October - the month of Actions!

Came October, and now gone October. Just realized I haven't blogged for 2 months! Some friends even tease me "when is ur next episode of Scientific Expedition?". I just said, "I've got no time to write la". I now realize, that writing a blog, is not that easy, when you have too many things to share, and yet to many things to do. I always wonder, why I have not enough time? Was it because I'm not good at time management? I guess so.

Well, this month have been hectic. Within two weeks, I've been away from my 'base' 2 times. First, Bangkok for Asian Youth Climate Workshop. Then, barely a few days, I'm on trip to Langkawi already. Jetlagged, but work needs to be done. People may envy me, for travelling a lot. But I always say, "this is my job, my passion...you can do the same if you really want".

To make things short, this month have the month of actions, and not just talk. It's quite inspiring how I made my mind, and decided to take bigger actions after I came back from Scientific Expedition. Thanks to Abe, who told me about 350.org, and I got a hook on it. All these while, I've been doing small small things that is not enough. Now, having the capacity with UM Cares, and eco-active friends from out of campus, I think I finally achieved something. The feeling is so different, so much different. It was even more different than getting the 'Braille walkway' done in campus. Maybe because this time I'm involved in the process of the action.

As the saying goes, picture paints a thousand words. I'll just gonna put up some link and photos to end this time's blog.

The big march in Bangkok to UN building during UNFCCC (5th Oct)

Freeze for Earth as part of our actions of awareness to push for 350 ppm of CO2 in the atm. Took place in KL Sentral and KLCC.

Thousands over candles lit in KPS,UM to mark UN day, and represent hope that we can achieve 350 ppm

The jump of joy as event ends...over the banner that I and Jimmy put on to the pole
another 350 made by shoes...so that we can feel the sand with our barefeet, and enjoy the nature before it's gone

Links to videos on youtube:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4vkNYlPIyY
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzUiwvasiUw
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfHje4RNslw
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBos7L-I43M
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcTiVeSsFg8
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK-s8Q5FVNA

That many videos? Well, at least that's what my passion goes to. Lets save our Earth before its too late. Not for us, but our children's children.

Prime Scientific Expedition Voyage 2009 -The Story Begins

30th June
I boarded on a voyage, might be the only one in my life. KD Perantau was responsible to wave us thru the seas of Sulu and Celebes. This voyage, a memory i'll never forget - for both right and wrong reasons. I've seen things beyond my age, knowledge and understandings. Being on a navy survey ship, opened my eyes and changed my personal perception - on scientist and navy personels.
Felt anxious and excited. Not many would have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My task - dive and record what i observed on laid transects. Dive sites - navy bases inaccessible by civilians around Spratly Islands, open seas along the waters of Sabah up to Sipadan.


1st; 2nd July
KD Perantau started sailing. After a night's journey, out in the middle of deep blue ocean, she stopped. "Letupan! Letupan! Letupan di keladak belakang!" All of us quickly gathered at the bow. It was just a drill, incase of real emergency. But, we still see real explosion. Set up by one of the personels. Then, few of us got the chance to try out firing the stand gun to a red target.


3rd July
Sunrises, and Layang-layang island can be seen at the horizon. Excitment begins. Finally set foot in Layang-layang, dived and survived. Didn't get to see big things. But reefs were exciting. First dive - survived. 2nd dive - failed. Recovery inflatable boat was down. We had to be towed back and abort second dive. In the end, 2nd dive turned to be night dive at the jetty. Though at jetty, wonderful things can be seen. Great view.

Stayed overnite in the fisheries research centre. Nice place, but lack of water supply.



4th July
Dawn dive, around 7am. Dive at reef balls. Doesn't seemed to be working as a good artificial reef. But still manage to see different kind of corals. Next dive, near slope. Great diversity. Healthy corals. 3rd dive, in reef ball site. Again, the reef balls doesnt seem to be working. Natural reef was nearby, seems healthy. But being attacked by COT. High diversity. Saw twin spot lionfish. A kind of rare sightings.

to be continued...

Something wonderful to share...

Regina Brett is indeed very wise !!

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it..

