The Beauty of Autumn

Fall has arrived. Behold the changing leaves, and enjoy the crisp breeze. Let your eyes take in the burst of color. Transformation is afoot and hope is in the air. ~anonymous~                                       

All photos taken using Canon Rebel T4i

Chirps Chirps

One of my new found hobbies here is to bird observing. We have quite a big back yard here. There are always squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks and birds in our yard. But I was so excited when I first spotted a blue color bird. Later, I got to know from the internet that it’s called Blue Jay. From then, I developed my hobby of taking photos of birds and recognizing their different chirping sound. I never have the chance to observe birds back in Malaysia because we stay in apartment and we just don’t have time to do so. With the trees getting bold, bird observing has also become easier.

Most of the birds here are very colorful and ‘fat’ because they have to get ready for winter. Some birds here are migratory birds but we are not encouraged to feed them because they will stop migrating to the South during winter as they have stable food supply.

These are few of my favorite and common birds in Hershey. These are some of the pictures I took at our backyard and around Hershey.

Blue Jay. I think their churps are not as nice as their color =P

Northern Cardinal (male)

Northern Cardinal (Female)

Robin. One interesting thing about Robin is they have blue color eggs!!

Black-capped chickadee. It’s so hard to take nice photo of them because they are tiny and very fast in action.

Canadian goose

Migrating Canadian geese, I can hear them every morning during summer and early fall. I guess it’s too cold for them to be here now.

We are not allowed to feed the birds in the park as the steady source of food will change their migratory pattern.

We bought this bird house in a garage sale and hope to have birds building their nests in it soon.

1Malaysia: People First, Performance Now

As I sit in the office, I am pondering and thinking about what I have been through this morning.

I have recently graduated from a public university and currently working on my postdoc with a university in US. However, I am now back in Malaysia for my field work and my wife is still a PhD student with the same public university I had graduated from. However, lately, the authorities had cordoned off all parking bays in the campus and students are not allowed inside. We are all asked to park at the 'park and ride' and ride the bus.

However, as a graduate student, our work and research doesn't just confined to a specific lab. We worked with so many research labs and also places. We also don't work with just books but with equipment and kits which we have to carry around. Our time is flexible yet at a very fast pace. We can't afford to loose our time with the research materials we are carrying. Every minute that we are transporting our materials/ subjects will cause it to degrade.

As such, how do we parked our car outside the campus and take the bus into the campus and then, do our work. After that, take the bus again, to get to our car and drive it in to load all our research equipment into the car? How long will that take and how much time will it be wasted?

We went to complaint but the answer that has been given is this:

1) Staff also don't have enough parking - so, how do you solve this and that will the benefit both sides? Most of you clock in and then clock out without necessarily needed to go out.

2) Student parked at the lecturer parking lot. Our dean also don't have place to park - so, now you asked all student to park outside so that the dean have a place to park?

3) Talk to the dean - where the heck is the dean? will he meet us?

4) Thanks for your complaint -so what are you going to do with it?

So, whose performance are we trying to help to push?

When did the university try to help to give us better facilities to promote a better environment for us to work. At first, they took away our rest area/ sitting room. Now the car park. What next? The lab?

The student can't work if we are always embroiled with campus politics and also problems that caused us to work inefficiently!

Who is the people first? Where is the performance? It seems all this benefits the staff only!

Wake up!

Flowers...

This time, no chronicles but just photos. Enjoy!

A walk with the Creator

I had a relaxing weekend today. I didn't do much but some laundry and take a walk in the park. I enjoy nature and when there are opportunity for me to go for a walk in the park, I will always go.

So, today, I spend some time walking and armed with my faithful camera, I took some pictures too. This time, I visited the Bullfrog Valley park. Well, actually my second time here.

I simply love this place. You can walk under the canopy and protected from the hot sun.

 

Isn't that beautiful? Actually the trail was created not too long ago and now it's extended through the town of Hershey. The story of the trail comes with a sad story.

Well, back in 1998, Jonathan Eshenhour was riding his bicycle and at that time, there was no bicycle trail nor walking path in Hershey. He was killed when he rammed into a wall. In remembrance of him, this parents decided to raise fund and built walking cum cycling trail. This fund raising was well received and until now, they are still building the trail and extending it for people.

Well, because of him and the work of his parents, now we have this nice beautiful trails that take us across the town of Hershey. However, I have not walk all of it. You simply can't. It's too long...

Anyway, back to the park...they have a nice little lake where you can fish too. Apparently, there are quite many people who comes here to fish. At the pond, there are also geese and ducks...

As I was taking the picture, a thought just came through my mind. I wonder, where will this ducks and geese be if it was back at home? Will it still be happily swimming here at the lake or it already end up in somebody dinner table?

I  just walked across the street from here and the whole scenery changes...I am simply in awe...

Well, this is a wheat field. It's summer soon so it's going to be harvested. I can just simply look to the horizon and all I can see are wheat fields and corn fields. The view is simply stunning.

I enjoyed the walk so much. It was a wonderful time to relax and be alone at the same time be with God. I am simply thankful for Him for everything that He has done and He is doing and for all that He has created. The verse Matt 9:37 just literally 'jumped' to me. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore to send out workers into his harvest field.

Anyway, here are more pictures I took in the evening with the Lord.

 

Hershey and around

This is one of the experience which I think it will stay with me for a long time to come. First of all, this is the longest plane ride I have ever been on and the topping to that I arrived in New York minus my luggage bag. When I arrive in NYC, only then my luggage 'decided to board' the plane!

 

Now that I am here in Hershey, Pennsylvania, I don't have my luggage with me. I have to be careful with the clothes so that I don't run out before my luggage reaches me...

I have been here for a day but I am loving it! However, I might find the life here a bit slow when I stay here. Wherever you go, you will find farmland surrounding you! Though they have the Hershey Park and ride, how many times can you go to that?

Anyway, for the last couples of days, it has been raining non stop. It's not like pouring but it's quite wet. You will realise that most of my picture taken is covered with the raindrop.

Ohh.. today it's the first time I step into the lab. It's nothing impressive but they do a lot of stuff in this lab. I get to choose my seat and I have my facing the windows. It has a great view from the 7th floor. I think I will be enjoying this more.

Above is my seat and below is what I get to see from the window! Amazing huh!

Well, tomorrow will be Saturday and I am going to stay at home to wait for my luggage to arrive. After that, I hope I can take more picture of the town and do some get to know the town thingy too... and better not rain!