Thursday, December 20, 2012

rewind

Am back from my tropical island escapade teaching course. But here are some pictures (just received from my friend via email) from my trip a few weeks ago to Norway.

We went to a fancy restaurant in Oslo for a lavish Christmas lunch. Here I am in the snow.

Here is the lunch.

Here is the poor musk ox hanging over the fireplace.

And here is the monkfish I saw at a fishmongers back in the city.





Saturday, December 15, 2012

the birds

The island is full of bird life – and they are not shy of humans.
The white capped noddies are currently nesting all over the island. Despite their fishy-smelling droppings, I think the are a very beautiful bird.
My favourite, however, are the rails. They are very mischievous and try to get into the research station kitchen (one did manage to get in the other night and it took quite some effort to get it out again).
Speaking of the night time antics of birds...the mutton birds make the weirdest noises at night...a bit like wailing children.

Friday, December 14, 2012

pictures from paradise

Been here on the Great Barrier Reef since Tuesday for an undergraduate field course (did I mention I love my job?). Here are some (bad) photos taken using Photo booth from my laptop.
Me by the beach. Only a couple of nights earlier, a loggerhead turtle had come up to lay her eggs only meters from where I am standing.
A beautiful giant clam at the research station aquarium.
A view onto the reef.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

I'm off again

Barely recovered from the jet lag, I'm already preparing for the next trip. Fortunately this one is just interstate...a week and a half on a tropical island for work. Before my trip to Norway, I had arranged to get prescription sunglasses made so I could take them with me. I went to collect them yesterday but when I put them on, everything looked blurry. At first, I thought I just needed time for my eyes to adjust but it soon became apparent that they had made a mistake with one of the lenses. The store manager said she'd try to get them corrected for me before I go. Otherwise, she offered to courier them to me. Not sure what kind of courier service they use but I doubt they'd be able to easily get it to me.

Monday, December 3, 2012

I'm back...

The flight was uneventful (which is a good thing I guess). There were grumpy toddlers sitting behind me and a baby screaming in our section of the plane but, alas, I couldn't hear a thing thanks to my Bose noise cancelling headphones (the best Christmas presents ever). Currently at home with Truffles trying to relax (and catch up on sleep) before work tomorrow.