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day.... Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland ,Ohio on May 28, 2006

Thanks.. 9th april

Wow, i didn't realize it was more than a month ago since i last blog...
Time flies...in a blink of an eye, i'm already 24 years...infact, just turned 24. Didn't realize i'm that old already...hehe

I just want to thank my friends for all their wishes on my birthday. Some of which, i din manage to reply, pls forgive me. Its not that i forgotten, but i could have just missed out some of u.

I'm not a person who's very fond of celebrating birthdays, and usually that makes me tend to forget my close friends' birthday. Sorry. This is sumthing i learn in life. Some likes to celebrate birthdays, simply bcoz they felt glad that they get to live for another year. On the other side, some don't like to celebrate bcoz they are getting older. To me, it doesn't really matter bcoz life is exciting. Not just on that birthday. Infact, i should thank my mom and dad on that day, bcoz if it wasn't bcoz of them, i wouldn't be here anymore. Maybe next year i should thank my parents on my birthday.

Me and my dear at San Francisco Steakhouse in Tropicana City

This year's birthday is a lil special. Get to celebrate birthday with my lovely gf. Though it wasn't a big celebration, but its meaningful. Had a candlelight dinner. Then blew the candle at a park. I kinda like it this way, bcoz i dun usually like crowded places. So, turning 24 on 090409 would be a day i'll remember..(what a serie of number). Thank you so much, Kuan Ching for ur simple but lovely and meaningful celebration. Love U!

The cake my dear bought for me

Me making a wish...hehe

Famous people born on April 9...
Dennis Quaid - American actor
Robbie Fowler - ex Liverpool, Leeds, England striker
Rachel Stevens - S-Club 7 vocalist
Linda Chung - Hong Kong actress

Historical day on April 9...
1413 - Henry V was crowned King of England
1867 - Alaska was purchased from Russia by America
1940 - WW2, Germany invades Denmark and Norway
1941 - The Philippines fell to Japan in WW2
1992 - Conservative Party won British's General Election for 4th straight time
2003 - Baghdad falls to America
2005 - Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_9
http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/this_day_in_history/this_day_April_9.php

Dilema - siapa aku?

Aku muncul di dunia ini, seorang cina. Itu takdir, kita tak dapat lawan. Namun ku bangga. Bukan kerana ku cina, tapi ku anak Malaysia. Melayu, Cina, India, Asli...tetap manusia. Darahku merah seperti yang lain. Tapi kerana aku cina, aku terpaksa akur. Aku tak boleh cabar ketuanan Melayu, kerana itu hak mereka. Adil ke? Mengapa aku tak boleh bersaing secara adil? Pemimpin kata, Ketuanan Melayu merujuk kepada Raja-raja Melayu. Aku terima. Tapi, pentingkah untuk membezakan kaum? Adakah Cina lebih hebat? Tidak, kerana aku tetap hamba Tuhan. Makhluk ciptaan Tuhan yang tidak seberapa. Mengapa mesti aku kenal apa itu kaum? Betapa indahnya dunia ini jika aku dilahirkan tanpa kaum. Kebolehan yang ku ada, ku pelajari daripada guru-guru Melayu, Cina, India. Bukannya kerana aku ini Cina. Jadi, mengapa mesti ada ketuanan Melayu? kenapa bukan ketuanan individu.

Aku dibesarkan di kawasan Melayu. Abgku Muslim. Ku suka makanan India. Tapi aku tidak dilahirkan di China. Aku lebih fasih Bahasa Melayu daripada Bahasa Cina. Mataku tak sepet seperti orang cina tulen. Rambutku sedikit kerinting seperti orang Melayu. Hidung ku mancung seperti India. Cuma kulitku cerah, itupun tak secerah Cina tulen. Jadi, aku ini apa? Cina bukan, Melayu bukan, India pun bukan. Siapa aku? Ku dalam dilemma.

