Warning: Declaration of WarpMenuWalker::start_lvl(&$output, $depth) should be compatible with Walker_Nav_Menu::start_lvl(&$output, $depth = 0, $args = Array) in /home/rano365/public_html/ranoadidas3/wp-content/themes/yoo_corona_wp/warp/systems/wordpress/helpers/system.php on line 0

Warning: Declaration of WarpMenuWalker::end_lvl(&$output, $depth) should be compatible with Walker_Nav_Menu::end_lvl(&$output, $depth = 0, $args = Array) in /home/rano365/public_html/ranoadidas3/wp-content/themes/yoo_corona_wp/warp/systems/wordpress/helpers/system.php on line 0

Warning: Declaration of WarpMenuWalker::start_el(&$output, $item, $depth, $args) should be compatible with Walker_Nav_Menu::start_el(&$output, $item, $depth = 0, $args = Array, $id = 0) in /home/rano365/public_html/ranoadidas3/wp-content/themes/yoo_corona_wp/warp/systems/wordpress/helpers/system.php on line 0

Warning: Declaration of WarpMenuWalker::end_el(&$output, $item, $depth) should be compatible with Walker_Nav_Menu::end_el(&$output, $item, $depth = 0, $args = Array) in /home/rano365/public_html/ranoadidas3/wp-content/themes/yoo_corona_wp/warp/systems/wordpress/helpers/system.php on line 0
Ranoadidas.com | Brunei's No 1 Social News » RA News

The Popcorn Panel

Download the soundcloud on your smart phone or listen to our movie podcast with my co-host @delgoh on the The Popcorn Panel online.

Follow me on Snapchat

Have you check out my Snapchat feeds? Simple - download Snapchat and follow my regular updates on my social life :D Username: Ranoadidas

Advertisement Rates

You can email at ranoadidas(a)gmail and I will reply you for the requested rates. This also includes rates for my social media platforms.
06
Jul

Selamat Hari Raya

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

Selamat Hari Raya 
 


Audi Brunei wishes you Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri Maaf Zahir dan Batin! May this Hari Raya Aidilfitri bless you with peace and joy. Drive safely!
‪#‎A4lution‬
 


A note from Royal Brunei Airlines
 


Operational hours during Hari Raya at petrol station [Click to enlarge]
 

 

  
 

05
Aug

R U D Ready?

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

Recap 
 


His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, conferred state decorations on 235 recipients from both government and private sectors in recognition of their contributions and devoted services to the nation yesterday. In this picture, Captain Czarena Hashim of Royal Brunei Airlines, Sariana Nordin, Senior First Officer of Royal Brunei Airlines and Dk Nadiah Khashiem, Special Duty Officer of Royal Brunei Airlines were conferred the Darjah Setia Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bahagia (The Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei) Darjah Keempat (4th Class) – P.S.B. Image courtesy of @royalbruneiair
 


The upcoming new Jati Showroom not far from their main branch in Beribi. Estimated to be ready by 2017 and the whole project costs BND 5 million.
 


Progresif Open House which I missed but it’s a good thing that the crew of Filterworks made it and posing with the beautiful ladies from Progresif
 


Baiduri Bank has been recognised by World Finance as The Best Banking Group for Brunei 2016 for the eight time. In the picture sees Paul Richardson of World News Media with Pierre Imhof, CEO of Baiduri Bank.
 


Guess who will be coming to town? The World Champion of Public Speaking 2014, Dananjaya Hettiarachchi. Click image to know more about him. I can guarantee you that you will enjoy the Brunei Conference where he will be one of the keynote speakers.
 


Suicide Squad… Hmmmm… I shall do a more in-depth review of the latest from DC. A few good points and many flaws to begin with. But on a more positive note, I enjoyed this more than Dawn of Justice.
 

 

  
 

04
Jul

Wed or Thurs?

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

Peugeot Boutique promotion 
 


Looking for something special this Raya Season? At the Peugeot Boutique in our Kiarong Showroom we have a special promotion on a wide range of exclusive and limited items! #Peugeot #Brunei #HariRaya2016 [Click image to enter Facebook Page]
 


Customers checking out the Peugeot merchandise last weekend
 

 

  
 

Opening hours 
 


Operational hours during Hari Raya at petrol station [Click to enlarge]
 

 

  
 

Predator showroom at Concepts 
 


Unveiling of the Acer Predator showroom at Concepts Computer by four Concepts Computer representatives, Mr. Vincent Pao, its General Manager, Alice Chan, its Financial Controller and with the presence of Richard Soo, Branch Manger for Acer Sales and Services, Miri.
 

The much anticipated Acer Predator series of gaming PCs, notebooks, monitors and tablets are about to WOW the IT consumers in Brunei Darussalam. Hard-core gamers will be queuing up to get their hands on the new no-compromise experience in performance and design, as they can react faster in-game and be immersed in true to life over the top visual display and audio performance.

Acer, with the support of Concepts Computer, is proud to show-case the Acer Predator series in their showroom with floor-space dedicated to these models, especially ready for users seeking an immersive sensory experience and powerful computing. These computers are built with cutting-edge graphics and speedy processing power, allowing them to tackle even the most demanding multimedia for realistic entertainment. The whole Acer Predator line-up are also stylish and sophisticatedly designed.

