Please love your eyes

 

This is an image of a normal eye captured by a fundus camera, which can see what the naked eye can't.  Eye screening can detect eye disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, cataract, macular degeneration, retina detachment and glaucoma.

 

This is an image of an eye that has diabetic retinopathy.  

  

This is the fundus camera.  Taking a picture of the interior of the eye is painless and takes only a few seconds.  The optometrist will then be able to know your eye condition by looking at the image.

Macular degeneration normally occurs in the elderly, while retina detachment can take place when you play rough contact sport. Those who have a high degree of short-sightedness are also susceptible to retina detachment, as the higher the degree the more elongated your eyeball becomes and that stretches and thins the retina.

While cataract can be easily corrected by surgery, glaucoma is the most common silent killer of vision that cannot be rectified.  One will not be aware that one has glaucoma until the cells in the eyes start to die, resulting in tunnel vision.

Early detection can help to monitor the condition.  Taking health supplements for the eye would be a better option than eye drops, which may cause side effects.

 Stressing out the eye from staring at the computer screen or mobile phone screen and not getting proper rest and sleep will affect vision.

Our eyesight is one of our five senses.  Please take good care of it.

There are many things one can do besides staring at the mobile phone screen and computer screen.  Among them gardening, baking, watercolour painting, line dancing, yoga

and stretching exercises, but do not even try the epic split unless you're a trained professional. 

 

Do you love yourself?

                                                               

                    "I LOVE YOU"

 

The mind and body are linked. Take care of your thoughts and emotions, and you will enjoy good health. 

Give your body the proper rest and nutrition. pamper yourself ocassionally to a body massage and facial, make time for recreation and relish the simple things in life.

Don't let grudges and ill will become tenants in your mind.  Keep doing good, even though there are temptations and enemies put in your path to test, deter and overwhelm you.  Just cultivate the courage to face your problems, do what is right; and have faith that your deeds and the universe will come together to protect you when the need arises.

And even if you have embraced a certain faith, it doesn't guarantee you a problem-free life.  I needed to remind myself this because sometimes, I do wonder why religious practitioners also encounter what seems like insurmountable adversity in their lives, namely serious health issues.

But I now realise that, whether you pray earnestly or not, everyone is susceptible to illness.  The only difference is, a believer can turn to his faith for solace and hope.  And if you have enemies in your life, either you turn them into your friends or just surrender the matter to the universe.

I'm a bit preachy tonight. I'm going to get myself a drink.

Passion fruit with watermelon (left) or mango juice?

Seri Omega International School

Located at Jalan Persisiran Sutera Danga, Taman Sutera, 81300 Skudah, Johor Bahru, Malaysia Tel: +607-556 1368, +607-556 3368


Education is his forte

Education is his forte II

Education is his forte III

Sunflowers and an apple tree

The sunflowers beckoned me as I walked into Green Fingers, a section of the Kiwanis Careheart Centre in the Sutera Utama Education Hub in Jalan Persisiran Sutera Danga 1, Johor Baru.  Today marked the grand opening of the three-storey centre which trains children with autism, Down Syndrome and other learning disorders various skills to enable them to be independent.

As I ventured further into Green Fingers, I came across an apple tree among some 20 types of fruit trees.  It's the first time I've laid eyes on an apple three.  However, there are no apples on the tree.

The centre also teaches its trainees to grow mushrooms using the effective microorganism (EM) technology. One can find the oyster mushroom, abalone mushroom and black fungus at the section called the Careheart Mushroom Farm.

The centre has adopted horticultural therapy, where plants and gardens are used for healing and rehabilitation.

Besides selling mushrooms to generate an income for the centre, a non-governmental organisation operating under the auspices of the Kiwanis Club of Taman Sentosa, it also sells organic vegetables and runs a cafe.  Selling fish and prawns are in the pipeline.

Other highlights include an international art gallery which features a collection of art pieces done by specially challenged individuals from various parts of the globe, a pond with water lilies and fishes.

There's also this wonderful thrift shop on the ground floor which is run by the parent support group which opens from 10.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday, where one can find cheap yet lovely gifts and the money spent here is for charity.  Isn't that meaningful?

Do visit this wonderful place and give your support, as "it is in the giving that we receive" - Prayer of St. Francis, 13th century saint.

For further enquiries, call 07-5563743 or email careheart_jb@yahoo.com.

DIY curls

I am concerned about the Super Typhoon Haiyan that has hit the Philippines' central islands, but can only pray that every living being there will be able to get out of harm's way.

Nature, why are you so angry? I think we should step up earth conservation efforts and respect Mother Nature.  Let's chant and pray together to placate her wrath and for all inhabitants of this planet to be safe, and for all those who are lost to find their way home again.

Since I don't really have much to do today, I'll let VANITY take centre stage.  Actually, I do have tonnes of things to do, but I just wanted to enjoy the day pampering myself. 

I painted my nails and tried out the new hair curlers that I bought yesterday.  Priced at RM22.90 per pack of 8 rollers, I put the rollers on after I had washed my hair.

A couple of hours later ...








 

Wah lah! No need to head to the hair salon to get sexy curls again now that I can have DIY curls. I don't know if it'll last though. I think it will as long as it doesn't come into contact with water.

The curls are different from the ones done by a professional hairstylist, but it'll do. Hello weekend.

An Awesome Day!

Shella leaving footprints in the sand.

Write your sad times in sand, write your great times in stone."- Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)

The alluring Desaru Beach.

Reached here in the late afternoon.  From the Perling toll in Johor Baru, it took nearly 2 hours to get to the Desaru beach. But it was worth the drive.. Haven't got a chance to frolic in the sun in quite a while.  Another stolen moment.  The 22km stretch of the South China Sea behind the Pulai Desaru Beach Resort and Spa is an enticing draw.

That's me lazing on the rocks. A wonderful place to just sit, close your eyes, shut out the noise and get connected with the Divine. However, I have something embarrasing to share.  When I tried to stand and walk on the rocks, I had to be "rescued".  I didn't set out to be the damsel in distress, but when I wanted to get down, it was slippery and there were sharp edges.  I was terribly terribly afraid of falling.  My faith is not strong, I guess.  This urban dweller and novice traveller just needs to get out more.

Lady in Red

Next time may bring my swimsuit and float board. On second thought, MAYBE NOT as the sea was qute rough even during low tide in the late afternoon. Wouldn't want to go missing at sea!!!

Bee pollen, honey, fruits and royal jelly can be found here.

On the way home  via the Johor Baru - Kota Tinggi trunk road, Nona Shella and I stopped by at the Dessaru Fruit Farm to get some "buah srikaya" (sugar-apple fruit).  I've never heard of this fruit before.  Need to get out more.  Seriously!