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#JapanWinsThomasCup
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The teacher in charge of the program
In this 7th episode Liz uses her entertaining interviewing techniques to find out more about Norali Ali Yusop who is a visually challenged marathon runner and currently the brand ambassador for Fitness Zone Brunei. Learn how he overcomes the adversities he faces in his life; how he uses modern technology to not just survive but thrive from day to day and who inspires him so he can inspire others around him. Other guests in this episode also include the owner and chef from Bistro Chez Fio, Fiona Chian and 8 year old singing talent Zoe Chan.
To be a part of Time Out with Liz as audience, all you need to do is send your names to timeoutwithliz@gmail.comindicating your name and how many seats you require or you can inbox them at www.facebook.com/timeoutwithliz. Tickets/seats are reserved at $10 per person if you do so by today the 26 May 2014, otherwise reservations tomorrow until showtime will be $15 per person. All proceeds go into the making of the show.
Time Out with Liz is a monthly live talk show where host Elizabeth Sim or Liz creates the opportunity for the public to mingle with some of the local talents from Food, Music and the lifestyle side of Brunei. Inspired by “The Ellen Degeneres Show” and “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” an American live Talk show, Liz brings her own twist to her audiences in Brunei. The live show has been running since her pilot took place in August 2013 which anyone can view on YOUTUBE by typing “Time Out with Liz”. Her show also promotes local businesses as her audiences walk away with products, samples or vouchers which her invited guests bring in to share with the audience.
To learn more about “Time Out With Liz” you can visit www.facebook.com/timeoutwithliz or pick up the January – March 2014 edition of Borneo. Insider’s. Guide (BIG) and/or issues of ‘Inspired” Magazine where Liz is also one of the contributors. This show is a start up and Liz continues to look for people who share her vision to work and collaborate with, so if you are interested to be part of “Time Out with Liz”, contact Liz at timeoutwithliz@gmail.com
Fiona Chian
Norali Ali Yusop
8 year old Zoe Chan
The book launching began with the recitation of Al-Fatihah, and was proceeded with a reading of a short excerpt from the novel by the author himself, and a question and answer session.
According to Amir Falique, the book took about 9 months to complete. The sci-fi novel was inspired by his viewing influences at the time, a lot of science fiction, like Star Wars and Futurama.
Amir also collaborated with a local Bruneian artist, Zakaria Omar to illustrate the inside page. “The Forlorn Adventure” is currently being translated to Malay and in the process of being published locally by Dewan Bahasa. According to the author, he already has plans of writing a second novel, a prequel that would not be based in the science fiction genre.
Copies can be obtained through “The Forlorn Adventure” Facebook Fanpage or at www.amirfalique.com or you can go to TT Blues Cafe to get a copy.
Author Amir Falique with the illustrator, Zakaria Omar (right)
The invited guests during the launch
Amir with his father Tengku Farouk (left)
Group photo with his family and friends
Cupcakes galore
Now this is a first – Japan winning the Thomas Cup. It’s one of the most prestigious badminton tournament in the world. Previously it was dominated by China who were the defending champions for 5 tournaments in a row. Malaysia’s last stint was back in 1992 when they beat Indonesia and the last time Malaysia reached the finals of the Thomas Cup was back in 2002.
I was actually hoping for Malaysia to win as I have a soft spot for the Malaysians after Dato Chong Wei’s failure to win the Olympics Gold in singles. However, it is also good to see a new breed such as Japan winning the Thomas Cup. They deserved it after beating the likes of China 3-0 in the semi-finals. The finals between Japan and Malaysia was also nail biting to the end as Daren Liew of Malaysia was pushed to the limits by World Number 25 Takuma Ueda.
Congratulations Japan on the new milestone.
The victory celebration by Japan
Well done Japan on the victory over Malaysia in the Thomas Cup final 3-2
A sad Malaysian after the end of the Thomas Cup 2014 finals
The 19th Baiduri Masters organized by Baiduri Bank Group is set to kick off next weekend, from 30 May to 1 June and from 6 June to 8 June 2014 at the RBA Golf Club.
In conjunction with the annual fundraising golf tournament, Baiduri Bank Group and Numero Uno are organizing a Starting New at Golf (SNAG) golf clinic which will be held on 31 May 2014 from 7pm to 9pm at the RBA Golf Club. Open to children aged 5 to 12 years old, registration is free, inclusive of coaching fee and equipment.
The golf clinic will comprise of two categories – Graduates and Open. Each category is further divided into age groups of 5-8 years and 9-12 years old. The top three performers of each age group per category will be awarded with first, second and third prizes.
The first prize will be a golf starter pack worth B$175, while the second and third prizes will be Toys R Us vouchers worth B$100 and B$50 respectively. All winners and their parents will be invited to the Prize Presentation Dinner on 8 June 2014 to receive their respective prizes.
Parents interested to enroll their children to the golf clinic can do so by downloading the form at http://www.baiduri.com.bn/baiduri_masters/2014/registration.htm or call 881 7676 for more info.