With the Predator line, Acer was the first to also release gaming-centric monitors which combines nVidia’s G-Sync technology and GeForce GTX GPUs in what is rapidly becoming the platform of choice as it delivers an ultra-smooth experience across multiple spectrums of gaming and multi-media. Part of the gaming monitors released will be curved, ultra wide monitors which gives a wraparound visual experience. Designed specifically for serious gamers, the curved 178-degree curved viewing angle of the ultra wide gaming monitors delivers an immersive experience.

 


Richard sharing on the advantages of powerful CPUs from the Predator line
 


Do you know that Predator tablet does vibrate depending on the games you play? Cool 😀
 


The powerful CPUs for gamers
 

The Predator line also boasts one of the first Android gaming tablet available in the market, the Predator 8 will feature top of the line Intel processor, Intel HD graphics, 8 inch FHD screen, and 4 powerful speakers; all combining to provide the best gaming experience in the palm of your hands. Gamers will appreciate the raw power found on the Predator 8 gaming tablet. The newest generation Intel processor with Intel HD Graphics deliver extraordinary graphics and performance, while 802.11a/b/g/n wireless with 2×2 MIMO supports fast connection speeds, processing data at up to twice the speed of traditional 1×1 solutions.

Predator TacSense provides tactile feedback which makes the gaming experience more engaging and enjoyable with a real sense of vibration. And with up to 64GB of on-board storage and expansion capabilities via a microSD card of up to 128GB, gamers have room to take their games, videos and music with them wherever they go.

Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Computer, speaking to the media, said, “Concepts Computer is proud to bring into the Bruneian market, the ACER Predator line-up, built for the future and combines power and vibrancy in a package that puts you in control of powerful computing performances on-the-go.” He continued, “Concepts Computer will always step-up to provide the perfect solutions from Acer, making sure that it is affordable and well-built, and we believe the ACER Predator series are an excellent addition to our portfolio of ACER computing devices.”

 


I’m liking this curvy monitor from the Predator line. Apparently the two different monitors at the showroom are quite popular.
 


The rugger Predator bag
 


Richard with the team from Concepts Computer
 


Spend on Concepts Computer, maybe on the Predator series and you can get yourself a carton of drink from Kingston. So far it has been a popular gimmick and Concepts have given out a few hundreds of this coupon. You will need to spend at least BND 200 to be eligible for this coupon.
 

Zul Abdul Rahman, Marketing Executive at Concepts Computer, also added, “With Acer’s cross-platform offering of Predator gaming products, it represents our relentless pursuit of the best for the Bruneian market. And with our outstanding team, we hope to bring passion and precious gamer insights into the PC gaming industry in Brunei Darussalam.”

The ACER Predator series will be available from Concepts Computer, where the Acer Predator 8 gaming tablet will be on offer for all Concepts member for only $488 (usual price $508) while stocks lasts. For more information call 2233551, 2233552 or 2233553 or visit your nearest Concepts Computer showroom.

 

  
 

02
Jul

Still battling (the cold)

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

Hear a Beating Heart 
 


Group photo of today’s event of “Hear A Beating Heart” at Royal Brunei Celebration Club. Image courtesy of Plus+ Brunei
 


Chris Woo as the moderator interviewing Dr. Sofian, a cardiac specialist. Image courtesy of Plus+ Brunei
 

The Plus+ Anniversary Charity Run is an event being held in conjunction with World Heart Day and whose mission it is to bring awareness to cardiac diseases and cancer. These illnesses can be silent killers – sometimes showing little-to-no symptoms. Seemingly healthy people can be affected and by the time symptoms occur it may be too late to help. We need to continue to raise awareness and to search for cures.

Plus+ Brunei believes that knowledge about these types of diseases can prevent a number of cases from occurring. Our magazine articles aim to teach how to become heart healthy, increase fitness levels, and decrease risk factors. And because we believe so strongly in this message, we started the Plus+ Anniversary Charity Run in conjunction with World Heart Day to bring awareness to the community.

Today, Plus+ Brunei organised a sharing session – “Hear A Beating Heart”, the untold stories and experiences faced by cardiac patients and their family members at Royal Brunei Recreation Club. The highlight of the talk was Mumtazali Mohd Abdul Aziz who recently made headlines for being the first person in Borneo to have successfully received a Left Ventricle Assisted Device (LVAD) back in 2014. To date there are only four patients in Brunei fitted with the device, which aids the heart in distributing blood to the rest of the body.

The device requires the patient to carry an external battery pack at all times to power the pump, which introduces complications with making sure the environmental conditions suit the device such as making sure it’s protected from the rain and extreme heat. At night, the device is plugged into a machine that powers it while the patient sleeps.

The event was moderated by Chris Woo with three special guests, Mumtazali Mohd Abdul Aziz (a patient), Dr. Sofian, Cardiac Specialist and Dk Hjh Mas Joliwane Pg Hj Tejudin from the Ministry of Education.

