Click image to enter Radisson Facebook page for updates!!

 

Click image to enter website

Come down to KB this weekend for the travel fair

It was yearly thing where His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam celebrated the Lunar New Year with the other members of the Royal Family and the Brunei Chinese community yesterday at Indera Samudra Grand Hall, The Empire Hotel and Country Club. Usually there will be a 1,000 in attendance for this special occasion and there were performances from students from respective schools and also a solo performance by the well known local singer Pei-Pei.

This time, I didn’t stay till the end as I had other events to attend. Enjoy the pictures though I didn’t take much either. Thumbs up to the organisers and also the performers for making the event running smoothly.

 

Catch DPMM FC tonight against Hougang United at Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium

Tonight’s the night when DPMM FC take on Hougang United at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium and this is a must win for DPMM FC if they want to establish themselves as title contenders. Last season DPMM FC finished runner-up in the S•League competition and it’s an awesome feat, considering DPMM FC not being active competitively for two years.

It will also be a true testament on how the local players gel with the foreign mix. Hougang is a different outfit now compared to last season, though DPMM FC did score a double of them last season. Hougang United had a winning start to their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Courts Young Lions. DPMM FC only managed a valuable away point against strong opposition Home United.

Dino Drpic, DPMM FC latest signing import, who was nursing an injury should be back in the starting line-up. Santos, the only import to be re-signed by DPMM FC, is still recovering and he should be back in two to three weeks. DPMM FC will rely on Joao (Portuguese striker) and Shahrazen Said for goals. Pressure will be on Joao to deliver as many are expected for him to shine and build a strong partnership with Shahrazen.

So peeps.. Do catch DPMM FC tonight (kick off 8:15pm) and let’s give our support to our local club.. My prediction: 2-0 victory to DPMM FC.

Jimbo, Bobby and Shahrazen fired up for tonight’s game

Santos still recovering and he won’t be starting tonight

Yay!! My pass is ready 😀

 

Don’t be surprised if you see representatives from Rennovo Solutions Sdn Bhd come knocking on your door next week. They have been appointed by The Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) to conduct survey on ICT related questions. Not to worry that not all households will go through this process as there will be a random selection.

The survey will be carried out from 4th March to 17th March and the questions will be bi-lingual (Malay and English) and the procedure will last between 10 to 12 minutes.

The survey will be conducted soon

Recently the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) and Rennovo Solutions Sdn. Bhd. held a signing ceremony for the consultancy services to perform the household ICT survey project. This is the second survey to be conducted after the first one back in 2010.

The objective of the project is to perform a survey to gather a set of ICT related data within the households in Brunei Darussalam. This survey shall provide data on the basic indicators of the ICT situation in households, its trends and usage.With this survey, it shall facilitate an assessment and monitoring of the extent to which the Bruneian households have access to ICT and its related facilities.

The first phase of the project will involve the design of questionnaire that are ICT related according to the International Telecommunity Union (ITU) standards.

The ceremony was officiated with the signing of the contract between Awg Hj Yahkup bin Hj Menudin, Chief Executive of AITI, and Awg Haji Sapawi bin Bolhassan, the Chairman of Rennovo Solutions Sdn. Bhd. The ceremony was held at the AITI office in Anggerek Desa.

Haji Sapawi bin Bolhassan, the Chairman of Rennovo Solutions Sdn. Bhd with Hj Yahkup bin Hj Menudin, Chief Executive of AITI

Group photo with AITI and Rennovo Solutions Sdn. Bhd.

 

Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Berhad (BIBD) today, via their Wealth Management Unit (WMU), continued their series of Financial Literacy and Planning Talks in their efforts to raise financial awareness amongst the public. BIBD’s own Chartered Financial Consultant and qualified Islamic Financial Planner, WMU Manager, Hjh Isnora Minudin, delivered the financial literacy talk to some 200 new officers and staff from the Ministry of Finance and its Departments at the Theatre Hall of the Ministry of Finance Building.

The series progresses to a different audience such as students from the secondary schools, the public from the government as well as private sectors were addressed of the importance of financial planning. This was in order to maximise the reach of these talks as an awareness tool for the public to better their understanding of the requirements for proper financial planning for their financial well-being and security.

This initiative was also to promote the dissemination of information to the public regarding their awareness on financial literacy and planning. Hjh Isnora conveyed that financial planning is a process which helps to reach your dreams through proper financial management. She also shared a few tips in debt control and steps on how to start financial planning. With this awareness on how important financial planning is, one can be responsible without depending on others. She further stressed that every dream requires financial planning, including raising a family, getting their dream home, planning for their children’s education as well as their retirement, on top of helping to build their wealth over time.

Generally, financial planning is about preparing for our future, which can be done by making better informed money management decisions now. There are many tools available that assist in achieving the financial security that everyone desires. Therefore, there must be a shift in the way Bruneian think and highlight the importance of planning. BIBD aims to provide this by teaching, informing and providing solutions with simple explanations. As explained, being financially stable does not only mean having enough money today, but also for tomorrow and the years to come.

Hjh Isnora Minudin, the Wealth Management Unit (WMU) of BIBD, delivered financial literacy talk

 

 

 

Ok, the poster might not be updated (due to more partners involved) but just some information on Bike Week

Get your helmets ready! The Independent Motorcycle Club, in collaboration with Cityneon Brunei, is organising the third Brunei Bike Week at Jerudong Park Amphitheatre and Gardens.

The event, to be held from March 1 (today) to March 3, will see bike enthusiasts from around the region participate in a range of motorcycle-related activities, such as motorcycle custom shows, track races, and an “Ol Skol VS New Skol” car show, among others.

According to Independent Motorcycle Club President Pg Azmanishah Pg Hj Abd Rahman, who is also the chairman of the organising committee of Brunei Bike Week, the event is being organised to promote travel and tourism in Brunei Darussalam, and offers participants an extended weekend getaway filled with plenty of sun, beaches, jungles and hills.

Brunei Bike Week is an annual event that started two years ago. This year, the theme is “Unity Through Diversity”, and a diversity of bikers from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates have been confirmed to attend.

The three-day event will kick off from 2.30pm on Friday, and is open from 10am to 10pm on the following Saturday and Sunday.

Other activities of interest at Brunei Bike Week include cultural shows, a reptile show, a club showcase and performances by local artistes. Text courtesy of Ikhwan Salleh of The Brunei Times.

Reptile House will be participating as well. Image courtesy of Nabil.