Aku mengerti, kalau tak pentingkan kaum, budaya ibunda akan hilang. Asimilasi berlaku, seperti di Indonesia. Tapi itu bukan seruanku. Aku cuma menyeru, supaya jangan pandang aku sebagai cina. Tapi sebagai anak Malaysia yang sama sepertimu. Berapa ramai yang berani? Ceritaku ini pun mungkin berisiko akan ditahan bawah ISA. Bila ku menghentam Cina kerana terlalu pentingkan kaum, aku dipandang hina kaumku sendiri. Bila ku hentam kaum lain, ku dituduh menghasut. Jadi, apa yang ku boleh buat? Ku dalam dilemma.

Kau Melayu, dia India, aku Cina. Itu pentingkah? Hanya kerana warna kulitku berbeza. Apa keuntungan yang akan kita dapat kalau terlalu pentingkan kaum? Atau sebenarnya, masing-masing pentingkan diri? Yang Melayu takut hilang hak istimewa, kerana takut hilang kesenangan yang diberi kerajaan. Yang Cina takut ditindas, kerana takut tak dapat menjadi lebih kaya. Yang India takut ditindas, kerana bilangan mereka kurang. Yang bumiputra lain, lagi kesian. Adakah ini semata-mata untuk kepentingan diri? Ku dalam dilemma.

Adakah ini Malaysia yang kita inginkan? Kau Melayu, dia India, aku Cina. Itukah Malaysia? Dulu ku bermain dengan Melayu dan India. Tak pernah aku fikir mereka berbeza. Boleh berkongsi makan, minum, peluh. Dulu, sama-sama membuli, sama-sama dibuli. Kini, saling membuli. Itukah Malaysia? Itukah Malaysia yang kita inginkan? Ku dalam dilemma. Mengapa hidup dalam keadaan risau kaum sendiri ditindas? Mengapa tidak hidup dalam keadaan gembira saling membantu sesama kaum? Kau tentukanlah...

I will not forget you, auspicious 2008

Goodbye, auspicious 2008. U have been a wonderful companion for me. I'll never forget what had happened throughout the times u were around. It all started when i decided to let everything go. Before i came to know u...i really had a bad life, infact the worse. Bcoz of u, i get to know, how to let go...how to put aside and to start anew.

When i first embrace ur presence, i told myself, i'm gonna be someone better, someone new. With ur help, i managed to change myself. With ur presence, my life transformed. Miracles happened, love came, efforts were repaid.

Academics, i tot would end in regrets. Instead, i managed to get the best out of it, i din believe myself. For the 1st time and only once, and that was the last semester, i got dean's list. I never had the time for academics, as my time was given to everyone else.

An accident happened, i could have lost my life..thanks to Lord Buddha, i was saved by His blessings. Miracle happened, i escaped unscratched. But moments before, it could have been the last thing i remembered in life...the spinning of the car, the roll and impact, window shattered and flashes of memories in the past. I began to appreciate things even more...my family, my friends, my companion...everything around me, my life.

Then came love, u gave me a new hope as i was giving up...u brought someone special to my life, someone who had taken away my heart. She was just perfect, and everything i needed. She gave me happiness in life, appreciation and spirit, motivation and determination. She became a companion where i finally can share my ups and downs with.

Friends u became, and friends u brought. As i was leaving campus, u showed me that i do have friends around. People who appreciated my presence, my help and my friendship. However, it was slightly too late as everyone are heading their own paths. But the moments spend with them, are unforgettable.

Happiness u brought to my family too, i get to be involved in a wedding i'll never forget. My only brother's wedding...in a truly malaysian manner. A mixed culture wedding, though its not new, but its an everlasting memory. Happiness filled the air of my family.

But life is fair, u never let anyone go away with good things in life...u let me taste near death, u let me suffer loss, u let me embrace embarrasement. U brought down my ego, u put my heads low, and u let me suffer loneliness. I understand...bcoz u are just being fair. But i wonder, how fair it would be, when ur younger sister takes over from u soon. Now u r leaving me...soon, very soon. I hope ur sister would treat me just as nice, just like u, 2008. Ur older sister, 2007 treated me badly, but i understand...that she wanted me to change. Then u came, and i'd changed. What more can i ask from u? I just hope 2009 will teach me more, but not harshly. i know...it will be a tough ride. Thanks for all that u've given me. I appreciate it, i treasure it. I'll never forget u, 2008. Goodbye and viva forever...