 


Mumtazali Mohd Abdul Aziz sharing his experience before and after . Image courtesy of Plus+ Brunei
 


Dr. Sofian, Cardiac Specialist and Dk Hjh Mas Joliwane Pg Hj Tejudin from the Ministry of Education . Image courtesy of Plus+ Brunei
 

 


The official running t-shirt for Plus+ Anniversary Charity Run
 

 

  
 

Sungkai at Concepts 
 

Recently Concepts Computer held their annual Sungkai gathering for their employees, partners and the media at the Brilliance Hall of Concepts Computer and recently Vincent Pao, the General Manager of Concepts Computer also celebrated his birthday. The company has been around since 1999 and it’s the market leader in the ICT retail industry. Keep up the great work, buddy and sorry for not greeting you when I bumped into you two days ago 😀 Images courtesy of Concepts Computer

 


The team of Concepts Computer
 


Sungkai treat at the Brilliance Hall, Concepts Computer
 


Vincent Pao and Alice Chan with the guests during Sungkai
 

 


Don’t forget that you can get a voucher (one carton of drink) from Kingston if you spend $200 or more at Concepts Computer. The last day to redeem the voucher at Kingston is 15th July at Kingston
 

 

  
 

 

Letop Lebaran 
 

 

Datin Hajah Asmah binti Haji Abdul Rahman with Haji Syed Mohd Yassin bin Haji Syed Anayatullah Shah, the founder of BattlePro Marketing & Management Services, the main organiser of Letop Lebaran

A large number of people flocked to International Convention Centre (ICC) to witness the launching of the ‘Letop Lebaran’ expo, organised by Battle Pro Marketing and Management Services (BattleProMMS).

The exhibition was officially launched by Datin Hajah Asmah binti Haji Abdul Rahman, wife of Minister of Education. More than 80 vendors are taking part in the expo from June 30 until Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Most of items sold at the expo are especially used for the upcoming Hari Raya celebration.

In his welcoming speech, Haji Syed Mohd Yassin bin Haji Syed Anayatullah Shah, the founder of BattleProMarketing & Management Services said, “The event is held to answer His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s call that urged local youths to be involved in business.”

Battle Pro Event has been organising activities since 2014 to help local entrepreneurs.

He said Letop Lebaran provided an opportunity to entrepreneurs from foreign countries to market their brand in Brunei. At the same time, it provides a platform for local entrepreneurs to further develop their business and enhance the nation’s economy. You can follow their live updates on @letoplebaran on Instagram. Text courtesy of Achong and images courtesy of BattlePro.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 

30
Jun

A new term

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

C-Class Coupé 
 

C-Class Coupé TV commercial “Ferry” – Mercedes-Benz original

 

  
 

Yes, a better path… 
 


Acting Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud during the ribbon-cutting to officiate the opening of the new Telisai-Lumut Highway. Image courtesy of Hock Sim from Media Permata.
 


Did you know 21 motorists caught speeding yesterday on the new highway? Image courtesy of Ridhwan Kamarulzaman of The Brunei Times.
 

I commute to Seria/KB at least 2-3 times in a month and I’ve been eyeing on the much awaited highway, the Telisai-Lumut Highway and it was officially opened last Tuesday. The distance of the new highway is 18.6km and it took six years to complete and the idea is to shorten the distance between BSB and Kuala Belait. The usual path is the single land road from Telisai to Sg Liang and now there are two alternatives.

So how much did it cost? Supposedly $138 million but due to additional incurring costs, it ended up to $168 million as quoted by Simon Tsen Khjeng, Senior Engineer at Darussalam Enterprise (DARe). The six year project had geo-technical issues such as landslips due to soil composition.

There are definitely pros and cons with the newer highway. The obvious disadvantage is that the highway is five kilometres longer than the old route. But of course, the single land route will have more traffic congestion and the road is bumpy at certain points too.

Last night, it was my first time experiencing the highway and I actually thought it was a brilliant move. I saw two road kills (dogs) on my way back. I might have to say that those living in Lumut might find it tedious as they have make a longer U-turn than usual since my friend shared her view on the highway.

For now, let’s be appreciative of the Government’s effort to improve the safety and also road congestion especially for commuters. It’s sad to know that there was a self-accident incident yesterday on the highway but no casualty and the relevant authorities are investigating into the case. The Royal Brunei Police Force were also on task to remind motorists not to speed on the highway by setting up roadblocks and speed traps. So just a bit of warning and reminder to all the drivers out there. Safety is more important and Hari Raya is coming soon too 😀

Kudos to the stakeholders involved in this project.

 


The new highway. Click image to enlarge.
 

  
 

BIBD hands over zakat 
 


Yang Mulia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof (L), Shariah Advisory Body Chairman of BIBD and its subsidiaries handing over the Zakat mock cheque to Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman (R), the Minister of Religious Affairs, as the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs (2R) and BIBD Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer( 2L) looks on
 

BIBD yesterday performed its zakat obligations, the forth pillar of Islam, by handing over its Zakat on Business for the financial year 2015, along with the Zakat for customer deposits to the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB). The payment of zakat is also a method of wealth distribution to support the deserving as stipulated by Shariah.

