Another 2 weeks to go for our LOL gang trip to hmm.. somewhere along the coast!! Can't wait to set my foot on the sand!

This week's Friday song is dedicated to beaches:


Or the Hindi version:


Have fun people!

Chumma Talk: I wonder what my readers would prefer - a short post or a long one?

I posted this photo below 2 weeks back and completely forgot about my turn to write a story about it. Oppssi! Sorry people. Next time, please remind me okay?


My version:



Thanks to those who shared their version of story. It's amazing to see how far our imagination could take us, just based on one single photo.

Thanks again.

Doctor of Philosophy - a dream which I am trying to make it a reality; a destination I wish to see the beginning of a dawn; a calling, I would say. I remember hearing this from someone..Doctoral studies is not about intelligence; it's about willpower. A true statement and I am living it right now.

I am proud of what I am doing right now. Being a single 29 years old, trying to make the ends meet with a small amount of money (termed here as stipend), zero savings etc have all become a part of my life now. To be fair, even after 6 months into the programme, I am still unable to completely adjust myself with the situation. But no regrets or whatsoever.

Then, why you wanna do this? - you may ask. Well, refer to the first para - I would answer :-P

But it is only true that only a small group of people wants and needs a Ph.D. It is not true that having a Dr title in front of your name is something glamorous. It is a responsibility and you are expected to live up to the title. But I don't know why though, people start expecting you to give 'intelligent' opinion for every single problem or issue in this world regardless it has anything to do with your field of expertise or not. Some people just failed to understand that a Ph.D trains you to be an expert in a specific field of study, not teaching you what life is all about. As for me, I am still learning about people, love, life and even the road direction!

Well then, how do you decided if you need a Ph.D or not? Came up with a check list for everyone but scientifically speaking, I have not validated the 'questionnaire' yet. So, not sure how significant the results are. Nevertheless, lets try:

1. Do you have a master degree completed with a thesis and/or a first class honours for you bachelors?

2. Do you have any experience in research work apart from the one done for your master and/ bachelor degree?

3. Do you enjoy doing research - lab work or field work?

4. Do you ask WHY for (almost) everything you came across?

5. Are you willing to put your career development on hold (if you have one at the moment) or postpone your career search (if you do not have one at the moment) for another 3 - 5 years?

6. Can you resist the temptation of driving a sports car or a BMW (after bumming into your high school friend who is now making millions doing business), while driving a locally-made car?

7. Are you willing to shove the desire to settle down (if you are unmarried but attached) or desire to start a family (if you are married) or desire to find The One (if single and looking) aside?

8. Do you enjoy doing presentations - oral or poster?

9. Do you enjoy writing scientific articles and see them published?

10. Do you think you have the willpower to go through agonizing 3 - 5 years being a student in a body of an adult?



The results:

8 - 10 Yes: You are a Ph.D material. Can't wait to see you joining me ;-)

5 - 7 Yes: You may have developed the desire to further your studies to doctoral level but you still have a long way to go.

0 - 5 Yes: You are definitely NOT one! But it doesn't mean you can't excel in other fields.

Don't forget to share your results with everyone! :-)

Has Mothers Day been commercialised just like the hyped Valentine's Day?
Maybe.

But that should not deter us from celebrating mothers, should it? :P Mothers are not meant to be celebrated only once a year. Nevertheless, what's the problem of having a celebration on the second Sunday of May?

So, what we did at home on Sunday?....

View the rest of the Mothers Day photos HERE.

Wondering if we should plan anything for the Fathers next month. What you guys think huh?

It's no secret that I love sarees. I wore my first saree at the age of 13 and I remember wearing one for some kinda event at the school.

I go ga-ga over sarees for no apparent reason. Sometimes I wonder why.




So, this week's Nostalgic Friday is dedicated to sarees...

A friend of mine highlighted this to me yesterday and today I found the news has been spread to the mainstream media as well. See if there is anything you guys can do for the dogs.

From Malaysia Central:

The residents of Pulau Ketam sent some 300 stray dogs to exile on a remote island where the harsh conditions almost certainly guarantee a horrible death. Of the 300 dogs sent there, more than three-quarters are presumed to be already dead. I travelled to the island with Sabrina Yeap of Furry Friends Farm and managed to save only one dog on this reconnaissance trip. We did see several other starving and dying dogs along the mangrove shore.


I am mounting an urgent rescue mission to capture and transport the remaining survivors back to Sabrina's Furry Friends Farm animal shelter. But time is running out and there might be only skeletons and carcasses left to collect on our next trip. Boat hire is expensive there. It is a tourist area and it has already cost me a few hundred ringgit for boat hire alone, so far. The rescued dogs cannot be transported on the regular ferries.


Almost nobody will lift a finger to help without a fee. This is understandable. The locals are already shaking their heads in disbelief that there are outsiders who want to save the animals they so casually discarded. Instead of pointing fingers and antagonising them, we need their co-operation to help save the unfortunate creatures. In the process, we also hope to educate the islanders on better treatment of animals. It would be an impossible mission if we didn't win their hearts.


If you are unable to help directly, please help by forwarding this appeal to other compassionate folks who you feel might be able to make some monetary contributions.

Read more:
Skeletons in the island
Plight of the swamp dogs

So, after so long, I think it won't be too much if I ask for a short story (when I say short - I mean really short, around 50-100 words). See if anyone could come up with something that amuse me based on the photo below:


I will post my version after a week. That's a promise! :-)

Between, the reward for the quiz still stands. So far, the highest score for my quiz is 50%. Geeezz! I must be a mysterious person - no one seems to know me well!

Bring it on people! *grins

Chumma Talk: I will be with the rest of MIBs tomorrow for a photoshoot in Putrajaya. You may join us if you are around. More details are here.

Yea yea I know. My Friday post came in a bit late today. Spent almost the entire day with Kavilan & Mala. SO, you guys can blame it on them! LOL!

Some photos taken today:



And here is the Nostalgic Friday song for everyone:


Somehow I feel sad listening to this song. Don't know why though. How do you feel?