New Year Celebration is rather spent small, low key and qualitively. Gone are the wild wild days which usually last till daylight. Tonite will be no different, a low key and intimate affair, roasting meat on fire...
This is my last post of 2006 so lets ponder on some quotes...
Last day 2006 and Aidil Adha falls today. The menu of the day is meat lots of it, as rendang,as kari, as kurma and in plastic bags from the korban from friends and relatives around..
Today I made the leap to finally change my phone into a current model. I swear the sale girls were shock to see someone still using a phone model circa 3 years ago. It is a rarity for me to walk thru the phone shop so I'm not very literate with all these 3G, N series etc..Obviously my first priority is function and definitely size, my benchmark is small enough to fit in my pocket. The reason for buying the new phone wasn't for vanity but rather the function key that moves the cursor to the left doesn't work..so you can imagine how my sms reads. Haha. What do I do with old phone? Anyone interested to buy one at $10, please call me. Now thats what I call value for money!
I leave u with pix that I took last nite at NBT with BabyG..
Random pix of BSB as a BIG thank you to all who made the 4000 & above hits possible... also I love the SOAS mosque which reminds me of my childhood, growing up in my Kampung in Bandar. 
The last few nights I have been sleeping with the sound of music from the heavy downpour hitting the roof. Tonite will be no different. The North Easterly Monsoon wind continues to pound the Nation which resulted in banjir ( flash floods) and land slide in the Lambak Kiri area. I browse the Brunei Meteorological Website and from the satellite image is mostly clouds covering Brunei. Looks like the rest of the week leading up to the end of the year 2006/ new year 2007 will be a wet one.
On the way to Bandar this evening I saw 2 accidents, one before the traffic light right behind the Ministry of Culture Youth & Sports bldg.; a silver merc hitting a lamp post from the looks of the damaged and the other accident; at the underpass of the big Manggis roundabout ( ..where the old Tiong Hin used to be!) I just hope the drivers are safe.
I like to remind all motorists to DRIVE SAFELY and to BUCKLE UP on the roads. I just like to share with all in the blogosphere that in the rain the brakes are even less effective on a wet road meaning at high speed, the result can be worst or even fatal. So please drive safely and withing speed, rain or shine.
I hope the heavy rain with all its blessings that it brings down from the heaven will slow down, InsyaAllah.
I miss the clear skies....
golden sunset at meragang
meragang beach at sunset
The coming New Year is different from any other as I am left to man the fottress as most of my household are in Mecca performing the Haj. The friends too have all gone to celebrate their new year holidays across the sea. Only a handful are left here, in this kingdom of unexpected pelasures. I have not been able to blog the last few days as the net were extremely slow due to the disruptions from the Taiwanese earthquake...
Amazing how the world is different in Macro mode.. and this is just around my garden taking snaps of semut ( Ants) in natural lighting
Christmas eve dinner was a blast with the rocking band and a chance to get together with the gangs before they all leave bandar for their holiday destinations.
The net finally picked up its pace after the week long lags. I stumble upon this cool website, which list out the recommended wishlist from real people around the globe. A cool kind of social shopping with infos on the latest from gadgets to toys to anythings. In true festive spirits blogosphere style, I present to all the HaFukas my little something for their Christmas stockings;
Paris, this is my Christmas gift for u. Pris, I hope u like this, something close to a DVF.
Swiss Mum & Papa, to make the house chores easier at ChancyTavern.
Sher,Happy Belated Birthday. I hope u like this, for the lazy Sundays in the vineyards in the Perth!
Mr & Mrs BabyG, hope u like this, for the Jamie O/ Nigella-ish in u two! Stan, for that extra weight. Mr Qlap and SPG, I have to apologise that I cannot compete with the blueblack advanced Christmas present given by that lucky monkey in Bali, so here is something to remind u of that day. Mards, this is for the late nights in W2.
Fads in Milan, hmmmm I say no more..
Merry Christmas everyone, friends and family near and far....
Mr. Qlap is alive! After a long hiatus he finally updated his blog with infos on the promotions on the Manjaro Christmas Eve Special Dinner or u can go to the Manjaro website. It looks good! I know it won't be as lavish and as over the top as what the big hotels promo around but in life isn't simplicity better? and with a LIVE band thrown in, its definitely a good deal and a guaranteed good time.
the flower
the wilting stalk
the dried stalk with seeds ready to be harvested
The Sporty Team Desperate HousewivesSunday was anything but lazy as I was in Bandar involved in the Helix @Discover Walk-a-Hunt organised by BSM, to commerate the official day of renaming Brunei Town to Bandar Seri Begawan every October which this year had to be postponed due to the fasting month. It was a good turn out, all teams and organisers in their blue T's, including many local bloggers and some photobloggers joining in the fun. I'm sure they have posted their first hand account & snaps in their blogs.
The hunt also involved a series of tasks in the form of games for which each team are to take part to gain points. Each team will get points by performing successfully any of the games, one was the sumpit-the-balloon games...
This guy tried...
Suffian under his SPF 90 tried..
..even that guy from Alleycats tried???
Happy Birthday babes...
Something to rant about,
When the invites says 'By Invites Only' does not mean more than the invited. I find it stupid how some people have no shame to actually bring guests to strictly invites sit down do and not even informing the host...!!
Majestic Mosque in background...
Racing to the finish line.
the active supporters
finish line
The winning trophies & medals
Mickey even took part ( I bet it feels like a sauna inside!!)
start & running cam
I'm packing my stuff now for the Brunei Marathon to check into one of the apartments in Bandar. I' m still contemplating wether to run or walk but for sure I 'll be snapping some pics.... It's raining outside and I have to leave soon. The roads will be closed as early as 5ish am hence the plan to stay in Bandar area so as to escape the chaos tmrw morning. I 've only my clothes on me, nothing else cos Im not gonna shower whatsoever tmrw morning (What's the point, right!), a bag of banana for morning carbo-fuel and the all important sun-block. I guess this year's Town Track will be good to Bandar's exposure and tourism..
Last year getting up was really a pain what with all the traffic, crowds etc.................but it was worth it! Watch this space........
Today is one of those days where the day goes quickly, where u can only remember the moment u wake up check your clock and then the next time u look at your watch its already 5 pm. Everything else in between is gone...
The heavy rain in the evening stopped me and many others ( except for the hardcore ones seen running in the rain!) from having their final training at the stadium before this Sunday's Brunei Marathon. I just found out that I had to run on the 10 km race..What??? I was talking with a friend and he was complaining that his time in last week's trial run was 1hr 10 mins. I immediately changed the topic right then before I had to disclosed my time. Hehe......
December is the craziest month of the year workwise and within my social circle. Last nite went to a birthday/ house warming party for a dear friend Ams. He just moved in to his new house a nice spacious double-storey bungalow with the top floor loft-like design bedroom/studio..very very cosy. Going there was not an easy especially first timers like me who lives on the other side of town.... Happy Birthday Ams! ( and also Congrats for graduating in the flying-without-assistance program!!)
The previous post are pics of the house.
..Since September 2006.