BIBD today performed its zakat obligations, the forth pillar of Islam, by handing over its Zakat on Business for the financial year 2015, along with the Zakat for customer deposits to the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB). The payment of zakat is also a method of wealth distribution to support the deserving as stipulated by Shariah.

BIBD’s Zakat on Business for 2015 amounted to B$ 2,612,091.93, whilst Zakat for customer deposits for the period of 2015-2016 came in at B$ 369,573.93.

The Zakat were handed over by Yang Mulia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof, Shariah Advisory Body Chairman of BIBD and its subsidiaries, Permanent Secretary at The Ministry of Religious Affairs to Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the Minister of Religious Affairs (MORA), in his capacity as MUIB President.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, along with BIBD Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yang Mulia Mubashar Khokhar, and other MORA and BIBD officials. The event took place at the office of the Minister of Religious Affairs in Berakas.

 

 

  
 

 

Khatam Al-Quran 
 


BIBD personnel during the “Majlis Khatam Al-Quran at Tarindak D’Seni yesterday
 

BIBD yesterday held their annual ‘Majlis Khatam Al-Quran & Majlis Bersungkai’ at the Tarindak D’Seni in the capital for some 250 personnel. Through their participation, the event served to bring BIBD management and staff closer.

The ceremony began with the recitation of the Surah Al-Fatihah prior to the Khatam Al-Quran that was participated by more than fifty BIBD personnel, and ended with the breaking of fast.

The event is part of BIBD’s Ramadhan religious activities along with their recent annual charity drive “Sirah Amal” and Majlis Bertahlil at the Royal Mausoleum.

In attendance was BIBD Chairman and Minister of Development, Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, along with members of the Board of Directors and Shariah Advisory Body, as well as BIBD management and staff.

 

 

  
 

 

Pancake Galore 
 

 


One of the Set Meals we ordered recently
 

A popular franchise in the Philippines, Pancake House International has been in the Sultanate in just less than two years. Located next to the famous Thien-Thien branch in Kiulap, it’s strategically located at the corner of the building and it has an orange look/feel to it so it’s hard to miss from a distance.

With only less than a week left, why not try out their Ramadhan Combo promotion (Check out the poster). They come in three sets – Pancake Meal A, Pancake Meal B and Pancake Meal C.

Of course, their best seller is the pancake itself. Why? It’s just fluffy and the condiment and syrup compliments well with the pancakes. You can try any other pancake but the quality of the pancakes here are of high quality. I do hope they still maintain it. Not to fret as they just don’t serve pancakes but other savoury dishes such as chicken, fish and rice too.

I would say it’s a pretty good deal from the Ramadhan Combo as there are set meals if you are tired of having buffets for Sungkai. So let me go through what are mentioned in the poster.

Pancake Meal A $23.50 (Ideal for 2 pax)
2 cups of rice, 2 pcs of Pan Chicken, 1pc Tinapa (I like the fish)
2 pcs of sunny side eggs, 1 House Spaghetti
2 pcs pancake (or 1 waffle) and 2 ice tea

Pancake Meal B $40 (Ideal for 4 pax)
4 cups of rice, 4pcs of Pan Chicken or Southern Maple Chicken
1 fish roll, 1 House Spaghetti, 2 pcs Tinapa
2pcs pancake (or 2 waffles), 2 ice tea

Pancake Meal C $58 (Ideal for 6 pax)
6 cups of rice, 6pcs of Pan Chicken or Southern Maple Chicken
2 fish rolls, 2 House Spaghetti, 3 pcs Tinapa
6 pcs pancake (or 3 waffles) and 6 ice teas

For bookings, you can call 223 5250

 


Pan Chicken
 


Southern Maple Chicken
 


House Spaghetti
 


Tinapa fish
 


Goes well with the dishes
 


mmmmmm pancakes
 


Five ain’t a crowd 😀
 


Pancake House International
 

  
 

28
Jun

Getting there

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

Switch on and light up 
 


The showroom at Bobby Electrical Company located at Unit 9, Ground floor, Block B, Abdul Razak Complex.
 


Some of the wall lights available at the showroom
 

Now that’s a milestone to know of a local company that has existed for more than 30 years. If you are looking for electricity appliances especially bulbs, switches or fans, then head yourself to Bobby Electrical Company showroom based in Gadong. To be more specific, they sell electrical engineering products, from industrial cables and accessories to even LED bulbs.

The in-thing now is the LED bulb and I own a few to myself because it’s very economical and environmental friendly since it uses less energy than normal bulbs.

It was the first time to visit the showroom at Gadong and they actually revamped the showroom back in March to showcase to their customers on the benefits of the bulbs (GE, Meagan and others) and switches the company supplies. I’m quite sold with one bulb from “Meagan” where it has bluetooth capabilities as the one I’m currently using requires WiFi or wireless connection.

You may not think of it but hey, switches are quite important too. Bobby Electrical have brought in different variety of switches for your home or office. They have the Legrand “Arteor” range of switches or if you prefer the “Mallia” range from the same brand, a much more affordable brand. You can view the products from Legrand here.