Guess who’s the emcee for the third year running? Dj Dafy himself

Sound check for today’s event

Guess who’s on the Bike Week too – @pvintajcupcakes and @wondermamabn

Check out Lyn D Tattooist at Booth No.11 or if you are lost, you can text them on 890 2013. Image courtesy of Lyn D Tattooist.

the exclusive Brunei 3rd bike Week goodie bag! T-shirt, pin, keychain, sticker & BBQ ticket for BND48.00! Image courtesy of Nabil.

Click image to enter Radisson Facebook page for updates!!

 

Come down to KB this weekend for the travel fair

This time it won’t be at OGDC. It will be located at KB instead at the Dewan Bandaran in Kuala Belait. The 8th Belait Travel Fair is co-organised by Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) and Abacus Brunei and it will be held on 2nd and 3rd March 2013. This means you won’t be getting any promotions from other airlines with the exception of Royal Brunei Airlines (RB).

A press conference was held yesterday afternoon chaired by Abd Halim Hj Abd Rahman, Sales and Marketing Manager of Abacus Brunei. He said that Abacus Brunei is happy once again to work with Royal Brunei Airlines and he also thanked the supporting travel agents namely Anthony Tours, Century Travel, Freme Travel, Southern Cross Travel Agency, Darussalam Holdings and Pan Bright Travel Services will be participating in the 8th Belait Travel Fair.

Abacus Brunei will be providing 20 Abacus terminals for the six Abacus-connected travel agents during the two-day travel fair. According to Joan Lim, Head of Commercial of Royal Brunei Airlines, said that there will be fantastic prizes for those who purchased tickets during the fair. They stand a chance to win a flight to Melbourne or Hong Kong or KL.

Evelyn Ang, Sales Manager of Royal Brunei Airlines, didn’t spare much details on the fare promotion and she encouraged readers to come and visit the travel fair in KB this weekend. She did share that you can buy tickets in advance especially those not during the peak season. Another great promotional deal is the upgrade for KL, Jakarta and Bangkok sector where you just need to add $99 for a business class seat (one way only). Another great promotion from RB is the London December flight which is $1500++

According to Jamilah Abdul Halim, Director of Tourism Malaysia, there will be a few great deals on F1 packages for those F1 lovers. You can also enquire during the travel fair from travel agents (Pan Bright and Century Travel).

So peeps… Do pen down these dates 😀

Dato Jack Ting, Managing Director of Cityneon Displays and Constructions Sdn Bhd, Abd Halim Hj Abd Rahman, Sales and Marketing Manager of Abacus Brunei, Irene Soon, General Manager of Abacus Brunei, Joan Lim, Head of Commercial of Royal Brunei Airlines and Evelyn Ang, Sales Manager of Royal Brunei Airlines

Evelyn Ang, Sales Manager of Royal Brunei Airlines, tight lipped about the promotional fares and encouraged the public to visit the Belait Travel Fair

 

Click image to enter website

The Circus Firemen and Trick Ponies will entertaining the public in Brunei from 27th March to 2nd April at the Indoor Stadium. This event is brought to you by Forevershine Events, Media and Management Services and also Rakan Tiga Media.

So what can you expect from this show? Well, you will be able to witness a highly skilful comedic acrobatic action. The team is composed of Balancing, Juggling and Comedy Specialists Joshua Phillips and Idris Stanton; Teeter Totter, Hand stands and Tempo Acrobatics expert Vince van Berkel; German Wheel and Duo Trapeze Specialist Hannah Cryle;  Rola Bola and Trapeze Specialist Caz Walsh; and Aerial Ring, Trapeze and Hoops artist Kali Retallack. All members of the Circus team are from Australia.

Along the way, the organisers have brought in new partners for the event. As of late, DST is now an official partner and Kristal FM is the official radio of the event. The official hotel will be The Orchid Garden Hotel where the artistes will be staying and of course, Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) as the official airline carrier for bringing the performers from Melbourne and back. S-Team Solutions is the exclusive marketing partner and there is also support from Brunei Tourism Development Department.

The Circus Firemen performance in Australia

Forevershine Office, DST Counters (for specific dates only @ Tanjung Bunut, Yayasan, Giant, Tutong and KB), The Orchid Garden Hotel, Deejay Home Video Branches (The Mall and Abdul Razak Holdings, Tanjung Bunut, Serusop, and Times Square), Fabrica Interior (Gadong Property, Beribi, Kiarong and Kuala Belait), Fitness Zone, All Giant Branches, All Soon Lee Branches, Supa Save Mabohai Branch, Bossini (Mabohai and Kiulap) Utama Grand, and West Park at the Mall.

An added treat is the chance for viewers to win an Ipad.  There will be a lucky draw at the end of each show where a lucky viewer can a get a chance to win a 4thGeneration Ipad. Terms and conditions apply. 

For more details and bookings, please call Forevershine EMMS at 265-5208 or 879-9055,  S Teams Solutions at 234-5999 or 889-7999. You can also book online at www.forevershinebrunei.com and get updates on Facebook – Forevereshine EMMS.

 

8

 

One of the model houses at Subok. Click image to enter website

It’s always a dream for me to own a home one day. This for me is more important than perhaps getting a new car though my friends kept insisting I invest in a new car *lol* Anyway, it’s good to see another project from Rumaku Real Estate who will be launching a new upcoming unique residential development known as Impian.

Some of the pictures below are from several locations such as Kilanas, Subok, Jln Muara and Serasa. There’s an option as well if you want a complete kitchen which comes with a warranty period. In actual fact, all Impian home owners will receive a 2 year warranty period from the day the occupational permit is granted.

With such warranty, this will the first of its kind for private residential developments. This shows the high quality of the respective homes under the Impian project.

You might be discouraged by the overall price tag of residential homes in general but Rumahku will provide a better pricing structure (do contact them for more details 8722 249 or 875 3330) and the price range starts from BND 257,000. They will also be providing after sales service during the construction period right through to the end of the warranty period. Awesome!!

For your info, the Impian project will be launched on the 9th and 10th March at The Empire Hotel & Country Club from 9am to 6pm. Do check out their website www.impianbrunei.com for further details.

A model home along Jln Muara

A sample view of the family area

A sample view of the dining area

 

Stunning performances by an art troupe from China entertained the crowd at Jerudong Park Amphitheatre last week.

“Cultures of China, Festival Of Spring”, a large-scale cultural performance showcased a number of China’s highly skilled artiste delighting the crowd with songs, dances, a puppet show and other displays of unique skills.

The event was jointly organised by the People’s Republic of China Embassy in Brunei Darussalam, China Overseas Exchange Association, and Guang Xi Overseas Exchange Association and the Hockian Association, Brunei Darussalam.

Prior to the highlights of the night, the People’s Republic of China Ambassador to Brunei, His Excellency Zheng Xianglin, gave a speech.

