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Archive for December, 2017

Umrah with At-Taqwa Travel & Tours

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in travel, Social News

I’m very grateful for being part of the At-Taqwa Travel & Tours for the current Umrah trip as part of Group 3 (9th December to 20th December). Apparently there are batches of 8 groups in total with the final group departing on 23rd December 2017. It has been a while since I actually stepped my foot in Jeddah, Medinah and Mecca. My last visit was back in the year 1998, together with my beloved family. Hence, it’s good to be back to the Holy land and I’m loving the service here at At-Taqwa Travel & Tours.

Allow me to share with you the journey from when I made the decision to fly for Umrah to my first few days in Medinah. It will be in a form of images and captions to show you the flow of things and why I would recommend future customers to At-Taqwa Travel & Tours for their next Umrah trip this coming February and March 2018. Do enjoy the images for your reference and don’t forget to spread the love around.

 

 

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The Radiah session with the pilgrims from At-Taqwa a few weeks before umrah. This was to prep them for the Saie for umrah led by Ustaz Qahar.
 

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The briefing session for the pilgrims at Al-Falah school two weeks before umrah for the pilgrims to be familiar and be prepared for the Umrah trip.
 

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The management of At-Taqwa Travel & Tours and the officers for the Umrah December trip during the briefing
 

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One of the appointed officers for At-Taqwa, Ustaz Khairul Nazif, also known as UKN.
 

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The practical session of Umrah for the pilgrims at Sg. Kebun Sports Complex.
 

 

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The pilgrims had a practice session, walking around seven times for Tawaf while being briefed on the dos and donts during Tawaf
 

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All the customers of At-Taqwa were given a hand carry luggage. Inside the luggage, you will get a slipper bag (for entering the mosque), water bottle, power bank (useful), sling bag, neck pillow, luggage tag and not forgetting the passport cover. All the pilgrims were also given a special name tag so others will be able to identify.
 

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The time where we have to do our finger print session before sending our passport for visa purposes. This is something new implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The queue can get very long as they are only two people working there. I do hope they improve the manpower situation there.
 

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For all those who fly to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, you will have to get an injection jab for influenza. This is a must!! This is at the vaccination centre near Times Square, behind the petrol station.
 

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Thank you, Hitesh, the director of YMRM Galleria, for sponsoring some gamis and songkok 😀
 

 

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For all the pilgrims, it is required for them to do advanced check-in the night before the flight. This is to make sure smooth journey for the passengers and they don’t have to worry to check in on the actual day itself.
 

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We are allowed 30 kilo of weight for check-in. I reached around 19kilo so far, allowing space for some shopping during my visit to Jeddah, Medinah and Mecca.
 

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Ustaz Abdus-Salam brought his own chilli, just in case. It was recommended by others to bring your own chilli sauce as the local ones (in Saudi) do not taste as good.
 

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What a privilege for the pilgrims to be featured on RTB news before their flight
 

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This was the first batch that flew. Well, it was only Fahmi from this group and his friends sent him off. The first batch flew off on 2nd December.
 

 

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The first batch of pilgrims from At-Taqwa. They will be returning to Brunei Darussalam on the 13th December.
 

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I belonged to Group 3 from 9th December to 20th December.
 

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Thank you, sis, for sending me off the other day. Thanks for being so concerned of my well being and dropping my room to check on me. Don’t worry, my maggi days are over (for now). Day 67 and counting 😀
 

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All the pilgrims on the flight to Jeddah will enjoy a much better facility on their flight because it’s the Dreamliner 787. Woohoo!!!
 

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After 10 hours later, we have arrived at the International Airport of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
 

 

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At-Taqwa is a step ahead of other travel agents because they prepared us sim-cards in Brunei Darussalam. This will make the passengers at ease so they can contact their loved ones upon arrival at the airport. A well thought gesture for their customers. Thumbs up!!
 

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We were greeted by the At-Taqwa’s Managing Director at the airport. A man will a strong vision and he makes this happen. I’m happy for his new journey as an entrepreneur and also giving back to the community. May Allah bless you and your family!
 

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The bus trip from Jeddah to Medinah took 6 hours. From the airport, we headed straight to Medinah and we were provided with refreshment on the way.
 

