Journeying » Archipelago

Seminar on a cruise

KJ Lim — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 16:00:00 +0000

On Wednesday 22 Nov 2006, I attended Annual Systems Biology Research Program organized by Turku Centre for Biotechnology on Viking Line cruise. This was my second times attended the System Biology Research Program seminar on the cruise. We on board M/S Amorella at Turku harbour. Later, we changed to the other ship, M/S Isabella at Mariehamn harbour, Åland and ahead back to Turku harbour. After changed to M/S Isabella, we have Viking buffet there. I have delicious meals ^-^

We have wonderful talks for that day. In that meeting, I understand now why EU not really supports Malaysia to develop BioFuel by using our oil palm biomass. When we use the oil palm biomass to produce BioFuel as energy we still produce a lot of Carbon Dioxide as by product. It just like the petrol we are using now, generate a lot of Carbon Dioxide. EU, US and Japan are working together to develop a technology which generate energy from photosynthesis. MIT already developed a prototype of artificial photosynthesis system. Hopefully this technology will reduce the Green House effect happen now.

A trip to Archipelago of Finland

KJ Lim — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:42:00 +0000

source: Archipelago of Finland

We have a field trip to Hilappajärvi Lake at Kustavi, the northern part of the Archipelago of Finland this morning. Leaving from BioCity, Turku and took us about 45-50 minutes drive to arrive the jetty at Kivimaa. The lake is at the other island and the island is connects by a yellow ferry. A couple minutes of waiting, the yellow ferry arrived. Our journey continued when the yellow ferry arrived at the jetty of Vartsala. With my supervisor car GPS help finally we found the lake. One of my colleagues jumped (actually just walk only) into the lake and start hunting for his project’s sample, Lake Quillwort. What we were doing?

We tried our best to spot the sample he looking for on a small jetty on the lake. My supervisor proposed me row a boat to help my colleague. Well, I tried very hard to row the boat (actually I don’t know how to), however, it just went to the left, the right and backward but not forward. Other colleague had to jump on the boat and row it, A bit embarrassing there. We managed to get enough samples (I hope) and we returned to small jetty.

Then, time for photographic I mean my colleague. He took out his camera snapped photos here and there; we became amateur model. Well, I also took some photos. I found my colleagues and my project’s sample (Lichen and Bracken Fern) there too. Of course, I have enough materials to carry on my research (for time being) I just snapped some pictures regarding them.

After that, it was time for lunch. We have our lunch at one of restaurant at Vuosnainen. It was my highlight of the day. This was my first time sit under the sun to have my lunch in my life. I never did this before in Malaysia, I believe you will not also. The food was so nice; I really want to have them several times but my wallet and my stomach can’t afford me to do so. Well, I still have chance to eat a lot of salmon. After lunch we back to Biocity, Turku to store the collected sample. I’m looking for other chance to visit other places of Archipelago of Finland with my girlfriend (I sincerely hope).

Seminar on a cruise at the world’s largest archipelago

KJ Lim — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:19:00 +0000

On 22 Nov 2005, I attended seminar organized by Turku Centre for Biotechnology (the place where I work) on a cruise,Viking Line. This was my first time attended seminar on the cruise. We on board Amorella from Turku harbour to Mariehamn harbour, Åland. Then, we changed to the other ship, Isabella at the Mariehamn harbour back to Turku harbour. The whole journey took about 13 hours. When I’m in the auditorium room (Deck 10, the highest level of the ship) I can felt the ship was shaking (correct me if I’m using wrong description) because of the waves……

Most Finns on board because of thetax free alcoholic beverages shopping. You can get those alcoholic drinks with cheapest price. Therefore, there were limitation for alcoholic beverages you can purchase on board. Besides, you are allow to drink red wine and white wine as much as you want in the buffet restaurant (Viking buffet) on board. I have drank couples cup of red and white wine but I’m not drunk. ;)