Good Morning Seria

The MD's Langkah Sihat............

The Empire

The Empire still rate number one in my book among the best of the best, with its empire bed and amazing feather down pillow. Believe me the fluff of the duvet and pillow is simply heaven, no other hotel in the world came even close.

Jimatkan Air

I went to Tasek Lama, Sunday morning to take the opportunity to snap the dam up close and personal on the last day it was open to public, to commemorate World Water Day 2007...

Colourful Tamu

Tudung Saji or we call it Tudung Dulang or Tindulang?? Our traditional kind of food cover made of dried leaves, used to cover the food on table, keep it warm and keep the flies away (especially when it involves belacan..yummy!). It cost not more than $15 depending on the ornaments and intricate designs. These intricately designed type are often use for display or souvenir available at the Tamu in bandar.

Nowadays, the more modern plastic ones are more widely used in many household because of it's lasting properties than the traditional ones.

Stuck & Away

In case you're wondering for the non update of post, well I'm outstation for the last few days and now stuck waiting at the airport cos my flight has been delayed! My BI flight scheduled for 5pm is now changed to 11 pm. Great! Just my luck!

I don mind being stuck one day at Changi airport but in Manila airport, let's just say I have read Men's Heatlh 3 times to kill my time including the ads at the back. .....

Happiness

" A good snapshot stops a moment from running away. ~Eudora Welty"

First Born

After more than 12 hours of labour, after all the chocolates and crisps, around 2245 hrs we welcome beautiful baby Zara Jeffrey weighing at 3 kg and hyperactive.

Congratulation to Zara's Mummy and Daddy, (*Mr and Mrs Jefferey)....
Glad to be there with both of you to capture the magic!

Poolside and Poses 2

I prefer black and white to colour, its simple and shows more essence. I found out that we were caught in action HERE . Didn't realised we were shot too! Always good to meet new people and bloggers. It was a good learning, shooting models in very low light. Not easy but have to be creative. Not many shots to choose from but the rest of the pics can be found HERE

Poolside and Poses

When anakbrunei suggested that we should have an evening of T-bone steak and shoot models at the Sheraton, I was all game. It turn out to be an evening of catching up with the sharpshooters since it has been a while exchanging learnings, over juicy steak and beautiful subjects posing poolside. Beautiful....

Oh shall we post the suprise male model too?

Seven-Up Sunset

The sky has been ever so clear and sunny. One of those days, after a long day at work decided to go down Seven-Up Beach to walk the stress away. Where is Seven-Up Beach? Well, its part of the Meragang beach. Walk for miles and the sunset was amazing....Yes it helps walk the stress away. Phew...

Talk about being published Front page today. Why do they have to choose the bad picture out of lot that I sent them. Oh well, baby steps first! Sorry Yul..

A Minute with a Plane Crash Survivor

The two Bruneian survivors of the 7th March, Garuda flight GA 200 boeing 737-400 crash, arrived safely Saturday afternoon at Brunei International Airport. One of the survivors, Ak Shahrul recall his account on the crash during a doa selamat dan kesyukuran for his safe returns at his residence in Gadong;

'As the airplane began her final descent towards Yogyakarta airport, I felt the plane was descending at a rather fast speed. Once the plane touches the runway, it forwarded bumpily at a very fast speed that it lift off back in the air. The plane continue this landing and taking off for several times before the airplane overshot pass the airport, over a main road and towards a field. It was at this time that I knew that the plane was going to crash. I was praying that the plane which at this stage tilting left and right to land safely. From here it was just silent until a loud bang upon impact. The plane had slammed the ground head first. Everything, the overhead compartment, panel and tray tables fell apart and hit many passengers. All I could hear was just screams and shrieks. At this stage, sitting next to the window I could see smoke and fire outside. My first reaction was immediately to get out before the plane explodes!'

'I unbuckled my seat belt, asked my colleague, Awg. Sigar who was sitting next to me and a lady passenger next to the him to do the same, so we can escape. At this time, Awg. Sigar's shoulder was injured and in pain from the impact. I scrummaged to take my notebook and ipod from underneath the seat but it was stuck and taking so much time. As passengers started to rush to emergency exit, I climbed on the seat and run towards the exit at the back. At the emergency exit without thinking of the height, I immediately jump out of the aircraft and land safely on the mud field. Awg. Sigar and the other lady passenger followed suit. On safe ground, I immediately contacted my family at home and the relevant authorities with my mobile phone.'