In his speech, he he hoped that through this cultural exchange, cooperation and friendship between Brunei Darussalam and China will continue to blossom.

This was followed by a speech from The Head of Art Troupe, Feng Zuhua, who expressed his appreciation to be given the chance to perform a list of traditional Chinese performance in Brunei, especially for all celebrating Chinese New Year.

According to an official from China Embassy, 400 VIP seats for special guests and 2000 seats for the public, which was on a first-come-first-serve basis were prepared for the event.

Present at the event was Deputy Defence Minister Dato Paduka Hj Mustappha Hj Sirat and his spouse, Deputy Minister of Culture Youth and Sports Datin Hjh Adina Othman, the Chairman of HockianAssociation Brunei, Lim Han Chiong. Text courtesy of Mei Fung Lee of The Brunei Times

 

A new rising star in the making – Yursina Abdullah – has been making waves with her home-based jewellery which she started a year ago and recently Yusrina celebrated Enya Bijoux first anniversary held at Riverview Poolside. The anniversary event was to mark a milestone as well as appreciating Enya Bijoux’ customers for their support.

I love her idea on making home made jewellery and I shall be interviewing her pretty soon on her Enya Bijoux journey. Oh for those who wants to see her finished product (and they are beautifully gorgeous), just check @enyabijoux on instagram or if you don’t have instagram, then you can view her collections here :)) Sorry I couldn’t make it to your event. Images courtesy of Aiman Besar.

Yusrina Abdullah, founder of @enyabijoux (right) with her invited guests during the anniversary

 

A few more days left

In conjunction with celebrating our Brunei Darussalam’s 29th National Day 2013, they are conducting their first 2013 Instagram competition to celebrate and honour our history and heritage through means of Instagram.

Theme: Yellow & Black

Official Hash-Tag of the BRUNIKA National Day Instagram Competition: #kuninghitam2013

Prize: The Top FOUR (4) finalists will win one (1) pack of iPhone App Fridge Magnets each.

Please take note of the following rules:

1⃣ This competition is open to all local and permanent residents of Brunei Darussalam of any age and are based and living in Brunei only.

2⃣ You can submit as many photos as you like (old and new) from 21st February to 1st March 2013.

The closing date for the BRUNIKA National Day Instagram Competition: Friday 1st March 2013 at 4:00PM.

3⃣ The Top FOUR (4) Winners will be announced by BRUNIKA and will be contacted individually via their Instagram account with further instructions on how to claim their prize(s).

4⃣ Photo must NOT express any forms of profanity, sexual and/or racist elements. Image must NOT incite religious hatred and/or phrases that may be deemed inappropriate to other races.

5⃣ BRUNIKA reserves the right to reuse any photo that are submitted to the official hash tag of the BRUNIKA National Day Instagram Competition #kuninghitam2013

6⃣ BRUNIKA shall determine winner eligibility in its sole and absolute discretion. Decisions made by the judges are final and no forms of communications will be entertained at any time during the judging of the winner.

One Love, One Community.

Image courtesy of @momoh360

Image courtesy of @tiniest_smurf

Image courtesy of @ninahasnani

Image courtesy of @raffiyy

Image courtesy of @naimamirul

The 8th Belait Travel Fair this March. Click image to check out updates on Facebook.

 

Dato Paduka Haji Awang Alaihuddin, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Communications and Hj Yahkup, Chief Executive of AITI, with the grant recipients standing behind. Congratulations!!

The Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) recently held a grant award ceremony for four successful recipients of the “AITI GRANT for Development of Local ICT and Digital Media Industries”.

The event took place at Seri Kerna Hall of AITI Building in Kg. Anggerek Desa and was officiated with the contract signing between Awang Haji Yahkup bin Haji Menudin, Chief Executive of AITI and all four (4) grant recipients, namely Awangku Mohd Khairi bin Pengiran Haji Metusin of PHMD Publishing Company, Tien Kai Ping of SocialBuzz Advertising, Haji Kairulazhar bin Haji Rosli of Cinematicpro Services and Haji Suhardi bin Haji Suhaimi of Media Hikmah.

This important event was witnessed by the Guest of Honor, Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Haji Awang Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya DiGadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awg Mohammad Taha, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications who is also the Chairman of AITI; Yang Mulia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yusof, Members of Authority of AITI and representatives from various stakeholders from the ICT and digital media industries.

PHMD Publishing Company was granted with B$152,000 for their “Salam Halal” project which is an enhancement of its Salam Halal Verification and Tracking System using Augmented Reality Technology.

Meanwhile, SocialBuzz Advertising was awarded with B$198,000 for their project called “The Gigland”. It is a unique project on global geo-location based online marketplace for buyers and sellers of online mini/micro services. Their product will be made available on website, mobile apps and as a Facebook application.

The third successful recipient was Cinematicpro Services with grant of B$66,640 for the business to develop and produce a 3D animation trailer for “Sam, the Inventorbot”.

Media Hikmah was the last recipient who received B$48,160 for their 3D animation trailer “The Little Warrior”.

Guests witnessing the signing ceremony for the grant recipients

Mr. Hiro of Socialbuzz Advertising receiving the grant from Hj Yakhup, Chief Executive of AITI

Media Hikmah receiving the grant from Hj Yakhup, Chief Executive of AITI

One of the grant recipients

Since its inception in 2010, AITI has, to date, awarded grant to eight local ICT businesses for development of products ranging from various ICT solutions, digital animation and e-learning, with an overall amount of B$1.2 million funded under the 9th National Development Plan. These recipients are MARS Enterprise, Crescent Sdn Bhd, John Harith Technology Sdn Bhd, Alif Technologies Sdn Bhd, BruGPS Technologies Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Indah Sejahtera Development and Services Sdn Bhd, ZimacSilicon Technologies Sdn Bhd and Ambuyart Animations Company.

According to the Chief Executive of AITI in his opening remarks, “For this round of grant application, we have expanded our scope of financial assistance to cover not only ICT but also the digital multimedia area, as we see there are also equal needs to support the development of local contents for Brunei especially in the area of creative digital multimedia.” He further added that AITI has received 21 applications and shortlisted 9 of them.  The project proposals were evaluated based on four main criteria; technical merits, commercial potential, financial resources, project plan and capacity to deliver. Further evaluation also emphasized on Brunei-Made elements of the proposed product.

AITI’s Grant was initiated to assist the local ICT companies to further develop their ICT products and encourage Research and Development activities and capabilities in producing local innovative Brunei Made products with commercial potential through Government funding.

There are four types of AITI GRANT that an applicant can apply, namely:

1. Product Development  – for developing prototypes or concept testing;
2. Product Enhancement – for improving and upgrading existing products;
3. Product Ownership – for obtaining certification and quality management systems; and
4. Product Marketing Grant – for marketing and improving existing packaging, design or labeling.

