Going Down Under

Dear all,

Thank you for being my loyal readers all these while. I guess I'll be out of reach [ehem, ehem, again...] for another 3 weeks at most.

Remember my new year's resolution? I'm bout to succeed in realizing one of my utmost dreams I've posted in my list! Hooray to me!

Well, a dream will remain a dream if you are determine to say it so. As for me, I'm lucky tthat I realize the importance of differentiating what's fate and what's man-made. :)

I'll be leaving KL for Melbourne for 2 weeks!!! I can' thank God enough for providing me such generous reward this year. Don't worry guys, I'll be back to share all the goodies here, definitely in my blog. Please stay tune and I can surely promise dozens of pictures.

Better wait til I pass the immigration smoothly before I continue mumbling about achieving my dreams and so on....

I'll tune in again once I've touch down M'sia. See you guys around soon!

Reefs for the Future

I could not keep track how many have supported this campaign. But, I am clearly aware that this had an impact on divers who clicked on this banner I had put up a couple of months ago.

Thank you for your support & letting me know how much you cared for reefs!

Global Warming Mind Map

When I went through this mind map, I instantly felt the urge to blog about it. This mind map sums up the global warming crisis for those who had no time to read and find out about it. Some who are not bothered by the issue, may end up a little bit distracted by the diagram.

Anyways, I felt that it's a good and easy way to relate the cause and effects uprooting from global warming. There be might some areas that did not occur to be affected as you have always known, but somehow you may find it related in the diagram!

Courtesy of : J. Genovese

Have fun studying the map!

The Day I Met With A Stranger...

Yesterday, I went window shopping at KLCC. I grew tired and sat at a bench. A young lad found an empty seat beside me and decided to join the crowd. Amazingly, this guy change my thought to begin this auspicious year.

He struck up a friendly conversation with me. Dressed smartly in suit and leather shoes, I can hardly imagine he dropped out of school at the age of 15. Good-looking and very honest, he poured out his family histories to me. Shocked, I hesitated at first, and kept myself prepared for the worst. I thought to myself, listening won't bring me any harm. I decided that once he sells his products to me, I'll excuse myself to the loo!

Barely 20, so young but very wise and thoughtful in his choice of words. I studied his expression and body language as he carried on with his adventure embracing life the big city. He was well composed, eager, jolly and extremely positive.

He relate his worst scenarios in the city. His wallet was snatched away on the first day he set foot in Kuala Lumpur. He did not seem angry, but seem to be more keen to share his stories. That incident was mild to him as he had greater things to bear in life. He learned to let bygones be bygones and continue to live life as this is the real reality.

His salary is merely RM800 due to his lack of academic approach. Curious, I asked why he is willing to spend 3/4 of his salary living in the city rather than his hometown? The standard of living is different in the urban and rural areas, and once you've accustomed to life to the city, it has become a norm to you, he said. "I even gave RM500 to my mum too!"

This young man really does not seem to mind. He did not portray innocent or clueless young minds like any other teenagers. He knows what he wants in life and what life can give to him. He realizes he's capable to battle, only at certain arena of work. Impressively, he is willing to go the distance not to prove to others he can do it, but to make sense out of living.

He's young and energized, and believe that he has to work to earn a living. He can't continue depending on his father's business for life. And he wanted to come experience what is painful in life and live with no regrets. I was taken aback, as those came from a thoughtful mind of a teenager.

He asked whether I had experienced penniless days, and I said no. He told me that he once watched a bus traveling back to his hometown pass him by. It is not that he doesn't want to go home, but, his pockets are empty. He reminded me that poor people are willing to spend and are more generous because they know what it feels being poor.

He left a phrase for me that day, "Everyday, we encounter possibilities and for sure, nothing is certain until it is proven so."

He's just not the ordinary teen that I met everyday. He had views of a 50 year old and wisdom of a 30 year old.

At the end of yesterday, as I found myself rocking on a bench waiting for commuter, I felt so blessed that I had the chance to pursue my passion and dreams. I realize I have the opportunity to choose. I have different paths to take and all, I believe will have a bright future ahead.

What I learned from the 19 year old?
When we thought the world is hopeless and frail, it is not up to us to judge.

YOUTH 2009!!!

Malaysia's Largest Youth Lifestyle Festival Return!

9th-11th JANUARY 2009

Time : 10.30am - 9.30pm
Venue : Putra World Trade Centre, KL

Check out cool events at Youth '09!

The Learning Workshops may just introduce you to your new hobby??!

Hurry up & Get your free passes here!

A View in Research Projects

It was not the scientific research competition that had its revelation in my university life- whether being entitled to any awards for my accomplishment or whether a publication is making its way through, etc. To me, it is the aftermath of a two year-long struggle, working with the most energy-demanding and time-consuming subject, the coral reef.

I have no regrets conducting a tedious project, however breakdowns remain breakdowns. The important thing is, to be able to reconstruct and learn from mistakes. That was the spark of my research life.

The process was hectic... tiring... and with so many downs than ups, you have no option but to reconsider your methods to invite room for improvement again and again. Some would give up half way, finding no strength to continue completing their research work. While others, would be determined enough to struggle on their scientific study until the end.

And when you thought that puts a stop to everything, you're wrong.

That's just the initiating point. There's a need to un-covered more hidden mysteries as a result of your baseline study = creating more rooms for continuous scientific development and so on.

You'll have the responsibility to answer questions/enquiries arising from other scientists who manifested the same area of study. Your work symbolizes your effort all along. This would remind you to be observant, proper and truthful in your studies, and at the same time, providing reliable sources and scientific evidence without plagiarizing others work.

Knowing that partially, your work is being recognized, your conclusive discoveries widen the perspective of stubborn minds and your scientific evidence invited more constructive debates, your effort proves worthy all the while.

Research is never an easy task. Research is a typical ethical work that needs more than just books and skills. Patience, pain, endurance, responsibility, attention, attentive, repetition, perseverance, social connection, confidence and most importantly, the interest must be there. If the passion does not exist, the outcome of the research study may not be a favorable one.

It takes more than knowledge to make discoveries, I seriously agree that one would need to be more creative in their observations to make room for great scientific revelations.

I believe, I live by my passion.