At the same time, players who are interested to participate in the upcoming Baiduri Masters golf tournament can still register at RBA Golf Club. Registration fee will be B$120 for adults and B$60 for juniors. Registration fee is inclusive of green fee, buggy, buffet breakfast and lunch. All players will be invited to the Prize Presentation Dinner which will be held at Indah Hall, Royal Brunei Recreation Centre after the charity tournament has concluded.
The public can also log onto www.baiduri.com for full details, where they can download the registration form.
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Click image enter Malppy’s website
The 2014 world cup is just around the corner and Malppy.com will be having a world cup fever this week! If you’re an avid footie fan but not lucky enough to be jetting off to Brazil, fear not! An amazing selection of merchandises up to be grabbed that will allow you to cheer and support your team in style! Type ‘FIFA’ on the search box website will allow you to view more of these world cup merchandises! Another exciting news is that Malppy.com will be having a one item per day sale for seven consecutive days!
Who doesn’t like discounts? Well, I do (from time to time) and we all do! Simply explore www.malppy.com to start ordering these items. Stock is limited so grab them while you can. Shop and cheer!
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This is just a sneak shot of what to expect on the #wearehappy project. I won’t be spilling the beans just yet but as the time gets closer, I shall reveal more. I’m kinda excited and we even those involved are.
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#CountdownToSundown
Dato Timothy Ong, Chairman of Asia Inc Forum, sharing his thoughts on AEC 2015
The Asean Economic Community (AEC) is an achievable vision but it won’t happen by 2015 according to Dato Timothy Ong, the Chairman of Asia Inc Forum, who was the speaker at the event organised by the Britain Brunei Business Forum (BBBF), entitled “The Asean Economic Community: A Business Perspective”. Dato Timothy Ong is no stranger to the business economics of the Asean region and to me, he is the google human of economics who studies and understands the different kinds of factors that influences policies and the business environments especially among Asean countries.
I still remember of the Asean Summit last year where Brunei was championing the event and the highlight of the Summit was the Asean Economic Community which they envision to be ready by 2015. Dato Timothy Ong believes that such target will be reached but not by 2015. This is because of the different policies, cultures, level of developments (developed and developing countries) and many more. But these factors alone will take some time before all the Asean countries can come to a consensus on AEC.
I do have to agree on one strong point Dato raised and that is the level of urgency from different state leaders. Yes, all the state leaders are heading for AEC but perhaps the level of urgency ain’t the same. So this could affect the target of having AEC by 2015.
After Dato Ong’s delivery on his business perspective, he went on to answer questions raised by the invited guests ranging from deputy permanent secretaries, ambassadors, high commissioners, government officials to entrepreneurs. I have to admit the questions were ongoing until the end of the session and Dato Timothy was the right candidate to respond due to his vast knowledge of Asean policies and business culture.
I really learned more about Asean in that one hour than my history classes back in high school *lol* Thank you to BBBF for the invitation.
Lyndsay Rajah, chair of BBBF
During the Q & A session
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#aCalmMorning
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Visit Jati Transport showroom today for the new line from Mercedes-Benz – A 45 and CLA 45 AMG
Wow, wow, wow!! I was totally impressed by the two new cars being showcased at Jati Transport Showroom this morning – the Mercedes-AMG A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG. You can check out both these awesome models today only at the Jati Transport Gadong Showroom. For the first time in the company’s history extending back over more than 45 years, Mercedes-Benz’s performance brand is offering two high-performance cars powered by a four-cylinder engine.
Apparently both models are currently fully booked for the year as these models take time to build especially the engines. According to a representative from Jati Transport, there is only one engineer who will concentrate and dedicated to building the engine and there are around 40 engineers who are dedicated to that. So you can imagine the time spent in building the engine. All the engines will have signatures of the engineers to give it a more personal touch. Jati Transport shared that around 20 bookings between the two models have been made for Brunei and the next batch will have to wait till 2015.
So below are the press release for both the Mercedes-AMG A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG.
Two figures show that the A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG hold pole position in their displacement segment: the newly developed AMG 2.0-litre turbo engine is the most powerful series-production four-cylinder turbo engine in the world. A maximum output of 265 kW (360 hp) and up to 450 Newton metres of torque are unmatched by any other mass-produced turbocharged four-cylinder engine worldwide. The power density of 133 kW (181 hp) puts the AMG high-performance turbo engine on par with the world’s most powerful super sports cars.
The high output and torque coupled with the performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive fitted as standard make for extremely dynamic performance: both the A 45 AMG and the CLA 45 AMG complete the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and have a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited).
The basis for these impressive figures is provided by the high-tech package put together by Mercedes-AMG. As a high-performance engine belonging to the BlueDIRECT family, the AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine features spray-guided direct petrol injection via piezo injectors positioned centrally in the four combustion chambers with an injection pressure of 200 bar. The combination of multiple fuel injection and multiple spark ignition improves fuel utilisation and increases thermodynamic efficiency substantially, leading to low exhaust emissions.