The Grant amount varies depending on the type of Grant applied and the classification of the business. Each applicant is allowed to apply for more than one Grant type for the same product within two years’ project duration.
 
I’m not sure when is the next batch for application. It could be in the later half of the year. For more details and guidelines about the AITI Grant Scheme, information is available for download at AITI’s website www.aiti.gov.bn/AITIGRANT, and for further enquiries, interested parties can contact Ms Farihah Haji Md Said or the ICT Industry Development Group at 2323232 (during office hours).

One of the previous grant recipients, BruGPS showing his progress from the grant
 

One of the most successful rising star in the past year and now he’s concentrating on his new project, Gigland
 

The Salam Halal project should be very interesting too. Can’t wait!!

 

Last Sunday, Brunei Hot Wheel lovers organised the first Die-cast exhibition and there were 14 vendors who participated in the event. It was also another great avenue to showcase the talents of Die-Cast enthusiasts. I missed the event but thanks to Hadi Iskandar and the organiser, Zulhazmi Azhan for the pictures. Let’s hope for more of these events in the near future.

One of the custom made models to commemorate Brunei Darussalam’s 29th National Day.

The organisers of Die-Cast exhibition

 

Printer development is showing no signs of slowing down in the technology-savvy Brunei market as Concepts Computers continues to introduce new models of its Epson range of all-in-one printers to compete with third-party alternatives. It unveiled the Epson L550, an all-in-one original integrated ink tank system printer, which will go on sale in the consumer and business markets in Brunei.

Amidst the influx of external ink printers on the market over the years, the shop, which distributes Epson-branded printers, is hoping the L550 printer will bring back customers that have been looking at third-party solutions.

Zul Abdul Rahman, the marketing executive at Concepts, said the L550 is Epson’s answer to years of defective third-party ink tank modifications to its printers.

“In the past, we normally discouraged the use of external ink printers because they will easily ruin the printer, but now Epson has made it safe and affordable,” he said.

Zul said manufacturers would continue to improve on printers by introducing cost-efficient solutions so that they remain relevant to the market.

For a long time, consumers have considered printer ink cartridges to be expensive, which led many to turn to third-party ink tank refill solutions.

The Epson L550 will be selling for $418, inclusive of six 70ml bottles of original ink.

Zul said the low cost of consumables $10 per bottle and with an expected print yield of 4,000 pages ensured low-cost high-volume printing.

“We believe our customers will be very happy with the $10 price tag we put on these original ink bottles,” he added.

While the industry is going paperless with the advent of digital documents and digital publishing, Zul said the printer market was still going strong in Brunei, particularly in the education sector where students were still required to produce hard copies of their project work.

“There is still strong demand here. We constantly replenish our stock of black inks as students keep coming back to buy them,” Zul said.

Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Computer and Zul Abdual Rahman, Marketing Executive of Concepts Computer displaying the new Epson printers

The most cost effective printer – Epson L550 – and very ideal for SMEs

Vincent Pao, Concepts general manager, said sales of Epson-branded printers from his store had been very good over the years due to the brand’s value-for-money price point.

Its previous printer, the Epson L210, the first to introduce the original ink tank system, has sold over 1,000 units in Brunei, Pao said.

The shop yesterday also launched two new Epson laser printers, the $338 AcuLaster C1700 colour laser printer for home and small office users, and the high-end $668 Aculaser CX17N for medium and large enterprises.

Replacement toners for the printers cost $98 per cartridge per colour.

With the launch of the new printers, Pao said that Epson and Concepts would be expanding its range to offer wider selections of printers to cater to schools and businesses looking to chose the most suitable model for their low-cost printing needs in Brunei.

“Epson is not only catering to the needs of everyday users but also to the needs of SMEs. This will ensure that Epson will have a high market range when it comes to choices so that customers can perfectly purchase a printer exactly to their needs,” Pao said.

“Printers that offer big savings is the key point that we are trying to share, and we hope local SMEs understand what Concepts Computer and Epson have to offer.” Text courtesy of Al-Haadi Abu Bakar of The Brunei Times.

Click image to enter Radisson Facebook page for updates!!

 

Click image to enter official website and book tickets online

 

The 8th Belait Travel Fair this March. Click image to check out updates on Facebook.

 

Traffic lights will be in operational soon according to Eddie Dato Paduka Hj Sunny, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Development. Reviews have been mixed according to comments on my social media platforms.

Hmmmmm this is a tough answer for such a question.. Everyone has their own views on this and we won’t actually know until it has been implemented. This will be the first time that a traffic light will be operational on a three-lane roundabout.. The ones in Beribi and Berakas seemed to work though those are only two lanes.

My prediction will be that these traffic lights at the Kiulap roundabout will be operational during peak hours. There have been many motorists who have misused the use of the big roundabout and even having constant awareness doesn’t help.

I have seen people’s complain about congestions on the road. However, let me point out that the traffic congestion is not as bad as other countries and I do appreciate the country we are living in. Road congestions doesn’t last more than an hour (max) which is still acceptable but still can be improved. What I’m more concerned is the road conditions such as uneven roads and pot holes in some populated areas.

Of course, we have to think ahead of the future.. Having wider roads or fly-overs would be useful in the next 5 to 10 years given the rate of population of cars increasing time after time. So peeps, if you want to share your comments, do click here or here.

Some of the comments from my instagram. Click image to read more.

 

Offers ends on 15th March 2013

 

Love this capture. Click the image and check out Brunei Times Extra on their in-depth coverage of the National Day. Awesome pictures too. Image taken from bruneitimesextra.com/national-day-2013

 

I present to you the ladies that made it possible for the Wing-It event last weekend – @muffinsparadisebrunei @pvintajcupcakes @wingitbrunei @sweet_as_sara @wondermanabn

All you need is great food, good branding and an instagram and of course, this must follow with good customer service. The food business is always a growing industry despite the small market or volume and some even joked that eating is our past time in Brunei because we don’t have much really (of things to do).

Last weekend see a strong response from the community as they flocked to to Simpang 35 at Mabohai for the Wing-It event with the theme “Wingin’, Bakin’ and Shakin’ n Singin'”and the event was held for two days. Three vendors had their items all sold out in the space of two hours and I interviewed @sweet_as_sara (instagram) that 600 of their cupcakes were gone in two hours. I would have predicted that they would have swept all of it in less than two hours should there wasn’t a long queue to begin with.

The vendors that joined forces with @wingitbrunei were @muffinsparadisebrunei @sweet_as_sara @pvintajcupcake and @wondermambn and there were also Shakecolate and Cakes & Crafts. There were performances from Aziz Harun and Damai Heroes.

