, we followed the crowd down to Southbank where we sat and had a hot drink and some dessert (lemon meringue pie for me to be exact). After my sugar rush, we headed back home only to witness a kangaroo bouncing along the side of the road. Of course, quite common for the families living here, but rather wonderful for me!