Zalina Ismail

Rain and ResilienceThe word monsoon comes from the Arabic “mausim” and was first used in British India to describe the seasonal winds that brought heavy rainfall from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal

It was in the early 20th century that Norwegian zoologist Thorleif Schjelderup-Ebbe coined the word "pecking order" while observing the social behaviour of chickens. He noticed that within a group of

What is pareidolia?Pareidolia originates in the mind. It is a psychological phenomenon where we see recognisable shapes in clouds, rock formations or otherwise unrelated objects or data. Our brains ar

A day for solidarityEach year, on 29th November, the United Nations observes the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This is in accordance with General Assembly mandates conta

MetMalaysia says the North-East monsoon will start in mid-November 2023.  Nevertheless, on our land in Kota Bharu, between the Pengkalan Datu River and the South China Sea, it has been windy and rainy

It is just after dawn. I am at home, having a cup of coffee on the deck that extends into the Pengkalan Datu River in Kota Bharu. A flock of white birds crosses my line of vision. My untrained eyes sa

The frog is a much-maligned creature. Some cultures believe that a frog carries a curse into your home while others claim it brings good luck. Some African tribes believe that the death of a frog will

My grandson is now eligible to vote in the Kelantan state elections. He wants to know if its worth the time and energy to come back and vote. “Grandma, why do we vote? Is it because we want a better q