Me: Where were you sitting?
AkS: 'We were sitting 3rd row from the back, row 22 and I was sitting on 22F, which was a window seat. We had a chance to be upgraded to the front but we refused opting instead to sit at the back. We were to attend a seminar at Yogyakarta and the Australian speakers were in the same plane. Most of the fatalities were at the front and mid-section of the aircraft. Many of the passengers suffered facial cuts and injury due to the speed during impact.'

Me: How long after the crash did u immediately get out of the plane?
AkS: I think around 2-3 minutes. It was all very fast.

I am surprised but grateful that he is recovering speedily and showed no sign of any traumatic effect. He confessed that he don't have any fear of flying but prefers to stay on ground for a while. He willingly recall the mishap to other family members and even manage to crack a joke or two on how he should have his own PR, with many press trying to sit down with him.

I told him that him being alive is a miracle and a blessing. Syukur Alhamdulillah...

* The family would like to THANK the Brunei Government, the Brunei High Commission in Jakarta and the Indonesian Health and Military services for their help and support.

Think Survive.

Sms: Air crash Garuda in Indon.
The phone rang around 2 pm,
Me: Hello.
D: Eh tau kamu ada air crash di Indon kah?..

Me: Awu ada ku dengar plang, ada sms tadi..
D: Sup said its his cousin...
Me: What? Klu cousin nya cousin ku tu..( duhhh!)
D: Iatah ku tepun kau ani...
Me: Cousin ku yg mana satu?
D: Entah ah...Yang sebelah rumahnya kali
Me: What..???? Bah baik tah ku check lagi eh...Thanks

So I call the other cousin;
Me: Hello Miss Kat.Banar kah?
Kat: Awu, its Sha but he's ok..in hospital now,..kawannya saja dislocated..
Me: What..seriously? Banar kah? ( with disbelief!!)
Kat: Awu tadi ia tepun sudah.......
Me: Ok. Baik jua ..syukur alhamdulliallah. Behapa ia ke sana kan?
Kat: Ia atu ada mtg..
Me: Apa tah mama mu ok?
Kat: Awu ok ia sudah..nya krg ada doa selamat d rumah tu maghrib..
Me: Ok. bah krg tah ( relieved)

I was thinking all the way on the drive home. What happened? When and why? I visualised the plane wreckage on CNN, smoke, burned metals, survivors... Syukur Alhamdulillah that both Bruneians are safe. As I switched on the TV and log on the net, it was buzzing with reports of the crash, including the blogosphere. **According to the family, the minute the plane turned side way and crashed, he immediately jumped out into the field and went to safety. He then dialled the Brunei embassy and his family in Brunei with his mobile phone, which he kept in his pocket.

Think what would you do in an air crash. This site actually give us how to survive an air crash. For the frequent travellers its good to know and of cos the most effective is to pray to Allah the almighty, that we will arrive to our destination safe and sound. Amin.

I applaud RBA the first time they introduced reading the doa before every journey...That made travelling less stress with peace of mind. This is a true blessing for the 2 survivors who embarked their journey ex- Bandar Seri Begawan.

Lets hope that both the Bruneians and other survivors of the crash are recovering well. Amin...

Spiritual Sunday

Today is Chap Goh Mei, the 15th Day of the Chinese New Year and the last day of the celebration. Tonite, many Chinese houses are decorated with brightly coloured lights,'cucul' and lanterns plus the night sky is bursting with colourful fireworks. It is celebrated by prayers and offerings to mark the end of the Chinese New Year, as evidenced at the Chinese temple in bandar.

Glitz and Sparkle

On National Day weekend, I had the pleasure of having dinner among the stars to celebrate the coming of age of a debutant. Me and her go back long ago, my partner in photo outings back in W2 all the way to Canary wharf.

Thanks for letting me be the paparazzi. *Wink.*