My Life, without armour

Serious blog writer's block

2011-01-22T11:13:00.005+08:00

It has been 1 year 5 months and 22 days that i last blogged...

The obvious reason is that I have had blogwriter's block. According to frootbat31, there are a few symptons for this mental block:

Unable to form a coherent sentence.

Finding oneself avoiding the writing process entirely.

Lack of inspired thought.

Lack of interest in what you’ve already written

The causes are mainy due to

- Running out of ideas

- Getting tired or stressed

- Alowing time to keep getting in the way.

It was then suggested to put aside one hour per day for the writing. However this may only apply to writers, not blog writers. Once the blog is posted, people read it and there will be no point for the blogpost to be edited.

In order to write interesting blog posts, rather than some below expectation posts, the best is to take a break, as mentioned by C.Wall until the writer is ready.I wonder if I am now ready since my break seems to be too long :)

My Maltese Memory

2009-07-31T07:41:00.006+08:00

It has been almost a month since I was back from a week holiday in Malta. We initially planned to go to Japan, but due to the pandemic of Influenza H1N1, we cancelled our trip to Japan. However, we couldnt change the Brunei - Singapore return air ticket. Instead of staying in Singapore for 10 days, I was looking up at any flight offers out of Singapore.

Voila! Emirates was having promotion in June to European and US destinations. A week was too short for visiting USA, so we opted for European destinations.

So we were deciding between Nice and Malta. As we couldnt get any more cheap places to stay in Nice, we went to Malta. Emirates is the only airlines that have good connection to Malta from Singapore.

When we first arrived in Malta, unlike other European countries immigration officers, theirs were extremely friendly. Instead of having stern faces, they were laughing with us as well as showing us the tourist information brochures. I think all immigration should be friendly. Not everyone is entering a country with suspicious intention.

The followings are what I think of Malta:

1. Almost the same population of Brunei, but the land area is half of that of Singapore.

2. Everyone speaks English so there is no language barrier.

3. The students follow the British education system. They sit for GCE "O' and "A" Levels as well :)

4. Weather was very warm. In June, the sun rose at 5.30am and set at 8.30pm.

5. A very relaxed atmosphere. We only did sightseeing after breakfast till 1pm. Then we rested and went for walks at the seaside promenade in the evening.

6. Almost everything is imported, especially from Italy.

7. Yummy gelato! and cheap as well. It is like B$4 for 2 scoops. Dream on...Dream cone!

8. You can get anywhere on the island within 45 minutes bus ride. The buses are classic!

9. Food in snackbar was cheap.

10. The churches have 2 clocks on the walls in front. One is the real time, the other one is to trick the devils. So the devils will not know when the mass prays are, from avoiding the prayers to stray away by the devils.

Click here for more pictures

My winning Bill with face masks

2009-07-11T21:39:00.005+08:00

On Thursday, I received a phone call from DST that I won some kind of cash bonanza from my BroadBand account. That sounded great but the only thing was I didnt ask her what I won. Silly me!

So, I did online research and found out that the prizes are $10000, $6000, $4000 or $140. And of course I am the lucky 7 who won the $140 as the other grander prizes will only be drawn in August.

Look at the above picture obtained from Weekend Bulletin on Saturday 11 July 2009. There are some people with face masks on. Okay I just need to share the story.

We arrived at the main entrance and our body temperature was checked. We were then ushered into a lift of 10 or more people. I had to hold my breath due to the worries of the spreading of any virusesas we all were in 'close proximity'. When we arrived at the top floor, we were then given a face mask each to put on. Duh!

So the whole ceremony consists of winners receivinfg prizes with face masks. I felt I was attending some sort of 'secretive' or 'medical' award ceremony lol...We only saw the beautiful eyes of the winners.

The time for group pictures has finally arrived. We still saw people wearing masks while taking pictures, but not me. Come on, my pictures were taken and I wanted people to know who I was in pictures, not just my pair of eyes. I think I did look okay with face mask :p What's the point if taking pictures with face masks on?

Anyway we still had to take off my masks sooner or later...Of course, like every function in Brunei, the refreshment of nasi lemak and kuih muih. No matter how careful a person is, by putting on the face mask, they still had to show their true faces while 'devouring' the food.

Countdown to Singaporean efficiency

2009-06-27T19:26:00.004+08:00

Last night, we caught the MRT train from Bugis station to Changi Airport, to catch flight out of Singapore to Brunei. After having a brief dinner of roasted chicken with noodles at Banquet Food court at Raffles Hospital, we left Bugis station at around 710pm. It was a great hassle to drag 2 huge luggage from Arab street to the Bugis station. It was damn crowded with the Friday night crowd.

We managed to jump on a train and when it reached Aljunied, people who were getting on the train at that station mentioned about someone fell onto the track. And we could see security personnel and police rushing to the scene and a pair of slippers on the platform. We couldnt see anything else due to the crowd, but to wait inside the train.

We were worried if we would miss our flight and how we would get a taxi in this station during rush hour. Impatiently, I was thinking why the man could not fall onto the track 5 minutes later so our train would not be disrupted.

Then the announcement saying that the train would be delayed for 15 minutes, stating the reason of a fault in the track. 5 minutes later, there was another announcement. But this time, it stated the train would be delayed for 10 minutes. Wow, there was really a countdown. The next announcement came 2 minutes later saying, "doors closing".

Great! I find everything is very efficient in Singapore, and I wonder why Singaporeans still complain about it.

More story on 'a man falling onto track' can be found here

Mama Mia! in Sicily

2009-06-23T06:55:00.009+08:00

This morning, we took a one-day excursion to Sicily with Virtu ferry and it was 116 euros each, including transport from our hostel.

The transport picked us up at 5.30am, and the ferry departed just before 7am. Ferry ride was very choppy.

After a daunting 2-hour ferry ride, we arrived at Polazzo and the bus picked us up and dropped us at a cafe for breakfast. The chocolate croissant was delicious with thick chocolate filling. And of course, a cappucino. Italians only drink cappucino in the morning. So, when in Rome, do as the Romans. In this case, it is Sicily.

The coach then zigzagged us all the way up to the beautiful hilltop village of Taormino. The streets are full of beautiful gardens and orcahrds, as well as the souvenir shops. It was a lesant change from the warmer and drier Malta. We had a simple Italian lunch overlooking the beautiful sea down below.

After lunch we zigzagged back down, and zigzagged up to Mt Etna - an active volcano. On Mt Etna, we didnt go to the summit, but at 2000m above sea-level. It was windy and cold; and that was the excuse we had to have hot drinks and snacks at the cafeteria.

The ferry ride back was not as bad, maybe due to the motion-sickness pills provided by the crew. Or maybe we were 'silently' singing along while watching the in-house movie, Mama Mia!

Click here for more pictures

The joy of flying

2009-06-19T22:34:00.006+08:00

I was supposed to go to Japan this June school holiday. Due to the H1N1 flu scare, I have decided to cancel my trip. Then I found out that Emirates has a great deal flying from Singapore to European cities. And first city comes to my mine is Malta.

Why Malta? Firstly, not a lot of Asian airlines fly there, so the great fare deal is too good to miss. Secondly, I have never been in Malta before.

Few asked me where Malta is. People hear of drinks called Malta as well as Maltesers. None of these are related to Malta. It is a small island nation in the south of Sicily, Italy.

To get here, I flew RBA from Brunei to Singapore. I stayed at the Changi Airport for about 5 hours, before catching Emirates 7-hr flight to Dubai. From Dubai, it is 3 hour to Larnaca, Cyprus. We were not allowed to leave the plane, but stayed onboard for 1 hour. From Cyprus, it is another 2 hour flight to reach Malta. Needless to say, I was very well-fed many times onboard the Emirates.

Animal Shelter in Brunei

2009-05-28T21:46:00.003+08:00

An animated cartoon, showing a dog catcher catching some kid's pet dog. Then the parents brought the kid to an animal shelter to 'rescue' the dog from the evil dog catcher. That was my first knowledge of an animal shelter.

According to wikipedia, an animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats. The animal is kept at the shelter until it is either reclaimed by an owner, adopted by a new owner, or placed with another organization.

In Brunei, we have seen lots of road kills ranging from small frogs to dogs and monitor lizards. There are lots of stray dogs in commercial areas. Some dogs are aggressive, while others are shy and scared of us. Most of them are mal nutrition. The stray dogs are mostly the results of the abandon of irresponsible owners.

We have read conflicting views on the issue on stray dogs. The good thing that came out of it is the setting up of an animal shelter by volunteers. It is sad to read some of the blogs on the fortune of those unfortunate animals.

There might not be a RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), but at least it is a start and make people in Brunei to be aware of this problem.

For a start, click on Animal Shelter

The New Virus E1X1 aka Exam Fever

2009-05-24T21:20:00.004+08:00

Exam fever is everywhere at the moment: students sitting for June A and AS papers.

Sometimes I am so happy that I dont have to go through it again. However, this year is my first trial on the GO and FR exams so I have to do the revision as hard as my students.

Just a few thoughts about exam revision period:

- I feel extra-ordinarily tired and sleepy

- there is always so much to study

- there is always a tomorrow to do the revision

- there are a lot of nice TV programmes especially during the revision period

- making post-exam plans and only too lazy to follow the plan after the exam

Anyway, just wanna wish whoever sitting for the exams now

ALL THE VERY BEST!

The Winning Song sung twice

2009-05-23T22:03:00.007+08:00

No Boundaries

(co-written by Kara DioGuardi on American Idol Season 8)

Seconds, hours, so many days

You know what you want but how long can you wait

Every moment last forever if you feel you’ve lost your way

What if your chances are already gone

Started believing that I could be wrong

But you give me one good reason

to fight and never walk away
Coz here I am — still holding on!

Every step you climb another mountain

Every breathe its harder to believe
You’ll make it through the pain

Weather the hurricane

To get to that one thing

When you think the road is going nowhere

Just when you’ve almost gave up on your dreams

Then take it by the hand and show you that you can

You can go higher

You can go deeper

There are no boundaries

Above and beneath you

B-reak every rule coz there’s nothing

between you and your dreams

Every step you climb another mountain

Every breathe its harder to believe

From: http://showstalker.net/2009/05/no-boundaries-lyrics-kara-dioguardi-american-idol/

No Boundaries

2009-05-22T17:18:00.002+08:00

By now, we have known that the American Idol 2009 (Season 8) is Kris Allen from Arkansas.

Most people were expecting Adam Lambert as Adam's performances were mind-blowing every week . So why the winner is Kris and not Adam?

A lot of theories are circulating in the internet.

Firstly, we need to see whom Danny Gokey's fans would vote? After Danny was eliminated, the fans were going to vote for someone. And in many ways Kris is more similar to Danny.

Is American Idol more of a popularity contest rather than a talent show? Kris captured more fan base while Adam captured slightly more adult fans.

Can America accept Adam's outrageous styles and makeup? Adam only answered "I know who I am" when asked about his sexuality, after his pictures of kissing another man was circulating in the internet. So maybe America didnt like his lack of truthfulness.

During the economic downturn, America is not ready for Adam's style but prefer a more soothing Kris's the boy next door image.

Kris's version of "No Boundaries" sounded more of the 'traditional' American winning song, as commented by the judges.

Again, all these are opiniated theories and some are plain weird excuses...However, the only fact is that Kris Allen is the new American Idol...

Disco night on Idol

2009-04-22T19:03:00.003+08:00

I totally enjoyed the songs by Kris Allen and Adam Lambert on American Idol tonight. They both managed to take up-tempo songs and turned them into sentimental slow songs. Below videos show the originals and the ones that were performed on AI.

Only Adam's performance is available on youtube.com showing that his performance is more popular than Kris's.

"If I can't have you" performed by Adam Lambert (2009)

"If I can't have you" performed by Yvonne Elliman (1978)

"She works hard for the money" by Kris Allen on AI

"She works hard for the money" by Donna Summer

Getaways 2009

2009-04-10T23:33:00.007+08:00

I was looking back at my blog posting from last year and realised that I have booked my December 2008 holiday as early as in the month of June 2008. So, it suddenly hit me that we are coming to the middle of the year soon and these are my travel plans for 2009.

Hanoi, Vietnam (March 2009)

Tokyo, Japan (June 2009)

New Zealand (September 2009)

Middle East (December 2009) - not yet confirmed

Cuisines in Hanoi

2009-03-30T00:12:00.006+08:00

My trip to Hanoi was not only sightseeing, but to eat as many types of food as I could. In addition to Vietnamese food, Vietnam is also renowned for its colonial French cuisines. I had a French lunch buffet (USD22) at Le Beaulieu, Metropole Hotel Hanoi. This French colonial hotel was established in 1901.

Vietnam is also the 2nd largest exporter of coffee after Brazil. Not surprisingly Vietnamese coffee is strong and delicious and the stainless steel coffee filter adds another novelty to coffee drinking.

Bun cha: Rice Vermicille with BBQ pork and green papaya pickles

Steamed catfish in beer at Little Hanoi Restaurant

Appertisers at Le Beaulieu: Sashimi, foie gras with figs, teamed clams, braised scallops

Grilled oysters, spaghetti with clams, Beef Bourginion, ratatouille

Duck confit with bacons and croutons

Sponge fingers with chocolate dips, banana crumble, macaroon

Crepes with fresh strawberry and mango sorbet

Lunch onboard: Frieed fish, fried spring rolls, beancurds, beansprouts etc

Rice with beef and fried chicken with vegetables

DIY grilled fish at Cha Ca La Vong

Snails, Shrimp pancakes, nem (spring rolls) and bánh cuốn (steamed rice cakes)

Fried pho with beef and vegetables

Che, sweetened dessert with shaved ice

Condiments: Sausages, fried eggs, pate, roast pork and many more

Sticky rice with condiments

Traffic in Hanoi

2009-03-28T00:15:00.012+08:00

The horrendous traffic at the Hanoi Old Quarter is something that newly arrived travellers have to get used to. There are 2.5 millions motorbikes in Hanoi (pop: 5 million) and the bikes were parked along the pedestrian lanes in front of shops, in the shops as well as in the alleys.

The traffic can come from all directions. And the honking is the norm in order to 'warn' the others. Some riders just cant be bothered to sound the honk when necessary, but do that all the waywhile driving. Some even talked on their mobiles with helmet on, while driving.

The speed is so well planned that when the traffic comes in 4 directions (maybe more than 4) at the crossroads, no one needs to stop at all. (movie clip 2)

Areas near schools are less congested with motorbikes but bicycles, as students are not allowed to own motorbikes till 18 years of age.

The good thing is, despite of the traffic no accident occurred while we were there.

