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The Grand Sale happened two years ago and it was a huge success. It’s good to see Honey Carsmart Grand Sale is back once again and it’s happening next weekend – 13th to 14th August 2016 at their Caryard at Spg 635, Kg Bunut, Jln Tutong. It’s also in conjunction with their 33th year anniversary.

For your info, Honey Carsmart Sdn Bhd is an established used car dealer with over 30 years’ experience. You may have know of many second hand dealers in Brunei and it’s never easy to get a proper license for this industry. Currently there are not many used car dealers in the country as recognisable as them..
The grand sales will include 80 selected units – Lexus, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, other popular Japanese and Korean brand cars too. Here’s the catch though – there will be no booking basis, hence it’s first come, first serve basis which I believe it’s a fair move

So what can you expect from their Grand Sale? Discounted prices for sure and even light refreshments to be served. Goodie bags shall be distributed to the first100 visitors.  Also with an ongoing promotion which ends on 31st October 2016, you are eligible to participate in the lucky draw, to be held on 4th November 2016. The first prize will be a Pre-Owned 2014 Suzuki Alto (M).

If you are worried about financing, worry no more as there will be representatives from one of the financing institutions that can assist you on purchasing a car.

A motor insurance renewal agency will also be available just in case you need to renew your insurance.

As part of giving back to community, the management has announced that for every car being sold between these 2 days, a contribution of $300 will be distributed into a charity pool that will be equally distributed into the donation purposes to Pusat Ehsan and SMARTER Brunei.

The company would also like to take this event to inform the public that any customer who bought cars from them between 7^th July 2016 – 31^st October 2016, the customers are eligible to participate in their Lucky Draw promotion, which will be held on 4^th November 2016. Prizes will include a pre-owned car, house equipment, flat screen television set and many others

So do pen the date 13th and 14th August and take advantage of their Grand Sale. You can call their hotline number 265 4161 or 265 4131 for details and 2655337 (on the 13th & 14th August 2016).

Nissan Skyline 350GT

Jeep Cherokee

Volkswagen Beetle

Kia Cerato

BMW X1

Hui Chiet and I visited the Grand Sale two years back at their car yard. How time has flown so fast.

Nissan Elgrand

The Car Yard branch of Honey Carsmart at Jalan Tutong. The Grand Sale begins on 13th and 14th August.

 

Kenny Ng, General Manager for Emerging Markets Mercedes-Benz (Singapore), Haji Awang Mohammad Hanafi bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Abdul Rahman, Chartered Quantity Surveyors from Hanafi Konsaltan, Teo Choon Kok, Managing Director of Metrobina & Partners Sdn Bhd, YM Pengiran Anak Hj Ja’afar ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Hj Mohamed Alam, Executive Chairman of Jati Transport Sdn Bhd, Andrew Chiam, Executive Director of Jati Transport Sdn Bhd, Thomas Heilmaier, Acting German Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam and Vishnu Sakdiyakorn, Architect for Booty Edwards & Partners after the contract signing agreement between Jati Transport Sdn Bhd and Metrobina & Partners Sdn Bhd yesterday

The contract signing between Jati Transport Sdn Bhd and Metrobina & Partners Sdn Bhd

By 2017, Jati Transport will have another showroom to cater to the growing demand for the Mercedes-Benz (passenger) in Brunei Darussalam. Yesterday marked an interesting milestone as the management of Jati Transport, the authorised distributor for Daimler AG in Brunei Darussalam held a foundation laying ceremony to kick off the construction at the Lot 78C, Tapak Perindustrian Beribi (it’s the opposite of the main road of the current Jati Transport showroom).

The foundation laying ceremony was led by YM Pengiran Anak Hj Ja’afar ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Hj Mohamed Alam, Executive Chairman of Jati Transport Sdn Bhd. Also taking part of the ceremony were Thomas Heilmaier, Acting German Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Kenny Ng, General Manager for Emerging Markets Mercedes-Benz (Singapore), Andrew Chiam, Executive Director of Jati Transport Sdn Bhd, Teo Choon Kok, Managing Director of Metrobina & Partners Sdn Bhd and Vishnu Sakdiyakorn, Architect for Booty Edwards & Partners.

After the ground laying ceremony, the contract signing took place between Jati Transport and Metrobina & Partners at Jati Transport Beribi office.

It was stated that the cost of the new showroom is BND 5 million and it will be a combination of showroom and a service centre. Not to worry as it will comply to Mercedes-Benz standard. The size of the total floor area wis 28,000 square feet which means the showroom will be able to showcase 11 vehicles for display, a new car delivery area, a customer lounge, a merchandise shop, 13 service bays and plentiful of parking for guests.

I’m excited to see the final product of the new showroom for Mercedes-Benz. Good luck in the progress of the construction.

That is one huge contract. Yes, it’s in a form of a book instead of the usual A4 sized papers.