Visit Jati Transport showroom today only to see the Mercedes-Benz A 45
The back view of the A 45
Checking out the engine of the A 45
The AMG engine
Specially handcraft at Mercedes-AMG Germany
The interior of the A 45
Mercedes-AMG addresses the essential challenges concerning the response of small-displacement turbo engines by means of a twin-scroll turbocharger, maximum derestriction of the exhaust system and an innovative injection strategy. The twin-scroll technology provides for a more spontaneous build-up of charge pressure, making effective use of exhaust gas back pressure, exhaust gas temperature and exhaust gas impulse. This results in a swifter build-up of torque right from the lower rev range. As a positive side-effect, the twin-scroll technology also benefits fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. With a maximum charge pressure of 1.8 bar, the AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine leads the field in this respect, too.
The AMG sports exhaust system features large pipe cross-sections and an automatically controlled exhaust flap: this technology, which is familiar from the SLK 55 AMG, reconciles the two apparently conflicting aims of tangible dynamic spirit and hallmark Mercedes comfort on long journeys. The flap is continuously adjusted by map control according to the power called up by the driver, load status and engine speed. During powerful acceleration, the tailpipes of the AMG sports exhaust system emit an exciting sound. Despite their design similarities, each of the two models has its own specific sound: as a powerful compact car, the A 45 AMG sounds even more throaty than the CLA 45 AMG in a direct comparison. The four-door high-performance coupé’s engine sound is more understated so as to make the ride an even more pleasurable experience for the rear passengers. An AMG performance exhaust system with exhaust flap is available as an optional extra for both models. Those opting for this system will experience an even more emotive and full engine sound.
Like all the AMG eight- and twelve-cylinder engines, the new AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine is assembled entirely by hand according to AMG’s traditional “one man, one engine” philosophy – as shown by the AMG engine badge bearing the signature of the responsible engine fitter.
The new Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG
The back view of CLA 45 AMG
CLA 45 AMG
Check out the rims
The side view of the CLA 45 AMG
A 45 and CLA 45 AMG
Follow them on @sinhuphuat instagram and stand a chance to win Meguiar’s Ultimate Protectant. Draw date 31st May 2014.
Vincent Goh, Deputy Managing Director of Interhouse Company and Lau Soon Tiong, Manager of Hua Ho Manggis with the new Canon cameras
So you prefer an SLR or a compact camera from Canon? Interhouse Company just launched their new cameras – EOS 1200 DSLR and the PowerShot G1X Mark II and it was launched by Vincent Goh, Deputy Managing Director of Interhouse Company at the Hua Ho Manggis Mall. I’m a huge fan of Canon and I’ve always been upgrading my cameras though it only serves for my social media updates and my blog but it is still worth the investment. I’m actually interested in the Canon 70D after playing around with it from Azim Kassim and Joana Tan.
By the way, both these new cameras pack a punch and I’m quite surprised by the price of the EOS 1200D DSLR which is only in the region of below BDN 700 and this is a pretty competitive price indeed. The EOS 1200 D has an excellent high ISO performance and for entry level, this is pretty easy to use and master. Perhaps the downside I saw is the slow burst mode which will not suit me well. But hey, the price for this camera will probably draw in more customers especially the newbies. Do check out the models at the Hua Ho Manggis Mall at the ground floor area.
Vincent Goh in his welcoming remarks
Vincent Goh and Lau Soon Tiong unveiling the new cameras
Vincent Goh with his invited guests
The Canon EOS 1200D
The G1X Mark II is kinda expensive but it’s the best G series of the Canon PowerShot. It has a 14 MP quality and sports a 28-112mm F2.8-5.8 lens and able to capture a 1080p video recording at 24fps. is a new premium compact camera with a large CMOS image sensor and a fast lens. The metal-bodied G1 X Mark II has a 1.5-type multi-aspect sensor, a 5x f/2.0-3.9 lens zoom lens, full manual controls, shooting mode dial, 3-inch tilting LCD touchscreen with 1,040K dots, built-in flash and a flash hot shoe, DIGIC 6 processor, wi-fi and NFC connectivity, ISO range of 100-12800, full HD movie recording, 14-bit RAW image capture, 31 AF points, focus peaking function, and dual lens control rings. The Canon Powershot G1 X Mark II is available in black.
You can get this model for BND 1,069 and it comes with a 8GB memory card and a camera bag. You can read more in-depth reviews of the G1x MK II review here.
Lau Soon Tiong of Hua Ho Manggis holding the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II
Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II selling at BND 1,069 with a 8GB memory card and a camera bag
Selfies with Interhouse Company management and a reporter from a Chinese newspaper during lunch after the launch
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#KeanToStay
Steve Kean ain’t going anywhere and he is happy in Brunei
You may have heard about the ongoing rumours on goal.com where Steve Kean was rumoured to make a move to Thailand Premier League club but the news were all false and DPMM FC head coach has assured the management and fans of DPMM FC that he is staying put. In yesterday’s interview, he dismissed claim and he shared that these kinda of rumours or football news are pretty common during his reign in the English Premier League years.
Kean shared that he never been in contact with any other club and he believed that such news could be a deliberate act to disrupt the momentum of DPMM FC who are leading the pack with a 7 point cushion. However, that lead could be shortened to just four points as S•League chasers Warriors FC beat DPMM FC at Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Singapore. A win for DPMM FC will surge them 10 points ahead of the pack.