The videos explain everything.

Guiltless UN-necessity!

2009-03-16T17:25:00.004+08:00

I have been travelling with my Delsey LARGE suitcase all this while. I have decided to buy a smaller suitcase for shorter trips and use the Delsey for long trips. I have been window shopping for a while now, trying to get the most suitable one.

I finally bought a Samsonite suitcase. (Sound like SMSO! hahhaha) Since it is a good brand and more expensive, I hope it will be more lasting for my many trips. Guess what, when I brought it home and compared to my Delsey, they are almost the same size. Aiyooooooooooooooooooo!

After careful scrutinisation, Samsonite is slightly smaller than Delsey. What a relief! or is it a thought to make me guiltless!

Delsey (L) and Samsonite (R)

The arrivals - What a journey!

2009-03-16T16:47:00.005+08:00

The box of printed materials has finally arrived. I was worried of the limited luggage weight allowance by the airlines so I decided to send all these by post using surface mail from the UK. It was 4.7kg and cost me £25.13.

It contains the inflight magazines, cookbook, transport tickets, guide books etc that I have used during my trip in Turkey, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and the UK in December 2008.

I sent it at 10.28am on 22 December 2008 from Leeds, and arrived at the Mail Processing Centre in Brunei on 4 March 2009. I collected it from MPC at 3pm on 16 March 2009.

So, it has been 84 days 4 hours 32 minutes for the box to leave my hands in Leeds, and reached my hands in Brunei. What a journey!

Deadly Addiction

2009-02-20T07:31:00.002+08:00

I was on my way home when I heard DJ Frankie from Pilihan Radio mentioning about the 10 warning signs of Facebook addiction. So how many of the followings apply to you?

1. Facebook is your home page.

2. You update your status more than twice a day.

3. You have over 500 "friends" half of whom you've never actually met.

4. As soon as you step away from your computer you're on FB on your phone.

5. You are a FB stalker. You qualify as a FB stalker if you
a) click on someone's profile more than once a day even if they haven't messaged or tagged you in a photo.
b) have dragged and dropped more than 3 FB photos (not from your own profile)
c) actually go to a place mentioned on someone's page in hopes of seeing them in real life...creepy!

6. You change your profile picture more than a 12 year-old girl.

7. You have checked your FB page while reading this article.

8. You clean up your "wall" so it looks like you spend less time on FB.

9. You are a member of more than 10 groups and respond to every event invitation "attending" even if you have no intention of going.

10. You change your relationship status just to mess with people

Note: The 10 warning signs are obtained from this website as well.

3 out of 10 for me....so perhaps I am not that addicted...

Who the hell are you?

2009-02-13T16:04:00.004+08:00

Lately I have been receiving lots of friend request on Facebook. I added them because I saw that we have many mutual friends, thinking that they might be my friends or someone I know. Then some of the new added friends do not have pictures, or their names are some kind of created fantasy 'glamorous' or unglamourous nicknames.

I thought Facebook is supposed to be used as networking, and is especially very popular in the West. People use FB to search for long lost friends or keep connected with the current friends. That is the reason why people use "real' names or some names that 90% resemble to their real names.

Now look at the FB community once it becomes popular in Asia. All kind of names and I dont even know half of the people there without the real names or pictures.

Lately I have been extremely busy with my work, as evident in my infrequent blogging nowadays. Once I am freer, I have decided to delete all the unknown 'friends'.

You mights say "Who cares!", then I would just have to reply "Who the hell are you?"

Schizophrenia & Family

2009-01-28T22:20:00.003+08:00

When a person is judged by his/her action, the reason given is usually the character. So how is the character shaped?

Are we born with it? (nature) or Are we brought up with it (nurture)?

R.D. Laing in his Sanity, Madness and the Family (1970), explains the ideas about the role of family in causing psychological disturbance and schizophrenia.

So do I agree with that? Hmmm, partly.

Case 1
A guy who is self-pity and always avoids meeting people he knows. He is very cautious to have someone close to him, hence he doesnt have any close friends. He has the tendency to feel that he is a failure and everyone looks down on him. As a matter of fact, some people don't even remember who he is.

Case 2
A guy who is always buying the latest gadgets and showing them off to his friends. He likes to make comparisons with his friends and make sure that he 'wins' in every circumstances. At the end of the day, nobody really cares of what he has.

So, these are the two cases at both ends of the scale. By examining them, they both maybe the results of a certain kind of family upbringings.

The first guy is from a broken family and is very conscious about what people think / ask of him and his family.

The second guy comes from a lower socio-economic background and has always be envious of his friends from a higher socio-economic background. Thus when he starts working, the first thing he does is to make sure he 'wins' materialistically.

Do all criminals come from some sort of distorted families? Is schizophrenia a result from an abnormal family? So, are our characters really shaped by FAMILY?

Cannonball

2009-01-27T23:55:00.007+08:00

I really like the lyrics of this song. First heard the song in 2004 and still like it, especially the very ironic chorus

Cannonball is a song by an Irish singer, Damien Rice. It is a very slow song...some people will like it, but some....hmmm will complain that it is a 'sleepy' song

there’s still a little bit of your taste in my mouth
there’s still a little bit of you laced with my doubt
it’s still a little hard to say what's going on
there’s still a little bit of your ghost your witness

there’s still a little bit of your face i haven't kissed
you step a little closer each day
that I can´t say what´s going on

stones taught me to fly
love, it taught me to lie
life, it taught me to die
so it's not hard to fall
when you float like a cannonball

there’s still a little bit of your song in my ear
there’s still a little bit of your words i long to hear
you step a little closer to me
so close that I can´t see what´s going on

stones taught me to fly
love taught me to lie
life taught me to die
'cos its not hard to fall,and I don't want to scare her
its not hard to fall and i don't want to lose
its not hard to grow
when you know that you just don't know

stones taught me to fly
love taught me to lie
life taught me to die
so its not hard to fall
when you float like a cannonball.

stones taught me to fly
love taught me to cry
so come on courage, teach me to be shy
'cos its not hard to fall,
when you float like a cannonball

Blackout 2009

2009-01-21T21:46:00.003+08:00

This is my first blog of the year, and I have to start with this. How depressing!

The Bandar Blackout of 2008 was on 26/27 April 2008. At that time, some places were affected up to 2 days.

The current blackout 'started' last night at around 11pm. I didnt know about it till this morning as I slept early and the weather was cool enough for me not to notice it.

Major inconveniences:

- Ice cream is melting in the fridge

- Grooming for work at morning twilight

- No aircond., no fans, hot hot hot

- No internet

- No TV means no American Idol on SWR

I left my 'blackout'ed village in Pulaie around 8.33pm, and came to my rented house in Sengkurong. Along the way, police was manning major traffic lights, the 'left' side of Jln Gadong towards Beribi (from Riverview Hotel till Land Transport Dept after Supasave), Kebangsaan Lama, Anggerek Desa, The Centrepoint, and many more places are STILL all affected.

What time will the Brunei Blackout 2009 end? And will there be another one?

Holiday Blues

2008-12-27T22:06:00.003+08:00

I am back after away for 26 days. I had to leave the UK on Christmas Eve. I kinda felt lonely and sad as people on the street were doing last minute Xmas shopping, buying presents for family and friends, or going to a Xmas dinner, and I... what was I doing? I was carrying my suitcases zooming across London to Heathrow airport to take the flight out. Even one London Underground staff said this to me, "It is kinda late heading home now, isn't it?" That made me even sadder.

Oh well, I am home now, suffering from holiday blues....

The following are the highlights of my trip of the countries I passing through:

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Stayed at a hostel, right opposite Bukit Bintang monorail station. If you know the Giodarno big billboard, it just covered my room window. So you know how central I was in KL.
- Did a bit of shopping at the Pavillion
- Applied my Turkish visa application.

Dubai, UAE (Click here for pictures)
- Free transit stop for 9 hours with free hotel, free breakfast, free lunch and free transport to and from the airport
- Rain in this desert city

Istanbul, Turkey (Click here for pictures)
- Arrived at nightfall and our tram stopped in front of the magnificent Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque
- The annoyance is the haggling of shopkeepers and the expensive entrance fees to sights
- A tiring uphill "climb" to the shopping district - Taksim square
- Apple tea at the Mosque cafe, next to a cemetery
- Fish kebabs, lamb kebabs, Chicken kebabs
- Nice Turkish hairstyle for the guys, but all look the same to me
- Turkish delights and sweets
- Belly dancing at the hostel
- Free breakfast at the hostel - Olives, cheeses, bread, eggs, cucumber, tomatoes and no kebabs

Sofia, Bulgaria (Click here for pictures)
- Very Soviet atmosphere
- Mosque, synagogue, churches stood side by side
- Waited in the cold at the Turksih - Bulgarian border at -5 degrees at 1am, while waiting for the Bulgarian border guard to check if our passports were genuine
- Cheap cheap stuff, especially fruits and vegetables and food
- Very nice hostel (Hostel Mostel) with free breakfast and free pasta dinner
- Was given free drinks by the guests from the next table at a local restaurant
- Strange grocery shop below street level, and the customers had to squat down and order goods from a small window
- Very COLD!

Prague, Czech Republic (Click here for pictures)
- Cheap beers. Actually Pilsners and Budweiser are Czech names.
- Met wonderful Czech friends from Istanbul Hostel who took me out dining in the evenings
- Lots of handmade handicrafts and puppets to buy
- Sir Toby's is a wonderful hostel with very rustic atmosphere.
- Billa supermarket opens from 7am to 9pm was our twice daily stop for stocking up for breakfast and dinner
- Lots of dogs of all shapes and sizes. Some people even donated a dog in a carrier bag and a man picked it up before entering a tram
- Vietnamese residents selling clothes at the Prague market. We had Vietnamese fried noodles there
- Saw a woman walking a pig and a dog
- Favourite stores - Billa, Manufaktura and Blue

Leeds, UK
- Very multicultural city with halal food at almost every corner. Even the Chinese takeaways are halal.
- Clean and user friendly Leeds Bradford Airport
- Love the supermarket Morrison and the market.... Cuppa tea, luv?
- Very near to the city of York (where I used to work) - only 25 minutes train ride
- Could have shopped more if I had more space in my luggage

Hallelujah! It's December - The X Factor final

2008-12-22T15:58:00.008+08:00

X Factor announces its winner every December, making the single designated to be UK's Christmas No.1 song.

2005 - Shayne Ward "That's my goal"

2006 - Leona Lewis "A moment like this"

2007 - Leon Jackson "When you believe"

2008 - Alexandra Burke "Hallelujah"

This year song was a cover version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" which is No.36 in the chart. The Jeff Buckley's version is at No.2. Basically there are 3 versions of "Hallelujah" in the Top40 Chart. The first time I heard the song was by Jason Castro at American Idol 2008.

Hallelujah (Click here for video link)

i heard there was a secret chord

that david played and it pleased the lord

but you don't really care for music, do you

well it goes like this the fourth, the fifth

the minor fall and the major lift

the baffled king composing hallelujah

hallelujah...

well your faith was strong but you needed proof

you saw her bathing on the roof

her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you

she tied you to her kitchen chair

she broke your throne and she cut your hair

and from your lips she drew the hallelujah

hallelujah...

baby i've been here before i've seen this room

and i've walked this floor i used to live alone

before i knew you i've seen your flag on the marble arch

but love is not a victory march

it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah

hallelujah...

well there was a time when you let me know

what's really going on below

but now you never show that to me

do you but remember when i moved in you

and the holy dove was moving too

and every breath we drew was hallelujah

well, maybe there's a god above

but all i've ever learned from love

was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you

it's not a cry that you hear at night

it's not somebody who's seen the light

it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah

hallelujah...

Turkish Mystic Music and Dance

2008-12-08T00:02:00.003+08:00

Last night we attnded the Sufi Music Concert and whirling Dervishes Ceremony. It was conducted by the Sufi group of Istanbul. It was very interesting and strict rules of no flash photography and talking was heavily enforced.

Apparently that was their form of praying to God. I have attached the short film clip of the ceremony.

Dubai Dubai - Wet wet wet

2008-12-06T05:15:00.005+08:00

"Rain falls on every corner of the earth" is really true. When we arrived in Dubai, it was raining. I was travelling with Emirates airlines and free hotel and meals (buffet breakfast and lunch) were included.

So basically we did nothing but ate and rest in the airport hotel.

Our visit also concided with the UAE National Day celebration, when tea and dates were served by a local Emirati at the airport. It is abit like Open House kind of ritual.

Annoyance in Kuala Lumpur

2008-12-02T22:30:00.004+08:00

No, no, no I am not talking bad things about KL. KL this time is great (surprisingly). Lots of sales and things are cheaper than expected. However, I cant shop a lot as I dont plan to drag my shopping around Europe.

So what I was annoyed about then? The visa application to Turkey was not as straight forward as we expected. I dont want to give too many details here, as someone may be offended. So in the end, we just hope we will get the visa on time for our flight tomorrow evening. So we also make contigency plan if we dont receive it on time. So maybe fly to Romania instead. We'll see.

To compensate all this annoyance, I managed to buy few CDs: David Archuleta, David Cook, Il Divo and Josh Groban. Also my KL friend and I went to a fantastic Vietnamese restaurant La Lot at the KL Pavilion. Sorry not my own photos here as I forgot to bring the camera with me. I 'borrowed' the pics from http://www.hungrygowhere.com/. We had spring rolls, famous Vietnamese noodles and coffee...Total RM83.50 for 2 of us hahaha

Tomorrow, I am gonna treat myself a Taiwanese-japanese fusion lunch :) I dont want to have my mood spoilt, I want to enjoy myself... by eating!

So again, not a good start for my trip ...

My Adventure in December School Holiday

2008-11-30T15:26:00.004+08:00

School's out. As an annual tradition, I NEED to travel.

This December, I will visiting several countries from 1 to 26 December 2008.

KL, Malaysia - Turkish visa application

Dubai, UAE - 9 hrs transit. Emirates provides free stop over hotel :p

Turkey - Istanbul, the city that is located in both Asia and Europe

Bulgaria - Sofia, the capital

UK - London, my flights in and out of the UK

Leeds, I will be meeting up with some SMSO scholars

Czech Republic - Gonna travel with Azrin from Leeds and spend 1 week in Prague

I have to use all sorts of currencies this time: Malaysia Ringgit, UAE Dirham, New Turkish Lira, Bulgarian Lev, British pound and Czech Koruna. My September trip was much easier, only Euros :)

Mexican Fiesta @ Sheraton Utama

2008-11-29T22:30:00.003+08:00

On Thursday 27 November, we went to the Mexican Fiesta at Sheraton. I was surprised that the buffet was of limited choice. Normally, the buffet extended till the poolside. Then I realised that the price was $29+ per person, while on Fridays and Saturdays, it was $36+. Maybe that was why the buffet was of 'limited' choice.

