Yesterday my shoes were burned and luckily I’m not injured, however, not today. The ethanol I use for sterilization was catching fire again. I have to take out the burning ethanol before it got any chance to burn the whole laminar air flow. This time I’m not with luck although I have gloves on my hands.
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It was an accident this morning when I’m carried out my laboratory work inside a laminar air flow cabinet. I need to sterile picking tool before pick the plaque from agar plate. Therefore, I have to deep partial of the picking tool with 70% ethanol then flame it and then deep to ethanol again. While doing this, I really wonder will the ethanol burns?
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When my girlfriend and I were in Penang, we have visited the Kek Lok Si (the famous Buddhist temple which built in the year 1930) together with my parents and my younger sister. We don’t miss the chance to visit the 30.2m bronze statue of the goddess Kuan Yin (Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) which located at the hillside above the pagoda.
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I have to return Malaysia for some unfinished business on May. Time flies, I already eight months away from Malaysia since September 2005. During this trip, I have bought some Finns traditional candies according to my colleague’s recommendation. These candies were served as small token from Finland for my family, relatives and friends in Malaysia. When I was in Malaysia, I became not comfortable to Malaysia climate, it became too hot to me. Believe it or not, I have to take shower more than 5 times a day even before go on bed. (more…)

I have asked my colleagues about the education system in Finland during our lunch today. We are sharing education system in Malaysia and Finland. They told me they no need to wear uniform to school. They can wear what ever they like go to school. Most of them have their hair dyed before during high school. What!? Yes, in Finland there are no school rules prohibited students dyes their hair and hair style too. So, they are free to dye their hair with any colour they like and also hair style they want.
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Spring is not last that long in Finland, it is about 45 to 65 days only. Then, summer is coming. Summer begins in May in Turku and lasts until mid-September.

During summer the length of day becomes longer and longer. At the northern parts of Finland for example Lapland, the sun does not set at all. So, they have 24 hours sunshine. In Turku, the longest day (Midsummer) is nearly 19 hours long. I missed the Midsummer (middle of June) because I back to Malaysia on May.
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Winter in Finland is a bit longer than other countries. The duration of winter is about 100 days. Then, it is spring. Although it is spring but the weather surround you still not very warm yet. In Turku, spring begins in the middle of March this year (it was a bit late according to my colleagues). The temperature rises from 0°C to average 10°C and more. At this moment, snow was already melted and I saw the municipal workers start to clean up those small stones sprayed on the road surface during winter. Besides, cleaning car was busy washed away those dark and ugly remaining hard snow at road side or bicycle way.
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On next day, both of us left from hostel to the Helsinki International Airport at 5 o’clock early morning. My girlfriend will get on plane to Malaysia at 8 o’clock morning. Therefore, we have to take the earlier airport bus to Helsinki International Airport from the bus station near to Central Railway Station at 5am. Then, I will take express bus from Helsinki International Airport back to Turku. I have to say goodbye to my girlfriend. I miss her very much. I have no idea when I can see her again after this holiday. No, I don’t cry but nearly when she stepped in the boarding gate.
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Today was the last day for our holiday at Helsinki. After have our breakfast at hostel, we walked to the Katajanokka district. Crossing the bridge near to the Kauppatori, the Uspenski Cathedral which built in the year 1868 is immediately us. There were many old and new warehouses at this district, some of the old warehouses were converted into restaurants or shops. This district is totally surrounding by sea; therefore, it was really windy during our tour. For this reason, we don’t spend much time at here. It too cold to us and made us felt uncomfortable. After a short walk at here, we decided went for our lunch.

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On next day, we have our walking tour around the Senate Square. The area surrounding to the Senate square is near the coast. It was so windy until we really thought to give up our walking tour. However, we did continued but avoid walked to the area really near to the sea and made some adjustment on the tour.

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