Steve Kean did mention that the four games (Albirex, Warriors, Home and Tampines) are the biggest matches within this two weeks. Victories in all these matches, according to Kean, will determine the course of their season. The return of Boris Raspudic is a major boost for DPMM FC but defender Aziz Tamit was ruled of tonight’s game through a minor ankle injury. The other worry for DPMM FC tonight is three of their import players Rodrigo Tosi, Roberto Alviz and Roy O’Donovan are one yellow card away from being suspended. So it’s important on the intensity of the match the players will play tonight.
Will the RT combo strike force of Roy and Tosi bring another crucial away points tonight and increase their winning streak to 8? We shall find out tonight when Warriors FC (2) takes on DPMM FC (1) at Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Singapore.
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#DPMMFCsufferedSecondLoss
The highlights between Warriors FC and DPMM FC last night
At one stage, DPMM FC were 10 points ahead in the competition as they were on a hot streak with seven consecutive victories. Last night, Warriors FC handed DPMM FC their second loss of the season with a narrow 1-0 victory. The goal was courtesy of a set-piece in the first half through Hafiz Rahim. DPMM FC were missing Aziz Tamit who was nursing an ankle injury as Shahrul took his defensive duties with the return of Boris Raspudic in defence.
DPMM FC had an early chance to grab the lead. Perhaps it was the best chance of the game when Roy O’Donovan raced unchallenged with only the keeper to beat but Warriors FC keeper Hassan Sunny foiled his attempt. The keeper was up to the task to parry off Roberto Alviz’s free kick a minute later. Warriors FC had plenty of scoring opportunities as well but Wardun made many crucial saves.
A great job by Warriors FC defence led by captain Daniel Bennett who was partnered by Marin Vidosevic to keep a clean sheet against the highest scoring team in the league. The victory now puts Warriors FC four points away from league leaders DPMM FC. No wonder Steve Kean said the four big games (Albirex, Warriors, Home and Tampines) are vital.
DPMM FC head coach said, “Warriors played better in the first half. We were a little bit slow to push forward and Warriors won a lot of second balls.”
DPMM FC next game will be next weekend when they take on Global FC in the RHB Cup in Singapore before their crucial match against Home United FC on Friday 6th of June at Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.
Images below courtesy of Abel Khoo (Singapore).
DPMM FC line up last night
DPMM FC in against Warriors FC
Warriors celebrating Hafiz Rahim’s winning goal
DPMM FC coming close in scoring the equalizing goal
DPMM FC fans from Brunei Shell Marketing and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (Brunei)
Warriors FC with their supporters
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#CalmingTheStorm
Last night we caught the sneaks of X-Men Days of Future Past at The Mall Cineplex. Play our podcast featuring @delgoh and I reviewing the upcoming blockbuster from Marvel. Will it break the box office weekend record?
I’ve been to Bangkok quite a few times but this was my first familiarisation trip organised by Royal Brunei Airlines and Tourism Authority of Thailand and I’m very fortunate and privilege to be part of this experience. Whatever you see in the news about the political situation in Thailand doesn’t reflect what I saw with my own eyes in Bangkok. Business is as usual and perhaps what we read in the papers or online only affects a tiny portion of the country. Even with the recent martial law by The Royal Thai Army, everything is still going as usual.
I have to thank Royal Brunei Airlines for the opportunity and our ground handler (Richard, Pinky, Nora and Melissa) for helping us throughout the 5 days experience. We had two night stay at Hua Hin and two night stay at Bangkok and I learnt quite a lot of things that Thailand has to offer.
I will share some pictures of my recent adventure in Thailand and there will be more of them in my later post. Thank you once again for the opportunity. I would really love to explore more places in Thailand for sure.
The hotel that we stayed in Hua Hin was Amari Hua Hin and the prices are quite competitive as well. I was just checking on booking.com and you can get a good deal for less than BND 300 for two nights. That’s a great deal indeed.
The rooms are pretty spacious and I kinda enjoyed my stay at Amari Hua Hin. I regretted not to have swam in the main pool but then again, there’s always next time 😀 For you info, Hua Hin is about 300km or 3 hours from Bangkok. You will be surprised to see how they offer great rates as I was checking on booking.com. The prices do vary but the current one that I check is estimated below BND 300 for two nights. Awesome deal!!
It’s a ten minute drive to the Hua Hin City and night market and it has great facilities and I would recommend the Amari Hua Hin if you happen to drop by this area. I also like jogging at Hua Hin since it’s not that heavy of a traffic as compared to Bangkok. The hotel is not far from the beach shoreline but beaches in Brunei are much better.
Highly recommend the Amari Hua Hin
The rooms are spacious and lots of amenities and of course, free wifi
The reception area of Amari Hua Hin. Taken from their website.
The exterior view of Amari Hua Hin. Taken from their website.
Chatsila Night Market. It is located in a small square though it was quite a fair walk around. Inside the square, they sell cheap clothes, handicrafts and other novelty stuff. This market is ideal when visited at night. Of course, when I say night market, you will get cheap due to the inferior branded products. For instance, you get a branded name sunnies for only 100 baht or less. That’s like 3-4 dollars. I prefer to shop around the Hua Hin Floating Market because of its uniqueness. Refer the story below for more details.
