Raccoon @ OZ

WICKED~The untold story of the witches of OZ

    Tasmania is the paradise for bushwalkers and travelers who need peace and solitude. After the fieldtrip, I deeply understand. I could still remember the silence and stillness in the early morning at the lake side of Tullah. Not to mention the dazzling mountain scenery on our way to Lake MacKenzie. Even with an incidentally glance during sampling, the view was so hard to forget.

    Thanks to the natural scenery which slightly eased my tense all the way during our journey. For me, it was work, not travel. It was also my first time working alone with a person whom I was not familiar with. Not until then I realized that I had really bad temper (XD). But the cooperation was another important lesson I learned other than the fieldwork know-how.

    Using U-Th/He and Apatite fission track (AFT) geochronology to study the denudation history of Tasmanian dolerite will be part of my PhD thesis work. One of a senior student, Paul B. O'Sullivan had done some work in Tassie already. AFT data from wide range of outcrop and drillhole samples have been provided further constrain for thermal history and tectonics evolution of southeastern Australia. My work aims to further study one particular rock, dolerite, which is widespread and covers almost 2/3 of the whole island.

Our journey began with the ferry “Spirit of Tasmania”. We took ferry but not flight because we needed vehicle with us to carry rocks back. Ferry is the only way to take the car.

For me, the most difficult thing to study oversea is foodsick but not homesick. Although there are many so called "Chinese/Asian Restaurants" in Melbourne, the flavour and the taste are just not right...

I've met some lovely Taiwanese PhD students here. Although we are from different faculties, the same difficulties we've encountered in life and study make us good partners to share everything. How to deal with supervisor(s) is the hottest topic! Second issues are what to cook at night and how to improve our research and writing level.

I've tried several well known chocolate houses in Melbourne. Koko Black is my favorite one!