I will try to remember as much menu items in Spanish as possible. 2 choices of soups (Salmon Chowder or Pimento), fried rice, prawns, fish, chicken, lamb, aztec tortillas, chili con carne and all kinds of tortilla and assorted Mexican desserts. Lots of vegetables and could be very healthy.

Okay, what is so big deal about the different varieties of tortillas as shown in the picture above. Burritos, enchiladas, tacos. Actually they are all almost the same. It is called different names by the way it is wrapped or fold in different ways. hahahaha.

We tried to take pictures with the 2 Mexican guest chefs but they left the restaurant much earlier than we expected. So, we ended up borrowing the mexican hat and took photos with it. So what is the big Mexican hat called? The answer is revealed after the next picture.

SOMBRERO

Blogger of blogs

2008-11-28T17:52:00.004+08:00

I have not been blogging on this blog for a while. Normally the reason given will be either be lazy or busy. However I am not happy with either of these two 'excuses'.

In addition of posting in this blog, I am also 'responsible' for the other 2 blogs about my school.

SMSOthman

SMSO Careers

As in one of my previous posts "Some facts about blogging",

Scientists have long known the therapeutic benefits of writing about personal experiences. Blogs provide another convenient avenue for writing about personal experiences.

I guess I have taken the therapeutic benefits in writing the 2 SMSO blogs. So by the time I am thinking of writing here, I have nothing more to share or am infected of something called writer's block.

Since school will be out for 1 month with no activities to report, I guess I will be more active in writing here. Let's see what happens ...

Facebook or Friendster?

2008-11-06T08:44:00.009+08:00

Here are some facts about Facebook:

Facebook was launched on February 4, 2004.

Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while he was a student at Harvard University.

Website membership was initially limited to Harvard students.

The website currently has more than 110 million active users worldwide.

However, in Brunei, Friendster seems to be more popular.

Here are some facts about Friendster:
Friendster was founded in Mountain View, California, United States by Jonathan Abrams in March 2002.

It currently has more than 85 million members worldwide and is mostly used in Asia.

it caters to men and women interested in meeting people due to different reasons.

Actually these social networking sites are meant for members to find friends or connecting with old friends...so I dont understand why people like to use nicknames etc. Are they trying to let people NOT finding them? In that case, why on earth did they join in the first place????

The land where architects' wildest dreams come true

2008-10-31T09:51:00.008+08:00

On my way back from Europe during my last holiday, I had 2-day stopover at United Arab Emirates (UAE). For most people, UAE is Dubai. Actually UAE consists of 7 emirates, namely Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm al-Quwain.
Burj al- Arab

It was quite fortunate that one of my former colleagues, David, is now working in Ras al-Khaimah (RAK); and I was invited to stay the night with his family. It was very nice of him too to pick me up at Dubai International Airport.

The car journey to RAK was about an hour. After the drive past by rocks, deserts and sands, we finally arrived at his home. The windows of the houses in the area are designed in such away that you will not be able to look into the houses of your neighbours. In Brunei, we tend to know what is going on next door hahaha

There are lots of great stories about the trip to UAE, but I don't want to bore readers by giving full description.

My visit to UAE this time is very different from my last trip there in 2003. Dubai is almost 10 times more developed than 5 years ago with lots of high rise buildings and they are still building. Resorts are being built along the coast in most emirates. The Dubai bus-stop is air-conditioned. Dubai is ever so crowded.

Air-conditioned bus-stop

The high rise buildings in Dubai

Burj Dubai, the tallest man-made structure on Earth

"Dubai Creek" inside a hotelShopping Bazaar inside a hotel

Skiing inside a mall

This time, I managed to get out of Dubai and saw where the locals lived and shopped. The pace is much slower and a stone throw away from mountains and the sea. Many thanks to David and his family for showing me around. And it was great to meet them again after they left Brunei last December.

Road to the mountains

Spending my not-so festive seasons

2008-10-31T07:06:00.004+08:00

Halloween today! I have cooked (experimenting) some dishes and invited some former students to come to my place for dinner last night. The menu was: Devilled Eggs, Crispy Chricken with Tomotoes and Basil, Baked carrots, Strawberry Chesscake and Toffee Apples. I tried to make the dishes more Halloween themed.

Raya this year is almost over. It started on Thursday 2 October 2008 this year.

I have only gone to fewer than 8 open houses this year - 6 exactly (Cg Hamidah, Cg Noriana, Cg Mashiti, Cg Taufik, Cg Masdiana and Erwin). I nowadays feel less inclined of visiting open houses.

I have the same 'problem' when it comes to Chinese New Year. I should be even more joyful during the Chinese New Year. Again, I take it as a holiday to rest and homebound, rather than outbound.

As for Christmas, I am always away travelling. This Christmas, guess where I am gonna spend it. I will be sitting on a plane on Christmas Eve flying from London to Dubai on Emirates Airlines.

New Year - Last year I was on the RBA plane from London to Dubai. And we didnt know where the time zone was when the clock striked 12...which clock? Which time zone?

Come to think of it, it is rather sad (lol) the way I spend the festive seasons.

Bibliophilia - hobby or illness?

2008-10-29T20:50:00.005+08:00

I love books. I have a whole cupboard full of books.

I don't just buy any books. I love novels written by Anne Rice, travel guides and cookbooks. I was watching an episode from Hell Kitchen and the lady was telling Gordon Ramsay that people buy cookbooks as if they are buying porns.

Anyway, I just bought the following books from Amazon UK. With our favourable exchange rates with teh British pounds, things are cheaper than it used to be.

Lonely Planet: Eastern Europe

Since I am travelling to Czech Republic and Bulgaria this December, I will travel with one of my favourite lonely planet guides

Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food

I have all Jamie (JMe) Oliver's books. Hahaha, what a name - Ministry of Food! This book has a step-by-step pictures for the recipes. It is not difficult to follow his recipes. Excellent for beginners to cooking :) Healthy yet delish!

Nigella Christmas

Christmas is near and I am thinking of cooking a Christmas feast sometime (this year or in future). Again I have all her books, so this one is not to be missed, especially for people who are cooking for Christmas or any parties.

The Man in Seat 61

Mark Smith has an excellent website on http://www.seat61.com/ which gives excellent information on train travel in different countries. One let down of this book is that it focuses on European travel and very UK-based. So it is not that suitable for travellers planning to travel from other countries.

One thing for sure, I am NOT a bookworm.

The Land of Ideas - Deutschland

2008-10-23T15:45:00.007+08:00

Germany has always been one of my favourite countries. I met 2 German brothers during my tour around Scotland, who invited me to spend Christmas with their family. So Germany is the first country I travelled to when I was a student in the UK.

Ever since I spent my Christmas in Germany, I fell in love with the country. Germany is a land of contrast, with sea and beaches in the north, Alps and lakes in the south and the fairy-tale towns and cities and the beautiful Christmas markets in between.

I have been to Germany 5 times in separate trips. And Berlin is always my favorite German city. It has tragic past over the last 60 years: Nazi's rule, Cold War, and reunification.

Then the food: the world famous Schwarzwalderkirschtorte (Black Forest cake), Pork Knuckles, more than 1500 types of sausages, beer, and chocolates!!!!!!

In September 2008, I visited 3 cities: Bremen, Dresden and Berlin (again)

Bremen : a small historical town famous for the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale of Town Musicians. It is also the starting point of Fairy Tale Road.

Dresden: was almost totally destroyed by Allied bombing in 1945. Now it has been rebuilt with the former Baroque grandeur. Lots of chocolate shops!!!

Berlin: The cheapest of all the Western European cities and very arty. Kebab is B$5, a plate of vegetarian fried noodles B$4. The buildings in the former East and former West can be quite distintive. The shops in former East Berlin even though selling the latest fashions, still housed in former Communist Russian style squared buildings. You just have to be there to experience it :) Art galleries can be found in unexpected alley ways...

I will indeed go back to Germany again....

Tickets to the nights of entertainment

2008-10-19T10:50:00.005+08:00

Until now, these are the PAID concerts I have been:

Belinda Carlisle @ Brighton, UK

Cyndi Lauper @ London, UK

Westlife @ Brunei

Celine Dion @ Las Vegas, USA

Blue @ Brunei

Madonna @ Paris, France

Sticky and Sweet, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock....

2008-10-19T08:29:00.006+08:00

When I was asked how Madonna's concert was, I actually did not know what to say. I have previously written a post soon after I watched her concert in Paris, but it was kinda vague. Why didn't I feel that excited after the long awaiting concert? Maybe I was overwhelmed at that time, , or because it was my first time watching her and I didnt know how to 'enjoy' the show, or the Parisian autumn was just too cold for me, or the delay of my luggage actually spoilt my excitement, or a combination of all these factors.

This will be my last post on my blog to mention about Madonna's Sticky and Sweet concert (I hope). There are lots of concert pictures on Madonna Tribe.

Finally I am reliving my moment at Stade de France in Paris on 20 Septmeber by looking at some of the youTube videos :)

"Like A Prayer" is when the concert turned the stadium into a giant dance floor.

The following setlist is obtained from Hard Candy Music website.

The show features four main section. The show opener, Candy Shop, has now a longer intro compared to the promo tour version. A musical intro a la Drowned World Tour, with bits and pieces of song form Hard Candy that we will be hearing later in the show fades into the "C-A-N-D-Y" intro from the promo tour.

The clock ticking theme from 4 minutes can be heard several times during the show. In the show intro, in Vogue and in the "Get Stupid" interlude, which reminds of the Confessions Tour's Sorry Video interlude. In Get Stupid there are samples of Give It 2 Me, 4 Minutes and Beat Goes On and it's about our chance to save our planet from the various damages we created.

The use of music samples is very big on this tour. Many of the classic hits are musically re-arranged as mash-ups and the songs are sung on musical tracks heavely sample-ing other dance songs. Like A Prayer, for example, which, as previously reported by M-Tribe, has entered the set list is now replacing Impressive Instant and it's delivered using musical parts of the 1992 dance hit by Felix "Don't You Want Me".

Into The Groove, that contains a small sample of Madonna's Jump, is also delivered using musical parts of another dance song "Toop Toop" by Cassius, while Borderline is a great "rocky/ska" re-invention of the classic 1983 ballad.

The first video interlude, a fast and speeded up version of the James Bond theme Die Another Day, features exclusive new footage of Madonna as a boxeur, from the brand new photoshoot by Tom Munro for the Tour Book.

The second video interlude mashes up Madonna's Rain with the Eurythmics' Here Comes The Rain Again, using their original version and leading to Devil Wouldn't Recognize You. Originally supposed to play the piano herself on this song, Madonna will now be placed on the piano, reminessing a bit the Sooner Or Later performance from Blond Ambition.

Sticky & Sweet Set List

Intro/Candy Shop
Beat Goes On
Human Nature
Vogue

Video Interlude - Die Another Day
Into The Groove
Heartbeat
Borderline
She's Not Me
Music

Video Interlude - Rain/Here Comes The Rain Again
Devil Wouldn't Recognize You
Spanish Lesson
Miles Away
La Isla Bonita/Lela Pala Tute
Doli Doli (Live interlude - Romanian folk song)
You Must Love Me

Video Interlude - Get Stupid (About saving the planet)
4 Minutes
Like A Prayer
Ray Of Light
Hung Up
Give It 2 Me (Finale)

Talk Madonna with Radio DJ

2008-10-16T17:30:00.005+08:00

It was the usual morning drive to work with Pilihan FM on my car radio. It was DJ Izan again, but surprisingly there were not many call-in listeners this morning. Maybe this is the examination periods and everyone is busy, busy, busy.

She played "Give It to Me" by Madonna, then she talked bout Madonna and Guy Ritchie splitting up. So, since it was a quiet morning, I decided to give her a call ON AIR.

Here is how it went...

Using a hands free kit,

I: Hello

DJ: Hello

I: Hello

DJ: Hello

I: This is Charles

DJ hung up the phone as she couldn't hear me

Then I tried for the second time ...without hands free kit

I: Hello

DJ: Hello, your hands free kit so lousy one. Made in China kah?

I: No lah, I use the original one, which came with the hand phone

DJ: Are you driving as I can hear the echo?

I: (winding up the car window). Ok now

DJ: So what can I do for you?

I: As you were mentioning about Madonna just now, I just wanna say I went to her concert in Paris a couple of weeks ago

DJ: No kidding! So how was it?

I: It was very good.

DJ: Tell me, I want to know everything

I: She sang about 20 songs and the concert lasted for about 2 hours. She changed the music to most of her songs so we weren't able to recognise the songs at first. It was a bit controversial.

DJ: What do you expect? That is Madonna. So any souvenirs for me?

I: Nothing...hahahhahaa.

DJ: You ah. Went to her concert and nothing for Izan. You are making so jealous of you now. I am like licking my wounds. How is the traffic?

I: The traffic is fine as I am driving on the highway from Bandar to Tutong.

DJ: Yeap, of course not much traffic on the highway. So, any song requests?

I: It is okay since you are playing songs from 80s and 90s. Those are my favourites anyway.

DJ: Ok, you have a nice day. Bye

I: you too. Bye

Now I think of it, so weird. And I was actually dumbstruck and sounded monotonous. She must have thought I was boring. What to expect as I was driving!!!!

Hostelling - a Crime?

2008-10-13T23:11:00.018+08:00

Whenever I tell someone that I stay at hostels during my travels; I always get this astonishing look on the face. Most people presume hostels are dirty, cramped and full of weird hippies who smoke and take drugs.

There are various types of hostels: party, quiet, family-friendly hostels. Also, the thought of sharing room with total strangers can be daunting as well as the issue of security. Some hostels again offers various types of rooms: single, double, family or dormitory. Basically hostels are for everyone, not for backpackers only.

The reasons I like to stay at hostels are to meet other travellers, cook my own food. You'll be surprised how good facilities are provided in some hostels. Some hostels are even better than hotels.

The followings are reviews of the hostels I stayed during my European travel in September 2008:

1) Paris: Bureau des voyages de la Jeunesse (BVJ)
It is situated at Latin Quarter, near to the University of Sorbonne. A district, full of bookshops and cafes. The receptionists were helpful in providing local information. Rooms were not very clean. The shower 'stand' was very small with no curtain. So someone sleeping on certain bunk beds will have full view of the person in the shower. Talking about the openness of French. No lift, and my room was on the 5th floor. The spiral staircase is beautiful, but not so when you have to carry your luggage up to the room. Breakfast was a really BIG bowl of hot drink (tea, coffee or chocolate), buffet cereals, French bread (baguette) with jams and butter. The baguette was delicious. Bed price: €28 per night.

