About

Table of Contents

Who am I?

My name is Shivan (pronounced Shiv-arn), written as ஷிவன் in Tamil.

I am Kiwi born 🇳🇿 with Sri Lankan Tamil 🇱🇰 heritage.

I currently work as a Software Developer after 7 years working as an Optometrist.

What am I up to now?

I am living in Palmerston North with my parents. I am working in a job I love, which is software development for a global contact lens manufacturing, which is a perfect intersection of my previous occupation and my current one.

Outside work I practice:

I am working on my Private Pilot License certification.

I am also interested in writing, photography, film, and reading.

What Is The Purpose Of This Website?

This is my digital garden. It’s my stake on the internet.

It’s a vessel for my thoughts through writing as well as various others forms of creativity.

I want to be okay with sharing my thoughts and putting it out there into the world for those who care to listen.

Here is a link to the repository that contains code for this website.

QR Code!

Milestones

  • 1993: Born in Palmerston North, 0 ms ago — where I spent most of my life growing up
  • 2011: Moved to Auckland to start university
  • 2016: Graduated from the University of Auckland as a fully qualified optometrist and moved down to Christchurch to start my working life; moved to Christchurch
  • 2020: Began writing online
  • 2021: Moved back to Palmerston North to focus on a career change away from optometry into software development.
  • 2023: Started a new career as a web developer.

Where have I been / Where do I want to go?

Expand Map

This map contains locations I want to visit (red) as well as places I have visited (green).

Locations

To Visit (6)

  • ANZAC Cove - Where NZ and Aus served in WW1
  • Everest Base Camp - South - I am fascinated by people who climb Everest. I would like to see the memorial for the 1996 disaster
  • K2 Base Camp - I am fascinated by people who climb K2; seeing a memorial
  • Appian Way - One of the oldest road in Roman roads (first road in history?)
  • Pond du Gard - Roman engineering marvel - Aquaduct brige
  • Edmund Pettus Bridge - This is where the Selma to Montgomery marches happened in 1965.

Visited (2)

  • Ilavalai - Where my parents grew up
  • Grand Canyon - Nature!

Photos

Black and white image of a man smiling
Me at a Dance Festival

Where Else Am I?

I am also on: