This week I’m on spring break and have been traveling in Japan. It’s been really nice to feel more like I’m in nature again in comparison to how it is back in Singapore. I’m in Osaka at the moment and have been to Tokyo and Kyoto earlier this week. Tokyo and Osaka both feel like […]
Month: March 2024
Skygarden
My sit spot this week is the skygarden in my dorm. My room is on the 13th floor of a 26 floor building, and everything around feels quite industrial. Though manmade, the skygarden is a nice piece of nature to liven up the space. The skygarden, unlike any of the rest of the building, is […]
Community and Tree-planting
The word “community” in relation to my spot in the bird garden, it’s not just about birds being nearby. It’s about how they socialize, how their surroundings are made exciting and engaging, the care they receive, and the lessons they teach. Together, these elements form a vibrant and closely-knit community of birds. To offset 2.70 […]
Birds and Water
I’m at a different sit spot this week, I hear birds chirping. It makes me think about how long the plants here have been growing and enduring different weather conditions. The water I drink comes from the ground, purified through chemical, uv treatment and filtration. Electricity is the primary source of energy used to power […]
Stay Cat
I notice a stray cat nearby with white, beige, and brown hair, its fur is fluffy and clings to raindrops, and it has striking blue eyes. I wonder who his owner was and where he came from, as he seems to be seeking shelter from the rain. One thing the stray cat reminds me of […]
Offsetting Impact
Ever since I got to Berlin, I’ve been hyper-aware of my waste habits. From my sit spot, I can see the expansive garbage disposal system in my courtyard: surrounded by trees and blooming greenery, an array of color-coded, descriptively labeled trash bins lies at the center of the yard. Back home in the United States, […]
Water and Energy
In South Africa, approximately 85 percent, or 42,000MW, of the nation’s electricity is generated via coal-fired power stations. Burn coal is harmful to the environment in many ways. Burning coal in power plants emits hazardous outdoor air pollutants: particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, mercury, arsenic, and various other heavy metals. Despite environmental […]
Water and Energy
In South Africa, approximately 85 percent, or 42,000 MW, of the nation’s electricity is generated via coal-fired power stations. Burning coal is harmful to the environment in many ways. Burning coal in power plants emits hazardous outdoor air pollutants: particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, mercury, arsenic, and various other heavy metals. Despite […]
#2: Market Day
The sights, smells, and sounds were very different in the park today than when I last went. Fridays and Saturdays there tends to be a big market in the piazza adjourning, which also stretches up along the park. Closing my eyes, I hear viral Tik Tok songs, smell fried food, car exhaust, and rain, and […]
The root of it all
Roots have always been an enigma since I grew my first plant. I wondered how they went from thin strings to thick wood. As I imagine my feet becoming roots as deep as the tree beside me, I think about studying the interconnectedness of trees in a forest. I know my roots would touch others. […]