2) Luxembourg City: YHA Luxembourg City

Situated in a beautiful location underneath a railway bridge and next to a river. Reception is huge with lots of information. Rooms are very clean with new furnished IKEA-styled room. All rooms are accessed with key cards.Very comfortable with fluffy pillows and mattress. Everyone is provided with secure locker to store luggage. Shower and toilet facilities are abundant. Though there is no kitchen facilities, there is a very good restaurant serving reasonably priced meals. A 3 course dinner cost only €8. Buffet breakfast is included in the room price. Breakfast consists of all you can eat cereals, breads with jam, cheese and cold cuts and tea/coffee. Bed price: €20. The best hostel I have ever stayed in my life.

3) Bremen: GastHaus Backpacker

It is located very closed to the train station. Gender segregated communal shower. Excellent kitchen with dishwasher, means we don't have to clean up after cooking. €17

4) Dresden: Kangaroo Stop
Very close to Dresden Neustadt train station in a quiet and leafy neighbourhood. Hostels have excellent kitchen facilities. The shower is again communal. Rooms are decorated in a very cosy and homely design. Bed per night: €15 excluding breakfast.

5) Berlin: The Circus Hostel

This is the second time I stayed at this hostel, due to its location near to cafes and restaurants. The takeaways places around the hostel serve cheap and delicious meals. It is also very near to the main train station as well as next to the subway station.
Free WiFi is available in lobby as well as in the rooms. Excellent bathroom and toilet facilities. All rooms are accessed with key cards. Though breakfast is not included in the room price, the buffet breakfast is more like a brunch and cost €5. Bed price per night: €21

Mama Mia!

2008-10-12T21:28:00.004+08:00

Mama Mia! The movie

Mama Mia! The musical

I have watched the Mama Mia! the movie this afternoon. It was an adaptation from a musical of the same name.

Mamma Mia! is a stage musical with a book by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. It is an example of a jukebox musical, and is notable for popularising the genre.

I have always wanted to watch the stage musical but never have a chance. The soundtracks are all songs from ABBA, such as "Dancing Queen", "I have a dream", "Mama Mia", "The Winner Takes it All", "Take a Chance on Me", "Voulez-vous" and many more. I am sure on the live stage musical, the audience will stand up, sing and dance with the music. But in a movie, one can only sit there and hum away. The movie was filmed in Greece - again one of the highlights of the movie.

Overall, I would say the movie was entertaining and hilarious.

So, is this movie only for ABBA fans? I would say, if you like musicals or ABBA songs, it definitely helps you to enjoy more.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

2008-10-12T08:21:00.004+08:00

(Picture above): The red building under the bridge is the hostel

Town Hall with marching soldier guard at the background.

When we think of Europe, we always think of the larger countries such as Germany, Italy, France etc. There are however 6 micro-states in Europe, i.e. Andorra, Monaco, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Vatican City and San Marino. I am surprised of how some of these states were formed.

In September 2008, I had the opportunity to visit Luxembourg City, enroute from Paris to Germany. I decided to stay only 2 nights as I didnt think of anything to see in this small country.
How wrong I was indeed.

I arrived at Luxembourg City train station and was told by the Tourist Information guy that the hostel was 15 minutes walk away. The first impression of the area outside the train station made me think twice if I wanted to stay in this boring city for 2 nights. The area around the train station had the usual chain stores found in almost every European city.

Then I was dragging my luggage crossing the bridge. Gosh, that was a HUGE bridge with valleys underneath. Then I walked up a slope,down another slope, passed a square, crossed another bridge (with another valley again), down another very steep slope; and voila that was the hostel located by the river underneath a giant railway bridge - a 30 minutes walk away.

So the first impression deceived me. Luxembourg City was fantastic. Lots of beautiful scenery with bridges, hills, rivers and a toy town city centre. The hostel was the best I have stayed in MY LIFE. I merely touched the surface of what I could do and see here.

More pictures here

Dedication to my Exes

2008-10-11T22:23:00.004+08:00

What will you say to your ex when you meet him/her?

Will you ...

- Avoid and shy away him/her

- Greet him/her like a normal friend and stay as friends

- Or tell/show him/her just how good you are without him/her in your life.

This Hari Raya, I only visited 4 houses so far; and I met 2 of my exes at 2 of the houses respectively. We didn't greet and I am sure they saw me. I was wondering why on earth I was so head over heels in love with them in the past. Maybe when the feelings are all gone, this is when I could see more clearly what the whole fuss was. And I was actually proving to them how good and happy my life is without them.

So if I have chance to talk to them, I would say "Thanks for the memory!", as if they really care lol

VIP Lounge at Doha Airport

2008-10-01T14:58:00.004+08:00

I have been to 3 VIP lounges, i.e. Brunei, Dubai and now Doha. I can say this is the worst of the three. The receptionist is not friendly. There is no HOT food. The breakfast consists of only self made tea/coffee, arabian sweets and cakes.

The internet connection is not good at all, as it kept disconnected. Anyway, at least it is just another experience.

The new Levi's poster

2008-10-01T13:36:00.003+08:00

This is the new Levi's 501 "Live Unbuttoned" poster that can be found all over Germany this autumn. Any comments? lol

J'aime Paris

2008-09-28T19:11:00.003+08:00

Everytime I come to Paris, I stay at different districts. In 2005, we stayed near the Eiffel Tower in a district called Commerce. That was where many of the middle class Parisians live. A very good and rich area indeed. We always moved to Bastille and Marais areas – very historical areas where the French aristocrats used to stay in the 18th century.

In December 2007, I won a lucky draw stay at Le Meurice, just opposite Le Lourve. Very central and near to all the up market shopping areas but can be very hard to find cheap food.

This time, I stay at a hostel in Latin Quarter. This is where Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce and other poets and writers hung out. There are plenty of bookshops and full of university students, especially it is near to La Sorbonne – the oldest university in Paris.
Everytime I only visit the neighbourhood areas of where I stay, instead of venturing out to other districts. It is like discovering a new soul of Paris in every visit.
More photos here

The concert of the Year

2008-09-21T15:42:00.003+08:00

The concert started at 9pm. But at 6pm, lots of people had started to make their way to Stade de France, the venue of Madonna's concert.

The show started with a guest appearing of DJ Bob Sinclar an hour before the show. Oh yeah, this was NOT a concert, but a SHOW.

At around 9.30pm, the show started with first song, "Candy Shop" from her latest album. The theme was of black neighbourhood, with colourful outfits, dance routine and very "pimp". In this theme, she sang "Human Nature" with a surprise background videos of Britney Spears and others with videos of P Diddy, Pharell.

Second theme of the night was Latin, in which she sang songs like "Spanish lesson", "La Isla Bonita"

The 3rd theme, as usual very political.

The final theme of the night was singing songs like "Like a prayer", "Hung Up" and "Give it to me" in Rock music. This was when we all danced the night away.

It took me an hour to head back to Paris. Imagine thousands of people going home at the same time. Security was very strict and organised.

p.s. More pictures will be featured in my facebook when I get home. I cant remember the whole song list especially blogging in the cold and windy Parisian park.

How can your holiday be spoilt?

2008-09-21T15:38:00.001+08:00

I have encountered several ways of how my holiday was spoilt

Event 1 (Night train from Leipzig, Germany to Warsaw, Poland)
My luggage was stolen on my second day of my 2-month holiday in Europe by rail. Apparently we were gassed while asleep in the train. The thieves were able to go through the luggage, and stole the valuables.

Event 2 (Siam Reap, Cambodia)
I was so looking forward to taking photos on my trip to Angkor Watt. The day just before our trip to the temples, when my friend returned me my camera after taking my pictures, it accidentally hit the ground. So, I couldn’t take any pictures on the trip.

Event 3 (Dubai, UAE to Paris, France)
I arrived in Paris and my luggage arrived 2 days after me. My luggage was still in Dubai and the check in personnel at Dubai airport didn’t bother to make sure if my luggage was going through to Paris. The feeling wasn’t great when I had to shop for all necessities on my first day of arrival.

So how can the spoilt holiday be unspoiled?

Just think positive and look for any contingency plans (e.g. extra cash). Nothing else you can do. That’s simple.

Transit in Dubai

2008-09-18T03:31:00.000+08:00

As some of you may have traveled through Dubai airport, you can see that it looks more like a refugee camp. Waiting passengers are seen lying on the floor everywhere. I even saw one African lady and her connecting flight is like in 18 hours time. What a pity when she didn’t speak the local lingua.

It was a good idea for me to apply for the Priority Pass membership. I could have the privilege of using the VIP lounge. At 3am, breakfast was served. The hot meals included, scrambled eggs, bean stew, fried mee, sausages, fried tomatoes, mushrooms and stewed chicken liver (this is breakfast!!!) Of course I tried everything.

The relaxing RBA VIP Airport Lounge

2008-09-17T19:00:00.000+08:00

I was expecting the Brunei airport as busy as the past few days with full flights and scholarship students leaving for the UK. So I went as early as 5pm, only to find out that it was not busy at all.

After check in, I could have gone home and came to airport at 645pm, since my flight didnt leave till 7.35pm. Anyway, I was thinking of trying the RBA Sky Lounge, since I have free access as a RBA AMEX Gold card holder.

The atmosphere was totally relaxing with free buffet (Chicken Rendang, sweet and sour fish), choices of tea and coffee and lots more. One can even take shower lol

Here are the pictures to justify what I just mentioned.

The power of Good Bye

2008-09-17T07:06:00.004+08:00

Warning: No pictures

Hmmm, about yesterday at the airport. Let's start with the annoying stuff first. First of all, the gate of P2 at airport couldnt open when I entered. So I had to wait for 5 minutes for the gate to be opened manually. Then it was the queue for parking ticket payment (20 minutes). When leaving, the gate again was stuck and waited for 10 minutes this time.

Now for the emotional part:

Didnt see Nurthaqifah at the airport - too crowded.

Saw Amin going through the Metal detector while sorting out something at the check in counter. Was really surprised that he went in as early as 6.15pm, before sungkai... Hmm, about the state of him - red eyes .

Now Azrin's turn. He was going in around 7pm. It got very emotional and his friends started crying while he was saying goodbyes. I can actually control my emotion, but not when others start losing it. I guess it is normal to cry...we are all human beings...lol Fakhira got the emotional scene captured.

The surprising thing is about Azim. He is always the cool and carefree guy. He actually broke down and weeped. I didnt expect that...you know...the rocker...I didnt take any pics, so Azim - no proof lol... Just picture this scene, he hugged his mum and buried his face on his mum's shoulder and weeped like a minute or so.... Then he repeated the same with his sister. That was really emotional......(the winner of the night)

That's all for my report...lol

Miss you guys... and good luck and all the best...

The long road to payment

2008-09-14T21:38:00.003+08:00

After I saw the students off at the airport tonight, I rushed down to pay for my parking ticket. There was only one payment counter there and it took 40 minutes before it reached my turn.

Need not say more....

Getting ready NOT

2008-09-14T09:43:00.002+08:00

I have been going to the airport to see students off since Friday. Then it suddenly hits me that I will be travelling myself on Wednesday night, I havent packed or whatsoever.

All tickets and accommodation booked. There are still some necessities I need to bring along, eg shampoo, toothpaste and some instant noodles lol

I hate packing as I have to bring out jackets etc. And I sneeze everytime I touch them, dusty as well as I am kinda allergic to woollen clothings.

Since it is still 'summer' I dont have to bring thick clothings, just a jacket will do. The European weather can sometimes be very unpredictable. I just checked the weather in Dubai...gosh it is like 40 degrees...definitely T shirt and jeans for that. Luckily I will be there only for 2 days.

I better make a list of what to bring; otherwise I bound to forget something.

Countless Good byes

2008-09-13T15:05:00.003+08:00

Lately I have been touched by songs about leaving and good byes. I think maybe the reason is seeing some of the SMSO students leaving for overseas studies. I also begin to reminiscing the time when I left Brunei for my overseas studies. I was away for almost 7 years.

Last Sunday this Chinese oldie song from the 80s was played on Wa! TV. The lyrics are cool (like in winter) and it has always been a classic.
大約在冬季 - 齊秦

轻轻的我将离开你请将眼角的泪拭去
漫漫长夜里未来日子里亲爱的你别为我哭泣
前方的路虽然太凄迷请在笑容里为我祝福
虽然迎著风虽然下著雨我在风雨之中念著你

没有你的日子里我会更加珍惜自己
没有我的岁月里你要保重你自己
你问我何时归故里我也轻声地问自己
不是在此时不知在何时
我想大约会是在冬季

Let me translate this into English:

The title of the song is:

Maybe during the winter by Chyi Chin (Qi Qin).

Silently I am going to leave you. Please wipe away your tears.
In the long nights and days to come. Please don't cry for me, my love
The road ahead is long and winding. Please wish me well in your smile
Although it is rainy and windy, I will be thinking of you.

The days without you, I will look after myself
The days without me, please take good care of yourself
You asked me when I would return home. I also asked myself the same question
Not now, and I dont know when
I think may be during the winter

Again, it sounds a bit lame when it is translated from Chinese to English :)

I have attahed the video from you tube. Gosh, the 80s fashion and hairstyle!!!!

Song for SMSO Alumni

2008-09-11T19:59:00.006+08:00

Someone was asking me if I would dedicate this song in my blog, to the SMSOnians who are leaving for the UK, starting from 12 September 2008. At first, I was thinking to put this in the SMSO career blog, but again the career blog is supposed to be a formal blog for the school. With lyrics and songs dedication may create somewhat strange...lol...so here it is ...

I find the lyrics are very "relevant" :)

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stared out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray

Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I would pray I could break away

[Chorus:]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get on a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)
And breakaway

[Chorus]

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging around revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway

Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson

p.s. Don't Cry :)

My Italian Dream

2008-09-07T13:12:00.004+08:00

This is one of my all time favourites - Tiramisu

Tiramisu in Italian, means "pick-me-up" (Tirami su), a reference to the effects of the sugar and espresso, but can be translated figuratively as "cheer me up".

In order to prepare it, the following ingredients are needed: Savoiardi biscuits, eggs, sugar, rum and cocoa. In the original recipe, no liquor is added as it is mainly eaten by children and the elderly.

I have come up with my own version of recipe.

