Listen to my latest podcast on Jurassic World with special guest Jessie Tey

 

I’m back here again in Bangkok. So far this is my second visit this year, the previous was back in April 2015 where I spent more time in Hua Hin (love that place). Now my trip will be focusing more on Bangkok where I will exploring new places for Bruneians to shop, shop and shop 😀 I came with two other media from Brunei – Pui from United Daily and Syazwani from Borneo Bulletin. We were joined with the media from Malaysia – Lauren Christie, Jasnitha Nair and Ng Wing Yik Yin. A big thanks to Richard Lim from Tourism Authority of Thailand (Malaysia) for this opportunity to be back in Thailand.

Currently we are being hosted by Dusit Thani Bangkok and it’s such an amazing hotel. I have the privileged to be placed at their club room level. The room is pretty huge and it’s like a mini-suite. Maybe too big for me but then again, I love the rooms here. I shall sharing my experience with Dusit Thani further later in my postings. I also met Sommai Yocapajorn (Director of Marketing Communications) and Stanley Lo (Resident Manager) and thank you for showing us around.

Our visit itinerary was to go on the Wonderful Pearl Cruise @ Rivercity. Now this is one thing that we Bruneians should be doing – taking dine-in cruises during the evening to enjoy the entertainment, the music and the atmosphere. This is such a brilliant idea to have such cruise and it’s quite popular in Bangkok. Apparently there are many cruises that offer this package and the ones we experienced was the latest one in Bangkok, the Wonder Pearl Cruise. For only 2,500 baht, you can enjoy the 2 hour experience. I don’t mind doing this again on my next trip with my friends if I happen to be in Bangkok.

That’s it for my post today and have a great week ahead. This is RA, reporting from Dusit Thani Bangkok 😀

Thank you Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) for taking us to Bangkok

Loving the speed for AIS network. I would recommend you this line.

A warm welcome from Dusit Thani Bangkok. Love the Jasmine flower scent.

With the media gang from Brunei and Malaysia with Richard Lim and Sommai. Image courtesy of Richard

Nice scenic view with the hotel of Dusit Thani

The Wonderful Pearl Cruise. Highly recommended if you are in Bangkok.

Dinner is also served at the Wonderful Pearl Cruise

 

In conjunction with the upcoming month of Ramadhan and Hari Raya celebration, Jati Transport will be having exclusive offers on their Mercedes-Benz C180 and E200 as part of their two-day Mercedes-Benz Star Weekend Promotion and today (Sunday) is the final day.

Alongside the Weekend promotion, the CLS 400 AMG Line and the B200 AMG Line were announced the new additions into the Mercedes-Benz showroom. The CLS-Class embodies a compelling, sporty design with the added space convenience of a four-door sedan.

Meanwhile, the B-Class makes the perfect family car for those looking for the best practicality, comfort and safety whilst also having a sporty edge to design and driving dynamics.

The CLS-Class features MULTIBEAM Led headlamps for the first time. Its high-resolution precision LED modules, each with 24 individually controlled high-performance LEDs, automatically illuminate the road with a hitherto unsurpassed, precision-controlled distribution of exceptionally bright light – without dazzling other road users.

There are also having promotion for their Mercedes-Benz merchandise items. So today’s the final day (Sunday) for you to grab this opportunity. Do drop by Jati Transport showroom in Beribi.

The new facelift CLS 400 AMG Line

The new B200 AMG Line

Mercedes-Benz merchandise on promotion

Mercedes-Benz merchandise on promotion

Mercedes-Benz merchandise on promotion

Mercedes-Benz merchandise on promotion

The Minister of Industry and Primary Resources at the Takaful booth during the opening of the ASEAN Consumer Fair

The popular short term investment is back!! Takaful Brunei Keluarga (TBK) previously held this special promotion two years ago back in 2013 and it was a big hit. This time round, the stakes are way better. For those who are not aware of Nur Savings from TBK, it’s basically a short term investment (maximum two years) where you will be insured and also gain interest from the savings at a profit of 2% per annum for two years.

The single minimum payment os BND 2,000 and there is no cap for the payment. Previously it was capped at BND 50,000 but now interested parties can inject any amount they feel comfortable with. The 2% interest is a pretty high return as compared to the banks in Brunei. Hence not only you save and get protected, you also earn the extra 2% from your savings. So imagine yourself investing BND 500,000 or even BND 1 million. That would be a great returns in a space of two years only. Awesome returns!!!

This promotion is open to all residents of Brunei Darussalam which means as long as you have an IC (green, purple or yellow), you will be eligible. For those interested parties, you can call TBK’s Certified Financial Planners at 223 1100 during office hours.

For now, you can also sign register at their booth at the ASEAN Consumer Fair at ICC and today’s the final day. There will have certified Islamic financial planners to assist you. Take advantage of the Nur Savings from TBK.

Check out the awesome deals from Takaful at ASEAN Consumer Fair. Today is the final day.

