Archive for the 'Melbourne' Category

More Melbourne

Published on 12 February 2008 in Melbourne. 3 Comments


M took this picture of me after dinner last Monday at NewQuay in the Melbourne docklands. When we saw the letters “CW” on the footpath we knew immediately what (who) they were referring to! Dinner with the Thali and a couple of other Australian library bloggers was excellent. The food was very tasty and the company superb. I just wish we could get together more regularly.


After the conference we wandered around the Melbourne Central Business District enjoying the street art (also known as graffiti). I love the creative vibrancy of the works, and the fact that such art is impermanent. I believe Melbourne is renowned for the quality of its street art. In Perth the majority of graffiti is of the “tagging” variety, which imho is not very aesthetically pleasing.


M and I went to the Royal Botanic Gardens with Kathryn on Friday afternoon. I loved it - experiencing all those plants from all over the world (including the bamboo grove pictured) was just wonderful.


Even in a hotel room I often develop a pile of books on my bedside table. This picture shows the books I bought while in Melbourne. We visited China Books on Swanston St a couple of times, and I found a few interesting titles (including the recent novel Gaoxing by Jia Pingwa). We also went to Book Affair, a large secondhand bookshop off Lygon Street in Carlton.

I’m still pondering what I learned and heard about at VALA. I don’t think I will have the time to post all my notes but I would like to at least summarise all the major themes and issues that were talked about.

Melbourne observations

Published on 7 February 2008 in Melbourne. 2 Comments

The city:
Despite the grid-like layout I seem to be perpetually lost. I think I forgot to pack my sense of direction. Also seem to have misplaced my ability to read maps, which does not help.

It’s very noisy. I think it’s the trams. That said, I really like the trams.

The cafes are great. Have really enjoyed places in Little Collins St and Degraves St. Nice breakfast = nice start to the day.

It feels completely different to Sydney, and of course it’s very different to Perth. I like how Melbourne feels, though. Not as frantic as Sydney, and way more interesting than Perth. (Sorry, hometown!)

The conference
Now that we’ve delivered our paper, I feel a lot more relaxed. It went well, I think. Pity I feel all conferenced out today.

The wireless situation is no longer bothering me, but only because I have stopped caring about my lack of connectivity. Decided it was too much of a waste of energy to get annoyed or try and fix the situation. There’s not a lot you can do when there is just no way to connect in some rooms in this venue.

Not to whinge, but I haven’t enjoyed the food at this conference at all. Maybe because I am not eating meat; meat-eaters may disagree.

The keynote speakers have been GREAT, very inspiring! I love it when someone expresses succinctly something your befuddled mind can only occasionally bump up against,  and help confirm and build on ideas, thoughts, and observations.

I’ve also enjoyed meeting up with the LINT folks as well as with other colleagues. Attended a couple of events where I got to meet interesting people. It’s always nice to finally put faces to names…

Other:
Gong xi fa cai! Today is the first day of the Year of the Rat. It’s been the first new year in a long time where I haven’t spent it with all my family. This has been a tad weird. However I did have a lovely new year’s eve with the closest member of my family, M. We wandered around the night markets at the Queen Victoria Markets, and explored Brunswick last night, culminating with a tasty dinner at the Vegie Bar in Fitzroy. Am wearing red to mark the day.

Addendum: Am missing Paco terribly. Poor little mite was completely bewildered when we dropped him off at the kennel on the weekend. I don’t know if I can subject him, or myself, to such an experience again! I hope he’s been okay…

Day 1 of conference

Published on 5 February 2008 in conference and Melbourne. 2 Comments

Weren’t able to liveblog this morning despite being prepared to because of (and I’m using the Convention Centre technician’s technical term here) “flaky connections”. I’ve shelled out $20 for a day’s wireless access but the access is not uniformly available throughout the building, with some areas seeming blackspots. Most annoying, and it’s meant that I haven’t had regular access for much of the day.

Apart from that the conference itself has been interesting, with some thought provoking talks (especially Andy Powell’s keynote this am), but I will have to distill my notes for a later post.

M wasn’t well yesterday with a bad gut, but I think he’s a lot better today and has been gallivanting around Melbourne with his aunts while I have been grappling with the connection. (hmmph)