I revisited Melbourne this week for the Asia-Pacific Roche Ophtha Week conference. The industry sponsorship meant chauffeured airport transfers and business class flights that made the 15-hour trans-Pacific journey actually enjoyable. After a program run-through in the morning, I headed to nearby Chinatown for Mr. Ramen San’s Hakata-style ramen, then joined my colleagues Colin and Rancy for a second lunch at Asado for amazing lomo eye fillet and bife ancho rib eye. I spent the afternoon enjoying Fitzroy Gardens and the hotel’s heated rooftop pool before program kick-off and poster presentations that evening. Saturday’s schedule was packed with 2 talks and 4 panels that drained my social meter. Fortunately, Sunday’s morning agenda was light and left my afternoon free. I skipped the lines at Shanghai St. for Shanghai Village’s XLB, then savored Lulu’s duck egg char koay teow en route past iconic Hosier Lane and Flinders Street Station to the NGV to browse the art and design collections that included a special kimono exhibit. I returned in time for my solo dinner at Fishpot which featured a motorized lift to keep me from losing my wagyu and fish slices in the creamy signature fish broth. I secured a last-minute seat at Her Majesty’s Theatre for MJ the Musical. Despite avoiding some controversies of the star’s latter years, the thrilling performance celebrated the life and music of Michael Jackson, touching on topics like race and identity, childhood abuse, substance use, and the inspirations behind his music and dance. It was hard not to compare the musical numbers with their original versions, but the expert portrayal felt at times like a reincarnation of the King of Pop, with sights and sounds that drew on emotions and memories of the icon’s music. I joined my colleague Nirojini to buy coffee beans from Axil and Market Lane before sharing a lounge visit and flight home. After all the recent travel, it will be nice to spend some family time back home.

After returning from Paris, I had just enough time for a school music orientation, lab lunch, and half-day clinic, before flying out again for the Retina Society meeting in Chicago. It is rare for Melody’s and my conferences to coincide in space and time, so we took advantage of the occasion to share room and board. After landing on Wednesday, I rendezvoused with her for arancini and octopus at The Purple Pig, then debriefed about her interview on the way to the hotel. I awoke early next morning to give my talk and moderate the first session, then returned to the hotel for a swim and meeting before sharing high-end korean steakhouse / BBQ at Perilla. Melody departed on Friday, while I stuck around for an extra night to tear up the dance floor at our gala. The last morning of my meeting concluded with a stop for Shaw’s chowder and signature seafood salad before my return flight. Back home, I completed my Seth Rogan Apple TV marathon of The Studio and Platonic, as well as our epic Wukong journey to embark on Split Fiction – a co-op adventure about two writers trapped inside simulations of their unfinished stories. The sci-fi and fantasy worlds provided a mix of game designs and platforms – a homage to video games – as we took turns teaming up in split screen action. Melody and I also took advantage of our remaining free childcare for a date night in SF for Le Sserafim’s Easy Crazy Hot tour. We started with an impressive Korean-inspired tasting menu at Ssal to stay on theme, then headed to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium for our first concert in nearly a decade. The K-pop sensation did not disappoint, as we broke out our fimbong light sticks and joined other FEARNOTs to dance and sing along to the quintet’s bold, dynamic setlist. The concert made me fall in love with the group and download all their new tracks for my next trip.

It has only been a little over a week since returning from Peru, but I was off again to attend the Euretina congress. Timing was suboptimal with unexpected personnel departures, many manuscripts pending, and a monkey getting sick near its scheduled endpoint. Fortunately, my parents are back to help with childcare as Westley’s transitioned to 4th grade, a higher-level Chinese class, and a more competitive fencing class schedule. My first time attending Euretina brought me back to Paris to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of the bustling city. My 14-hour connecting flight on Wednesday went smoothly with an upgraded first leg and onion soup on my layover, but my arrival was tight due to a long immigration line and traffic delays that had me registering at the meeting minutes before my scheduled presentation. Fortunately, my talk was well-attended, and I enjoyed a foccacia, eclair, and much-needed nap prior to dinner at Le Paris 17 over scrumptious escargot and entrecote steak. I awoke next morning to review slides for Melody’s upcoming interview while strolling from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower, with a beignet stop at La Pistacherie and peek at the Flame of Liberty and Lavirotte building on the way to lunch at Arpege. I was surprised to have scored reservations at this 3-Michelin-starred restaurant, but Alain Passard’s vegan tasting menu left me uninspired and too full to enjoy the after-meal kitchen visit, chef greet, and menu signing. I returned to my hotel after an Abbvie ad board and Coave reception to rest and digest. On Saturday, I re-explored views of the Eiffel tower from the Place du Trocadero, Pont d’lena, and Champ de Mars. I fed my onion soup and escargot crave at La Poule Au Pot, but was not a fan of their pate en croute. Afterwards, I strolled along the Seine past the Louvre and Notre Dame, revisited noisette glace at Berthillon, then toured the quirky exhibits at the National Archives Museum and Paris Design Week Factory galleries. I relaxed at the hotel before joining colleagues for more escargot, onion soup, and ribeye steak that put me to sleep. On Saturday, I reviewed more slides with Melody over a flat white and pain au chocolat, then picked up a cruffin, vennoise, and kouign amann from The French Bastards and pricy macarons from Pierre Herme for my flight home. I missed having Westley with me, but Paris remains for me a feast for the senses, and I look forward to coming back with him in the future.