Check out the Tivoli

TCY Motors the sole distributor of SsangYong Motor in Brunei officially launched the “Tivoli”, which is expected to be a game changer in the compact SUV market with innovative style and remarkable product competitiveness. The launching ceremony was held at the Kiarong showroom.

Since an increasing number of global consumers are favoring compact SUVs with high performance, great fuel economy, practicality and price competitiveness, SsangYong plans to tap into its new model to meet such demands while solidifying its position as a leading SUV maker.

Tivoli, applied with sensuous design, outstanding spatial utility of SUVs, first-of-its-kind safety and convenience features offers an attractive experience as “My 1st SUV” to customers who want both style and practicality in their cars.

When it comes to styling, SsangYong’s new model blends the beauty of youth, energy and robustness in its overall design, aspiring to be “My 1st SUV” of young people in the world. Furthermore, as a starter of “Nature-born 3Motion”, SsangYong’s design philosophy, it expresses modern and urban images through “Urban Dynamic Style” based on a motive of “Rhythmical Motion”.

Rhythmical elements such as harmony of tension and composure, the whole and details are fully expressed on the front of Tivoli. And the reversed-trapezoid bumper, which underscores the air intake contrasts with crisp hood lines, maximizing tension.

Stable and balanced rear completes the design language of SsangYong Tivoli. While the rear, which resembles muscular shoulders symbolize confident youth itself, it also emphasizes rhythmical features through style lines. In the mean time, the cheerful clear-type rear combination lamps unleash liveliness.

The interior design of the new model pursues “Compact Deluxe Style” which creates smart and practical space where passengers can feel modern, yet roomy luxury lounges. Most notably, a future-oriented image is emphasized with a theme of “Moving IT Space” through bar-type switches and expanded use of touch screen controllers which are the result of analysis of user behaviors.

The Tivoli in red, being featured during the official launch last Friday

The Tivoli in white

The rear view of the Tivoli

The interior view

Tivoli’s optimized spatial design provides excellent passenger convenience and storage. Based on overall width of 1,795mm (widest in the class), its roomy two-row cabin maximizes riding comfort, and 423ℓ (largest in the class) of storage makes it the only car among its segment that can carry up to three golf bags.

Moreover, the full-flat folding second-row seats, not seen in compact sedans, provide enough storage for multiple-use, maximizing the original features of SUVs.

A D-cut steering wheel, mostly used in sports cars, together with a cylinder-type six-color cluster.

A D-cut steering wheel, mostly used in sports cars, together with a cylinder-type six-color cluster (Optional) not only satisfies drivers’ emotional needs but also boost their pride. Clusters with 3.5 inch display that shows various information offers great intuition.

2015 Tivoli’s interior comes in three colors: black, beige, and red. Red interior, in particular, is expected to be much favored by customers who want unique and sporty look, as it blends beautifully with the D-cut steering wheel, a standard feature.

Award-winning semi-bucket seats, which are ergonomically formed with fine materials provide superb comfort and postural stability during driving and cornering, and the quilting stitch design applied to the seats makes them exclusive and luxurious.

Tivoli’s P/T (powertrain), which SsangYong unveils for the first time is remarkably efficient and reliable. And the e-XGi 160, a newly born engine after three years of development period, delivers 126ps maximum power and a maximum torque of 16.0kg•m. Combined fuel economy is 12.0km/ℓ for A/T and 12.3 km/ℓ for M/T (based on the Korean standard).

AISIN’s 2nd-generation A/T, which is widely used by global auto makers is placed on Tivoli. Recognized for its quality and performance of power transmission, the transmission delivers dynamic driving performance with shifting response that is as fast as DCT.

Every trim of the new SUV includes Smart Steer, which controls steering effort in three modes (normal, comfort, sport.) depending on driver’s taste. Also, NVH performance is much improved by applying dual-structure dash panels to the engine room, resulting in minimized engine noise, and effectively blocking noise from intruding inside cabin.

For a highly rigid body, SsangYong Tivoli uses high-strength steel (HSS) for 71.4% of its body, and Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS) for 40%, which makes it unique in the segment.

To improve the safety of passengers, 10 major areas use ultrahigh-strength materials, manufactured by hot press forming process. The materials are two times stronger (1500Mpa) than the usual UHSS (600Mpa), thus minimize deformation of car body in a crash.

In the mean time, big-sized disc brakes are applied to the front and rear wheels for quicker brake performance, and multiple safety features are used such as multi-functional ESP (Electronic Stability Program), TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System), and LED daytime running lamps. Tivoli’s excellent safety is proven by its near-perfect ratings in AE-MDB (Advanced European Mobile Deformable Barrier).

The core of Tivoli’s infotainment system lies in maximized usage of smart devices. The HDMI connection allows passengers to enjoy clear images and sounds from smart devices on the seven-inch display which is connected to the rear camera. Furthermore, the six-speaker sound system provides excellent sound.

The new compact SUV is the only car in the segment which uses fully-automatic dual air-conditioning system. The AC system not only maintains the optimal temperature of the cabin, but also offers memory function which remembers preferred air volume, air direction, and temperature in three modes, guaranteeing pleasant driving all year round.