A Wet Weekend...

This is how i spend my weekend, a wet weekend...

Saturday, 13th Dec 2008
i went to my first live concert...coz i got free tickets:-

'Shi fen hong' concert...at Padang Timur, opposite Amcorp Building

My first concert...a wet one, look at how we had to take off our shoes on a wet field...

My friends that joined me...Poh Suan (left) and her hometown friend

Look at the crowd...still big crowd although after rain

Emil Chau, the artist to start off the concert

Next, Fan Wei Qi from Taiwan

Then, Vincy, Singaporean born Hong Kong artist...

...with a "V" balloon made for her by her fans, crazy!

Our local cantonese rappers...Manhand

Another local artist - Danny Wen Li Ming, not chinese educated, he's famous for the song Siapa...

Y2J, from Taiwan, created the blast of the nite with their powerful high key voices
But i hav to leave early from the concert, worried that i would miss the last lrt...
and there it goes, my first live concert...which i'd never planned to go, but not gonna waste free tickets

Sunday, 14th Dec 08
I went to watch Amnesty International Human Rights Day Celebration at Annexe, Central Market:-
Here i am, waiting for LRT...on a rainy day

Below are some of the art works in the exhibition that interests me...either from their pictures, or even their phrases...
"Real men don't rape"

Everyone has the right to live, the right to be educated, the right choose our own belief, the right to express...get to know ur rights...n fight for it.

That's how my weekend goes...quite 'syok'! woohoo

South China Sea Conference 2008 - A step closer to protect the marine ecosystems

For the past week, I was away attending an international conference, South China Sea Conference organised by UM, together with MOSTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovative) and MSMS (Malaysia Society of Marine Sciences). This conference is one step closer in creating transboundary and collaboration to protect one of the most diverse ecosystem, the South China Sea. It was held in Hyatt Regency, Kuantan from 25th til 28th November 2008.

I attended this conference with two mindsets...
1st: to present my work on corals on a poster.
2nd: to get more knowledge in scientific value on how to conserve the large marine ecosystem.

Expert scientists and researchers all over the world. From left: Ms Li Jianwei (China), Dr. Fadli Syamsudin (Indonesia), Dr. Tan Koh Siang (Singapore), Prof. Dr. Phan Siew Moi (UM), Dr. Kenneth Sherman (US), Prof. Vo Si Tuan (Vietnam), Dr. Koch Savath (Cambodia) and Abraham Sakili (the Phillipines).

This conference is big, as it was attended by bigshots around the world involved in marine protection, such as Dr. Kenneth Sherman (US), Director of National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Dr. Vo Si Tuan (Vietnam), COBSEA project, Dr. Tan Koh Siang (Singapore), Dr. Yasuwo Fukuyo, Prof Phang Siew Moi (UM), Director of Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences and etc from all over the world including China, UK, US, the Phillipines, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea. I was proud to have joined this conference as I get to know what efforts have been made to protect marine ecosystem in this region.

I was excited as I get to present my poster in an international conference. It's an important value for a researcher as the more scientific paper published, the higher reputation you'll get. This is a start for me, as I had my poster presented. To add further excitement, there were competition for the best poster presentation. My team, including my well respected supervisor and only expert in Malaysian corals (I reckon so) Mr. Affendi Yang Amri, Badrul Huzaimi, Nikoo Cheheltani, Munira, Poh Leem, Jia Jie, Kok Wei, Faedz (didn't attend) had posters and oral presentation during that conference. And the great news is, our team won 2 out of 3 winners in poster presentation. Mr Affendi, and myself....both winning the biological category. It was my first time winning an award in an international conference (the first i attended as well)...and guess what, the judges are from overseas, so it shows that our work are on par with other U in the world.

My poster: Effect of Jetty Pillar Orientation on Scleractinian Corals

1st pic: That's me and my supervisor, Mr Affendi. 2nd pic: Posing with Mr. Affendi's poster, one of the winner of best poster awards.


