Later today I hop in an airplane to fly to the antipodes, or at least to Australia. (The actual antipodes would be in the middle of an ocean.) Looking forward to it, as this will mean I’ve visited every non-Antarctic continent at least once.
But the reason I’m blogging about it is because I’ll be giving some public talks, and it would be great if any local CV readers dropped by to say hi. I’ll be hitting three different cities:
With all these public talks in a row, you would almost think I’m touring in support of some sort of book. That was part of the original idea, but now the book won’t be officially released until January 7. So instead I’ll just be talking in support of … Science! And trying to stay clear of dangerous creatures.
p.s. Wow, I almost did an incredibly boneheaded thing by showing up at the airport without a visa. Why in the world do you need a visa to go from the USA to Australia? I thought it was like a southern version of Canada. Fortunately, when you check in online you get “reminded” that a visa is required; even more fortunately, there is an online instant-visa service that seems to work. This is why I’m a theoretical physicist and not put in charge of anything important.
You need a visa because America insists that us aussies need a visa to visit. I’ve travelled extensively in Asia and the only other country I needed a visa for was the Peoples Republic of China.
I’m sorry I can’t make it to your lecture at Sydney University as I’ve got a meeting at the same time. I hope that you enjoy Australia and whatever you do don’t drink Fosters beer. Get yourself a good beer like James Squires or Coopers.
Hi there. I’ve just started reading this blog and I really enjoy it and wanted to say so. Have a safe trip.
The dangerous animals list didn’t mention Dropbears. Better watch for those!
Excellent, I’ll be at the Melbourne lecture.
The dangerous animals page also doesn’t mention platypii, which are also in fact poisonous.
Oh yeah, and the dropbears too, as Elizabeth pointed out…
Look out for the drop bears.
Oi! I’m in Canberra! Bloody drongos…
Anythink like the wild haggis?
I’d love to come, but unfortunately stuck between Sydney and Melbourne. too bad you’re not including Canberra on the tour. Good luck with the tour, hope you get a decent turn-out.
Actually I am amazed that you dont need a visa for may other countries, what presently I would support. Its not that nice to apply for a US visa, on top of the 160+ dollars that go with it.
Well, I sound bitter and have a reason to it since I just couldnt go to Fermilab on a short notice. But then again, its not your fault, or of american scientists.
We actually tried to get something set up in Canberra — timing just didn’t work out.
I’ll be there at the Adelaide lecture, hope to see you there!
Australia controls its borders very carefully. They’ve required a visa from just about everywhere for years. They actually have a computer system and try to track you and make sure you leave when you said you would. This actually came in handy when my father died and they wanted to track me down, but that was before cell phones.
Australia also has an amazing number of toxic sea creatures. They even did a postal series. I bought the third sample set of twelve as a souvenir, and I don’t think that was the last in the series.
Coincidentally, I’ll be starting a month-long visit to the University of Melbourne (from Cambridge) on the very day of your talk there — but a few hours later. Unfortunate timing! I’ll probably see you at some conference or other, in any case. Have a safe journey!
I’ll try to be at your talk, Sean, at Sydney on Monday night.
Drop bears. Gotta love wikipedia!
See you in Melbourne.
Shall definitely be attending the Sydney lecture. After all it’s the night before my physics exam!
Enjoy your trip. Bring some good books for the flight. The US consulate in Perth said I needed a visa to stop over from Oz in Hawaii on my way home to Canada. US passport Control asked why I had a visa to visit the US in my Canadian passport. Paper pushers rule.
Fosters is yuch, Coopers is real good. On previous visits I’ve been told I enjoyed Tooheys, VB, Swan, XXXX, but that may be just a bad rumour started by some hung-over friends.
When I bought my airplane tickets to Australia I had to get a visa first. It took about 60 seconds. I’m contributing a talk in Perth at the FFP10 conference in late November.
Hey – I just got to Melbourne – see you in a few days!
Spare a thought for all those without US/EU/etc passports, for which forgetting to get a visa doesn’t just mean “oops I need to got to another website quickly”. It’s not a joke, this system your countries have implemented, and of course nobody who gets to vote ever gets to see what it looks like from inside.
Sean,
I hope you have a chance to visit a bit of Australia. It’s an incredible country to visit: lots of interesting things to see, and a very helpful tourist industry.
I seem to remember Robert Geroch not being able to go to Australia once because he didn’t have a visa, and coming into conflict with the U of C travel office as a result.
Wow, when I went to the US in 2002 I didn’t need a visa. How times have changed. I live all the way over in Perth (when I’m not working on a gold mine in the middle of nowhere) so I won’t be able to attend any of the talks. Boooo.
There aren’t that many dangerous animals in the cities. And I work in the desert and I only see snakes once or twice a year, if that.
Make sure you get out away from those cities for at least one night so that you can see the Magellanic Clouds and southern stars.
I leave for the UK later this week and so can’t make the Sydney talk – although several of my students will be there. Apparently it will be in the low 30s tomorrow, so try and make it to the beach.