So if you are looking for a minor refurbishment for your home before Hari Raya, Bobby Electrical Company can tailor to your needs and wants.

Apart from switches and bulbs, the company also sell electrical fans (mounted on ceiling) and also water heaters. So do check them out 😀

Perhaps you want something efficient for your home, Bobby Electrical Company also bring in this awesome product Fibaro Home Centre, which can support up to 200 devices especially if you have a big home. This means you can preset the environment of the particular rooms to “dining mode” or “movie mode” or “working mode” and by just a press of button, that all can be achieved.

Since it’s payday, why not allocate a budget aside and beauty your space before the Hari Raya season. Bobby Electrical Showroom is located at Unit 9, Ground Floor, Abdul Razak Complex (not far from Escape Square).

 


The down lights for your ceiling
 


The switches from Legrand.
 


Another range from Legrand, a higher end.
 


The in-thing now for LED lights because the shape allows to be fitted in most socket
 


Testing out the lights
 


More range of switches that are available
 


My favourite Bluetooth ready bulb from Megaman
 


Something for Hari Raya and quite lasting too
 

 


Water heater for your bathroom
 


Electrical fans too
 

  
 

 

The half way mark 
 

Almost the half way mark. It’s been a while since I actually blog, blog.. If you know what I mean. I’m still recovering from fever but the medication has been treating me well. So how have my year 2016 been so far? I would say it’s been amazing on many levels. A few ups and downs but mostly on the rise. Now let’s see how to categorize this in a simple manner.

Travels. It has been a slow period for my travels as compared to previous years. Surprisingly Singapore only once so far (or what is it twice?) I can’t remember but I did remember it was for the recent Volkswagen Sportsvan trip and a short one as well. I traveled to Taiwan (missed this city and it was raining cold then), Ho Chi Minh, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Jakarta (too much traffic) as well.

I was more intrigued with my Ho Chi Minh trip because it has been 10 years since I visited the city. Back then, I was skeptical about my trip to Vietnam due to the passport issues that most Brunei Permanent Residents will face. It was known that the brown look-a-like passport known as Certificate of Identity (CI) has been an ongoing issue in other countries (not regional) but I was surprised that Vietnam made it difficult for CI holders. The best trick is to bring an official letter from the Vietnam Embassy in Brunei and show it to the immigration officer to make our CI document legit to enter their cities.

Other than that, I love Ho Chi Minh and how they have diversified as well as becoming more developed. Even the cinemas were up to scale like those in Singapore and Thailand. Even a 4Dx experience. Interesting indeed. The food are great as usual and they have choices of halal restaurant (mostly run by Malaysians) but some of the food are a hit or a miss in these halal establishments. I love their coffee too. A must try if you happened to fly to Vietnam. Oh thank you to Fitflop for flying me to Ho Chi Minh City last February.

My next trips could be to Manila (supposed to fly with the boys last weekend) and KK (mid July) and if all goes as planned, Singapore 😀 So I would rate my travel trip so far a 7/10.

 


My second trip to Ho Chi Minh City.
 


I did my shopping at Mustafa Centre, Singapore to donate to the orphanage back in May. Thanks Volkswagen Brunei for the opportunity.
 


Shawn buying a few cartons of the Mi Goreng crackers called Chitato. I have to say it’s nice but quite salty.
 


The much hyped indo-mee cafe was such a disappointment in one of the malls at Jakarta
 

Friendship. Ah, Rano is heading onto a personal road now. It has definitely shifted over the years and I realised that has been my pattern. If I look back since I came back to Brunei after my studies, I have at least 5 cycles that I went through and I believe that’s part of life. I still rank friendship as the highest form of love and I’m blessed that all the cycles I have been through, they are still my buddies to date. It’s just that we have parted to different directions but still respect each other as friends.

Now my circle of friends are mostly from tennis and toastmaters as they are the bunch of people I interact with the most. That’s for the simple reason that I’m quite involved in these said activities. Of course, they are still a small bunch (outside those circles) that I catch up with now and then. But of all the “cliqs” that I went through, it was both my “awesome foursome” gang (2009) and RA6 (2003) that I missed a lot.

I would want to talked about relationship but it has no relevance for now since I’m not dating anyone. After a mutual break-up late last year, the transition took a little while. Well, that’s the case for most post-relationship scenarios, right? One thing that I would to share is that I’m blessed that we can still be friends and catch up with no expectations at all. Now, won’t that be an excellent approach in any relationship? … which is very hard in any case to give unconditional love and care.

Right now, I just focus on my mission to empower people to the best I can and be the light for others. Relationship is secondary and age is just a number 😀

 


The impromptu reunion of the RA6
 


The awesome foursome. Shot taken at Hua Hin, Thailand back in 2010.
 

BU2562. Now what is the significance of this number? It’s my plate car number and it belongs to my 13 year old Hyundai Santa Fe. Now I bring this up is because I finally have to give in, the fact that my car has already exhausted all the possibilities to be safe on the road. Now with a faulty transmission (hard-to-find spare part), it’s almost impossible to not be worried while driving on the road. Twice the car suddenly turned off its engine while I was turning in and locked my steering wheel. I was fortunate that there weren’t any cars heading my direction.