Well done to the lady entrepreneurs and also to the Brunei community for supporting their part-time businesses. Oh yeah, one of them ladies wears a fire fighter suit to work.. Cool, aye?

Maurina posing with the Brunei flag

The @muffinsparadisebrunei lady in action

This was the crowd then around 3pm last Saturday

@wondermambn was so busy attending customers’ orders

It was such a long queue but the crowd went back satisfied

Lovely brownies from @wondermamabn

We had the ribs from @wingitbrunei

Hmmmmm chocolate….

More muffins and cupcakes

Great colours and design and taste great too

Natalie Sisson was sugar high!!

Damai Heroes performing some numbers

The queue during the Wing-It event

Natalie Sisson in a frame

Simpang 33 was pretty packed

The car parked along the road

I love watching NBA and my favourite team of the moment is Miami Heat and main reason is LeBron James. I always thought what it would be like to be a spectator in one of the regular NBA season games. Tickets don’t come cheap either too.

However, one Bruneian managed to be part of a spectacle of the NBA All-Stars game as Wu Chun, being the endorser of Coca-Cola, was invited to catch the weekend game. For your info, this is the 5th time he has watched a live NBA game but he never attended an NBA All-Stars game so this trip was perhaps the most memorable one among the lot. It was long haul flight paid off with 26 hours in the air transitting from Singapore to Los Angeles to Houston.

Of course, he was excited because legendary Michael Jordan was scheduled to be there and MJ is Wu Chun’s biggest idol. Sometimes being an endorser of Coca-Cola has its perks and one of them is getting good seats at the NBA matches. His dream was to play in NBA but the closest dream he got was watching it live and getting close to the action.

He even bought a limited edition Air Jordan t-shirt despite the 5 hour queue which started at 7 in the morning!! It was a nice touch to see Wu Chun bringing our Bruneian flag to the Houston NASA Johnston Space Centre where the NBA All-Stars game was held.

I hope one day I get to see a live NBA game. For now, I’m sticking to Astro to catch the games 😀 Images below are courtesy of Wu Chun.

Wu Chun was so excited to catch the NBA All-Stars game which the West won and he also brought the Brunei flag along to the Houston basketball centre

Wu Chun in the arena where the NBA All-Stars game was held

 

Click image to enter Radisson Facebook page for updates!!

 

Click image to enter official website and book tickets online

 

The 8th Belait Travel Fair this March. Click image to check out updates on Facebook.

 

His Royal Highness Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim Ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah participated in a silat performance yesterday at the closing ceremony of the National Pencak Silat Championship , which was held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Tutong Sports Complex.

Also present to witness the closing ceremony was Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah.

HRH Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah with HRH Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim with Datin Paduka Hjh Adina, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports at the silat closing ceremony

Present to officiate the closing ceremony of the National Pencak Silat Championship was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair bin Haji Abdullah.

In the first of two finas to be contested yesterday, Tutong’s Mohd Azril bin Mohd Ali beat Ak Mohd Saiful Azwan bin Pg Iskandar 5-0 in Class B.

Meanwhile, in Class D final, Muhammad At-Tarmimi bin Hamid of Sarawak beat Brunei-Muara’s Mohd Zulfauzi bin Zainidi 5-0.

Tutong emerged as the champions of the National Pencak Silat Championship with a total of 17 medals; six gold medals, eight silver medals and three bronze medals.

Brunei-Muara finished in second with three gold medals, four silver medals and five bronze medals, whilst the Schools’ Sports Council completed the top three with a record of three gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals. Images and text courtesy of Jake Ten of Borneo Bulletin.

HRH Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim posing a silat posture with the silat performers

Class D final between Muhammad of Sarawak and Brunei-Muara’s Mohd Zulfauzi

 

 

Both DST and Ministry of Education support the initiative known as “Innovative Learning through Mobile Interactive Technologies” and recently they launched a new ICT educational program at Sekolah Rendah Panaga. So what did the school receive? Well, DST contributed 35 iPad Mini tablets.

DST is no stranger to corporate social responsibility programmes and they have been very keen in promoting technology through education. Previously DST’s community relations project involved providing students in 10 schools with high-speed mobile broadband internet connectivity and laptops, for more enhanced e-learning experiences.

It is good to see the Ministry of Education having this initiative as well and using some of the schools as “Model Schools” to see the improvement in learning using technology. So let’s hope for more collaboration with other companies with MOE and also for DST to see more potential avenue for ICT learning in schools.

Dato Seri Setia Hj Yusof bin Hj Ismail, Deputy Minister of Education officiating the launch of the programme while Suhaimi Hj Hussain, Acting CEO of DST looked on

The guest of honour looking on the students with the headmistress of Sekolah Rendah Panaga and Abdul Latiff, a member of DST Board of Directors

A student playing with the iPad Mini

 

Fes Retro and Bola Bola Pro-Shop will be having a National Day promotion at their stores. From 23rd February to 3rd March, they will having a 29% discount on their items sold at Fes Retro and Bola Bola Pro-Shop. Their shop is located on 1st floor of Times Square.

 

Mr Teng Chee Khiong, Director of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, Mr Teng Chee How, Mr Frankie Ho, Managing Director of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, Mr Teng Chin Ying, Chairman of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, Mr Choi Byung Koo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr T J Park, President of Kia Asia Pacific, Kia Motors Corp, Hj Shaiful Rizal Hj Ahmad, Executive Director of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd and Pg Hj Abd Qahar Pg Ibnu, Director of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd at launch of Kia showroom and F/L Sorento.

This morning I witnessed I attended the official launch of the revamped showroom of Grand Motors for Kia. It was also the official launch of F/L Sorento which is a pretty good SUV I must say. Even my friend recommended me to get one since my Korean car has gone passed its prime *lol* The guest of honour was Mr. Choi Byung Koo, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Brunei Darussalam. Also present were Mr. T J Park, President of Kia Asia Pacific, Kia Motors Corp and Mr. Teng Chin Ying, Chairman of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd). For more updates, you can view their Facebook page.

The new look of the building and it looks like a cube too

Cutting the ribbon to officiate the opening of the building

Unveiling the new F/L Sorento

The F/L Sorento price starts below BND 40,000

Mr Teng Chin Ying, Chairman of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, seated in the F/L Sorento

He brought so much energy, considering it was early in the morning

The interior feel of the new building

Do check out the new models for Sorento

 

So the campaign continues as the H.I.T Hoop Teams visited another school and this time at Yayasan Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah School which took place this morning. The guys from KFC and Fitness Zone notably Wu Chun were greeted by teachers and students. A welcoming address was given by Hjh Mariam bte Hj Ladi, the school’s principal.