The community and the people have high respect for their King
Chatsila night market at Hua Hin, Thailand
T-shirts are selling as low as 120 to 100 baht (3-5 dollars) each
Cheap sunnies every where
How the interior looks like
Hua Hin Floating Market. If you are bored of the usual night market, then try out the Hua Hin Floating Market which is an interesting place for tourist. The market features a man made lake and there are plenty of shops as you walk around the lake. Clothes are cheap, cheap, cheap and great place to buy souvenir as well. I kinda like the concept which has this 1920s feel to it and it has a circular layout with the man made lake in the middle. So do visit the Floating Market if you have the chance.
The Floating Market Hua Hin
I realised that the anchor design t-shirts are a plenty in the market
You can get a short boat ride to tour around the lake of the Floating Market
This colourful century eggs are eye catchy
The texture is softer according to one of the travel agents
Now have you seen a poached version of quail eggs? This seems to be double the cholesterol and one plate only costs 20 baht which is like 5 cents or less. Damn….
Gek feeding the goat at the Floating Market
You can buy the bottle of milk to feed them
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#TheChoice
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Sometimes it’s great to know how the power of social media when use appropriately and effectively, it can create the right buzz with some impact. Yesterday was a great example when a group of people involved in a community project organised a recycling campaign under the flagship of The Green Apeel.
The purpose of their project is to create awareness among the community on recycling and at the same time, they were also raising funds for YASKA (Yayasan Kanser Kanak-Kanak). I love the idea of them decorating some of the recycling bins to steal the attention of the community and educate them at the same time about recycling.
Yesterday they had a campaign drive for the public to bring in their recyclable goods so The Green Apeel can deliver these items for recycling and in exchange, they will raise some funds as the recycling monies will be donated to YASKA. There was quite a response as the group involved made use of social media to spread awareness and it paid off.
There was also an artistic impression on their Instagram posts (do check out @thegreenapeel and their hashtag #thegreenapeel) which made it trendy and catching the eyes of the social media users. This was a brilliant way of drawing the attention and most importantly, educating the users on means of recycling and its benefits.
The group would like to thank all the supporters for the event and the recycle bins will be out there until the 25th May at Times Square Shopping Centre and Yayasan Shopping Complex.
Below are images taken from @thegreenapeel instagram.
The teacher in charge of the program
The amount of recycling stuff they collected
You can find the bins at Times Square and Yayasan Shopping Complex until 25th May
They reached their 1,000 KG target yesterday
@anakbrunei showing his support and today is also his birthday 😀
Those who came yesterday
Those who came yesterday
They turned up twice with more recycled stuff. Awesome!!
Muscular, elegant and confident: these are some of the words that can describe the much anticipated Audi A3 Sedan.
The crowd cheered as the coupe-like sedan was finally unveiled during the official launching ceremony of the A3 Sedan held at the Indera Samudra Grand Hall, the Empire Hotel & Country Club on Saturday.
Among those present during the night were TCY Group of Companies Chairman Teng Ching Ying, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Helmut Domas and customers and guests of TCY Motors.
Audi A3 launching last Saturday
Dave Sivanantham, TCY Motors General Manager giving his welcoming remarks
Dj Daffy was the host of the evening
The performers before the launch of the Audi A3 Sedan
“The new A3 Sedan is completely redesigned and shares not a single body panel with its sister models, the three-door A3 and five-door Sportback. It is a sedan instead of a wagon unlike its predecessor,” said Dave Sivanantham, TCY Motors general manager.
He further shared that the premium compact sporty sedan offers the latest in progressive technology, such as Audi’s Ultra Lightweight technology, which allegedly has made the new A3 Sedan lighter than its nearest competitor by over 60 kilogrammes and faster with 24hp more output.
He further stated that the A3 Sedan was recently declared the World Car of the Year 2014 by automotive journalists from 22 countries.
“Now, after much anticipation the all-new A3 Sedan is introduced to the Sultanate and is offered at a competitive price of $53,900 without compromising on luxury, design or performance,” said the general manager.
You can read more of the article here. Text courtesy of Adib Noor of The Brunei Times and images courtesy of Mantuka.com and you can also read their article here for more in-depth review in Malay.
The entrance of the Audi A3 Sedan
Man, the car looks pretty sleek
Dj Daffy driving the car to the delight of the crowd
Group photo with the guest of honour and management of TCY Motors
Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Helmut Domas (left) checking out the Audi A3 Sedan
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#HuaHin
Check out our review of the current blockbuster Godzilla (2014). Click play to listen to our podcast with co-host Del Goh and special guest Seng Yee
Representatives from Royal Brunei Airlines travel agents and members of the local media and bloggers before heading off to Bangkok and Hua Hin, Thailand
Hello peeps!! I’m currently outstation once again (nothing surprising there). This time, it’s the trip sponsored by Royal Brunei Airlines @royalbruneiair and I’m traveling with local media, one blogger and representatives from travel agents of RB. I will be away for a few days and be back shortly before I stay put in Brunei for another ten days before I head off again. Yea, this year, it seems I’m a certified jet setter.