Moreover, It is more convenient and safer when parking, thanks to the obstacle detection system with camera and four sensors on the rear. Include at the back is a luggage screen, automatic washer switch, and automatic hazard lights make the car unique in the class, offering great convenience.

SsangYong provides dual-tone body and roof option in Tivoli for the first time to maximize expression of driver’s personal taste. By applying colors that are different from body to the roof, wing mirrors, and rear spoiler, it reveals urban and dynamic look.

So, ladies and gentlemen, after all the comprehensive write-up, you can check out the new Tivoli at their Kiarong Showroom and it’s gonna be a big hit indeed because of its affordability and what the Tivoli can offer. You can check out at their website or their Facebook Page for more details.

Another interior view angle

Annison, Sales Manager of SsangYong (T.C.Y. Motors) and he’s such a nice lad

The low spec of the Tivoli

The most sought version of the Tivoli. Two-tone colour

Recently SsangYong Brunei ran a competition and now Ang Kok Khiong is the winner of the Samsung Galaxy S6

 

Click image to enter website

 

Download SnapFeed app on your smartphones and check out the latest deals in Brunei and also get rewarded from respective merchants such as BurgerKing, KFC and Sushi Tei to name a few and also check out the new movie listings as well.

 

Listen to my latest podcast on Jurassic World with special guest Jessie Tey

 

This is it!! Jati Transport is having a Mercedes-Benz Star Weekend Promo and you can enjoy an exceptional Raya offer this weekend only. Drop by their Beribi showroom and refreshments are also provided. Did you know the trademark car used in Jurassic World is Mercedes-Benz? 😀

Dato Paduka Hj Jamain Hj Julaihi, Permanent Secretary (Downstream and Power) at the Prime Minister’s Office witnessing a signing between a scholar and Yves Grosjean, General Manager of Total E&P Borneo BV

Total E&P Borneo BV awarded scholarships to three students to pursue further studies in engineering at prestigious institutions in France.

Mohammad Hazri Hj Mohd of Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College (Maktab Duli), Hazel Lim Sheau Shiuan and Goh Jing Shun from Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College (Maktab Sains) signed a contract with the Total Education Scholarship Scheme at a ceremony held at the Brunei Hotel. The event was attended by Permanent Secretary (Downstream and Power) at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Paduka Hj Jamain Hj Julaihi.

Mohammad Hazri will pursue study in chemical engineering, while Lim and Goh undertake mechanical engineering. The scholarship awarded includes a six-year higher education course, with postgraduate studies, before they are offered work experience with French oil firm Total.
Total E&P Borneo BV General Manager Yves Grosjean said the students will undergo their foundation programme at L’Institut Universitaire de Technologie before pursuing their undergraduate studies at top universities in France.

The scholarship scheme was Total’s contractual commitment through the production sharing agreement with PetroleumBRUNEI.

Group photo with the scholars. Good luck in your journey as a student in France

 

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, gracing the launch of the ASEAN Consumer Fair 2015. Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

The long-awaited ASEAN Consumer Fair 2015 was launched yesterday, and features more than 400 booths dedicated to selling a variety of goods, which is just in time for those who are preparing for the upcoming months of Ramadhan and Syawal.

Held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Berakas, the fair was launched by the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar.

The opening ceremony of the five-day fair began with a prayer followed by a speech by Executive Director of organiser D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd, Dato Paduka Hj Danial Hj Hanafiah, who pointed out the overwhelming participation from both local and overseas exhibitors at the ASEAN themed fair.

“I hope that even more local small-medium enterprises (SMEs) will take the opportunity to showcase their products to both local and international markets,” he added.

Present as well were government officials, Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) dignitaries, event partners and participants of the ASEAN Consumer Fair.

Aside from products from the nation and the region such as the many handicrafts and food which can be found at the Thai Grand Fair, visitors can look forward to products from China, Iran and other countries among others.

For those looking for activities, there is a wide range of fun contests and games to participate in with chances to win prizes. This includes activities organised by Malar Setia Sdn Bhd, Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn Bhd and DST.

The ASEAN Consumer Fair 2015 will run until Sunday, from 10am to 10pm except for Friday, where it closes from noon to 2pm for the Friday prayer.

A complimentary shuttle bus service will also run from the parking lot of Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium to the venue of the fair. For further details, visit www.bruneiconsumerfair.com and D’Sunlit’s Facebook page at ‘sunlitbrunei’. Text by Ikhwan Salleh of The Brunei Times.

Relentless Entertainment during the launch

Guest of honour at Concepts Computer booth, another regular IT company at Consumer Fair. Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

Hui Chiet of Red Bull Brunei explaining to the Minister. Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

Some of the activities from Kingston Creamery & Beverage booth

Ivy, Madaline and Hui Chiet

Relentless Entertainment also participating and raising funds for their WCOPA trip. They have been doing many fund raiser events and I salute you guys. Image courtesy of The Brunei Times.

Check out Vivo at CF. Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

The Thai pavilion

Durian galore. Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

At DST booth. Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

The Mini KindyKare area for children