Fun Morning

What a good morning it was..runners, walkers, monkey, cowboys, starwars..huh?
More pics HERE!

The Breaking Shot

This was taken during the recent royal wedding dinner.
After this shot my SLIK tripod went snap, it broke! My immediate reaction at that time was to grab my camera and lens safely in my hands. Pheeeww! The tripod had served me well and I had it for ages since 1999. Oh well.
Dreaming of a MANFROTTO.

Six Safe Years

Shahbandar woke up to a colourful morning with participants taking part in a walkathon around Shahbandar dubbed Green Walk. The walk was to celebrate BSM's achievement of 6 years without Lost Time Injury or LTI and also part of the Healthy Lifestyle Programme. The days event started with a short warm up of Tai-Yoga stretch ...

Just Trois

I woke up at 545 am today to take part in the SMARTER 5 Hills Challenge. Overall; Tasek was a breather and Subok was a 'lunge' step workout and Markucing like always is a mini Shahbandar. Finally after completing Bukit Markucing in the heat of the sun, at 1013 HRS, my legs decided 3 Hills would do. (Visit anakbrunei, re:locate, aku and stupidlogic for more.....)

Something caught my eye at 3rd Hill.....

Yes, this was participants from Kg Subok who took part, a nini with her grandchildren and she was fast walking!! Amazing. What's your excuse for not joining???

Thank You friends who sponsored me, keep them coming for SMARTER**

Good Morning Seria

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

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.

Warna Kemerdekaan: Perbarisan Lalu

Moving Forward

Saturday is always hectic what with errands and everything else. Traffic, traffic everywhere and no parking spot was vacant, atleast the sun was glorious.

The privatisation of the Muara Container Terminal will come to an end in April 2007 after only operating for 6 plus years of the 25 years contract. Pioneered with an objective for a global player to market Muara globally and to give Muara a competitive edge in the BIMP-EAGA trade. Time was a factor, market fluctuates, the project was initiated when the market was conceivable and during the pre-Asian economic crisis. The MCT contract takes up the chunk of the container operation only. Before the privatisation project, Brunei Govt. under the Ports Dept. run Muara Port fully 100 percent including the container operation. Why can't we run it now?

Photo taken 3 weeks ago with the largest ever cruise liner calling to Muara.

RandomFriday

Today is splitting headache day, all day. The gloomy and depressing weather is not helping either. At one stage, the sky opened up to reveal the sun but soon afterwards it rain. Bonus fever is still evident with many shoppers causing havocs in the the shopping areas all over town. Yikes>

It's been a while since I had a good night out like tonite, catch up with the gangs over drinks and good music. Feels good. TGIF!


Still waiting for my sunset.....

Tang Soo Do

Let me take you on a quick lesson in Tang Soo Do...

First warm-up and stretching.

Then its basic introduction of formation* Newcomers please try to follow!The most basic of the move is the horse riding stand and front punch. This is where your power thru the movement of your hip. When you punch and block, please remember to shout. Shout from your stomach, your inner strength.

Now the black belt will give you the basic one to one.

The master will then test your kick with a sparing session.

Tang Soo Do is a martial arts which focuses on concentration and control. I took it not so long ago out of interest for the beautiful art, also as a means of keeping me sane after the complexity and stress of a long day and that extra workout. The warm up alone is like an intensive class of yoga with the stretching and breathing control.

Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial arts form which is not very well known compared to its close sister, Tae Kwan Do. The difference between Tae Kwan do and Tang Soo Do is in its stand, formation and posture. Tang Soo Do emphasised on sophisticated formation and hand techniques as well as self defence. However, the class is not, I repeat NOT an avenue for combat or violence, it is simply a means of learning martial arts and as continuity of the Tang Soo Do tradition.

Brunei has its own Tang Soo Do Association and the training session is in Mabohai Sports Club. For anyone interested of joining or to try out, please come to Mabohai Sports Club, the fees are extra cheap.Tang Soo!!

To all members/friends who have long been on hiatus,

Master would like you to drop by and join the class from time to time.

The Other Side of Beautiful

What happen to the leftover food wrappers or water bottles after your picnic or stroll at the beach? The answer lies in the picture; Look at this beautiful sunrise taken yesterday, at the same time look at the foreground of the picture. An eye sore? Is this how we want our beaches to end up?Every year, thousands of people go our beaches and at the same time they brought their rubbish with them. The Brunei Government has invested millions in the protection and preservation of our beaches and parks. Serasa spit alone has undergone some face lift and reclamation work in the last few years.

What can you do to help? Action speaks louder than words. Pick up your litter and properly dispose of the trash. This is merely a small step with a big impact. A big impact in setting example to our children, to help preserve and protect our beaches. Each and everyone of us must take action now.

Leave your footprints but don't leave your junk. Keep our Brunei clean!