Jonathan Bong, Senior Marketing Manager of KFC, talked briefly about thei intention of the upcoming KFC Fitness Zone 3 on 3 Streetball Challenge is now open for registration. The actual event will take place at The Airport Mall. For those interested to take part in the challenge, the forms are available at all Fitness Zone outlets and specific KFC outlets (Gadong Central, Airport Mall, Seria and The Mall).

The closing dates for registration is 10th March but I suggest you register early because based on my experience, you might need some time as well to make your jerseys for the tournament. This year the official jerseys will be a special one because it will be both dry fit and also reversible. Interesting!!

Below are pictures courtesy of Trinity Advertising & Event Management.

Hjh Mariam bte Hj Ladi, Yayasan School’s principal with Wu Chun, the founder of Fitness Zone

Hjh Mariam bte Hj Ladi, Yayasan School’s principal with Wu Chun, the founder of Fitness Zone

Teachers and students attending the basketball clinic

Representing Fitness Zone, KFC, Good Game Event Management and Trinity Advertising & Event Management

 

It’s happening this Sunday. The 1st Brunei Diecast Sales and Exhibition 2013

 

It has to start somewhere and it’s good to see AITI and John Harith Technology teaming up with the help of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in having local meat being electronically traced to make sure the authenticity of the “halalness” and also inventory of the item at the supermarket, in this case, Hua Ho.

So all you have do is use your smart phone and download the QR code application and you can scan the selected items at the cold storage of Hua Ho Bunut though only the chicken items are computed to the system for RFID. Then you scan the QR code and you will be able to get details on the supplier and as well as the person who slaughtered the chicken with a halal certification to go along with it. The information will be displayed on the monitor for your viewing.

The pilot project will be run for 6 months and so far it is being tested with a local abattoir Golden Chick Sdn Bhd who are collaborating with Hua Ho Tanjung Bunut. This is a good initiative and I believe you may have heard about the recent situation where an imported food product from China beared a Halal logo only to find out it has pork DNA in it. So this is where RFID on halal status on food might come in handy in the future.

The Guests of Honour to officiate the soft launching of the system were Dato Paduka Haji Awang Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohamad Taha, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Awang Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Also present was Chief Executive of AITI, Hj Yahkup Hj Menudin and Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Communications, Abdul Mutalib Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof.

The event took place at Hua Ho Tanjung Bunut.

Hj Yahkup Hj Menudin, Chief Executive of AITI gave his welcoming remarks

John Lim of John Harith Technology explaining to the guests of honour on how the scanning works

Haji Abdul Aziz, the Permanent Secretary of Religious Affairs, scanning the chicken

John was also multitasking but no, he doesn’t work at Hua Ho

The information will be displayed on the monitor for your personal viewing

It will even show you who was the slaughterer of the chicken from Golden Chick Sdn Bhd

This is the most talked about photo on my Instagram and Facebook this week!! One of the Borneo Bulletin photographers took a priceless moment shot of His Majesty the Sultan with a heart warming smile, arm-in-arm with the house recipients at Kuala Belait. This image was taken from today’s Borneo Bulletin front page. Well done, guys!!

 

So will you guys be showing up for the big day in town on National Day? I know I will and it’s another packed day for me with a few more events to cover. Now the question is what will be a good hashtag for National Day for Twitter and Instagram purposes? Some suggested #Brunei29th which had the most say. What are your suggestions? Do reply to my twitter @ranoadidas. Below are pictures from this morning’s rehearsal for National Day. Images courtesy of @anakbrunei @marul69

A panaromic shot taken by Tuan Hj Rozan Yunos

 

 

Last season DPMM FC had the best result in the S•League and they are ready to improve and better this season. Tonight they will take on Home United which have brought in new players notably former South Korea international Lee Kwan Woo. Vjeran Simunic, coach of DPMM FC, is aware of the new players for Home United and he said it won’t be easy but DPMM FC are aiming for 3 away points against Home tonight. He did admit that Home is the toughest opponent for DPMM FC based on previous results.

Simunic is hoping that Santos (defender) will be fully fit in the next few weeks. Santos is the only player left from the last year’s import player roster. It was a surprise that the talisman midfielder Jerkovic’s contract was not renewed. Instead DPMM FC have brought in four more additional imports including one international Croatian player who had a short stint in one of the World Cups. However, Simunic said the players has not gelled yet as a team.

We shall and wait and see how the import players gel with the local lads. For your info, the import players are Croatian forward Ivan Bosnjak, Portuguese striker Joao Vitor Rocha De Carvalho Moreira, Guadeloupean midfielder Stephane Auvray, Brazilian centre-back Tales Ricarte dos Santos and Croatian defender Dino Drpic.

It’s a pity Sairol won’t be playing in the first game due to suspension. Hence Pg Sallehuddin will be taking his spot. All eyes will be on DPMM FC top scorer last season, Shahrazen Said, who scored 14 goals last season. His partnership with Portuguese striker have yet to be proven but let’s hope for the best this season.

Good luck to all the players of DPMM FC tonight. The match will take place at Bishan Stadium.

DPMM FC next home game will be on 1st March when they take on Hougang United FC.

DPMM FC players during the training session last Monday

Shahrazen Jr. watchin his dad training on the pitch

DPMM FC’s two new import players. Will they deliver?

The warm-up run

Santos won’t be featuring for DPMM FC for the next few weeks as he will recovering from injury

Santos, Nabilah and Sairol at the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration

Santos, Nabilah and Sairol at the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration

 

Brunei has a good literacy rate but I’m pretty sure that literacy rate in ICT is also increasing. Most job scopes now do involve the use of technology one way or another and now it’s an advantage if you have a basic ICT knowledge and your resume would be good too.

Lately Infomars Training and Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd who has been awarded as the training provider to conduct basic ICT training courses under the Basic ICT Literacy and Professional Training Program Phase I. The agreement of their services was signed between the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) and Informars Training and Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd.

Signing on behalf of AITI was the Chief Executive, Haji Yahkup bin Haji Menudin, while Infomars Traning and Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd was represented by its Director, Haji Abd Ghani bin Haji Omar.

  Under this training program, Infomars Training and Technology Solutions will be conducting four ICT training courses namely – Basic ICT Literacy, IC Citizen Training and Certification, Internet & Computing Core Certification (IC3) and CompTIA A+.

Hj Ghani, Director of Informars Training and Technology Solutions with Hj Yahkup, Chief Executive of AITI

So how does AITI play a role here? Well, AITI will be subsiding a minimum 50% of the training fees. To be eligible, participants must be Brunei citizens or permanent residents above 17 years of age who is seeking for a job or working in the private sector. The participants can either opt for full-time or part-time courses depending on the training package offered.