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Every group will have their own Mutawif. A Mutawif is someone who will help to lead and guide us during our Umrah procession with the doas and such. The Mutawif also will help with logistics to make the trip of the pilgrims more smooth and convenient.
 

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Upon arrival at Dar Al Taqwah Hotel, Medinah and making sure that all the room numbers are written on their luggage tags to make it convenient for the concierge to send the luggage straight to their rooms. We arrived around midnight.
 

 

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Some of the pilgrims having breakfast at the hotel after Subuh prayers at Al-Masjid an-Nabawī
 

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It was definitely great to be back at Al-Masjid an-Nabawī. I fell in love with this place on my first umrah trip decades ago. This will be my fifth time here. Alhamdulillah.
 

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The umbrella outside being erected during the day, to shelter from the heat
 

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The first batch of officers from At-Taqwa at one of the visiting sites near Mecca
 

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They were fortunate to bump into Malaysian celebrity Adflin Shauki
 

 

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I’m glad to have my friend Ak Nabil Pg Abdul Kadir to be on the same group as me. You might recognized him on my IG previously. I know this lad from toastmasters.
 

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The books I bought and these only cost around BND 4
 

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Pg Razi briefing Group 3 before the visit to makam Rasullullah
 

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It was tricky to steal a shot inside. I still managed.
 

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The view inside Al-Masjid an-Nabawī
 

 

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The hotel we are staying is strategically located in front of Al-Masjid an-Nabawī. Very, very convenient.
 

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The birds are aplenty nearby
 

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It’s better to change money at Saudi than in Brunei. You will get more 😀
 

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I might be eyeing on this jubah soon. A bit pricey but it has the quality,
 

New AMG Emblem LED Projector now available

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in automative, Social News

 

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Stuttgart. After the success of the illuminated Mercedes star in the grill, the Mercedes-Benz original-parts program now offers an additional customization option based on modern LED technology: LED Projector AMG Emblem. When opening the driver’s and passenger doors, the AMG emblem is projected into the entry area in 3D with the help of the entrance lighting mechanism at the bottom of the door. The LED Projector AMG Emblem is now available at Mercedes-Benz sales partners for numerous vehicle models from A-Class to GLS.

The AMG emblem shows the cornerstones of the high performance brand, 
Mercedes-AMG: an apple tree on the river symbolizes the location in Affalterbach, Germany. The cam, valve and valve spring symbolizes the engine manufacturing. With the new AMG emblem projector, the emblem can now be projected into the entrance area next to the vehicle in a high-tech 3D look. Thus, making the ingress into a Mercedes-AMG an impressive experience.

Mercedes-Benz partners can assemble the AMG emblem LED projector in just a matter of minutes: just simply replace the factory-installed entrance lighting at the bottom of the front doors. The new projector uses state-of-the-art LED technology, consumes little power and has a long service life. Moreover, it fulfils the high quality requirements that Mercedes-Benz places on all its original parts and accessories. This new individualization option is available from the A-Class to the GLS in combination with the corresponding door lighting packages.

The AMG emblem LED projector is not only for Mercedes-AMG enthusiasts, but there is an LED projector for Mercedes-Benz drivers as well. In this case, the Mercedes star, possibly the world’s best-known trademark, is projected into the entry area when the front doors are open.

The Illuminated Mercedes Star available for many lines from the original-parts program is also a real eye-catcher. The outline of the Mercedes star centred in the radiator grille illuminates by means of the light conductors as well as LED technology, and thus adds a special look to many Mercedes-Benz models.

 

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Check out the Sky Lounge/Business Class Lounge

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in travel, gadget, lifestyle, Business, Social News

 

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Officiating the newly revamped and upgraded Sky Lounge and also the new Business Class Lounge at Brunei International Airport. Guest of Honour Yang Mulia Dr Hj Abdul Manaf Bin Hj Metussin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Primary Resource and Tourism, & RB Board Director, and Karam Chand, RB’s CEO.
 

Royal Brunei Airlines has launched its newly refreshed and upgraded Sky Lounge and introduced the new flagship Business Class Lounge at Brunei International Airport on 06 December 2017.

The launch of the new lounges were officiated by Guest of Honour Yang Mulia Dr Hj Abdul Manaf Bin Hj Metussin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Primary Resource and Tourism, & RB Board Director, and Karam Chand, RB’s CEO. The launch was also attended by RB’s Board of Directors, officials from the Department of Civil Aviation, various Government Agencies, RB’s corporate partners and Royal Skies elite members.