I won’t be posting much pictures just yet but I shall tease you with a few. The FAM (Familiarization) trip focuses on Hua Hin and Bangkok. Yea, we all are familiar with cities such as Phuket or Pattaya outside of Bangkok but not so much on Hua Hin. I went there once back in 2010 and stayed at the Six Sense Hua Hin which was such a great experience (and pricey too).
Hua Hin is quieter than Bangkok and Pattaya but it’s slowing developing into one of the tourist destination. The last I recalled my visit to Hua Hin, it was a pretty relaxed and chill city and there aren’t many shopping places either. Fast forward to 2014, the city has definitely changed in terms of development but not so much on entertainment.
I shall update on my journey in my next post. I’m out of here. Adios.
Always happy to bump into my sister who’s busy on duty at the Brunei International Airport
It was almost a full flight. Most of the passengers were from our group and another by Brunei Unicity group.
I managed to get a DTAC sim card for my data prepaid plan while in Thailand. Only costs me 299 baht for a week of data. That’s roughly BND 10 and it comes with the sim card as well. Service was efficient as I had my line activated and all that help in less than 3 minutes. Do find this counter at the arrival area of the airport.
We had a quick lunch and this restaurant is pretty good indeed. It serves halal food and located nearby the airport. Ideal for groups and families and the restaurant is called Al-Hilal Restaurant
Pretending to drive the cart with everybody’s luggage upon arrival at Amari Hua Hin *huhu*
Loving the room at Amari Hua Hin. Not exactly sure of the price but it’s pretty reasonable I heard.
Always in my messy state after a day or so 😀
One of the night markets called Chatsila and things are pretty darn cheap
Yea, tons of fake stuff here. Sunnies selling as low as BND 2 to 3 each.
Looks like voodoo dolls to me
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#GODZILLArocks
Acer Liquid Smartphones
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Want to win a GoPro Hero 3+? Check out #kickItBrazil Peugeot Brunei competition. Competition starts 12th May. Click image to enter Facebook page for more details.
UBD Charity Carnival is just around the corner! Organized by FASS Community Outreach Programme, January 2014 and it will take place from Friday to Sunday, this weekend. Food, Entertainment, Clothing and also fun activities coming to you this weekend! They will be joined by RBTS, Gear FSC (Nerf), franchise as well as our local vendors!! Help them by showing your support to contribute ‘to the greater good’ by bringing your family & friends to our Charity Carnival!
HSBC home & Away is an existing global programme that offers exclusive year-round discounts to HSBC Credit Card customers at over 27,000 merchant outlets, in more than 160 countries and territories.
With the theme ‘Close Connections’, it provides opportunities for HSBC Credit Cardholders to reconnect with their families and friends through experience based offers across 13 markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Brazil and United Arab Emirates.
HSBC Credit Cardholders can now spend quality time with their friends or their loved ones, by looking no further than HSBC global home&Away privilege programme giving opportunities on local dining and shopping offers from Pastamania, Saffron café, Shinobu Shabu-Shabu, Sushi Tei, Firoz Jaya Silk house and Nueva Boutique. Furthermore, with its overseas privileges, HSBC Credit Cardholders can have fun at the Dreamland Aquapark in UAE, Wild Life Sydney Zoo, and Slope Infinity – Hong Kong’s indoor ski and snowboarding deck which is the largest of its kind in the world. There are also trips away, where customers can share experiences such as the Singapore Formula 1 Night Race or the Superstar Virgo package with Hong Kong’s Star Cruise. Finally, for the food lovers, there is a variety of group dining options at premium hotels including the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta and The Peninsula Manila.
Check out these offers and discount from Brunei more through your desktop / mobile device at www.homeandaway.hsbc.com
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Last night, a commotion took place at The Mall at the ground floor. According to a witness, the man was running around and even pushed one of the person who was on duty, setting up a booth at the atrium area of The Mall. The guy was eventually taken into the custody of the police and escorted outside the building which I saw right after our Godzilla movie outing. Click image to watch a short clip of the guy being escorted.
Pierre Imhof, CEO of Baiduri Bank and Mr. Ti Eng Hui, Deputy CEO with members of the media. Taken from BT website.
An event I miss due to my DPMM FC coverage commitment. So here is the text taken from BT. Melodious songs from the 50s rang through the Mutiara ballroom of the Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam as Baiduri Bank Group celebrated its prestigious award-winning achievements with members of the local media yesterday.
Over 150 guests from various media agencies in the Sultanate as well as personnel from various government sectors such as Information Department and designing companies further vivified the dinner.
Attendees were treated to an evening of food, fun and exciting games such as sausage-eating, sundae-making, song-guessing, ball-shooting and best dress awards for both males and females.
For the lucky draw round, Fayezuana, a radio presenter from Kristal FM (KFM) bagged herself a Baiduri saving account with $2000 along with three others who brought home two iPad Minis as well as a Polaroid camera.
The rest of the guests did not go back home empty-handed as they receive instant dips.