According to Hj Yahkup, more than 1,300 participants have been trained and certified with various ICT-related courses under AITI’s ICT Competency Program. The training program is set to begin in April this year.

Click image to enter Radisson Facebook page for updates!!

 

Click image to enter official website and book tickets online

The 8th Belait Travel Fair this March. Click image to check out updates on Facebook.

Click image to enter High Speed Broadband site for more details

Woohooo… After weeks of waiting, we are finally connected to High Speed Broadband (HSBB) or what was previously branded at FTTH (fibe to the home). For those who are not aware, HSBB is the latest product from TelBru the provider of our local eSpeed. The recent launch of HSBB on 1st February was a milestone where 1,000 homes are connected to SHBB.

David Kay, CEO of TelBru, mentioned that there will be another 1,000 homes connected with HSBB. However, only three areas in Brunei-Muara District are ready for deployment – Madang, Gadong and Bandar.

There will be an unfront fee for the modem and registration fee ($150 all in) for new applicants. I’m not sure if it meant for new applicants of HSBB or new applicants of TelBru/eSpeed. But you can call their Customer Care at 111 for more details.

Currently my speed for download is 17 megs per second *wuuhuu* (after using the bandwidth speed test). Now that’s a healthy speed for downloading and surfiing. But I thought our home had a subscription for the 10 meg package. Strange….

Anyway, thanks to TelBru especially to Abang and Azmirul for following up with the installation and the guys from MecTech for installing the modem to our home. Now surfing is super awesome!!! For more details, you can click here or if you want more FAQ, click here.

Pehin Abdullah, the Minister of Communications, in the recent launch of HSBB at Times Square

The new modem for HSBB

Thanks to the guys from MecTech for installing the modem

MecTech guys on the job

The rates for HSBB

Want to know more of the FAQs? Click image to find out more.

The 8th Belait Travel Fair this March. Click image to check out updates on Facebook.

The Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports with the Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam during the launch of The Spirit of Budō yesterday

So you want to know more about the history of Japanese martial arts? It’s a good thing such display is now available in Brunei and you can view them at the Brunei Museum, Kota Batu which will be available until the 24th March.

You will be able to view reproduction armour and helmets that were used for Japanese martial arts. It’s also interesting to know the culture of Japanese martial arts back dated to the 8th century and now some of the arts have been translated into an international sport.

The Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Kenichi Suganuma said “The exhibition consists of two parts: the first part showcases both the original weapons and the replicas, as well as the development and changes of Japanese martial arts from 8th Century to 9th Century.”

“The second part of the exhibition displays the reorganisation of Bujustsu to Budo in the 19th and 20th Centuries and how the spirit of martial arts is incorporated into the daily life of the Japanese today.”

The event was co-organised by Embassy of Japan to Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Museums Department at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Japan Foundation.

The Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Kenichi Suganuma

Bantong Antaran, Director of Brunei Museums Department

The Minister officiating the launch of the exhibition

 

Click image to enter AirAsia website

 

Zumba has taken Brunei by storm in the past year and the interest is growing strongly. There’s even royal support for Zumba charity drive activities. Image taken by James Kon of Borneo Bulletin.

Last week I posted a screen shot of Zumba related article written in the “Letters to the Editors” section of The Brunei Times. I thought it was an interesting view and I didn’t know it was gonna raise a lot of eyebrows, judging from the the comments coming in on my Facebook and instagram. It was the most commented image I posted and it’s good that people are engaging with interesting views and comment and of course, let’s not boil it out of proportion by calling names and attacking individuals unnecessary.

Anyway, you want to know want to know what’s my take on this? I have always look at the intention of the events or activities. Then again, knowing Brunei and its culture especially when you take MIB into account, sometimes individuals will focus on actions rather than the (good) intentions. Whatever it is, everyone’s entitled to his/her opinions and we should learn to respect the opinions of others and respond in a constructive way.

I do agree on both sides of the views but I believe in living in moderation with MIB. It would have been articulate should the writer of the opinion wrote his or her reasons to why Zumba activities is in appropriate for fundraiser for Gaza. I won’t go in depth to my thoughts because I know it will open up another (level of) can of worms *lol* Let’s keep a healthy conversation and thanks to those who responded to my question.

For people’s comments, you can click here and here.

The article that caused some stir in my Facebook and instagram

Comments taken from my instagram account. Click image to view more.

Click image to enter Radisson Facebook page for updates!!

 

Click image to enter official website and book tickets online

Click image to enter flyroyalbrunei.com

 

The impressive Aspire | V5

And guess what?? Keeran Janin won an Acer Aspire | V5 as part of the prizes of the National Day Logo Competition sponsored by Concepts Computer. He also won cash prize BND 2,000 and a Canon EOS M sponsored by Interhouse Company.

 

Catch the movie soon which will be released on 23rd February

I can’t believe it.. Twice I was invited and twice I missed the event. Today was a special premiere for invited guests and a curtain raiser for the much anticipated Brunei made movie Apa Ada Dengan Rina. My “suckmed” buddies @marul69 and @maurina have caught the movie and both gave good praises for the Brunei made movie. You can follow more updates on them their Facebook page.

Apa Ada Dengan Rina is a locally produced movie from Regalblue Productions. It is co-directed by Harlif Hj Mohamad and Farid Azlan Ghani and produced by Nurain Abdullah. The crew have also been invited to join the ASEAN International Film Festival & Awards this coming March in Kuching.

The movie stars Syukri Mahari as Hakim, Dk Moniri Pg Mohiddin as Rina and Tauffek Ilyas as Faisal. There were also appearances by local artistes Hans Anwar, Zul Faden and Lo Ryder.

Well done to Regalblue Productions on making this possible and hopefully it will open new doors for locally produced movies. Another movie in the midst of production is Yasmine by OriginFilms Sdn Bhd. So the future looks bright for movies produced locally.

The press conference held this afternoon at Times Cineplex. Image courtesy of Times Cineplex.

Zul Faden at the Premier of Apa Ada Dengan Rina. Image courtesy of Zul Faden.

Zul Faden and Dk Morini. Image courtesy of Zul Faden.

Behind the scenes of Apa Ada Dengan Rina. Image taken of AADR Facebook Page.

Behind the scenes of Apa Ada Dengan Rina. Image taken of AADR Facebook Page.

Behind the scenes of Apa Ada Dengan Rina. Image taken of AADR Facebook Page.

Mr. Jo Sung Wook (left) hosted lunch for the local media at Silla Korean Restaurant last week

All the best Mr. Jo, who will be leaving Brunei after his two year tenure as Cousellor and Deputy of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Brunei Darussalam. He hosted the local media lunch at Silla Restaurant, a well known Korean Restaurant located in Jangsak.

