The degree of impact differs significantly with marginalized and vulnerable communities. Photo by Steve Douglas on Unsplash The 2017 Global Environment Facility (GEF) policy on ‘Gender Equality’ states that “men and women use natural resources differently and, as a result, they are affected differently by changes (affecting) to these resources. Gender inequality and social inclusion increase the negative impacts of environmental degradation on women and girls.” This is not an over-exaggeration. Though climate change is a global phenomenon that affects the natural systems, and consequ ..read more

Photo courtesy by the Author (Busan, South Korea) The howling of the winds Just makes sounds like racing cars The grey colored sky waiting to pour down Painting the sky like a mockery clown The slight ray of light peeping through the clouds Questions itself with doubts Moving closer bit by bit to the land Wait until I hold you in my hands Playing with the winds and the sea Hush! It is just you and me ☺ Well! Tell me Mr. Rainy man Will you be mine? ♡ The picture was taken today in Busan, South Korea by the author. It was a fine ra ..read more

Photo by Spencer Pugh on Unsplash Shattered in pieces of plenty Heavy-hearted, Is this me…? I couldn't even recognize Fighting to breathe more, walking to empty shore, keeping me busy, was not that easy. Overthinking brain took control Autopilot mode for a while Creating a void inside, nothing let to decide. Resting alone, Finding home, Just for me with the wind and sea. Chasing after my thoughts, have become a lost cause The winds and the waves and their buffoonery tells me not to worry. Smiling a little Glowing a little Healing… Healing… Healing was originally publis ..read more

Photo by Mark Fletcher-Brown on Unsplash I’ve been busy… I checked my blogs and noticed that I haven’t written anything crazy for a long time. It’s just nothing but priorities. Between the urge to graduate and the complete insanity of a brutal pandemic, taking a three-month break was all I could afford. Now that I feel guilty about not writing something or… anything I feel like I’ve lost the ability to write. Whoa! that came out strong. It might not be true but I tried to come with something for a couple of days but my brain felt numb. I seem to struggle to join two words and ph ..read more

Photo by the Author (Busan, South Korea) Something that holds me from my innate stupidity and the outside reality The picture was taken from my dormitory room a year before last winter (2019) in Busan. The time was a bit rough and I went through a major mental breakdown. I spent most of my time isolated and in solitude. Controlling your thoughts, to have mental health is a greater deal, it seems. The effort is always excessive. It was a big deal for me coming out of it. To all who is out there, needing a little love and affection, you are not alone. Let’s be there for each other. Let ..read more

Me of all colors and customs (Photo Provided by the Author) It’s early morning in Sri Lanka. This was just another usual day for me. I checked everything in my research kit once again for the 99th time. I made sure I am good to go, got in the car with my fiancé, and there I started my journey towards fun but an adventurous ride. I am Ahalya. I am a Coastal Ecologist. This is my story I work with mangroves. Their ecology, dynamics, and carbon sequestration. I travel around mangrove forests to study them, report them, taken sediment samples and then analyze them. It may look a tad easier to ..read more

It’s 3 pm in Busan. It started raining in the afternoon. Not like a heavy shower. But more like a sprinkler shot. Breezy, dripping kind of rain. Which is always my scene. I hate big showers. If I get caught in the middle of a shower.. then trust me that’s my apocalypse. Photo by Ahalya Arulnayagam on Unsplash I always wanted to take a break. Now that I am running behind deadlines, I thought it is best if I could take the evening off. I always feel guilty to take a day off with all others working in the lab. But I guess, I am burning too much this week so I decided to put back my pers ..read more

Photo by the Author (Busan, South Korea) Paint me with the color of my sky With the right amount of hues Add a filter of my emotions With a shade of peace and silence Carve it with solitude And cover with soft kisses… The picture speaks was originally published in Writers’ Blokke on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story ..read more

Photo by Anthony DELANOIX on Unsplash I was sitting by the corner of the bar table once my friend got comfy in conversation with a total stranger she met a couple of hours on Tinder. I smiled and was just sitting there for this to over with. Twitter feed and ebooks are my biggest companies during these tragic times. “Shall I take the pleasure of ordering a drink for the lovely young lady sitting alone at the bar, reasoning out the possibilities of her date-less-ness?” A strong voice was heard behind me. As I turned, I saw him holding two glasses of wine, and (sexy) and a lame sm ..read more

TRAVEL. PHOTO ESSAY. Let’s go Trekking to Huinnyeoul Culture Village! Photo by Yeonhee on Unsplash If there is a place on Earth to paint a clear blue sky and ocean together with yellowish-orange sunset with a hint of green, red, pink, and grey here and there; it’d definitely be Huinnyeoul culture village is the best option in Busan. Located on the Western coast of Yeongdo Island, Busan it marks the perfect spot for 1. sightseeing 2. enjoying the calm (ocean) water 3. hiking/trekking 4. be entertained by the sunset 5. rejoicing a good cup of coffee 6. snapping Instagram wort ..read more