The RB Business Class Lounge takes on board the needs of the sophisticated and frequent travelers that is RB’s business class guests and Royal Skies gold members. Features that take care of guest comfort, relaxation, fine dining and entertainment has been provided for in the new lounge. With a capacity of 72, the new Business class Lounge has plush, comfortable décor and furnishings designed to make the guests feel at home and for them to relax and enjoy the warm hospitality of RB. Guests at the Business Class Lounge have access to executive meeting rooms and all the facilities offered at the Sky Lounge in addition to the coffee bar for those guests who are squeezed for time.

RB upgraded sky lounge is open to Royal Skies Silver members, corporate guests, customer airline guests and for the first time in Brunei, to walk-in guests. RB is pleased to welcome Priority Pass customers to its lounge and is in discussions with other corporates who have shown interest in getting access to the lounge. These will be announced in due course.

 

 

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Karam Chand delivering his welcoming remarks
 

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Members of the guests during the launch
 

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The Business Class lounge
 

 

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Surau
 

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The kids play area
 

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The dining area
 

Accommodating up to 120 guests, the upgraded Sky Lounge features buffet dining, all the existing facilities including the prayer room. However RB felt the guests deserve more and thus have added exciting facilities such as a movie room, kids’ room, family zone, gaming area featuring PS4 and Xbox Kinect as well as a Virtual Reality station highlighting places of interest in Brunei and other RB destinations giving our visitors an immersive experience of the various attractions on offer. This is work in progress and more destinations and RB products will be added over time. We hope through this innovation we can entice more transit guests to consider taking a stop-over holiday in Brunei on their return journey. There are no extra charges for the air content for stop-over guests when booked via our online booking portal.

With a ceiling to floor glass exterior, the lounges overlooks the departure hall and features the warm and refreshing colours that is now synonymous to the RB brand. The lounge glass exterior also maintains previous design elements like the Brunei iconic Ayer Muleh design and a unique brass art piece depicting Kampung Ayer in keeping with our Bruneian identity.

“At RB, we believe the service experience right from research for the holiday options, bookings, service at the airport and inflight is our key strength and we continuously strive to innovate and improve the guest experience at every touch point. We are pleased to offer our guests the best Bruneian hospitality and positively position Brunei International Airport (BIA) to international travelers. With the peak holiday season on the horizon, we are excited to introduce the walk-in product, a first for Brunei which we believe will be very attractive to the long haul economy guests who have been asking for such a facility at BIA for some time. With the expanded facilities and top quality food and beverages on offer, we trust the new lounges will be exceed guest expectations and help us achieve four star airline ranking. ” said Karam Chand, RB’s CEO.

RB is pleased to introduce its business partner Savy’s Brasserie. Savy’s has partnered with RB as the caterer and service provider and has designed the menu to suit all taste buds. Today they launched the full product offering for RB guests including fine dining in the business class lounge.

 

 

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There’s a playroom for gamers too.
 

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Frozen anyone? #playstation #xbox
 

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There’s a movie theatre room
 

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Some of the invited guests
 

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Some of the invited guests
 

3 more days left to register

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in community, Social News, Sports

 


Click banner to register and find out more
 

One of Brunei’s toughest obstacle challenges, the Alpha Obstacle Challenge is a sure way to kick off your new year with a great WIN this 31st December 2017. Organized by D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd, it is a sure way to prove yourself tougher or challenge yourself. Challengers of the race will conquer all the obstacles in their paths based on their categories, ranging from 4 obstacles in a 2 km fun run to an 8 obstacle run in the 5 km challenge.

Obstacles are not that common in Brunei but has been very popular in regional countries. So it’s great to see an event management company coming up with similar theme. The idea of the Alpha Obstacle Challenge is to highlight the importance of teamwork and communication. Through the challenge, participants will learn to be a team player during the obstacle check points and this can be an important skill to have which will also uplift the team spirit.

Participants will be enjoy attractive race-kit that not only consists of the t-shirt and medal but it will also include a headband, wristband and most of all, an Under Armour coupon. There will be several activities for the runners to wind down and enjoy after the challenge. There will be a slip n slide, water balloons and food fiesta as part of the attractions.

