Kapan Lagi

The Bali retreat...

Young Love

Over the weekend we hop on th eferry again for the pre-pre wed checks. I took this from the suite. Perhaps this was a celebration of their anniversary together.

Berpacar

The traditional malay berpacar or berinai ceremony. This ceremony is usually done the night before the wedding day. It involves staining the hands of the bride and groom with henna paste (pacar) by close relatives and family members.

Cozy Tandoor

I was invited for lunch to this new place tucked above I-Mart, at the new building block facing Gadong market near the Kiulap roundabout. The minute you walked through the door, you can't help but to focus your attention to the the slim aquariums that act as partition between the tables..nice! The food was so-so and the service was a bit slow, but then again they only opened recently so I give it a couple more weeks before they get the hang of things. At the end of our meal, two ornamental boxes were brought to our table, the small box containing toothpick and the bigger one containing a selection of mint spices, to cleanse and neutralise the mouth after the tandoori.? Try and experience, Tandoori.com.

60

This is the time to walk around bandar at night, take in the air looking at the people, kids, colourful cuculs and the smoky gerai perayaan or you can just come here to this place. Unless otherwise the rain beat u there, in any case bring ur umbrella. Tonite will be the lantern procession and fireworks in bandar, unfortunately I won't be able to go but I'm sure the other shutterbugs are there already. For now, I'm taking a breather, folks...

His Majesty's 61st Birthday: Bersama Rakyat

Bersama Rakyat meaning a royal get-together, a chance for the people of Brunei to get up close to meet and greet His Majesty. His Majesty's didn't disappoint, shaking hands with his subjects who eagerly awaited from early morning, along the maze of white tented platform at the Taman all the way to the student lined streets towards the Mercu Dirgahayu Monument at the old customs building. I was most impressed when His Majesty even stopped and pose for a little girl who requested a picture with her small digital cam and all this under the hot blaring sun.

Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik....

Blue Blocks

Inspirations. Today it was high up starring down at me!

31.05

Selamat Ulangtahun ABDB (*Anniversary of The Royal Brunei Armed Forces)..

Zero Sunday

I missed out on a good JC morning eventho I came in earlier, but had to leave for duty. Sorry bugs! My whole Sunday gone, zero and to top it off it was an exhausting one.

My Monday was a long one too....*sigh

Its a good thing I came in for the Y-class today, helps me relax and clears my head!!

Keeping Cool

This would be good for the hot hot day. *taken during the water day at Tasek Lama.

Maulidin Rasul

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. .....

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?

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.

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.*

Nationalism-effect

I'm still feeling the buzz from the National Day weekend. The celebration was simply explosive, one of those where one had to be there at the Taman first hand to savor the moment. Magnifique! This is also my first to take part as a shutterbug. I was like a child in a candy store, so many Kodak Moments if only our memory card are endless. It was also the biggest gathering of shutterbugs, who came out in full force.

More snaps HERE

Right after the National Day, I hurriedly scoot to attend the nephews birthday and later on in the evening another birthday do. What a rush....Happy Birthday Rozia!! Much Lovexx....

Warna Kemerdekaan: After

Warna Kemerdekaan: Di Padang