Present during the dinner was Pierre Imhof, general manager of Baiduri Bank Group who delivered a welcoming remark thanking the local print media and television in Brunei Darussalam for their vital roles in disseminating information about their products and services to the public. “On behalf of Baiduri Bank Group, I would like to acknowledge you, the media, as a very important part of society, and as our partner in disseminating information about us to the public via your various channels,” he added. Also present at the event were Ti Eng Hui, deputy chief executive officer, as well as Dorothy Newn, head of Corporate Communication and Marketing. Text by Ikhwan Salleh of The Brunei Times.
Pierre Imhof mingling with the media
Pierre Imhof giving his welcoming remarks and thanking the media
Games, games, games
The hula-hula
Hakim and Siti of Borneo Bulletin
Aliya and Siti
AJ and Hakim, best dress during the event
Aziz and Syafiq of Borneo Bulletin
Posing for the camera
Smiling way back in the 50s
One of the fun games for the media
This was taken at last year’s Baiduri Bank Media Night appreciation with the Safari theme
This was taken at last year’s Baiduri Bank Media Night appreciation with the Safari theme
Shop online on Malppy.com
Malppy.com – Brunei’s online Fashion and Lifestyle store announces a refresh of its website with a brand new look whilst offering an enhanced shopping experience.
From its humble beginnings as a start up just a year ago, the company has seen growth and looking to expand further said, Founder Simon Soo.
The founder went said “We (Malppy.com) aim to provide consumers with the best online shopping experience through the new look featuring a clean, sleek design aimed at a global audience”.
The website includes enhanced features such as faster web browsing and an improved user-friendly interface. Taking into consideration the average consumer behavior, the site has simplified all the steps a shopper has to go through from online registration to check out.
Shoppers are also able to share their comments and rate products, a recommendation feature that is important in most international shopping sites. In addition, shoppers can also share what they like via social media, which is integrated in Malppy.com.
Other improvements to the website also includes a wish list, optional registration when shopping, the ability to compare products and detailed product information with more images for better decision making. It has recently added a European fashion line in addition to its current popular Eastern range. A Children’s section is now available due to popular demand as well. Exciting new ideas in the pipeline include collaborations with local and regional designers to promote Muslim wear in the near future. New product categories will be added in the coming months so check out Malppy.com today. Your online shopping begins here.
Shop online on Malppy.com
In conjunction with their first Anniversary on April, Malppy.com celebrated by giving its customers Free iPhone cover for all customer who spend more then B$50 in one single recipe as advertised in the Borneo Bulletin back in April 2014.
Malppy.com continues to expand its offerings by keeping up with the latest trends to cater to the market’s changing needs.
One friend that I know of that doesn’t stop creating or recreating new ideas to reality is Keeran Janin. Our friendship goes all the way back to the era of the RA6 (a disbanded clique) in the mid 2000’s where he was under the employment of b-mobile communications.
If I look back at all the things he has done up to this very moment, I’m just truly amazed of the array of things that he was able to pull off even though some didn’t turn out be successful. He is a great iconic technoprenuer (IT entrepreneur) for the young ones as some of us don’t really like to deal with failure.
In my recent interview with Keeran Janin, he shared some of his successes and failures in his IT adventure including his recent trip to the Silicon Valley where Keeran stayed there for three weeks to meet up with the technopreneurs and angel investors.
I could tell that Keeran was high in energy during the interview and there was so much that he wanted to share on his US trip where he self-funded himself and took that leap of faith and just go all out to meet different walks of life at the Silicon Valley. Honestly, I love the vibrancy of the Silicon Valley and both Keeran and I traveled there once back in 2008 and it was a memorable one for us. This time, Keeran meant business and he is ready to swim with the big fish.
Three weeks in the US is not a cheap feat and Keeran was smart enough to use most of his resources such as air miles (for a subsidized flight) and cheaper means of accommodation so he could make most out of his Silicon Valley trip.
Keeran Janin on one of his tour during visit at San Francisco recently
Keeran Janin and his friend at Lombard Street
Now the question is why did he travel there again for such a longer period? Maybe, just maybe, Keeran kinda felt that he hit the jackpot with his new creation called Chrends (or #chrends) which actually means Chatrooms for trending topics. The IOS app was developed earlier this year under his new company Chrends Sdn Bhd and it is still in its beta platform but it has been garnering pace in terms of subscribers. So he felt it is time to meet the big shots in the US and see what road lies ahead of him.
If you remember the days of mIRC, #Chrends kinda falls in that category but in an app version with a sleek and modern feel to it. Basically you can create rooms or channels and chat with others anonymously without the need to sign up with your profiles. I’ve been using it for a month now and I follow the ongoing conversations on the main channel where people share their thoughts on local issues and so forth.
So Keeran’s trip in the US was to pitch his prototype (#chrends) idea to potential investors and angel investors. He traveled from one spot to another and ended up pitching to at least 30-40 investors. I kinda know how it works in the US. It’s totally different than Asia. Sometimes you could sell your idea in just matter of a minute or two and kabooom, you land yourself a jackpot and the investor will pump in money to fund your idea. In the US, things are much faster when it comes to decision making and sometimes the verbal agreements are on the spot before they get down to the formalities. Hence, it’s no surprise to why Keeran was taking a huge risk in his pitching adventure.