Explaining to one of the judges, Prof Dang from Vietnam


En Ismail, National Coordinator for the Large Marine Ecosystem project

Prof Dr. Gareth Jones (UK) listening to my presentation on my work.

I hope that after this conference, more of the scientists in the world will collaborate with each other to share data and protect the world's largest ecosystem, the marine ecosystem. I hope one day, I'll be able to get involved actively in protecting this fragile ecosystem.

I would also like to acknowlegde Mr. Affendi, Prof Chong, my family and siblings, my project mates, my housemates and a very important person in my life, Kuan Ching...in winning the best poster award. Thanks to all of ur support and assistance. I wouldnt have gotten the award if it wasn't because of all of you!

Middles Rock Expedition (27th - 30th Oct 08)

I never thought that I would have the chance to be the first few ppl to dive in Middles Rock, after that area was given to Malaysia (and Malaysia lost Pulau Batu Puteh to S'pore). It was a risky trip, simply because of the time of the year where monsoon is hitting, and also it was spring tide where the current is very very strong. Some may think that this is crazy or some would say, "what do we have there? there 's nothing but just rocks". Well, u'll never know when u dont get down there to see it for urself. (Unfortunately, i have no photos at the moment as i have not collected from the underwater photographers that was with us).

Middles Rock (Batuan Tengah) is just south of Pulau Batu Puteh. There are two rocks, approximately 250m apart from each other and one being bigger than the other. There were not much biological information that can be found on Middles Rock (just try to Google it). The diversity of the Middles Rock, I would say is quite high (the data collected have not been analysed, so it's not justified at the moment). Based on the Reef Check system (which I was assigned to do), it shows that the coral system there is doing quite well despite of the high siltation. The size of the massive and boulder corals are damn huge! (some are bigger than me!) So we roughly know that the corals there were not very much disturbed yet (let's hope it will remain that way) and have existed for thousands, maybe even hundred thousands of years. Surprisingly, despite of the high diversity of corals, I din managed to spot big fishes (all <>

Do we really know how beautiful our Malaysia is?

Last week was a tiring but an enjoyable week for me as I managed to travel to the north of west coast (except Perlis) and then down south. It took me ten days to complete the route. That was the first time I traveled to so many places with such a small budget within 10 days. Strangely, I learned a lot from this trip instead of just enjoying it. This trip had put me into thoughts about Malaysia. I haven't been to overseas a lot, but just a few such as New Zealand, Australia and Singapore. But this trip had really made me realize how beautiful Malaysia is. A lot of people would like to travel overseas for the sceneries and for holidays. I'm in this group of people as well. However, my perception changed after this trip. I realized that there are still a lot of beautiful places in Malaysia that we haven't been to. Why would we want to travel overseas to enjoy the sceneries when we haven't really know how beautiful Malaysia is? Every Malaysian would tell foreigners that Malaysia is unique, with breath-taking picturesque sceneries and bla bla bla. But have we really ever been to these places to really see it and feel it? Some people can't afford to travel overseas to see and enjoy a different environment, but hey, there's always our own hometown to go. I'm not surprised that some people don't even know where to take their friends to in their own hometown. Why? This is a question that every Malaysian should ponder on.

Before making it to other countries, it's always wise (and should be made a habit) to really see things around us, the places and the people nearest to us, which is our own beloved hometown. Malaysia is a gifted land with the tropical weather and hence the high biodiversity from terrestrial to marine. Every corner in Malaysia has something to see and to enjoy. Breath-taking waterfall of Lata Kinjang, shiny beautiful beach around Penang National Park, muddy but unique mangrove of Larut Matang and even cool, misty hill of Maxwell, to name a few. In this 10-day trip, I've really seen all these places and I bet that not many are lucky to really enjoyed this. Well, I guess I would be doing more trips around Malaysia, before heading overseas so that I can really tell people around the world, how beautiful Malaysia is, and how lucky that Malaysians have privilege living on such a wonderful land. Moreover, travel around Malaysia is definitely cheaper than going overseas! Think about it!

Lata Kinjang waterfall, Kampar, Perak

View of Batu Ferringhi from Lighthouse in Penang National Park