Mr. Jo Sung Wook will be posted to Kuala Lumpur and he shared how he will miss Brunei and he preferred his stay in Brunei compared to his previous posting in Vienna, Austria.

He shared on the strong relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Korea in the oil and gas sector. Did you know that the Republic of Korea has renewed a contract for the importation of gas (one million tonnes)? That also makes Brunei’s 2nd biggest trading partner mounting to BND 2.5 billion.

Korea ICT agencies have also worked with Brunei especially with UBD and it also has helped to increase Brunei’s ranking on Global Information Technology Report. Apart from UBD projects, the Koreans also helped to build the first cyber class in Rimba II Secondary School last year.

Mr. Jo is excited that Brunei will be chairing the ASEAN Summit 2013 and he hoped that Brunei has a strong stance against the recent North Korean’s nuclear test which the South Korean government and other international communities have condemned.

Yay!!! We received some goodies from Mr. Jo

The food was awesome.. Highly recommended though I forgot the names of the dishes. Mr. Jo knew what he was ordering

Patbingsu from Silla Restaurant

Mr. Jo Sung Wook receiving a token of appreciation from James Kon, Deputy Editor and Chief Reporter of Borneo Bulletin

Group photo with the local media

Since I’m blogging about Korea, this might be off interest to you. The Korean Government is offering “2013 Korean Government Scholarship Program for International Students Enrolled in Graduate Programs” to Brunei nationals interested in furthering their studies in Korea.

The objectives of the scholarship program is designed to provide higher education in Korea for international students, with the aim of promoting international exchange in education, as well as mutual friendship amongst the participating countries.

Scholarship benefits include exemption of entrance and tuition fees, return air ticket to and from Korea, monthly allowances and medical insurance, settlement allowances, etc.

There are two Degree Courses (with a 1 year or less Korean language course) of scholarships available;
Master’s degree program: 2 years
Doctoral degree program: 3 years

Applicants should meet the following requirements and application forms must be submitted by 23 March, 2013;

– Bruneian national under 40 years of age as of 1 September, 2013
– a bachelor’s degree or equivalent for master’s degree program applicants
– a master’s degree for doctoral degree program applicants
– Grade Point Average (GPA) above ‘B’ level (80% as percentage) from the last educational institution attended (ok, I think I just might miss this out *lol*)

For this year, two students will be selected for the scholarship program. The successful candidates should arrive in Korea for registration between August 26, 2013 and August 28, 2013.

Further information and registration form may be obtained from the Korean Embassy website http://brn.mofat.go.kr or contact the Korean Embassy (Mr. Feroz Andy) at 2330248 or email: brunei@mofat.go.kr

 

The Pay Per View which I’m gonna miss :/

Ok, this time I’m gonna miss the WWE Pay Per View – Elimination Chamber which will be playing live Monday morning. Why? Because I have to attend the Networked Readiness Index Study at The Empire Hotel *boohoo* Anyway, here are my predictions for the Elminiation Chamber PPV and sorry if I bore you with this topic *lol*

Antonio Cesaro (US Champion) Vs the Miz. Hmmmm I know the Miz has been losing to him and no surprises here. Miz will have his moments in the near future. For now, the limelight belongs to Cesaro. My prediction: Antonio Cesaro to win.

Kaitlyn (Divas champion) vs Tamina Snuka. I couldn’t care less about this cat fight. My prediction. Kaitlyn to retain the title.

No.1 Contender Elimination Match. So we have Randy Orton, the revamped Jack Swagger, Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry and Kane. I don’t really follow Smackdown but it’s good to see Mark Henry back in the game after a long absence. Randy Orton is not likely to win since he might be taking time off. Jericho’s there just to entertain (reminds me the comeback of Shawn Micheals). And of course, the tag teams champion Kane and Bryan will have more fued between each other. Hmmmm it might be between Jack Swagger and Mark Henry but this will be a close call. My prediction. Mark Henry to snatch the win.
Alberto Del Rio (Champion) vs The Big Show. I’m kinda tired of their fued. I’m hoping for Del Rio to carry the belt all the way to Wrestlemania. My prediction. Del Rio for the win.

The Shield vs John Cena, Sheamus and Ryback. What the hell…. Some website said it’s the most intriguing match of the night. I beg to differ. The Shield don’t seem to have the techical ring skills as compared to their opponents. I have a feeling something odd will happen here. My prediction. More attacks and interferences perhaps and The Shield for the win. My least interest match.

The Rock (Champion vs CM Punk. Hmmmm this is tough to say. My prediction is if CM Punk wins, then John Cena will face CM Punk. Or John Cena will have another rematch and still the title of The Rock. This match could go either way and let’s not forget the plot of Brock Lesnar. He could be a factor here and he might just interfere the match and have a future fued with CM Punk. My prediction. The Rock to beat CM Punk again.

Where’s Dolph Ziggler? Ok, since His Money in the Bank contract is running out soon, he is likely to cash it one of the championship matches. Most likely he will interfere in Del Rio vs The Big Show.

So peeps.. here are my 2 cents for my prediction. Let’s see how many percent I got them right.

 

Congratulations to Tutti Frutti which recently opened at Gadong and you can follow them on instagram @tfgadong and for your info, it is under a different management from the one at Citis Square. Hence promotion may vary.

Dato Hj Daud (right) with invited guests during the opening of the Tutti Frutti Gadong outlet

Seng Yee is a huge yoghurt fan. She had two servings :p

Winnie holding her favourite food at Bistro Chez Fio – Roast Beef Sandwich. This is her second visit compared to my fifth one *lol*

It’s very welcoming especially with the presence of Fiona Chian, restaurant owner of Bistro Chez Fio and she’s a huge fan of the Vancouver Canucks (ice hockey team)

Everytime I go Deals Restaurant, it’s very likely I order a French onion soup 😀

This was Sophia’s rib eye and she loved the mashed pumpkim though she thought her main course was slightly dry but still good.

I love this shot. Taken at Deals.

I had the Beef Stew at Pho Real (food court Times Square) which is the improved version.

…and it’s best when mixed with rice.. *yum* Definitely coming back for this.

One of my favourite pizzas – Pollo Fungi (chicken, mushroom) from Fratini’s. I had it twice in a space of a week.

Now something healthy which is the avacado salad from Excapade Sushi. Taste nice with the salad dressing :))

You may have heard of Kausar Restaurant. Now they have revamped and they are serving Northern Indian Cuisine.

I had the Chicken Masala and it’s pretty good

Sometimes I rather have home made soup for my meal and I recently had one. I should do this more often 😀