My almost defunct Santa Fe is still in the workshop, waiting for its parts to be replaced. It was tough to let go as it has so much sentimental value to me. It was my form of transportation to secure deals with clients and meeting friends. In other words, it was also a mark of my independence as I wanted to be less dependant on my family. Even through my hardship (financially), I won back the car twice from the HSBC Car Yard. That’s how much I value my nameless car. But for now, I’m driving my brother’s secondary car as my means of transport. Well, it’s better than nothing. But at the same time, I’m also hunting for a good deal on cars.

 


A small parody on my car classic car
 

Clienteles. This year, I must say, it’s quite challenging. Due to the drop in oil prices, it indirectly affect my blog in terms of advertisement. In the end of the day, it’s about how you climb out of that rut because this is also a test of your resilience. Back in the early years, I had a lot of homework in finding clients, meaning that I was trying to close sales for my blog. Yes, it was fun back then and it has been a while since I actually do that. I have to pull my socks up and be more active.

For this year’s sungkai, I saw a huge drop in clienteles but it was necessary for my case because I was aiming for quality in recreating a different avenue for my clients. For that, I have to thank Filterworks Production (do check out their videos) for providing that extra edge in our Sungkai coverage and the responses have been very encouraging. This also has opened new doors and opportunities due to our collaboration and now we already secured a few jobs.

A big thank you to all my clients (past and present) for utilizing my services and trusting how it can be impactful in getting the messages across. The remaining 2016 will be an interesting one indeed.

 


Our latest project with Filterworks at The Potters
 


Filterworks on the set at Pepperlunch two weeks ago
 

Toastmasters. How can I not mention of this topic. My friends kept saying that my Snapchat has tons of tennis and toastmasters. It does show how passionate I am in giving back what I learn to the community. There are plenty of reasons why I’m passionate about toastmasters. It’s not just only about public speaking but also on your leadership track where it tests my patience, my discipline and my responsibility. It totally has changed my perspective as an individual as I used to be quite defensive and judgmental when I get evaluated by my peers. Now I’m much calmer and able to listen on constructive feedback for my own good.

Speaking of toastmasters, I will be chairing a mega toastmasters event this October to be held at Rizqun International Hotel. Excited and nervous? Hell yes!!! It’s just four months away and our team has been very busy preparing for the convention. We have three international speakers, two of each are former World Champion of Public Speaking – Dananjaya and Willie Jones. It’s open to all of you and of course, there will be a fee involved which is BND 200 for a three day event. If you are interested, you can reach me ranoadidas gmail.com. I can assure you that this convention will be a great eye opener and I highly recommend for you to sign up for the convention 😀

 


The moment I pretended to be Dwayne Johnson in one of my speeches
 


Click image to enter our official website
 

Movies. Another passion of mine after toastmasters and tennis. Those who know me well know that I’m a movie buff but not necessarily that I will watch all movies. There are a handful of blockbuster ones that I choose to miss – Ride Along 2, TMNT 2, Divergent and a few more. Overall, I’m quite content with the 2016 releases for the first half of the year. I have to say though that the summer movies haven’t been all that and it fizzled after the release of Captain America: Civil War in early May. But thank god movies like The Conjuring 2, Central Intelligence and Finding Dory gave me some hope for summer movies.

The best movie this year so far have been Captain America: Civil War and Zootopia. I would also like to highlight Deadpool and it’s one of the best comic adaptation. It actually made more money than X-Men: Apocalypse (not to my liking).

Summer movies so far have been mediocre. TMNT2 (judging from Rottentomatoes), Independence Day (bleurgh), Now You See Me 2 (super ridiculous), Warcraft and even X-Men: Apacolypse are all subpar at best. Last year’s were better with movies such as Inside Out, Jurassic World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation and Mad Max: Fury Road (my no.1 movie of 2015). Well, the summer releases this year are not complete just yet but I’m not hoping for much though.

 


One of the best movies of 2016. I can’t wait for my blu-ray to arrive from the States
 


Totally disappointed. It feels like a combo of Independence Day with Transformer 4 and Transporter
 

The era of Snapchat? Only in 2016, I have been heavily invested in using my snapchat more than my Insta. Well, I still scroll on my IG feeds and catch up on my friends’ feeds too. However, Snapchat has a more personal touch. So what if the posts get deleted after 24 hours. That’s the point and the fact that no one can comment or like that particular post makes it less intrusive in a way. Snapchat surprisingly is still new to some and not all are inclined to install Snapchat as they are more comfortable with their current social media accounts.

I would say that Snapchat will slowly grow in numbers and many corporate companies will see the benefit by using Snapchat as part of a marketing tool. Right now, the demographics of Snapchat users are relatively young. For my feeds, since I follow too many people on my list, I have to honestly say that I didn’t go through all their “stories” and surprise, surprise (or no surprise at all) is that Snapchat eats a lot of your data… mmmmmm. To let you know, I’m not so much into the filters inside Snapchat as most of my peers are.

So if you want to follow my snaps, just add me @ranoadidas and catch the personal side of me.