Ingredients:

3 Eggs (Separate yolks from whites)

300 ml strong black coffee with 100 ml rum (optional)

1 packet (250g) Cream Cheese in room temperature

3 Tablespoon sugar

250g Thick Double Cream

1 packet (175g) sponge fingers

Cocoa powder (for sprinkle)

Methods:

- Beat yolks and sugar for about 3 minutes till pale in colour

- Add cream cheese and beat for 1 minute

- Fold in double cream into the mixture

- Beat egg white till foamy and add into the mixture

- Soak sponge fingers quickly in the coffee and line at the base of the tray

- Layer the sponge fingers with cream cheese mixture, and add another layer of coffee soaked sponge fingers. Top with another layer of cream cheese

- Put tiramisu in fridge for 4 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with cocoa powder before serving.

Note:

Since eggs are not cooked in this recipe, the eggs must be fresh or liquor to be added. If eggs are not used, you can substitute with another packet (250g) of cream cheese with 200ml of warm water to beat with sugar.

L6 Sociology Debate (30 Aug 2008)

2008-08-31T12:16:00.009+08:00

Instead of giving essays after essays to L6 Sociology class, students are given topics from A Level Sociology past year papers to debate. After 2 weeks of in class debate, 2 teams are left to compete with each other on Saturday 30 August 2008

Motion: Women have now achieved equality with men in the modern industrial societies

Proposition Team: Speakers - Mei Ling, Azizul, Sally (Standbys- Aliff Safwan, Nuraqilah)

Opposition Team: Speakers - Aaron, Asytrianni, Firdaus (Stanbys- Haziq, Dina)

Winner: Proposition Team

Click here for more photos

Audience: L6 Sociology and some U6 students

From Beijing to the Multi-culturalism of London

2008-08-25T19:11:00.005+08:00

I watched the Beijing Olympic Closing Ceremony last night. I was looking very much forward to see the London 2012 show. It showed the artistic sides of London, with punk-haired dancers, grafitti art. Of course, the double-decker bus, red bus-stop and the red phone booth all represented London.

As a 'Londoner' (for 5 years only), it was nostalgic to watch it. I miss London so much.

The people who appeared on the London show are:

David Beckham - born in Leytonstone, a native Londoner. needless to introduce more.

Leona Lewis - from Hackney, a suburb of London. Afro-Caribbean and Welsh parentage. Winner of X Factor 2006.

Jimmy Page - from Heston, West London. Co-founder of Led Zeppelin.

A 10 year-old girl was given a ball and was passed to Beckham, before he kicked it away. The young girl was a viewer choice from Blue Peter, who is a British Asian from East London.

It is fantastic to show the world how multi-cultural London is, with its various ethnic minorities. Since UK is in the EU, and many new joined EU countries may have NO idea about multi-culturalism of UK, France and Germany.

Those newly joined countries were in the Communist rule for more than 40 to 50 years. For them, they only see one race - the white race. It is funny how a friend told me that, a Black guy from London was stopped when he went home from Slovakia. The Slovakian airport authority wanted to see his ticket out of the UK, when this guy was basically born and bred in London. So, should we call that being ignorant, or racist?

Anyhow, the London show actually shows them that London is so multicultural, with immigrants from all over the world, especially from the Commonwealth countries. So, for those EU countries who have never seen a non-white person before, it is time to wake up

Another blog published

2008-08-24T19:35:00.003+08:00

I have created another blog for SMSO Career Dept. Some of the features are not completed, especially details on scholarships. Anyway, check this out:

SMSO Blog

Dining in the Toilet

2008-08-20T21:05:00.003+08:00

Today I was talking about a themed restaurant in Taiwan - Modern Toilet. My friends who went to Taiwan in June told me all about it. Basically, they laughed their way throughout the dining experience. So, what would you order from the menu? Below are some pics I copied from other' blogs. If you want more. here is the website: http://www.moderntoilet.com.tw/en/index.asp

BON APETITE!

Delighted by Turkey

2008-08-18T19:35:00.003+08:00

Finally ... I have bought my air ticket for Dec 2008. I am going to Istanbul, Turkey. I bought the ticket today so there will be no chance of me keep changing my mind.

I will be travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul, via Dubai with Emirates (fly Emirates!!!!). I still yet to apply my Turkish visa at the embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

So I am gonna do lots of things in Istanbul:

- Cross the Bosphorus by ferry to Asia from Europe. Yes, Istanbul is the only city situated in both Asia and Europe, separated by Bosphorus strait.

- Try lots of Turkish food.

- Sightseeing in this ancient city, and more

I will be coming back from London on the 24th December. I will be spending my Christmas this year on the plane. It is a bit like last year that I spent my New Year on the plane as well. Flying past different time zones means I am losing out time.

Oh well, Looing forward to Winter. Winter... I love the cold winter

Snow-flecked Brownies

2008-08-13T19:59:00.004+08:00

Recipe from Nigella Lawson's FEAST

375g butter

375g semi-sweet or bitter sweet chocolate

6 eggs

0.5 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon Vanilla extract

1.5 cups + 2 Tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon salt

250g white chocolate buttons

2 teasppons icing sugar (for dusting)

1. Melt butter and dark chocloate in a panover low heat

2. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla extract together.

3. Allow the chocolate mixture cool a little before adding to the egg mixture and beat well.

4. Fold in flour and salt. Then stir in white chocolate.

5. Line 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan with aluminium foil

6. Pour the brownie mixture into the pan and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees Farenheit (190 degrees Celsius)

7. After cutting into bite sized pieces, sprinkle with icing sugar to give the 'snow-flecked' effect.

FEEDBACK:

The brownies are quite sweet. Therefore I cut down the sugar to half a cup. It is because the dark and white chocolates are already quite sweet. Even after 25 minutes, the mixture may still be 'woobly'. But once it is cool down, the brownies will set and be hardened.

It is like the Western version of Kek Batik without the biscuits.

Icelandic Mannerism

2008-08-04T21:59:00.005+08:00

Do you know what the capital of Iceland is? Reykjavik

I read a blog about Icelandic Mannerism from http://blog.icelandexpress.com/

I find the way the blogger described is quite amusing. So wanna share it here.

Want to avoid feeling out-of-place in Reykjavik? Never mind eating sheep testicles in an attempt to fit in — here are the important everyday customs you’ll really need to become a true Friend of Iceland.

Whatever you do, don’t say hello to anybody Never say “hi” to anybody you recognise. Not even if they spent the whole of last night propping up the bar with you, relaying their life-story. People don’t greet each other here until after they’ve had at least two beers — then you’re free to hug / laugh / cry / get married, whatever.

Don’t be a push-over Don’t feel offended if you get shoved to the floor in bars. It’s not that Icelanders are rude, it’s just that you’re in their way. We advise you to smile brightly and push right back. You might make a friend that won’t say “hi” later.

Get naked Icelanders are notoriously hygienic. You must shower naked before you swim, paying special attention to your special areas.

You seem to have right-of-way Don’t be surprised when cars slow down to let you cross in front of them; even if you never wanted to cross in the first place. It just gives everybody a chance to get a better look at you.

Greenland or Iceland?

2008-08-04T21:48:00.004+08:00

Iceland huh... Yes, I plan to go to Iceland one day...maybe next year. So what's so special about Iceland? Iceland is not full of ice. ACtually, there are plenty of thermal pools, volcanoes, geysers, waterfall in Iceland.

If you are thinking of a country that is full of ice, maybe you mean "Greenland". Again, Greenland is not full of green grasses, there are plenty of snow there. Confused??? Me too.

So, the pic below that has plenty of ICE is "Greenland"; and the pic that shows a lot of GREEN is "Iceland". Get it???

Tips to make travelling easier

2008-08-03T23:39:00.002+08:00

I just found these travel tips from the http://www.hostelworld.com/ website. As a travel addict, I wanna see how many of the followings I have/havent done:

1. Learn about the culture of the country before you visit it, and try not to look too much like a tourist. Always! as I have bought lots of guide books and do lots of research prior to travel

2. When you travel somewhere forget your map and all the guide books for a while. Sometimes it's better to stroll along the streets and discover things that aren't listed anywhere in the guides but are nonetheless great and interesting and more fun. Never! I feel I will be like a lost sheep without the guide book or map.

3. Visit local restaurants and bars. They are much cheaper and you can try the traditional specialities and even meet the locals. Always! Food is my No. 1 passion

4. Bring a pillow with you for those long bus journeys. Not yet! I should try that sometimes

5. Do not plan too much. You are on holiday! Also, try to have just your essential luggage, not a heavy suitcase. I think I plan too much. But I do travel light.

6. Get one of those thin money belts that fit inside your clothes. That way you can carry your passport and money with you at all times. Yeap, always. Mine is tied around my leg.

7. Be open to everything which may happen to you. There is always something new to learn. Hmmm, sometimes only.

Fresh Look

2008-08-03T08:26:00.001+08:00

I have decided to change the template for my blog. The previous dark blue can sometimes look depressing. So I have decided to change this blog into a much brighter and fresher look.

Enjoy!!!

Help! Travel bugs are everywhere!

2008-08-02T19:23:00.005+08:00

Without denying, I am a travel addict. I will take any opportunities just to travel. It is not I am trying to show off my travels. It is that I believe, as a citizen of the Earth, it is my priviledge to explore every corner of this planet (I sound like as if I am an alien or something lol).

So, when did the travel bug bite me? It actually bit me after I finished my A Levels. I didnt want to come back to Brunei at that time because I was worried that my grades did not meet the requirements, and I might have to wait for Clearing. So I wanted to be physically in the UK when the results were out. That means I had nothing to do in July and August.

One of my family friends suggested that I could travel. Travel? Alone? Are you crazy!!!!

Then she said if I was worried, I could try out the UK first. So hesistantly I bought an 8-day couch pass. 1st stop - Nottingham as I like the legend of Robin Hood. Then I was homesick after 1 day. Went back to London again, then took a night coach to Edinburgh, Scotland. Due to the Military Tatoo in Edinburgh, all accommodation was fully booked, so I had to stay in a hostel and shared with other travellers in the same room. After that, I was hooked!

My future travel plans are as follows:

September 2008 - Paris, Luxembourg, Germany, Qatar and Dubai

Decemebr 2008 - KL, UK (Prague, Tunisia - unconfirmed)

March 2009 - KL and Hanoi (Vietnam)

June 2009 unconfirmed - Copenhagen (Denmark), Iceland, Greenland

Disinhibitation and Desensitisation

2008-07-31T20:16:00.004+08:00

Just watched Batman: The Dark Knight this afternoon. I felt like I was watching a tamer Saw movie. Nowadays, even movies adapted from comics contains gore and violence. Killings, bombings, tortures in almost every action movies.

Do we really want this? Are audience now asking for more? Have we been disinhibited and desensitised? What will the effects on our children? Do parents still bring their children to all movies without considering the violent content?

A photo album for SMSOnians

2008-07-28T18:13:00.005+08:00

Majlis Ilmu or Knowledge Convention is held annually, in conjuction with HM's Birthday Celebration.

This year, the theme is "Negara Zikir" - Negara Zikir ialah negara yang bangsa dan masyarakatnya sentiasa ingat Tuhan dalam berfikir dan bertindak yang misinya untuk menjadi umat terbaik yang disebut di dalam Al-Quran, Surah Ali Imran, Ayat 110, iaitu umat dilahirkan bagi menyuruh berbuat kebaikan dan melarang daripada kejahatan.

Even though I am not an Ugama teacher, as a Head of Career, I was the one who organised the visit there. It was good as I didnt have to wake up early to go to school in Tutong, as the venue was in ICC, a 5-min drive from my house. I was also the photographer for this trip.

I have realised that it was a bit difficult to put all the photos here in this blog. And not everyone has facebook account to view the pics there. So I have uploaded all the photos (past, present and future) involving SMSONians to

www.flickr.com/photos/smsothman

Missing a part of My Life

2008-07-25T22:29:00.003+08:00

Remember when Capital Radio was first on air?

I was quite surprised when I first heard it in my car radio on 100.1FM. I couldn't believe it at first that the radio station that I listened to so much while I was in the UK, was broadcasting through the radio here in Brunei. I basically live through my life in the UK with Capital Radio.

It was quite weird as they were broadcasting the traffic jam on M25, while I was driving on Muara-Tutong Highway. lol

Capital Radio was with us here in Brunei from 1996 to 2005. With its presence, our own local stations have becoming more innovative too.

Now, my favourite station is Rangkaian Pilihan on 95.9Fm or 96.9FM. Once in a while I listen to Capital Radio online. It has been a part of my life........

My would-be adventure in September

2008-07-18T13:48:00.004+08:00

My trip in September is all set and ready to go.

I will be flying to Dubai on RBA on 17 September, stay a few hours at the airport before taking a Qatar Airways flight to Doha then onwards to Paris. I am sure the airport will be jam-packed with scholarships students leaving for the UK and their friends and relatives seeing them off. So I guess I will ask my dad to drop me off somewhere near the parking lots, and I will drag my luggage to the departure hall.

After staying in Paris for 4 days and gonna watch Madonna's Sweet and Sticky concert, I will take a train to Luxembourg and stay there for another 2 nights. Luxembourg is this small country sandwiched among Germany, Belgium and France. I have never been there so I am sure it should be fun as I will be staying at the Youth Hostel.

Okay, now...when I travel, I always stay at hostels. Some of the hostels can be dodgy and horrible, some of them are excellent. Also, you don't have to stay in a shared rooms in hostels; some have private rooms. Before I have the 'habit' of hosteling, I always stay in Bed & Breakfast on my own - It is boring when alone. But with hostels, you can stay in some fantastic buildings and meet lots of wonderful people. I have stayed in a mansion in Scotland, an old hospital in Switzerland, and even a water tower in Austria. And best of all, they are cheaper than hotels. Just look at the reviews from other travellers when choosing hostels. Opt for the higher ratings even the price maybe a bit more. But again, you pay for what you get.

So, after Luxembourg, I will travel to Bremen. Bremen has always fascinated me though I have never been there. My 1st German lesson talked about Bremen. So it is like a must-see thing for me. After Bremen, it will be Dresden (Florence of the North) in the former East Germany, before going 'back' to Berlin for shopping and museum visits.

After Germany, I will fly with Qatar Airways to Dubai via Doha. So I will spend a morning in Doha by walking around. In Dubai, I will visit my ex-colleague David, who is currently teaching there.

It should be a good fun trip ALONE...lol

How I met the Tapau Family

2008-07-17T14:29:00.011+08:00

Take away is usually known as "Tapau"colloquially in Brunei. It comes from the Chinese word "da bao", but the proper word in Malay for takeaway is actually "bungkus".

It is our local culture that refreshments are served after each meeting/function. Usually there is some food left after everyone has taken their shares. So the leftovers are usually "tapau"ed by some people, rather than throw it away.

