On the bus back to the airport at the end of the conference, the organisers informed us that there would be an award for the most friendly delegate. From the looks on their faces, I guessed that everyone felt the same as me: (1) had we known that such a prize was on offer, we would have made more of an effort; (2) Australian academic MO was bound to win it.

In consolation, I gazed out of the bus window at beautiful low coastline of white sandy beaches and turquoise sea. The pelicans provided amusement as they dipped in and out of the water.