The foundation laying ceremony at the new site in Beribi

This is how it looks like so far

Now we will have to wait until 2017 before the new showroom completes

Pengiran Anak Hj Ja’afar kicked off the ceremony

Andrew Chiam did the honours too

Thomas Heilmaier continued the foundation laying process

It was a privilege to have Kenny Ng to be part of the ceremony

Ho Ley Hoon, Sales Manager of Jati Transport, also took part in the ceremony

Stephen Reid, Service Manager of Jati Transport, laid some cement during the ceremony

Vishnu (right) handing the spade to Haji Awang Mohammad Hanafi as both took part in the ceremony

I’ve never come across a gold coloured spade but there’s always a first

 

Congratulations Bazi and Farah. Click image to enlarge.

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Yesterday was quite interesting… Why? Because I learnt about cooking authentic Thai food 😀 Apparently many restaurants especially the ones outside Thailand that serves Thai dishes in Thai restaurants do not follow the actual procedure of cooking Thai dishes. This was shared by the head chef of Naj Thai Cooking School.

I noticed how important certain ingredients are to make a good Tom Yum Goong. Oh, for your info, Goong means prawn or shrimp. So when you order Tom Yum Goong, you are ordering Tom Yum with Prawn 😀 Apart from the ingredients and spices, it is also important to apply the right technique for a better tasting experience.

So the dishes we prepared and cooked were Pad Thai, Thai Beef Salad, Spring Roll and Tom Yum Goong. I have to say among the lot, I was impressed with my Tom Yum Goong and a few of my friends already requested me to cook for them to test my culinary skills. Perhaps the taste won’t be the same to begin with because of the local Thai spices that will be hard to get in Brunei. Then again, I will just use what’s available in Brunei and make the best out of it.

So if you happen to be in Bangkok and have time to spare, I highly recommend you to try out the Naj Thai Cooking School. The going rate is 2,500 Baht per person which is roughly BND 100 and it is a four hour program and they offer it twice a day. The venue is located near BTS Station (Sala Daeng). For more info, you can view their website. A hundred dollars is definitely worth it to invest your time learning make Thai cuisine 😀

The head chef of Naj Thai Cooking School, Watpusit Ayasanond

The ingredients and spices for our cooking materials

Preparation for the media

There’s also a technique for the pounding bit

Observing the head chef on the techniques

Making Pad Thai

Pui showing off his culinary skills

I’m impressed with my Tom Yum Goong 😀

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has a bigger obligation to reach and that is to revive the tourism industry in Thailand. Following year 2013’s lifting of the nationwide curfew, TAT is confident that the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2015 will boost its tourism industry and the campaign will end by 15th August 2015.

Even before the launch, most of the shopping outlets are already offering major discounts at popular malls. This is a good sign for Bruneians who love to shop, shop and shop. You will also be surprised that the prices are cheaper than Malaysia and Singapore if you know how to hunt. Just imagine that more than 15,000 of shopping places that offer discounts and you will have a hard time, compromising your excess luggage by the time you fly back home.

The Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2015 launch was held at Gaysorn Mall yesterday. It was launched by Mrs. Vilaiwan Twichasri, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business and Mr. Somboon Krobteeranon, Country Manager, Visa Thailand.

This year campaign will return with “Travel 365 Days in Thailand” grand prize, whereby The winners are entitled to bring a friend to visit Thailand for up to 10 days in each month of the entire year, with round-trip air tickets and hotel accommodation provided. Awesome!! This is applicable for those paying by Visa and you will entitled for a draw for every 500 baht you spend.

They have added some twist to the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2015. If you wear traditional Thai dress to shop at selected participating stores, you will have the privilege to get major discounts up to 80%. This includes places like Siam Paragon, Siam Center, CentralWorld, Gaysorn, Amarin, Terminal 21, Emporium, Mega Bangna, Central Chidlom, Central Embassy, ZEN, EmQuartier, Platinum Fashion Mall, MBK Center, River City Mall, Krung Thong Plaza, and Intra Square in Bangkok.

So peeps from Brunei, what are you waiting for? Fly to Bangkok and shop, shop, shop. I’m coming back again in July for another shopping experience. Who’s coming with me? 😀

Group photo after the launch of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2015 at Gaysorn Mall. Image courtesy of Richard Lim.

Group photo with Mr.Wiboon Nimitrwanich. Director Department of Tourism Invest, Tourism Authority of Thailand (4th from left) with the media from Brunei and Malaysia. Image courtesy of Richard Lim.

Guests registering for the event

The most comment picture on my IG post yesterday. He’s a celebrity in Thailand and one of the models for the Grand Sale launch.

Some of the models of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2015 launch and they are local celebrities

The media from 11 different countries to spread awareness of the campaign

The short press conference before the launch

The fashion show to showcase the products and services from Thailand

Swinging in action. Image courtesy of Richard Lim.

Posing for the crowd. Image courtesy of Richard Lim.

Some of the participating outlets of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2015