A few more days for you to register if you are keen to be part of The Alpha Obstacle Challenge. You can register at www.thealphachallengebn.com. For those registering as a group (of 4 and above), you will to enjoy 10% of the registration as a team.

This event is supported by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and the event is in conjunction with the Brunei December Festival 2017. You can also follow updates on @thealphachallenge on Instagram or their Facebook Page.

 

 


You will get a 30% coupon off Under Armour footwear
 

 

 

Ricky Chua, first customer of iPhone X from DST

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in gadget, Business, Social News

 


First customer Ricky Chua unboxing his new iPhone X
 


The distribution of the iPhone X as Ricky Chua received his new iPhone X at DST outlet at Airport Mall
 

Following the wave of excitement since the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus bundle plans were launched one month ago, DST opened its doors to the public for the long-awaited iPhone X which was released together with DST’s bundled plans.

DST celebrated the launch by congratulating customers for their purchases of the iPhone X who patiently awaited the arrival of the iPhone X and the plans offered by DST. A consensus of eager customers who queued in line waited for the release of the plans despite offers elsewhere that offered pre-orders earlier than DST.

For the launch, DST gave the first 50 customers in the queue DST vouchers worth B$100 together with an iTunes gift card worth USD15 to take home. First 50 customers also received special access to the iPhone X Launch Lounge. All customers were also treated to special food and beverages from Little Gourmet, Gong Cha, Magnum and the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I was privileged to be among the Top 50 customers, being the 19th person in the queue. The first person was Ricky Chua.

DST also entertained customers hours before the launch by playing games and providing giveaways. There were around 5 iPhone X covers being given away with DST merchandise such as umbrellas. One of the prizes was the latest Apple TV for those who were queueing up.

In attendance to open the doors to welcome the first customers was Suhaimi Hussain, CEO of DST and Haji Marshad Bin Hj Ismail, Deputy CEO of DST.

The postpaid bundles of the iPhone X offers various monthly subscriptions and upfront payments. For example, an Apple iPhone X 64GB with a $938 upfront payment is bundled with an B$85 monthly subscription for 24 months and customers will receive 9GB local data.



The plans are launched exclusively at DST’s Airport Mall branch only.

Aside from postpaid plans, customers can choose based on their preference whether to purchase an iPhone without a contract.

DST is Apple’s certified carrier with the largest and most preferred 4G network nationwide.

For more information on DST’s iPhone bundle plans, please visit: iphone.dst

 

 


A huge crowd at the iPhone X launch. Almost 80 people queued up for the launch.
 


The queue half way after the official launch at 10am.
 


Jason Rumpus was one of the winners of the mini game
 


Magnum ice-cream for customers
 


DST officials helping out with the pre-registration
 


iPhone X customers get a special treatment with food after receiving their iPhone X unit
 

 


Such a wonderful reception by DST officials
 


Gongcha anyone?
 

 


Doing my face detection huhu 😀
 

 


He dropped his phone a day before the launch. He was already targeting the iPhone X for a while. A huge upgrade indeed.
 

 


A former iPhone user before switching to Samsung. Now he’s back to Apple 😀
 

Freshco Carnival Run

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in community, charity, Social News

 


Donation given to Yayasan Kanser Kanak-Kanak from Freshco Management yesterday
 

Freshco Management in collaboration with Heroes Event Management hosted a fundraising running event called “Freshco Carnival Run” yesterday.

The event took place at Freshco Batu Satu to raise funds for the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Yayasan Kanser Kanak-Kanak Brunei (YASKA) in support of their activities.

The run was able to raise a total of $7234.20 for YASKA which they will use to fund their activities and cause.

The run was only 3km long and saw participants running from Freshco to the newly opened Eco-corridor at the capital before they make their way back. Attending as the guest-of-honour and conducting the flag off is Chairlady of Yayasan Kanser Kanak-Kanak Dr Hjh Norehan Binti Hj Johari.

Runners were given one of four T-shirt design featuring Looney Tunes characters, a finisher medal as well as a tag which can be used to redeem their coupons, pretzels and biscuit sandwich and drinks sponsored by Freshco and Kingston. During the run, the official car partner Proton ensured the safety of the runner by providing a lead car, support car and safety car.

In conjunction with the run, a carnival featuring entertainment and food was held around the Freshco Shopping Centre.

