Technology: Fit Bit

Fit Bit is a watch that tells you as to how many calories burnt and consumed. They come in a few different styles and designs. This one is a Charge Fitbit. The watch is comfortable to wear. I got this as a present from a friend. Normally it retails about $150-$200 and its a good Christmas gift for gym freaks.

Fitbit Charge 2 from the Fitbit site

With it comes an app that allows you to see how much you are burning and you can log your food intake in.

Healthy International students talks about the Fit bit app.

This is only for people with the Fit bit. This app is really easy to use and it tracks your exercise. Here it will tell you how many calories you have burnt throughout.  The app synchronises the Fit bit so you'll know when the battery is low.

It is easy to use. When you sign up to Fitbit it will automatically sync your devices. You just need to enter your fitbit type in there and then it will show your fitness info

(from https://healthyintstudentssiterubixcomblog.wordpress.com/2016/10/30/fit-bit-app-by-akira/)

Do buy the watch if you are step conscious. You can buy this here

Zouki Cafe and shop

Zouki cafe and Shop is inside the Royal Melbourne Hospital and they are one big cafe and shop. I was on my way to work in the city and as part of marathon training had decided to walk an extra few km. I am doing the 42km marathon in October and as such am raising money for the Salvation army.

Here I had substandard eggs and mushrooms with onion and wholemeal bread. Zouki cafe also does sushi and other bakery items but being a marathoner was in the mood for eggs and brown bread which is good for the iron. I been researching stress fractures online and found that if you don't eat enough for your training you can get a stress fracture over time.

The eggs were the Ikea sort which was rubbery and plasticky in texture. They had been sitting in the bain marie for a while. But the bread was the fresh sort and it was great being toasted. The mushrooms and onions were jut ok but who can stuff these up. The eggs reminded me of hospital food which was very bland.

At least the coffee was good and I can see why there was such a huge line for it. You order and then pay for it and then they call your number. I got a soy flat white as per usual as I am trying to quit having normal milk and I love soy.

Next time I'll come just for the coffee and toast and not the eggs. The service there was just ok.

The comedy festival hits Melbourne

The comedy festival is on again this year and its bigger and better than ever. Here they have their own bar at the Malthouse Theatre and I went along one night to discover just how popular this festival is.

The bar gets really busy on a Friday night but during the weekdays they are pretty quiet. During the weekdays there are food trucks outside to boost patronage. There is a good selection of food inside too.

There are a lot of good Australian and international acts here and many people go there to be entertained. You get your ticket and then relax in the outdoor or indoor bar and then they call you when the show is about to commence. You can bring alcohol in there but no glass. Your alcohol is poured into a plastic cup and the glass stays outside.

Here they have a great selection of wine. Some of the brands are more expensive though such as the Janz. My shiraz was only $7 and it was really strong. It would work well with the cheese plate that they have for $18.

Note it runs until the 23rd at the Malthouse. After that there will be other shows for you to go along to and the bar is always there for your drinks and food. Food is about $10-$26 depending on what you would like to eat. But do come for the drinks.

The Malthouse is on Sturt St in South Melbourne behind the Arts Centre.

UMSU's night market and Xian Foods

UMSU have their annual night market and this was the first time that I have been. Here they have 19 food stalls and all of them was really full except for the roti one. The roti was really good and I did not have to wait long. It was $4 for one big piece.

Most of the student stalls have run out of stuff and most of them had no form of queuing. Everyone just grabbed everything. I was a bit frustrated.

UMSU if you are going to run the Night market next year make it not free (at least a $5 charge and the money raised can go to the International couch). If not free have some security around to check the tickets like the MCG.

And all the clubs should make their stall a cashless payment system meaning that people have to go online to buy a crown card (like Taste of Melbourne) or use EFTPOS only.

But the entertainment was still good though. And so were the decorations.

In the end though I went to Xian Foods which is a few blocks down from Melbourne Uni. They specialise in spicy food and handmade noodles. Although the handmade noodles I got were a little bit on the doughy side. The lamb in my noodle soup was good and so was the broth.

But I was so full from both. And the lady that served me did not understand me one bit when I asked her questions.

Oh well there goes another year of night market.

Animal Orchestra

This place is right outside Melbourne Uni in Carlton. As a student I did not get much of a chance to visit as RMIT is in the city.

The place is in a small old style house which makes it really rustic. Inside it is cool and chic like the 70s.

For a Wednesday morning the place was packed full of students and academics gettings their coffee fix. The barista was friendly.

 Here they have really cheap meals and breakfasts. At a normal cafe a plate of baked eggs with bread is about $18-$19. Here it is $13 and it is filling.

I did need my omega 3's and eggs as a runner doing her first full marathon hence the baked eggs with salmon. This turned out to be a great choice. Here the salmon and eggs were just lovely in  their pan. The souradough was freshly baked.

My soy flat white was great. I enjoyed the really nutty taste of the soy.

Do come by to this cafe when you are at uni or in the hospitals.