 


Have you snapchatted? 😀 Is there any such word though?
 

 

  
 

 

Giving back to the community 
 


KBSentral Management with one of the recipients
 

KBSentral Shopping Centre in Kuala Belait contributed donations to six recipients today who are underprivileged, in an event organized by staff from the KBSentral Property Management.

Presenting the donations was the KBSentral’s Marketing & Event Manager Anwar Rosly, who explained that the donation was aimed to alleviate the recipients’ families’ burden during the month of Ramadhan.

The charity effort which is called The Limpahan Kasih Donation Drive is one of KBSentrals Corporate Social Responsibility project on lending a helping hand towards the underprivileged families.

The contributions were also intended to assist the families in preparing for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations.

Among the donations given were kitchen goods worth $150.00 from KBSentral itself as well as donations handed to KBSentral which were sponsored by Jaya Hypermart such as Pensonic Toaster Oven, cartons cans of Pepsi and Sunny Soya Bean, Mee Goreng Sedap and Soto Sedap, packets of Beras Wangi and tins of Jacob Creamy Crackers.

One of the recipients, expressed gratitude to KBSentral and the Management staff for the assistance extended to those who are in need of help.

The event included a group photo together as well as mingling with the recipients’ families, getting to know them and understanding their plight as well as well-being.

For further information, please call 3339889 or email to kbsentralmarketing@gmail.com

 


Anwar Rosly, KBSentral’s Marketing & Event Manager, handing over Beras Wangi to one of the recipients
 


Norazizah Awang Damit, KBSentral’s Marketing & Event Assistant handing over a donationa to one of the recipients
 

 

  
 

24
Jun

Make the move

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

Special discounts at The Potters 
 

 


Take advantage of The Potters Ramadhan Special Offers
 

Short skit with Filterworks Team yesterday

 

Katie Alice. Kitchen Kraft. Stoneware Gourmet Cheese, Maxwell & Williams and many more.. These are the popular brands from the UK for plates, cups and cutlery and not forgetting the utensils you used behind the scenes in the kitchen. Being the in business for 6 months, The Potters have brought it more brands to give more variety for their loyal customers.

The next few weeks will be ideal for The Potters’ customers as they are having discounts ranging from 10% to 70% on selected items. So what are you waiting for? Furthermore, you can enjoy accumulating points by having $10 voucher from the $100 you spend on top of the discounts.

The Potters is located at Unit 8, Setia Kenangan 2, Kiulap (opposite Pepper Lunch) and it’s open from 10am to 9pm and you can also follow their IG @thepotters_bn or contact them at 242 4000.

 

 


Kilner Special Offers at 10% discount
 


Filterworks Production on work
 


Maxwell & Williams also on 10% discount
 


Stoneware Gourmet Cheese going at 70% discount
 

 


Kitchen Kraft also on discount
 

 

 

 

  
 

24
Jun

Dining at Swensen’s

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

Swensen’s Delight 
 

 


Patrons enjoying their dinner at Swensen’s Sengkurong
 

Filterworks experiencing Sungkai at Swensen’s

 

It’s been a week of Puasa already. That means I’ve been to 7 different places for my Sungkai. My latest visit was at Swensen’s at Sengkurong (oh, they have another branch at The Mall, Gadong).

The place was was very welcoming – the fairy lights above the dinner buffet, the friendly staff, the warm interior makes up an excellent first impression. This was the only place I’ve visited that had lesser number of people but that didn’t let the mood down for everyone in there.

A bit of highlight on the main course, the varieties were just enough to get a complete taste of each item. The tomato rice and salmon pasta took the cake among the savouries. A separate station for salad as well as Kueh Teow soup was situated on one side for those looking for ‘lighter’ meals.

The star of the buffet, however, was the desserts. Apart from the delicious assorted puddings and pastries, they also served waffles. A member of the staff was patiently waiting until you finish piling those items on your plate and ask for a scoop of ice-cream. Not just that, you could top your waffles with anything from chocolate sprinkles to cookies to chocolate syrups. It just took me back to my childhood when I could eat all the sweet things in the world without any care.

Speaking of sweet things, another attraction of Swensen’s were the drinks. The good news is they have 50% off on selected drinks (such as Milo Float) if you dine in with the Sungkai buffet! Also, their bestselling item on the menu is Cendol milkshake float (not part of the discount). That is definitely something worth trying.

For a reasonable $16.80 for adults and $12 for children, you can enjoy a scrumptuous meal that will satisfy your taste buds. So if you’re near Sengkurong or don’t mind the drive there, you should go and try the buffet. You won’t be disappointed.

Swensen’s Sungkai Buffet

$16.80 Adult $12 Child

20% off take away order

Tel: 245 1864 Gadong | 266 2264 Sengkurong

 


Patrons enjoying their dinner at Swensen’s Gadong
 


The buffet line
 


Tomato rice
 

 


Vegetable rattatouile
 


Seafood Combo
 


I like this – Salmon Pasta
 


Chicken Ala King
 


This roast beef is good 😀
 

 

 


Happy while sungkai-ing
 


The Waffle Bar at Swensen’s Gadong
 

 


Dont waste food 😀
 


The star of the buffet – desserts galore
 


Waffles, waffles, waffles..
 