Participating in the Freshco Carnival Run as official partners are Kingston as the official beverage partner, Fitness Zone as the official health partner, Proton as official car partner and Kristal FM as the official broadcast partner, Processta as the official printing partner, Digimark as official logistics partner, Abdul Razak Holding as official venue and Youc1000 & Sehat Water as official drink partner. The event was also greatly supported by Sunlit, All Seasons, Auntie Anne’s and Balloon Buzz. Images courtesy of Freshco Brunei.

 

 

The warming up session before the Carnival Run

At the starting line
 

Audi Q5 – quattro with ultra technology

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in audi, automative, Social News

 

 

The all-new Audi Q5 comes equipped with quattro ultra technology. The quattro with ultra technology combines driving dynamics with efficiency and helps to cut consumption by up to 0.3 l/100 km. By switching between four-wheel drive and the more efficient front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive is used whenever the driving situation calls for it. The predictive operating strategy activates within a matter of milliseconds.

Actively controlled torque distribution constantly monitors the drive forces and distributes them between front and rear axle to suit current conditions i.e. whatever the driving situation calls for. Torque vectoring assists when cornering by enhancing traction and dynamics. Targeted braking of the inner wheels increases drive torque at the outer wheels.

With this new technology, Audi has developed an all-wheel drive system optimised for efficiency, which feels just like permanent systems in terms of traction and driving dynamics. With the new ultra technology, it is designed to set the standard in its class for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions – particularly under everyday conditions.

 

 

Roti Culture woos Brunei

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in culture, food, Business, Social News

 


Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Ali Apong as the guest of honour with Pehin Goh King Chin, Managing Director of GHK Sdn Bhd and Wu Chun, founder of Roti Culture and his two children officially launching Roti Culture last Friday. Image courtesy of Roti Culture Facebook Page.
 


The invited guests enjoying the culture performances during the grand opening

Roti Culture, the recently opened family oriented and kids friendly restaurant is based in Batu Bersurat serving scrumptious and most loved roti and an array of savoury dishes, tantalizing local taste buds with an international touch. During the grand opening, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Ali Apong was invited as the guest of honour to officiate the opening. Along the VIP guest lists were Managing Director of GHK Sdn Bhd, Pehin Goh King Chin, the Russian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Vladlen Semivolos, former CEO of the Brunei Tourism Board, Sheikh Jamaluddin and Marketing Manager of Royal Brunei Airlines, Alirahim Hj Abdul Rani.

The owner is our Brunei’s very own international artiste and philanthropist, Wu Chun who recently just finished the shooting of the very popular TV show “ Daddy, where are you going?” with an online viewers of more than 5 billion in China alone. Looking at his weibo account, we know he is just back from his 11 days trip, which he traveled to 11 cities for his commercial events and international endorsements. Including a recent award in Beijing where he was awarded the 2017 NetEase Most Influential Artiste Award. Wu Chun was known for his endeavours making Brunei known to the world and vice versa, him bringing the outside world experience to the country.

This is why, in Roti Culture, one can find what they are looking for, on the menu to satisfy one’s hunger ranging from the Indian-inspired signature roti kosong, roti bomb, dosai, nasi briyani to Malay cuisines such as our pandan nasi lemak, laksa, and otak-otak, as the founder would describe it as a one-stop place to eat and kid friendly atmosphere equipping a kid’s corner.

 

 


Guest of honour signing on the plaque. Image courtesy of Roti Culture Facebook Page.
 


A token of appreciation to the guest of honour and group photo with the associates of Roti Culture. Image courtesy of Roti Culture Facebook Page.
 


That’s some grand cake there. Image courtesy of Roti Culture Facebook Page.
 

 

 


You can see behind the scenes on how they make roti.
 

“My whole family loves roti, my overseas friends love roti to the max. Our menu comprises mainly of famous roti made by our very own chef and each dish is carefully infused with culture and are Bruneians’ favourite like the nasi ayam penyet and Temburong Cendol which you can get every day and we hope Roti Culture can be a ‘must-stop restaurant for the tourists in Brunei” said the owner and founder of Roti Culture, Wu Chun.

“We have tourists from Singapore, Taiwan and China who are crazy for Brunei’s roti and martabak as they claimed that ours (Brunei’s) has a different richer taste. Tourists craziness for roti is one of the things that inspired me to open Roti Culture,” he said. “I want to bring the Asian and Outside Culture together through what people commonly love, food.”

