I got my Indian visa, finally
Posted on Saturday, April 17th, 2010 by pelf and filed in India

So, after deliberating whether to courier our passports to somebody in KL who would be helping us with our visa applications, my project partner decided to make a trip to KL to apply for our visas as well as to run some personal errands.

So she went to the Grandlotus India Visa Center in KL and submitted both our Application Forms (and passports). The clerk then processed our applications, and she returned to the Grandlotus office the following day to pick up our passports.

She DID encounter some (minor) problems though:

  1. We initially wanted to apply for tourist visas, but we had to apply for conference visas because our supporting documents were all invitation letters to attend a conference.
  2. A tourist visa costs about RM 160 and is valid for 6 months. A conference visa costs RM 320 and is valid for ONE month.

Earlier on, I read that “they will issue you with a reference number that you will need to search for on their website” but my partner wasn’t issued any reference number and she didn’t have to search for it on the website.

I hope this little bit of information will be of some kind of help to anybody who needs to apply for an Indian visa!

India, here we come!

3 Comments
I am now a businesswoman too
Posted on Wednesday, April 07th, 2010 by pelf and filed in Life as I see it, Turtle Talks

A little over two weeks ago, I started a company with a partner. You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to register a company in Malaysia these days. We went to the Companies Commision of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, SSM), filled up some forms, photocopied our ICs and waited for our turn to be called to the counter. At the counter, we paid RM 170 (if I’m not mistaken) to register our company/business for 3 years and within 2.5 hours, we were given our Business Certificate.

Our new company, called Turtle Centre, has only one mission so far — that is to create awareness in turtles through camps, outreach programs and turtle-themed merchandise. And how do we create and spread awareness in turtles?

For a start, we are producing, suppling and retailing turtle-themed merchandise. We have just launched a range of 10 products with turtle motifs:

  • Bandanna (head scarf), assorted colours, RM 9.90
  • Book thong (bookmark), RM 8.90
  • Bracelet/Anklet, RM 8.90
  • Pewter earrings, RM 18.90
  • Handphone accessory, RM 7.90
  • Fridge magnet RM 7.90
  • Terrapin figurine, RM 14.90
  • Polymer clay turtle necklace, RM 10.90 or pewter necklace RM 12.90
  • Turtle collar pin, assorted colours, RM 5.90
  • Zipper pull, RM 7.90

The focal item of our products is the pewter green/leatherback turtle pendant. Apart from the bandanna, fridge magnet and terrapin figurine, all other products were hand-strung ourselves, so rest assured that you will not be able to find a similar item in the market :D

Each product is individually packaged, and it comes with a brochure (except for the turtle collar pin) which lists 6 ways to help save our turtles. We would be delighted if you would practice at least one of them. And of course, we would also appreciate it if you would pass the brochure to your colleagues, friends and family. Together, we can help save our turtles :)

The items you purchase will be carefully wrapped and sent to you via Pos Ekspres. Postage via Pos Ekspres to any Malaysian address is RM 3.50. If you buy at least one River Terrapin Figurine, postage via Pos Ekspres to any Malaysian address is RM 6.00 because the figurine measures about 9 cm by 7.5 cm and has a height of 4 cm and it cannot be inserted into the document-size Pos Ekspres envelope.

So, what do you think of our products? Would you buy some yourself? Some products, e.g. the book thong, bracelet/anklet and necklace make really good gifts :)

Check out Turtle Centre Merchandise @ Facebook for more pictures and instructions on how you can make an order.

22 Comments
WWF organizes mangrove-replanting program
Posted on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 by pelf and filed in Charity, Conservation & Environment

A few days ago, WWF-Malaysia, together with some boy scouts from KL and Singapore, carried out a mangrove-replanting program with the Standard 3, 4, 5 and 6 students (aged 9 to 12) of S.K. Mangkok, Setiu. The program started at about 7:30am with the students doing some clean-up at the replanting site in Kuala Baru. At about 8:30am, the boy scouts began the replanting process.

I’m not sure how many saplings were there but after an hour or so, the students managed to get the hang of it and started to pick up some speed and did some real work replanting the mangrove saplings. Though being kids, there were a few of them who played in the water more than they worked, LOL.

More kids help out

And when all the saplings were replanted, it was fun-time! These kids can really make something out of anything at all. Give them a log and a pool of water and here’s what they can do:

And then, fun time!

It was quite a fun day for the students, and hopefully they have a learned a little about mangroves and the roles that they play in our ecosystem. I can imagine the headache of trying to squeeze some information into a bunch of hyperactive kids who can’t sit still enough for the lesson to end, LOL. Or maybe Abang River (WWF-M staff stationed in Setiu) has a technique that can keep the students seated and not budge an inch during lessons? LOL.

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