Since it is leftover food, what is so big deal about this "tapau"? Why do I still want to make a big fuss about it.

Actually I am p***ed off with people 'tapau'-ing the food even before everyone has taken their shares. We usually nickname these people "Mr Tapau" or "Ms Tapau", depending on the gender. If it is the 3rd gender, we just nickname the person "Tapau".

It happened again this morning when we were served food after His Majesty's visit to Tutong. The menu was roasted chicken, curry beef stew, curry pineapple stew and savoury rice, served with softdrinks and mineral water.

When the food was served and we were queuing for the food at the buffet table, some members of a family were putting lots of food in their plates. The sick thing was that the children were doing the same thing for their parents. After they collected the plates of food, they went back to their seats, poured the food into containers, and went back to the buffet table and repeated the process.

Due to their process of 'tapau'-ing the food, the queue was not moving. As an aggressive person when it comes to food, I pushed my way into the queue, stood behind the boy who was 'tapau'-ing. Then when he finished filling his second plates and wanted to pass the food to his father, I blocked his way.

Then I shouted to my students, "how many of chicken pieces do you want? I will take that for you before someone finishes tapau-ing the food?" Then another former student said to me "Sir, can you pass me the rice as I have been standing here for a while as people are tapau-ing here?"

We were trying to embarass the "Tapau" family. Not only they took the food, they took away the scoops as well. Why dont they just take the whole food trays, and make their life even easier.

One of the funniest thing is that a student actually stood in front of Mrs Tapau and pointed at her plate of food and said loudly to me, "Sir, look! She tapau so much!". hahahaha

After we all had our shares of food, there was lots of leftovers, and people were busy tapau-ing. I dont mind these people as we have already eaten. Better to tapau than to throw away.

Just don't tapau before others even take their shares.

Dont tell me this is extreme poverty. I would rather consider this as secondary poverty (Seebohm Rowntree 1901) or just plain greed.

I have taken some pictures of the infamous "tapau-ing"

Flashbacks on Career Sharing Session

2008-07-13T15:52:00.011+08:00

SMSO Career Sharing Session 12 July 2008

2008-07-13T05:50:00.003+08:00

The sharing session was successful, despite of the presentation was not given as planned. I hate technology sometimes. It helps alot but it always messes up eveything as well. Maybe its a good thing that there was no presentation as it was totally irrelevant to the ex SMSOnians and they most likely would find it boring.

I will not go into who they are in details as it will be featured 'professionally' in the next ABADI. There were 32 of them attending the sharing session, consisting of students from a variety of fields ranging from European History to Mechatronics and Robotics systems. Some of them were under the MoE or BSP scholarships, while others are from UBD, ITB or twinning with those institutions.

It was great to see them coming back. We, as teachers, are very proud of them, and the juniors were so into the sharing session with them. I hope the juniors would benefit tremendously and follow their footsteps. lol...it sounds like I am doing a career moivation talk here.

I normally will include the pictures in every post I made. However, I will post them when I sort out the pics as Mr Lim has helped me to take 312 pics. I wont post all of them here...Maybe just one or two. I will post it in my facebook album. WIll post the link here when it is done.

What is so great about Seria?

2008-07-11T19:01:00.008+08:00

I like to go to Seria for a number of reasons. Maybe that is because I always spent my school holiday at my grandparents' house there. And the food, of course, is cheap and yummy. Nowadays it is always due to the relaxed atmosphere and the beautiful sunsets (if weather permits). I need not to say much.

Another culinary adventure

2008-07-07T21:13:00.011+08:00

I haven't been blogging for quite a while. It's not only because I have been busy, it's also I have no inspiration at all. Something like a writer's block. Actually I have some 'topics' to write about, but as some of my students always say "Malas!" (Lazy)

Last Saturday I invited 4 of my Accounting students (2003-04 batch) for dinner. As it is a sitting down 3-course meal, I could only invite few of them and not all. I am not gonna say who they are in here, as they haven't signed the release form :p However, they appear in my facebook photos

Starter: French Onion Soup

Main course: Roasted chicken and sausages with sage, served with potatoes and broccoli

Dessert: Raspberry Ice Cream Cake

Review:

The soup was delicious. I used 1 kg of onions and cooked them over low heat for 50 minutes. Then top it up with a slice of french baguette topped with cheese. The main course was good as usual for meat eaters. As for dessert, it was again too sweet. Actually that was a innovated Ice cream cake from Nigella's chocolate ice cream cake. I guess, I will not use the digestive biscuits, but some cereals next time. Healthy, yet delicious.

Since I was staying for the night, I baked 24 banana muffins the next morning for myself. Yummy! Store them, freeze them and eat them later.

Recipe - Pineapple Upside Down Cake

2008-06-29T23:00:00.009+08:00

For the dish:
25g Muscovado/Brown Sugar
25g Butter

For the pudding:

Pineapple Rings (Canned)

Glace Cherries

100g Butter

100g Caster Sugar

2 Large Eggs

175g Self-Raising Flour

2 tbs Pineapple Juice or Milk

Methods:

Preheat oven to 180c. Grease a round tin with butter and sprinkle with sugar. Lay the pineapple in the tin and put a cherry in the middle of each ring.Cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs gradually. Fold in the flour and stir in the milk/juice. It should be a soft dropping consistency. Pour the mixture onto the pineapple in the tin. Bake for 45 mins

Recipe inspired by Nigella Lawson

J'adore

2008-06-29T19:06:00.010+08:00

I haven't listened to Chinese songs for a while. Tonight I just switched on the TV and this song by Fish Leong (Malaysian Chinese singer) was playing. I instantly love the lyrics. Here is the lyrics in Chinese, I will try my best to translate it into English.

崇拜

作詞：陳沒　作曲：彭學斌　編曲：陳建騏

你的姿態你的青睞　我存在在你的存在

你以為愛就是被愛　你揮霍了我的崇拜

我活了　我愛了　我都不管了　

心愛到瘋了恨到算了就好了

可能的　可以的　真的可惜了

幸福好不容易怎麼你卻不敢了呢
我還以為我們能　不同於別人

我還以為不可能的　不會不可能

你的姿態你的青睞　我存在在你的存在

你以為愛就是被愛　你揮霍了我的崇拜

風箏有風海豚有海　我存在在我的存在
所以明白　所以離開　所以不再為愛而愛

自己存在　在你之外

Worship (j'adore)

Your motion, your glance. I existed only for you.

You think love is only to be loved. You have splurged my worship towards you.

I have lived and I have loved. I dont care anymore.

I have loved and hated. That's enough.

What might be, What could be, are all lost forever.

Happiness does not come easily. Why didnt you wanna face it?

I thought we were different from the others

I thought we could overcome the impossibilities.

Your motion, your glance. I existed only for you.

You think love is only to be loved. You have splurged my worship towards you.

Kite has the wind. Dolphin has the sea. Now I only want to live for myself

I now understand. Therefore I have to leave.

I no longer love because of love.

Now, I exist beyond your existence.

Haha...it is so hard to translate. The original lyrics in Chinese is so poetic and emotional. Once it is translated into English, it is no longer that poetic. I tried my best not to translate it literally and tried to keep the feelings and emotions as original as possible.

Below is the Music Video. My interpretation of this MV is that this Japanese old man is remembering his love from the past - not in love with a young girl, as you might think.

Kiss my Butt - Part 2

2008-06-27T21:28:00.004+08:00

I did go to the car service agent at 740am. The guy was there waiting for me since 730am. So not bad, huh... He took my keys without looking at me and me without speaking to him. Either he felt guilty or was scared I would be angry. Actually I was waiting for an opprtunity for him to make a mistake so I could say something horrible. Nasty eh!

While I was waiting there, I eyed the employees with my angry look (the one that says "You can kiss my butt" look). They were kinda quiet at their work station as well, I wonder why. Why wouldnt I be angry? This is my 3rd time there. You think I had nothing better to do and just keep driving there from my house.

Anyway, the car was returned to me after 2 hours. I didnt have any opportunity to pick on any mistakes. So no fights or confrontation or whatsoever. No highlight of the day.

Controlling Anger -- Before It Controls You

2008-06-27T11:53:00.005+08:00

Before I went to bed last night, I was remembering the things that pissed me off recently.

1) My appointment with the car service agent

2) My so-called friend who has neuroticism

3) My irritating colleague who gets irritated easily

4) Holiday interupted by work

5) ATMs ran out of cash.....

and the list goes on

I was imagining the different scenarios and how I would react when confronted face-to-face. The imagination was so vivid that I felt so angry at 1am. Not only I couldn't sleep, I felt feverish warm.

Anger is "an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage," according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in the study of anger. Like other emotions, it is accompanied by physiological and biological changes; when you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of your energy hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.

Hahaha No wonder!

Kiss my butt

2008-06-26T16:02:00.003+08:00

Before I start writing a complaint, you must be wondering why I don’t write to the company directly.

If I write to the manager, he most probably will ignore my letter, as he doesn’t want to get involved. Maybe, the manager would like to have a good rapport with the employees for their so-called teamwork.

If I write to the bosses, they will be too busy to entertain complaints.

If I write to the car manufacturer, they might not even care about it as they are more interested in sales volume.

If I write to the opinion page in the newspaper, it will be edited to disguise the identity of the dealer.

So here it goes:

Characters
Me – Charles Lim
S1 – Male employee 1
S2 – Male Employee 2

I made an appointment to have my car serviced about 2 weeks ago. The lady on the phone told me to come in at 8.30am on 26 June 2008.

26 June 2008 @ Car Service Centre

8.30am
S1 : Service or repair?
Me: I have an appointment at 8.30am for car service.
S1: (Filling in the service form) So, are you waiting or leave the car here?
Me: I’ll wait.
S1: But Sir, we are very busy this morning. There are 20 cars before you. If you wait, you may have to wait till 12.
S2 : (Interrupting the conversation). Can you come back this afternoon?
Me: What time do you open in the afternoon?
S2: 1pm. But if you come at 2pm, we can do your car.
Me: (Reluctantly and a bit pissed off). Okay, I will come back at 2pm

2pm
S1: I am sorry, Sir. There are still 12 cars before you. Can you come back tomorrow?
Me: (Not surprised). So what time tomorrow?
S1: Anytime tomorrow.
Me: Anytime? 5am, 6am or midnight? (Sarcastically)
S1: No Sir. About 7.30am
Me: But you open at 8am. Do you want me to wait outside before it is open?
S1: Actually we come in around 730am. But I will put you on the 1st of the list tomorrow. I guarantee!
Me: Really? You know what, I am never happy with your service. Once you guys never checked my battery, and it ran out the following day. Again, once I was waiting there for 2 hours, and you guys actually forgot to service my car.
S1: So, you come back tomorrow at 730.
Me: What happens if 20 cars come before me? Will I still have to wait?
S1: I will personally put you on the 1st in my list.
Me: I guess I have no choice but to come back again tomorrow (calmly walked away)
S1: (saying something inaudibly)
Me: (Thinking). YOU GUYS CAN KISS MY BUTT!

I can actually go to a nearby workshop for the car service. So, am I coming back there again tomorrow? Maybe! Not because I want to. I just want to pick a fight with them if they cant guarantee that I don’t have to wait long.

You see, what happens about this agent? When they sell you the car, they are so friendly. After you have bought the car, the after-sales service is totally CRAP.

There was a big hole on the sofa in the waiting room. Now they replaced it and managed to put uncomfortable tables and chairs there. Come on, you are spoiling the brand name.

The waiting room at one of its competitors is so cozy with internet, free drinks and biscuits. So, why cant you guys do the same? Spoiling the name of the brand saja

You guys can STILL kiss my butt!

Burnout and Neuroticism

2008-06-25T23:13:00.004+08:00

Last Friday I went out with a friend whom I think he has an imaginary girlfriend. That was another story posted in my blog a while ago. I didnt actually want to go out as I knew it would turn out bad.

Since he was so secretive about his life, so I just talked about my work. Suddenly he snapped and was angry with me and called me being self-centred. Calmly I told him that he looked stressed and asked him when and where he had his last holiday. Surprisingly he told me that I crossed the line as a friend and he was uncomfortable to talk to me about it. ????? Uncomfortable to talk to me about holiday!!!! I was not asking him when he last had SEX.

I dont want to sound like a phychologist but I think I can kind of analyse him. He must have got burnout from his work overseas.

Burnout is a psychological term for the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest (depersonalization or cynicism), usually in the work context. But researchers argue that not everyone who is stressed at work will get burnout, and happens to people who has neuroticism.

Neuroticism can be defined as an enduring tendency to experience negative emotional states. Individuals who score high on neuroticism are more likely than the average to experience such feelings as anxiety, anger, guilt, and clinical depression.

Now it explains everything. My so-called friend is always unhappy about something. He always complains that his life is not as lucky as others. Come on! We have all been through difficult times in life. We just have to learn how to deal with it. No point in blaming others. So he must have neuroticism. Hahahaha, I think it refers to someone else from work as well.

So, my final verdict is: He is back home on leave, maybe on medical leave from stress-related illness. Or he has just broken up with his girlfriend. I also think that he is living in a fantasy world. Last time he told me that his gf doesnt know he is back in Brunei for 1 month. Now, he tells me that he is getting married soon.

Will your gf promise to marry you if you have disappeared from her life for 1 month?

Lawas delights

2008-06-23T23:04:00.011+08:00

Last weekend, I had the honour to be invited by Azrin A to stay at his grandparent's in Lawas.

This was my first trip to Lawas and I really enjoyed my stay. I had a wonderful time and I felt very welcome there. The boat ride from Serasa was a mere 1 hour 15 minutes.

The Saturday market sold a lot of the local produce, such as a variety of locally grown rice and natural salt from Ba Kelalan. We had kolomee for lunch and all restaurant ran out of kolomee by Saturday afternoon. We had to wait till the following day to have the NEXT kolomee.

I even bathed in the stream for the very first time. The water was cold and refreshing, flowing down from the mountains. At night, it was again my first time to see the fireflies. hahaha

I had the opportunity to try some of Lun Bawang's delicacies. The picture inseted was some of the dishes I had for breakfast: Nuba Tinga (Rice wrapped in nyrik leaf), daun ubi (Tapioca leaves) and bitar (rice porridge cooked with palm cabbage).

Cooking for Life

2008-06-23T16:58:00.023+08:00

Chefs are no longer busy cooking in the kitchen, hidden from the public. Traditionally, they are the most highly paid persons in the food industry. Patrons go to restaurants because of the food, i.e. the chefs - not the owners. Nowadays, they are out and about - publishing cookbooks, having own TV shows and even on cooking roadshows.