Moreover, what makes our menu special is that some of the dishes are signature recipes contributed by Wu Chun’s family members, which recipes go back to the 1980’s.

“I come from a big family and all of my aunties love to cook. So, we picked some of the best recipes to be included in our menu like the Kolo Mee, Nasi lemak, sup tulang, otak-otak and curry. It’s a fusion of culture here.” added Wu Chun.

Meanwhile, Wu Chun is keen to incorporate bits and pieces of Brunei’s own landmark Kampong Ayer in the restaurant by putting a large wall sticker showing the water village’s view and recycling colourful wooden planks from remnants of demolished water village houses. “They represent Brunei as Kampong Ayer is known as the Venice of Asia so when tourists come and dine in here, they have the feel and take pictures as memories,” said Wu Chun.

If you have not visited Roti Culture just yet, we are located at Block H, Unit 8 & 9, Ground Floor, Kg Pengkalan Gadong. So, come by, have a bite and feel the welcoming ambiance by the aromatic smell of the roti. For more information or booking, please call 242 1000 or follow their Facebook page or instagram @ROTICULTUREBRUNEI.

 

 


Wu Chun posing for the media a few days before the grand opening
 


Wu Chun speaking to the media
 


That looks appetizing
 

 


I love this dish. The rendang.. Slightly spicy and to my liking
 


Wu Chun with the members of media and social influencers
 


Wu Chun with his staff of Roti Culture
 


Located at Batu Bersurat
 

Minister of Health replaced

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in health, Social News

 


His Majesty the 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 delivered his titah last evening. Image courtesy of Hakim Hayat of Borneo Bulletin.

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 in a titah reminds those entrusted with rank or authority not to use them to oppress others.

The Monarch says oppression or tyranny will never be allowed in Brunei Darussalam because it an enemy of the country and there will be no compromise in dealing with it.  His Majesty emphasises the matter in a Titah in conjunction with Prophet Muhammad’s Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam birthday celebration which was broadcast by Radio Television Brunei earlier this evening.  In the titah, His Majesty also reminds that any effort to dispute or belittle the Maulid Ar-Rasul Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam will face legal action not simply advise or religious propagation. Source: RTB News

By command of 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, it is hereby announces that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to the appointment of Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Dr Haji Md Isham bin Jaafar, Executive Director, Medical Director and Member of the Board of Jerudong Park Medical Centre, Jerudong, as Minister of Health to replace Yang Mulia Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi.

I know of Dato Paduka Dr Haji Md Isham through his work at Jerudong Park Medical Centre as I have covered a few of JPMC events with his presence. He is a very dedicated worker and many have commended him of his leadership for JPMC.

Dato Dr Isham graduated from Dundee University, Scotland in 1995. Following his housemanship in Dundee, he worked at Glasgow University as a lecturer, teaching Anatomy. Then, he proceeded to do his surgical rotation in England before returning to Brunei. From his vast experience in General Surgery, he later specialized in Cardiothoracic Surgery in the biggest cardiac hospital in region, Institute Jantung Negara (IJN). Following that he did his Fellowship at Papworth Hospital Cambridge, United Kingdom. He has been a consultant in Brunei since 2005.

In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf and most of the racquet sports (badminton, tennis and table tennis).

Yang Mulia Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi was sworn in as the Minister of Health on the 22nd October 2015. That meant he would only have served two years as a Minister for the Brunei Government. It’s perhaps the shortest duration for a ministerial post that I have came across. I knew him during his UBD Vice-Chancellor’s days. He was promoted to Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education before being appointed as the Minister of Health in 2015.

The replacement has come to a shock to myself and many others as the usual reshuffling of the cabinet ministers happens every 5 years which is supposedly in 2020. With the sudden replacement, it’s an indication for better things in moving forward. I believe Dato Dr Isham will do a great job in his new role and level up with the rest of the ministries.

 

 


Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Dr Haji Md Isham bin Jaafar is the newly appointed Minister of Health. Image courtesy of Danial Norjidi of Borneo Bulletin.
 