Don’t forget your ice-cream
 


Some syrup for your waffles
 

 


Yes, all these shakes are 50% if you dine in with the Sungkai. Great deals..
 


One of the best seller – cendol milkshake float
 


Hipster Milo Dirt Pot Sundae.. mmmmmm
 


A big fan of desserts for sure
 

 


Don’t forget to visit Swensen’s Sengkurong 😀
 

Swensen’s Sungkai Buffet

$16.80 Adult $12 Child

20% off take away order

Tel: 245 1864 Gadong | 266 2264 Sengkurong

 

 

  
 

22
Jun

Shabulicious

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

Shabulicious-ing at Food Arena 
 


Dine with Kristy at Shabulicious at Food Arena last night
 

Filterworks experiencing Sungkai at Shabulicious

 

A fan of shabu-shabu and you know there have been many restaurants that offer hot pot stuff. Shabulicious now have three branches – one at Batu Bersurat and the other at Delima. But hey, I have yet to try the other branch at Food Arena, Seri Q-Lap Mall, so it was the first time that I dined in at Shabulicious at Food Arena.

What can you expect? They provide different kinds of Set Meals (refer to poster) to your liking during the month of Ramadhan. I opted for the ala carte since I don’t really eat that much. But for those who choose to have ala carte, Shabulicious offer 10% discount only during Ramadhan. And guess what? You can also take advantage of BIBD promotion (up to 30% on Tuesdays). So there will be one more Tuesday left to enjoy the 30% discount should Hari Raya falls on a Tuesday. I could be wrong.

Visit their branches Shabulicious Delima Square and Shabulicious Restaurant, Batu Bersurat, Gadong and dial their hotlines: 233 8333 / 875 0076 (Delima) 245 2000 / 888 2100 (Batu Bersurat) and 223 2022 / 729 2577 Food Arena.

Ramadhan Set Meals

$42.80 for 4 pax | $68.50 for 6pax

10% discount ala carte – Dine in and take away

Tel: 233 8333 (Delima) | 245 2000 (Batu Bersurat) | 223 2022 Food Arena

 


We ordered for 6 pax as part of the Ramadhan Sungkai Feast Family Menu
 


Taken from the ala carte menu
 


Giranda teriyaki.. yummm
 


1 small economy set as part of the 6 pax meal
 

 


Once it’s cooked, it’s all good and tasty
 


Reminds me of a Korean dish where we have to mix around
 


Filterworks at work last night
 


Quite a good crowd last evening but the outlet at Batu Bersurat was a full house
 


Smile guys!!
 


I must have noodles in my shabu-shabu 😀
 


and these two are a must..
 


Check out the BIBD promotion
 

Ramadhan Set Meals

$42.80 for 4 pax | $68.50 for 6pax

10% discount ala carte – Dine in and take away

Tel: 233 8333 (Delima) | 245 2000 (Batu Bersurat) | 223 2022 Food Arena

 

  
 

22
Jun

Filter this

Written by Rano Iskandar. Posted in News, RA News

 

The Dream Team 
 

The Sungkai video promotion on Swensen’s

 

Hello, ladies and gentlemen.. We are now on the half way mark of Ramadhan and it has been a fruitful one indeed. The common thing I would be asked from my peers is what is the best place to break fast since this is part of my job – Sungkai outings for my clients.

The irony is that even though I don’t have as much clients as before but the workload has been incredible. One reason being is the recent collaboration that I have with @filterworksproductions which have been very encouraging. I know the young boys personally but they caught my attention after a series of skits they produced.

So yes, it didn’t take me long to decide to bring them as part of my Sungkai coverage to give more leverage to my clients and at the same time, providing the young talented team a good exposure to the public. After a few episodes of our Sungkai videos, we have been in touch with newer clients (outside the F&B industry) and that to me is progress and an eye opener that this combination can give more added value to a company.

So I would like to take this opportunity to thank A’aqiil, Zainal and Fecks of @filterworksproductions for allowing me to engage in your services. Mind you, I even have a response from a former client based in Singapore who expressed her compliments on the creativity used in our Sungkai videos.

A big shout out to the F& B companies that trust our new initiative – Excapade, Tandoor, Pondok Sari Wangi, Swensen’s, Modesto, Shabulicious, Bombay Palace, Kimchi Restaurant, Momo Restaurant, It’s a Grind (Citis Square) and 03 (Aiking). A big thank you to Snapfeed also for being part on some of the project. If you are interested to engaged in the special collaboration, do contact me at 8677773 or email me at ranoadidas gmail.com and you can also view all the Sungkai videos on their Youtube channel.

 


Zainal (center) and A’aqiil (right) videoing a shot at Swensen’s Sengkurong last week
 


Zainal and Fecks checking out the replay on one of the scenes at Bombay Palace
 


A’aqiil acting in one of the scenes at Excapade. Our first video and the rest was history.
 

 

  
 

kia_new

kia_new

October 2024
M T W T F S S
« Sep    
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Ranoadidas Instagram Feed