So, what do I think of them? Can they cook? Maybe! or they are just trying to create sexual appeals to their audience, just like any actors and singers. That's why these chefs are now called the celebrity chefs.

Jamie Oliver - The naked chef (UK)

Young and energetic. Also mumuring in fast Essex accent. Cooks fast and always takes importance in healthy and fresh food. He likes to use lemons in his recipes.

Nigella Lawson - The domestic goddess (UK)

Simple and homely cooking. Oh yes, comfort food! Her recipes are easy to make, but not necessarily healthy eating. She likes to 'seduce' her audience. Most of her fans are men!

Gordon Ramsay - The Chef from Hell (UK)

Famed for his fouled mouth and cooking in shows such as Hell's Kitchen and the F Word. Don't really like his programmes personally.

Andreas Viestad - New Scandinanvian Cooking (Norway)

Cooking with fresh ingredients in beautiful Norweigian countryside. With his accented English, he explains the origins of every dishes and the history of the countryside he is in.

Tina Nordstrom - New Scandinavian Cooking (Sweden)
Again, cooking with the freshest ingredients; but this time is in the neighbouring country of Sweden. Since Sweden is the home of IKEA, it is not surprising that she always assembles her food preparation table and cooking stove.

Emmanuel Stroobant - Chef in Black (France)

The very innovative French chef based in Singapore. He travels to the street markets of South East Asia, learns the traditional street food cooking and recreates the food into East-West fusion food.

Michael Smith - Chef at Home/at Large (Canada)

The restaurant meals transformed into easy and simple home cooking. Gives a lot of cooking and shopping tips on food, of course!

Kylie Kwong - Simply Chinese (Australia)

This Australasian chef cooks traditional and fusioned Chinese food, using Chinese herbs and spices. She likes to use Szechuan pepper for seasoning.

Rob Rainford - With a License to Grill (US)

A rapper look-alike chef with BBQ recipes and lots of tips on marinades. Yummy and "Yeah Baby". When he cooks, he always says "Yeah Baby" as if he was in a porn film...lol

Bobby Chinn - Cafe Asia (US/UK/NZ)

Half Egyptian, half Chinese, he is famous for his nuanced fusion food. He travels to countries in Asia and also owns a restaurant named after himself in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Curtis Stone - Take Home Chef (Australia)

Another Australian chef. He goes around supermarkets in the USA and offers to cook dinner for the shoppers he picks up. Would you take him home and cook dinner for you? lol

Note: There are some other celebrity chefs not mentioned above as they dont cook in TV shows.

Nostalgia: Empire Hotel Patron Wins Stay At Paris Hotel

2008-06-20T22:54:00.010+08:00

Bandar Seri Begawan - Following the recent Le Meurice Paris promotion at the Empire Hotel and Country Club in July, a draw was recently held to select a winner for the prize of a four-night stay at the Deluxe Room at Hotel Le Meurice, Paris, according to a press release.

On hand to present the prize to lucky winner Lim Wei Siong was Executive Sous-Chef of the Empire Hotel and Country Club Thomas Walter.

"I have already planned for a European trip this December, and this is a wonderful extra to add to my itinerary.

"Thank you, and I have always enjoyed food promotions at the Empire Hotel and Country Club," said Lim after receiving the prize.

The Le Meurice promotion was supported by Baiduri Bank, Royal Brunei Airlines and Alliance Francais.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin 30.08.2007

http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Aug07/300807/nite29.htm

It was a great surprise. I managed to book the hotel stay from 22 - 26 December 2007. Total cost was supposed to be €3000 (B$6000+), but I stayed for free.

It was quite daunting at first as we registered in our backpackers outfit. The service was excellent and the staff made us feel very welcome, despite of we paid nothing.

The room was designed in Renainssance floral pattern. We played MTV on the satellite TV all day and night. Bathroom was larger than the room with marbled floors. Maybe the French feels cleaning is more important than sleeping.

Breakfast was a great spread of croissants, chocolate brioches with freshly squeezed juices. Only on our last day we realised that cooked breakfast was also included. Also on our last night we found out that we could use the jacuzzi, steam room and sauna for free....lol..

It was a great experience and I dont think I will be able to afford to stay there at my own expense.

My favourite and least favourite travels

2008-06-20T12:31:00.010+08:00

About 16 years ago, I wrote down a list of all the countries I wished to visit. When I looked at the list again this morning, I realised that I have travelled to most of the countries on the list, EXCEPT Morocco, New Zealand, Turkey and Egypt. Hahaha, quite a self-achievement ;p

At this instant, my comments to all my travels are:

Favourite country: Germany.

Towns and villages from fairy tales.

Favourite city: Berlin.

Impressed by the rich modern histories.

Favourite food: Korean.

I pick Korean over Japanese as it was much cheaper.

Best travel moment: Seeing the sunset at Fira, Santorini, Greece (picture inseted)

Least favourite country: Poland, got my luggage stolen there.

Least favourite city: Kuala Lumpur, I hate the transport system there (sorry guys)

Least favourite food: American fast food. I think we should try the local delicacies.

Worst travel moment: Sleeping on wooden chairs at Stokholm Skvasta Airport.

**Note: The above information is subject to change without notice

No Reservations - Berlin 2007

2008-06-18T23:05:00.006+08:00

As I am going to Berlin (again!) this September, I plan to visit the restaurant, featured in Anthony Bourdain's No Reservation, that served all the traditional and hearty German dishes. I was searching the name of the restaurant (Rogacki) on the net, I came across a picture that looks so familiar.

Compare the following 2 pictures:

Location: Imbiss Kannopke, Berlin

I think I was standing at the exact same spot as Anthony Bourdain. Didnt know that until I saw the picture. What an honour!

Why is it so special about this imbiss (food stand)? It is famous for currywurst, as recommended by Lonely Planet guidebook. Wurst means sausage/hotdog in German. As you can guess it, it is chopped fried sausage with curry sauce - a delicacy of Berlin. The legend of the currywurst apparently started by Herta Heuwer on 4 September, 1949 in another location. There is even a Currywurst Museum now in Berlin.

The foodstand was quite difficult to find at first. We spent 10 minutes walking around in circles trying to find it. Finally we found it. It was located underneath the suburban railway track. There was a long queue. If I am not mistaken, it costs €1.50 each.

Cheating Meals

2008-06-17T12:09:00.004+08:00

Have you ever been charged unfair prices by shops or restaurants? At shops, it is easy to return goods or not to buy it; but for restaurants, once you have eaten, it will be difficult not to pay.

Once we had lunch in a traditional restaurant in Geneva, Switzerland. My friend saw the "Menu of the Day" (Plat du jour) was a fish dish. It was a good deal. We, the others, had the traditional fondue. When the bill came, we were shocked to see the fish dish was charged twice more than the price of the plat du jour. So a B$15 dish has become B$30. When we asked the cashier, she told us that we actually ordered the a la carte from the French waiter. But we argued that we wanted the plat du jour as written on the board. She answered: "This is the problem if you dont speak French". With anger, I spoke "Je peux parler francais". In the end, we still had no choice but to pay no matter what.

This happened again this morning in one of the restaurants in Kiulap. When we sat down, the waiter told us that the breakfast menu was unavailable on weekdays. So we had to order the food from the a la carte. So, it cost two of us B$9 for some simple dishes that we normally have for lunch, not that heavy for breakfast. So, the waiter was trying to force us to spend more on breakfast. Actually when I got home, it was supposed to be B$8.60. The cashier again overcharged us 40 cents.

It is not the money that we are not happy about. We are sometimes willing to spend B$45 per person on a buffet. It is just the cheating technique that I am not happy about regardless of how much it is.

So, the lesson is: Before ordering, if I am not happy about anything, just leave. It is my right. But if I have already ordered, then I have to stick to it (happy or not). No complain afterwards.

The THRILL of Booking Online

2008-06-17T01:50:00.003+08:00

Nowadays a lot of things can be purchased online; such as air tickets, books, CDs, DVDs. We have more options now if we purchase tickets online. Rather than going from Brunei directly to the destination, we can tailor make our journey. For example, we can buy an AirAsia ticket from Brunei to KL; then buy another cheaper ticket from KL to wherever we want. No more restrictions by buying from airlines that fly from Brunei.

However, there is always the thrill of buying online. It happened to me just a while ago.

I was buying a ticket from Dubai to Paris, then Munich back to Dubai with Qatar Airways (QR). It is because Qatar Airways is one of the cheapeset for these routes, and I can collect my frequent flyer points of United Airlines.

After going through the whole process and keyed in my credit card details, it was a THRILL to see the screen showing "Processing".... Anything could happen during this time, such as internet down, webpage inaccessible or power down. If this happens, what are we going to do? Easy, just call the airlines or the bank to ask if the payment is through.

So everything went smoothly and a booking reference was given. Oh yes, the fun thing about purchasing ticket online is that we can view and select seats. So I was taking my time selecting and unselecting the seats. When I was sooooooo satisfied about my seat selection, I pressed the confirm icon....Voila! or nooooooope..."Webpage unavailable"!!! So what was I gonna do? I didnt copy down the booking reference and there is no email from QR. Has my payment gone through? I haven't got any clue.

So, I did what I thought was wise. I called the QR office in Dubai as I will be flying from Dubai. The phone instruction was in Arabic - no clue at all. Then I called the London office, thinking that would certainly be in English. They have changed the number. Called the new number and it was an answering machine, asking me to leave a message. So, I had no choice but to call the QR office in Doha. Good, the lady spoke English but the phone connection was so bad that I could hardly hear her. She told me that my name was in the booking. What a relief! As soon as I hung up the phone, I received 3 (not one, but three) emails from QR about my detailed booking...WTF!

Anyway, I will still have to call them up for seat request. It is best to select the seat far in advance especially on longhaul flight. I think I will either call the office in Singapore or KL. At least they speak 'our' language there.

The moral of this story - Wait for at least an hour for the email confirmation to arrive. If it does not, call the nearest office.

Oh, about my booking with the Luxemburg hostel. The payment didnt get through. That is another LONG story.

Oops, I did it again!

2008-06-15T15:02:00.009+08:00

Malaysia Airlines is currently offering RM0 on 1000000 (yes, 6 zeroes) free seats. I have been hesitating of purchasing the MAS ticket for December, just in case RBA will offer a better Bluesky fare. But the Bluesky fares for December are still not out yet.

After several days of calculation, budgeting, consideration and prediction, I have finally decided to purchase a return ticket to KL on MAS. I didnt however get the FREE seat on the Brunei-KL leg, but the KL back to Brunei is RM0. Total cost after taxes and surcharge is B$346. Fuel charges nowadays are sky-rocketed high.

Travelling on AirAsia may be cheaper but it will be a bit troublesome for connecting flights on other airlines. AirAsia uses the Low Cost Terminal, and the transportaion to the main termianl may be time consuming for connecting flights. By the way, it is only B$50 extra to travel on MAS vs AirAsia.

KL will just be a transit point for me. This 'troublesome' way of buying tickets still works out cheaper than I buy a direct ticket from Brunei to Europe or Middle East.

So, where am I going in December? KL for sure. As for other continuing destinations, I am still undecided till September, based on several factors. So at this moment, I am very sure to answer "KL and beyond".

Dragon Boat and Glutinous Rice

2008-06-08T13:17:00.006+08:00

Today is the 5th day of the Chinese Lunar month. It is the day we Chinese eat the glutinous rice dumpling. The dumpling is called Zongzi (in Mandarin) or Ba Chang (hokkien pronunciation, commonly used in South East Asia).

The glutinous rice is wrapped into a pyramid shape using bamboo leaves, and boiled till the rice is cooked. Fillings - pork belly, salted egg yolk, dried shrimps, mushroom, and dried chestnuts. Another version is white in colour. Fillings - Pork belly meat with crushed peanuts. Nowadays, there are many regional variations: in black bean paste, without fillings, chicken to cater different tastes and lifestyles.

I had two just now for lunch and the former is my favourite. Nowadays, the Ba Chang can be bought from most Chinese restaurants any day of the year. I have yet to learn how to make it as I am dummy in wrapping things, worse if it comes to wrapping food.

So, what is the history behind this? Every food has a story to tell. That is the delight of gastronomy.

This is to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet from the kingdom of Chu during the Warring States period. Known for his patriotism, Qu Yuan tried to warn his king and countrymen against the expansionism of their Qin neighbours. When the Qin Dynasty general Bai Qi took Yingdu, the Chu capital, in 278 BC, Qu Yuan's grief was so intense that he drowned himself in the Miluo river after penning the Lament for Ying.

According to legend, packets of rice were thrown into the river to prevent fish from eating the poet's body. This is also believed to be the origin of the Dragon Boat Race in which the race will deter the fish from the poet's body.

My Friday culinary skills

2008-06-06T21:26:00.008+08:00

Pot luck Brunch at Staffroom F tomorrow - usually held just before every school term holiday. Also, it is an excuse to show off culinary skills and to put on the extra calories.

Initially I planned to bake Pineapple Cake for dessert. However I forgot to bring the recipe to my 'kitchen' at Sengkurong. So I just had to cook whatever I could recall.

Passion Fruit Trifle. For the base, I was supposed to use a chifon cake or sponge fingers, but I could only find pandan (screwpine) flavoured chifon cake. It wont go well with the passion fruits. So, I bought the Apollo layer cake (butter flavoured) snack, and pile them up. Pour Ginger Beer over them, top with whipped cream and decorate with passion fruit pulps and seeds. Voila! my Passion fruit trifle is done in less than 10 minutes.

Oh yeah, what is passion fruit? Here is the picture. They are available in the local supermarkets.

Thai Massaman Buffalo Curry. Gosh! It was hard work. First of all, I had to blend in all the spices: Lemongrass, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cumin, Galangal, Garlic, Chili, Nutmeg, Cardamon. Then cooked the buffalo meat in coconut milk for 1 hour. After that, cooked the blended spices in coconut cream and added all other ingredients, with potatoes and peanuts and cooked for another 30 minutes. Eventually, the curry was done. The picture doesn't do it justice; but honestly it tastes good.

It tastes a bit like Malaysian curry. With the peanuts, it tastes more like a satay sauce. So I did a google search and found that this type of Thai curry with its Muslim origin originated from Southern Thailand, near to Malaysian border. No wonder! I spent hours to cook something different. In the end I almost cook a 'normal' curry.

I wonder how popular my food will be tomorrow :)

Some Facts about Blogging

2008-06-04T15:08:00.008+08:00

According to Wikipedia (yes, again!), a blog is a website, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries.

