Somewhere, out there...

(The beautifully lit Sydney Opera House--f3.5, 3.5secs)

Somewhere there's someone who dreams of your smile, and finds in your presence life that is worthwhile. So when you are lonely, remember it's true, somebody, somewhere, is thinking of you.

(The proud Sydney's Harbour Bridge--f1.4, 1/4000s)

Now that soothed my soul a bit after a phase of life where challenges never cease to cool down even for a bit. Well, that's a student life where you're constantly bogged down, or rather spent an eon figuring out how the heck my experimental data doesn't agree at all with the well-established theories. Ever felt being let down by inanimate objects? Go figure my plots of measured data!

(Martin's Place at Sydney City Center--f5.6, 1/30s)

It's not all bitter and sour, this life of a research student I'd say. On the plusses side, I'd say I've lead a comfortable if not luxurious life with the research stipend. Oh, never forget about the free tickets for conferences and seminars around the country and the world! Of course, you're supposed to be there introducing and presenting your skills in your area to your fellow researchers, but it's never a crime to bite the juiciest part of the travel intent; travelling itself!

(With the first guy who invented THz Pulsed Time Domain at IBM, Dan Grichskowsky [center]. Here we're taken around a cruise ship sailing around the Sydney's harbour before the dinner function.)

Anyhow, since I've been talking about sponsored travel, it's about time to display my ostentatious my pictures of Sydney visit for another conference that's heavily attended by the 'gods' of the microstructured fibers field.

(Stoked with the award!)

Comment: The visit to OZ wasn't very eventful at the first arrival. Holed up at the waiting area with an Immigration officer interviewing your purpose of visit isn't really something I've had expected. Lost my way to the conference hall the first day (and missing the best bits of keynote talks!) adds several exasperating unnecessary stress! But the most shocking but pleasing surprise that I've got was the Best Student Award (for presentation) at the conference, despite my stammers and some bad English pronunciations at the beginning of the talk.