For 24-year-old Apple (www.xiaoyenzi.com), blogs have become a vital part of her digital self. "It initially started as a way for hiding my true identity", says the prolific blogger, who currently manages six blogs, each with a specific focus.

Apple, as she prefers to be known in her online endeavours, credits her father for allowing her room to explore her fascination with IT, "I have a very supportive dad who gave me the chance to complete my bachelor’s degree in computing," she explains.

A warranty clerk for a computer retailer, Apple’s philosophy to blogging is simple: it is a medium for sharing. A way to reach out to friends and like-minded strangers, be it through thoughts, ideas, tips, music or photos.

How and when did you start to blog?

Before starting my personal blog, I tried blogging on other platforms like Windows Live Space and Blogger.com as early as 2005. But I wasn’t determined to open my blog until Dec 31, 2006, when I told myself I wanted to be serious in blogging as my new year resolution.

So I started blogging on Jan 1, 2007. When I got to know more about blogging, I felt that it will be better to host my own blog by using WordPress blogware. Therefore, in August 2007, I shifted my whole blog to my own domain (www.xiaoyenzi.com).

After a while, I felt that having one blog was insufficient and I started to have multiple blogs, each dedicated to different niche, in other words, a more specific topic.

What were your reasons?

My main reason to start blogging is to spread the spirit of sharing. Sharing makes me feel great. Some other reasons include making friends, gaining new knowledge as well as making money online. Yes, I’ve achieved them. I’m glad, especially when I successfully receive online revenue.

What have you achieved through blogging?

I believe I have given some great tips based on my knowledge and experiences to my readers. This is reflected in the comments given by my readers.

I never thought that a simple act of sharing a disposable chopstick article (www.xiaoyenzi.com/2007/11/chopstick-alert/) can bring me massive traffic and even attracted the attention of a section in the local media, The Star Youth2. I was interviewed via email (thestar.com.my/youth2/story.asp?file=/2008/4/23/youth2/21017660&sec=youth2).

Another achievement was when I participated in a blog post contest organised by My Privilege Book (www.myprivilegebook.com) and Sarawakian.net. With my blog post titled "A Place to Get Mum’s Cooking" (www.xiaoyenzi.com/2008/04/a-place-to-get-mums-cooking), I managed to be one of the top three in the winning list (www.xiaoyenzi.com/2008/05/reward-redeemed).

Any regrets?

Definitely no regrets. I’m glad that I’ve taken up blogging and it has made my life more colourful.

Has blogging changed your life?

Yes, blogging has changed my life since then. I have become more alert to the surroundings. I bring along my digital camera with me wherever I go, including going to the office. I will always keep my camera with me, just in case I discover something interesting that can be my blogging topic. Blogging has filled up a lot of my time and it's addictive.

The "Blogosphere". What does it mean to you?

It’s a social network. I can get lots of first hand information while surfing the Blogosphere. I make new friends, be it local or international. I’m a very indoor person who seldom attends social activities. But I find it very comfortable socialising in blogosphere. To me, the "Blogosphere" also means a place to get your work recognised and appreciated by others.

Who is your absolute favourite blogger?

I will have to say it’s Liew Cheon Fong, or also known as LcF. (www.liewcf.com) He is a Malaysian full time blogger, who blogs about technology. He has been my inspiration for starting my own blog and I have gained a lot of knowledge through his blog.

What is the one feature in the Blogosphere that amazes/irritates you?

The foremost feature in the Blogosphere that amazes me is the power of sharing through social networking sites like StumbleUpon, Digg, etc.

The foremost feature in Blogosphere that irritates me is anonymity. Although you can get a lot of information from the Blogosphere, the value of trust really depends on how you look at the source. Anybody can own a blog and write anything. There’s no censorship in the blogosphere. Therefore, one has to be wise enough to judge for oneself.

If there were someone you could influence to take up blogging?

My close friends. It would be great to have your close friends as bloggers, so that you can share another interest. Although my family knows little about my blogging life, I’ve successfully influenced my younger sister to start blogging too.

Additional thoughts?

Nowadays, bloggers also play an important role in the media. You can’t deny that we bloggers spread news/information faster than traditional news media. Those who have seen the potential in blogging, have already started choosing blogs as a media to deliver information. For example, some restaurants will offer free food for bloggers and request them to review their restaurant and food. I’ve done this once, and it was quite fun (www.xiaoyenzi.com/2008/06/rakutei-japanese-restaurant).

www.xiaoyenzi.com

Average comment per post: 5

Average hits per day: 600

"The Independence Day Project is about literature, history and national identity. On each country’s day of celebration of nationhood I’ll post a little history and – provided I can find one – a poem written by a poet of that nation." — Kate Middleton

This blog certainly provides an interesting read, especially in the aftermath of Merdeka celebrations. Anyone aware that we share the same Independence Day as Kyrgyzstan and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago?

www.malaysia-students.com

An interesting forum for issues that directly concern our student population, this is an education team blog written by a group of Malaysian students on a wide range of topics surrounding education in this country and its students.

With an about page that states: "Our main mission is to create an online community consisting of current and former Malaysian students. When an active Malaysian student online community is successfully created, each and every student in the community will be greatly benefited in various ways."