So, what is your reason for blogging? I guess mine is to share some thoughts or some information (new or old) with readers, not too personal stuff.

I guess, many of us use blogs as an online personal diaries. That is what I don't understand here. In the past, people wrote their personal thoughts and feelings in diaries. Some diaries even have locks so no one else could get hold of them and read from them. Or the diaries would be hidden some secret places.

Time has changed. Nowadays, everything is done online. Even personal (extremely personal) thoughts or feelings are posted online so others can read. Is there any privacy left anymore? Or everything nowadays are so open?

Some people get stressed or have problems at home, work or school. Rather than than facing their problems in REAL life situations, they post their feelings in the E-world. Does this make sense? So are we NOT going to solve the problems in real life? Apparently NOT. The bloggers don't actually want (or know how) to solve the problems at all. They use blogging to release their stress.

"Scientists have long known the therapeutic benefits of writing about personal experiences. Blogs provide another convenient avenue for writing about personal experiences. Research shows that it improves memory and sleep, boosts immune cell activity and reduces viral load in AIDS patients, and even speeds healing after surgery." (Wikipedia)

So, our problems are NOT solved by blogging at all. We just feel better, thats all.

If we put our heads in the sand, the problems will not go away. So, don't avoid it; just face it even if it feels really bad. It is, after all, part of the growing up and memorable life experiences.

My latest CD Collection plus reviews

2008-06-02T22:54:00.018+08:00

I am so into CDs, as compared to downloading from websites. I think I want to support the artists. As for downloading iTunes, I dont have an iPod or whatsoever. I am a dummy to the new technology and gadget stuff. So I am still stuck with the 'traditional' CDs.

So, what did I buy in Singapore?

Spirit - Leona Lewis
Love it. The X-factor winner (2006). Her singing style is in between Mariah and Whitney. Favourite songs are "Bleeding Love" and "Footprints in the sand".

E=MC² - Mariah Carey
Same singing style as most of her albums. If you are a fan, you will like this album. If you just like her coz she is sexy, you too will like the album (cover and backslip pictures). Quite disappointed that the China version that I bought doesnt include the hit single "Touch my body". Wonder why? Maybe the song is too sexy for the China market. Or may be no touch touch in China.

Hard Candy - Madonna
This is her album R n B style, featuring Kayne West, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and many more. All her albums are of different themes, never repeats herself for a woman approaching 50s. Looking forward to her concert in Paris. But the ticket still hasn't arrived yet... Hmmm, kinda worried now.

Exclusive - Chris Brown
Bought this because of the song "With You", as it was sung by David Archuleta at American Idol. Don't know if I bought it for that reason. Haven't 'gone through' all the songs yet.

Jordin Sparks - Jordin Sparks
As a fan of American Idol, it is normal to buy the album of American Idol 2007. Like the songs "Tattoo", "No Air" and "This is My Now".

Coco - Colbie Callat
Who the hell is she? I don't know much about her. Only thing I know is that she rose to fame through MySpace.com. First heard the song "Bubbly" when I was having breakfast at the Circus Hostel in the wintry Berlin in Dec 2007. Fell in love with that easy listening song instantly, without knowing the artist, maybe due to the cozy atmosphere in Berlin. So no bias here.

Audio Day Dream - Blake Lewis
Like his voice - quite similar to Adam, the lead singer of Maroon 5. However I am not into beatboxing. So only like some songs from the album, especially the ballads from this runner up of American Idol 2007.

Eating Indonesian words

2008-06-02T20:35:00.031+08:00

How does it sound when Bahasa Indonesian is spoken with Bahasa Melayu (Malay) pronounciation, and a Chinese accent?

This happened when I was reading the Top 10 Food To Try in Singapore from one of the Tourist Information booklet. The booklet is in Indonesian. Cut the story short, these are the Top 10.

Hainanese Chicken Rice (Nasi Ayam Hainan) - Biasanya makanan ini merupakan kombinasi ayam kukus atau ayam panggang yamg disajikan bersama nasi yang dimasak dengan kaldu ayam kental. Para ahli masak atau tentu saja akan menilai kualitas saus cabai, jahe giling serta kecap yang merupakan pelengkap sajian ini.

Chilli/Black Pepper Crab (Kepiting Cabai /Lada Hitam) - Kuah kepiting cabai yang manis berwarna merah menyalaka verhiaskan cabai segar, saus tomat, telur segar dan daun bawang. Sementara kuah lada hitam lebih menyerupai pasta kental dengan racikan lada hitam, lada putih, garam dan bawang putih.

Roti Prata - Hidangan menyerupai panekuk tipis berlapis-lapis ini terbuat dari tepung terigu yang diuleni berulang kali sebelum digoreng di atas wajan ceper panas.

Pork Ribs Herbal Soup (Bak Kut Teh) - secara langsung bisa diterjemahkan sebagai teh iga babi, masakan ini benar-benar terbuat dari iga babi yang direbus perlahan dengan api kecil dalam kaldu jernih - serta sejumlah herba Cina.

Rojak - Campuran buah dan sayur dengan tambahan tahu serta cakwe goreng. Saus rujak yang kental dengan rasa yang khas terbuat dari terasi, cabai gilinhg, gula, sari jeruk nipis dan kacang panggang.

Fried Radish Cake (Kue Lobak Goreng) - Kue ini terbuat dari campuran tepung beras, acar lobak parut dan telur dadar.

Laksa - Kari lezat yang terdiri dari campuran mi besar, udang, kerang, daging ayam dan perkedel ikan. Campuran masakan Melayu dan Cina ini dibuat dengan ramuan bumbu halus yang terdiri dari rempah-rempah, sejumlah bumbu daun, ebi, santan dan cabai sehingga menghasilkan keharuman khas yang kaya akan rasa.

Satay (Sate) - Sate versi Melayu Singapura direndam dalam saus manis berempah, dibakar sempurna di atas panggangan arang kemudian dicelupkan dalam saus kacang. Sajian ini tidak akan lengkap tanpa ditemani lontong serta potongan ketimun dan bawang.

Fried Rice Stick (Char Kway Teow) - Mi putih pipih lebar yang dikenal sebagai kwetiau ini merupakan makanan sempurna bila digoreng dengan kecap, telur, tauge, sossis Cina dan kerang, dengan panas tinggi dalam wajan wok yang kehitaman hingga menghasilkan aroma yang menggoda.

Curry Fish Head (Kari Kepala Ikan) - Daging kepala ikan yang manis serta potongan besar tomat, terung serta okra. Kuahnya bisa kental atau encer. Meskipun demikian, seperti apapun kuahnya, masakan ini tetap unik dengan kombinasi rasa manis, asam, pedas dan asin.

Sour Toe Cocktail

2008-06-02T20:12:00.004+08:00

If you go to Dawson's City (not Dawson's Creek) in Yukon, Canada, maybe you want to try this drink. It is actually an alcoholic drink that contains an alcoholic preserved human toe. You don't have to eat it nor swallow it. You will get a certificate in the end. Nowadays everything comes in certificates - you can get one if you attend a conference but sleep all the time. The golden rule of this SourToe Cocktail is 'You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow. But the lips have to touch the toe.'

This tradition started in 1973, with what is said to be the toe of a miner, which had been amputated in the 1920's.

So where to try this? Sourdough Saloon at the Downtown Hotel. The current price is C$10. But watching others trying it is of course FREE.

So dare you try?

Rubik's Cube

2008-06-01T23:25:00.004+08:00

I just bought a Rubik's Cube packed in shrink plastic in Singapore. I used to have one when I was young, which came in a round plastic container box. I lost the cube, but I still have the container.

Rubik's Cube is a mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik. Originally called the "Magic Cube" by its inventor, this puzzle was renamed "Rubik's Cube" by Ideal Toys in 1980. It is said to be the world's best-selling toy, with over 300,000,000 Rubik's Cubes and imitations sold worldwide.

In a typical Cube, each face is covered by nine stickers of one of six solid colours. When the puzzle is solved, each face of the Cube is a solid colour.

In May 2007, Thibaut Jacquinot of France became the first person to complete the Cube in under 10 seconds in open competition, setting a world record time of 9.86 seconds. Already beaten three times this year, the current holder is Edouard Chambon of France with a time of 9.18 seconds.

It can be quite addictive. I cant remember the formula anymore. It took me hours but I still cant solve it. But the following videos are extremely useful.

Footprints in the sand

2008-06-01T17:43:00.006+08:00

Leona Lewis released her double A-side single "Better in Time / Footprints in the sand". In the UK music industry, double A-side means both songs will be released as singles (music videos) for the chart.

Why is it called double A-side as a CD has only one side? I think it is because in the past a cassete has one song on side A, and another song on side B. Usually the single will be released on music video from the Side A. Songs from the side B will just be another song, either from the album or not. Anyway, that is another story.

Her single version of the "Footprints in the sand" is quite different from the album version - more unplugged in the beginning. It is for the Sports Relief fund raising event. Love it! The lyrics is good. hahahaha. Below is the link to the video:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1358314041/bclid1243732360/bctid1435436823

You walked with me

Footprints in the sand

And helped me understand

Where I’m going
You walked with me

When I was all alone

With so much unknown

Along the way

Then I heard you say

I promise you

I’m always there

When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair

I’ll carry you

When you need a friend

You’ll find my footprints in the sand

I see my life

Flash across the sky

So many times have I

Been so afraid
And just when I

I thought I’d lost my way

You gave me strength to carry on

That’s when I heard you say

Chorus

When I’m weary

I know you’ll be there

And I can feel you

When you say

Chorus x 2

Imaginary Girlfriend

2008-05-27T20:51:00.005+08:00

I am so shocked to find out that there is actually a website service to get an imaginary girlfriend. I won't release the web address though. It is quite funny (strange) to read about the service.

"Just make up how you met and include any details about yourself that you want your new girlfriend to know. Within days you'll receive personalized love letters by mail, e-mails, photos, special gifts... even phone messages or online chat. Every Imaginary Girlfriend is unique. The girls are real. The relationship is not. When your time is up you can break up with her for whatever reason you decide, and she'll write you a final letter begging you to take her back. Our service is easy-to-use, lots of fun, and discreet. "

I really cant believe this really exists. The service is U$45 for 2 months. Chances that my friend has an imaginary girlfriend is quite high. Maybe he dis subscribe the service.

Oh...according to the website, the reasons why people want imaginary girlfriend is that:

Tired of your friends and family telling you to get a girlfriend?
Want to make that certain someone a little jealous?
Need a confidence boost?
Just feeling lonely sometimes?

I think my friend fell into all of the above categories. For the record, I am NOT the one who is having the imaginary girlfriend. It is my friend, a REAL friend, not an imaginary friend.

Why I am so p***ed off with him is that he tried to compare with me on every single trivial things. He even commented me being single is "AS EXPECTED". WTF! Who the hell he is to judge. I am single and happy...lol

A song for whoever

2008-05-26T19:23:00.003+08:00

I think it is the right thing to do by dedicating the following song to my friend and his girlfriend from my last blog entry...lol

Do you love me?

Or am I just another trip in this strange relationship?

You push and pull me and I'm about to loose my mind

Is this just a waste of time

keep acting like you own me

I keep running, watch me walking out that door

I hear you behind me

Gimme that strange relationship

Never felt pleasure and pain like this

Something so right but it feels so terribly wrong

I keep holding on

Gimme that strange relationship

One of us gotta let go of this

I keep pushing and you keep holding on

I'm already gone

Do you love me?

We break up and back together

And I swore to myself never

Oh how you do me

You strip me of my honor

And I don't ever think I'm gonna

Break free of these mind games

All I'm trying to do is modify my plan

'Cause I can't contain you

Gimme that strange relationship

Never felt pleasure and pain like this

Something so right but it feels so terribly wrong

I keep holding on

Gimme that strange relationship

One of us gotta let go of this

I keep pushing and you keep holding on

I'm already gone

You keep acting like you own me

I can't control me

You said you never really wanted me back

Well maybe if that's a fact

May I suggest

A brand new plan of attack

And in defense of that you're hard to crack

You're way off track

I want you back, I want you gone

Maybe I'm sick of holding on

Do you love me?

Or am I just another trip in this strange relationship?

Gimme that strange relationship

Never felt pleasure and pain like this

Something so right but it feels so terribly wrong

I keep holding on

Gimme that strange relationship

One of us gotta let go of this

I keep pushing and you keep holding on

I'm already gone

My friend has an Imaginary Girlfriend

2008-05-26T15:29:00.013+08:00

When will you start to have doubt if your friend is really in a relationship?

When he tries to think that he is always more superior than you in every way
When he tells you that his girlfriend doesn't know that he is away for 3 weeks in another country
When he has a picture of his girlfriend in his mobile phone that is 6 years old
When the picture (in the mobile) is in tiled format, and it is so small that you cant even see her face clearly
When that is the only picture he has of her
When he tells you that they are in a relationship for 2 years and he doesnt know her full name
When he tells you that he hasn't met/known her parents and she hasnt met/known his, after 2 years
When he seldom contacts her, or she contacting him
When she is living in another country and he never makes the effort to go and see her.
When EVERYTHING IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

All this happened to me yesterday when I met up with my ex-classmate who is taking a break here in Brunei, after working overseas for a number of years. To be polite, I didnt tell him about my doubts in person. And to be impolite, here it is in my blog....hahahaha

All this actually reminds me of the Comic "Calvin and Hobbes".
Calvin and Hobbes is a comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Watterson, following the humorous antics of Calvin, an imaginative six-year old boy, and Hobbes, his energetic and sardonic—albeit stuffed—tiger. (Wikipedia)

Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.

2008-05-25T21:29:00.009+08:00

SPOILER WARNING!!! (Six Feet Under)

Finally, I finished watching “Six Feet Under” the Season…nope… Series Finale. The story finally ends after 5 seasons.

Here is an introduction from wikipedia, for people who havent got a clue what this drama series is all about.

"Six Feet Under is an American television drama created by Alan Ball that was originally broadcast from 2001 to 2005. The series centers on Fisher & Sons Funeral Home, a family-run mortuary, and explores the lives of the Fisher family following the death of the family patriarch. It is set in modern-day Los Angeles."

I got a hint that from a friend and the title that everyone dies….So, I thought there might be a massacre or something and quite nervous during the dinner gathering scene towards the end, especially when there were children and babies in that scene…I was thinking maybe some psycho walked into them and did the unimaginable, like in some horror movies.
Apparently it was not how I imagined. Phew… The ending was more like the ending of the Titanic….no no…they were not sailing on a cruise ship. It was a bit like the last scene of Titanic, when the elderly Rose was lying in her bed and there were all the framed photos from her past. Quite moving indeed…lol...