Day 3- Field trip

For today, as usual we spent our time indoors. And we went outdoors as well, on a field trip.


A discussion where we broke up into groups and discussed about modelling uncertainties (huh? yah me too).


We headed out. This is one of the wetlands site.

No the guy on the right hand side is not me.

The young Dr Dave explaining how the constructed wetlands work.

This is another site. Here we observed the vegetated swales. This is a pioneering project- it was considered ground-breaking at the time of its implementation- in Melbourne. It led to more acceptance of similar designs for stormwater collection systems. (The entire field of study is called Water Sensitive Urban Design).

They've got lovely trees here in Melbourne suburbs.

Another place with constructed wetlands.

Interesting sign on tree: Beware.. Magpie swooping. No I did not get 'swooped' by magpies when I took this photo. Actually I did not spot any birds in the sky. Maybe the weather was too cold.

Another lovely tree... a bit 'twisty'.

New Room at Melbourne

I moved into a new room today. It's still at Mannix College. I told the office my previous room could not receive wireless internet. They offered me a flat! It has a bigger living room, a pantry and bedroom. And best of all- internet works! Here are some pictures of the flat. Actually I found it too big and empty at first, but after moving in and putting my things around, then it was better. Fortunately I had brought the photos of Xiaoying and kids. I think it makes a big difference, the sight of the photos comfort me.

The pantry at the far end. It's more like a kitchen. Comes with a stove. I spotted a toaster inside one of the cupboards.

The table is where I set up the laptop

To the left of my 'laptop table' is the shelf where you can see the TV and the photos on one of the shelves.

Day 1 photos- Trip to Melbourne Central

These are the photos I made of my trip to Melbourne Central. The journey there and what I saw there.

It was a rainy day. I took the train from a train station called Huntingdale station, which is a 5- 10 minute bus ride away from Mannix College where I stayed.

And this is the phone booth I used to call back Singapore.

This is taken when I arrived. This is a shopping centre called Melbourne Central shopping centre.

It had this old building in the centre of the shopping centre.

I hit the streets. This is some building that has something to do with the arts (yes vague I know).

You can see that they have trams here.

and churches.

This is Swanston Street, probably the busiest and most well-used street in Melbourne. I learnt later that it wasn't always so popular- after they increased the sidewalk width and planted more trees, it became more and more popular.

Swanston Street has lots of shops...

Xiaoying this picture is taken because when I saw all these instant noodles, I thought about you- because you bought instant noodles for me :)

They have horses here! Pulling carriages.

Bikes for rent... no I did not ride on one.

This is one of Melbourne's famous landmarks- Flinders Street old station building. It's very old, and a popular saying goes something like "let's meet at Flinders Street clock" or "let's meet at the steps (the steps under the clock)".

The cathedral opposite Flinders Street station.

Me standing in Federation Square. You can see Flinder Street station building (the orange coloured building) behind me.

Their tourist visitor centre, which is underground. You have to descend a flight of stairs after entering this glass structure. ('Love Never Dies' is like the sequel to Phantom of the Opera).

A better view of the cathedral.

Oh yah... this is a photo of the exterior of Mannix College, when I am staying.