By command of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, His Majesty has also consented to the appointment and transfer of the following senior officers:

Yang Mulia Awang Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman, Director General of Public Service Department, Public Service Department as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health to replace Yang Mulia Awang Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health who has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as Senior Special Duties Officer. Yang Mulia Dr. Awang Hazri bin Haji Kifle, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health has been transferred to the Ministry of Education as Director of Planning, Development and Research: and

Yang Mulia Datin Paduka Dr. Dayang Hajah Maslina binti Haji Mohsin, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health has been transferred to the Ministry of Religious Affairs as Senior Special Duties Officer. The appointment of the Minister of Health as well as the appointment and transfer of the said officers are effective from Friday, 1st of December 2017.

This meant that all the higher positions in the Ministry of Health have been replaced.

 

Sivli Logistics Sdn Bhd

Written by Rano Iskandar on . Posted in Business, Social News

 


Click image to enter website
 

Have you heard of Sivli Logistics Sdn Bhd? It’s one of the logistics company that offers door to door services and it aims to provide total logistics solutions to their valued customers.

You don’t have to worry as much as they cover your freighting matters, logistics, distribution and supply chain solutions. If you run a company, Sivli Logistics also offer you as a long term business partner. I suggest you check them out as they offer pretty competitive rates.

They also have a great team to look into your logistics needs. They provide consultations and updates to tailor to your needs. The team is also very open to ideas as it will be invaluable when it comes to sparking ideas for improvement and innovation.

So what kind of services do Sivli Logistics Sdn Bhd offer?

Sea, Air And Land Freight Matters
(LCL, FCL & Conventional Modes)

Door To Door Freight Forwarding Services
(Free Survey And Price Estimation!)

LCL, FCL, Break Bulk Cargoes Clearance At Port

Air Cargoes Clearance At Airport

Import / Export Arrangements

Rental Of Transportation Services

Personal Effects Packing And Door To Door Delivery

Air Courier Arrangements

Manpower Supply

Warehousing

 

 


Check out the list of services they offer
 

 

There are a few companies that have already engaged with Sivli Logistics Sdn Bhd and they are quite happy with their rates and services. One of the corporate companies distributes phone accessories having been using Sivli Logistics Sdn Bhd service for a few months now. So Sivli Logistics is also looking for new partners to work with and do reach them and learn what they have to offer.

Sivli Logistics Sdn Bhd is pretty strong when it comes logistics between China and Brunei as they do frequent shipping in a month to deliver their goods to their customers. Another advantage is that Sivli Logistics owns a huge warehouse in China for the convenience of their customers in terms of safety and security reasons.

They are also very ethical with their pricing and be transparent with their customers with the prices. As a token of appreciation for Sivli Logistics Sdn Bhd customers, they will be offering special waiver fees with a promotional code from my blog and social media. Do check out their website at www.sivlilogistics.com for details. They also have a Facebook Page for your convenience.

So are you ready to partner with Sivli Logistics, your preferred logistics partner? Call +673 2654478  for details.

 

 


The logistics team unloading the item from the port
 


The logistics team taking care of the items upon arrival at Brunei port
 

 


Click banner to enter website
 

Now speaking forwarding company, Sivli Logistics have also a sister company that deals with online shopping. It’s good to know that online shopping is getting pretty popular in Brunei Darussalam and about time to. In the past few years, not many were confident on paying things online and hence online shopping didn’t had much progress.

It was nice to know that Sivli Logistics created an e-commerce website called J3smart.com and it was launched earlier this year to give more shopping options for Brunei consumers.

There are items that might be of interest to locals as I had a quick browse on their e-commerce portal. The best part of shopping with J3smart.com are that 1) they are very efficient in their delivery (within a week) 2) the items are pretty competitive and cheap as compared to others and 3) they also provide warranty which brings confidence to the customers.

You can even buy things such as furniture as well. Amazing!! The other best thing about J3smart.com is that the fact that you can ask them to shop for you if the particular item you are looking for is not available on the website. All you have to do is send them an image of the product and its details and let them to the shopping for you.

So what are you waiting for? Ready to shop to the next level?

 


Many benefits shopping with J3smart.com
 


Some of the items available to order
 

Contact RA

ranoadidas (a) gmail.com
Instagram & Snapchat @ranoadidas
Contact: +6738677773

About RA

A blogger since 2002, using platforms from blogspot, joomla and now currently wordpress. A readership that stands on average of 20,000 visits per month. Also on active on social media platform on IG, Facebook and Snapchat (@ranoadidas)

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