He was a bit tight-lipped about the outcome of his pitches but he hinted that he will reveal all pretty soon. But he did request for one thing is for us to download the #chrends app and do give feedback as that’s the most important ingredient for his app to tract more usage from subscribers.
Whether his trip was a success or not, the message here is that in life, everything is worth a shot. The experience itself will be self rewarding to say the least.
Infographics for #Chrends. Click image to enlarge.
Keeran’s visit to Yahoo at San Francisco in 2008
Keeran at the presentation at Red Herring event back in 2012 for his Chatworthy app
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The annual charity golf event, which is in its 19th edition, is widely recognised as the biggest and most prestigious golf competition in the Sultanate. The tournament is just less than two weeks away.
Three categories – men’s, ladies and juniors – will be contested over two weekends at the RBA Golf Club in Berakas.
The men’s category is divided into men’s open and senior categories while the junior division is open to golfers aged 13-18. The first week of competition will be held from May 30 – June 1 while the second will be played from June 6-8.
Registration fee is set for $120 for adults and $60 for juniors, inclusive of green fee, buggy, breakfast and lunch. Players can play as many times as they like to improve their chances of winning and they are able to enjoy a 10 per cent discount on registration fee on their second and subsequent round.
Interested parties can log onto www.baiduri.com for full details, where they can also download the application forms to register for the event.
The signing ceremony with partners for the Baiduri Masters 2014
QAF Group, Baiduri Masters 2014’s strategic partner represented by its CEO Albert Lau with Pierre Imhof, CEO of Baiduri Bank
Brunei Press, the exclusive media partner to the event represented by its General Manager Reggie See
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#10pointsAhead
HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (R) and HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik (L) and other members of the Royal Family during last night’s Singapore League match between DPMM FC and Albirex Nigata at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas. Image taken by Saiful Omar of The Brunei Times.
The game seemed familiar. When I covered the first match where DPMM FC took on Albirex Niigata (S) FC a few months ago in Singapore, the Japanese club was relentless with their possession and mounted series of attack on DPMM FC’s goal area. Last night was no different story. Albirex gave it their all last night and they gave DPMM FC fans a little scare as the visitors were more adventurous (in the first half). DPMM FC came back from a goal down to beat a resilient Japanese team 2-1 with goals courtesy of Roy O’Donovan and Rodrigo Tosi.
In the first half, DPMM FC found it hard to settle down as the visitors had more possession and control in midfield. Wardun Yussof was the busiest goalkeeper of the two and he settled the nerves of the home supporters with his heroic saves. DPMM FC mustered a few scoring opportunities too but the Japanese keeper Kazuki Kishigami was up to the task, thwarting Roy O’Donovan twice from close range shots. DPMM FC could have stolen the lead as well when their set piece from a corner hit the frame of the post.
DPMM FC looked nervy at the back at times and they surely were missing the experience of Boris Raspudic who was suspended for this game. However, all that changed in the second half though it was the visitors that broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute through a defensive error and Itsuki Yamada gave a much deserved lead for the visitors to the disappointment of the home fans.
To be title contenders, you need to have character and guile. DPMM FC showed those qualities right after they conceded the goal. I noticed Steve Kean changed the formation to counter the possession game that Albirex were enjoying in the first half. It proved fruitful as Kean deployed Rosmin Khamis and Joe Gamble in midfield and pushed Roberto Alviz wider than his usual role.
One of the reasons for DPMM FC’s 32 goal tally was the club marquee player Roy O’Donovan who is perhaps one of the fastest S•League player and the first goal, the equalizer, was a result of his pace as he stole possession of Albirex’ scorer and raced from midfield before delivering a thunderous drive for a 1-1 score line.
O’Donovan was again instrumental in the winning goal as he was brought down in the box and referee had no choice but to point to the penalty spot which Rodrigo Tosi took the honours in the 72nd minute. DPMM FC began to search for another cushion goal but it never came as Steve Kean opted his players to slow down the game and maintain the slender lead.
The lads celebrated after the final whistle and it was indeed DPMM FC’s toughest test to date at their home ground. The match could have gone either way but Steve Kean’s tactics proved to be the winning formula for last night’s match. Now DPMM FC enjoy a 10 point cushion lead in the S•League with 32 goals scored and 6 goals conceded. This is the best run that DPMM FC have experienced ever since they join the S•League.
The next three games – Warriors FC (away 22nd May), Home United (home 6th June) and Tampines (away 10th June) will determine DPMM FC’s season if they are title contenders or title pretenders.
The winning goal celebration after Rodrigo Tosi scored from the penalty and he has scored 12 goals in the S•League campaign. Last night DPMM FC beat Albirex Niigata (S) FC 2-1 at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.
Steve Kean, DPMM FC head coach, was in jubilant mood after Tosi scored the winning goal
The Yes Chants still going strong
Tosi taking photo opportunity with fans
Selfies from the crowd
DPMM FC merchandise on sale at Gate 12/13
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