One word – Amazing.. I thought Natura Villa Resort & Spa was awesome place too but Maya Ubud is like living in a community with a massive compound with an amazing scenic view as well. It has 108 luxury guest rooms and private pool villas but I have to say that it’s an hour drive from the airport or from the commercial areas such as Kuta and Nusa Dua.

I haven’t tried The Spa at Maya but Michelle said it’s one of the best she tried and she rated it 8/10. The view from the Spa and the River cafe is breathtaking, overlooking the side of the mountain and the greenery as well as the river. I love the pool side too and we had a quick dip over the sunset and it was simply an awesome experience.

The food too are delicious considering it’s from the hotel. I’ve never really trusted food from the hotel but Maya Ubud’s dishes are above average. The rooms might be pricey as well and on top of that, you have to pay 21% tax on top of your bill. It was a good thing that we had a subsidized rate for the rooms. I’m definitely coming back to Bali again but in 2014 but I hope we will be staying here at Maya Ubud. Thank you for the experience and the facilities. Want to know more about Ubud? Click here.

Below are some of the pictures taken from Maya Ubud.. Sorry, I didn’t have the time to caption them yet 😀

Drive safe peeps!!

Promotion at Tasek Brasserie

So far my Bali trip has been a fulfilling one and I still have a few more days left here at Bali. I won’t say it’s a dream come true to be at Bali but it’s one of the destinations that I wanted to go for a very long time. It’s pretty amazing how I’m in Bali now and enjoying every single moment with my buddies from Brunei and all over the world. It was good to catch up with familiar faces such as Jayden, Jerry, Alvin and Vinod and met new ones along the way. So far so good and I’m having one of the best times of the year too.

As I’m currently in Bali, I’ve been reflecting a lot in life on how I have been living it. I’ve learnt on how the resources I have (or on which I thought I owned) defines who I am to others. Let’s say, in this case, money, and I have plenty of them but all I do is spend, spend, spend… So where’s the value in spending or the finished product or service? I do admit that I’m in debt and I’m not embarrassed about it. But I guess it’s time for me to pull up my socks and be discipline about my money issues and set my priorities starting this weekend and move forward. I became aware if one is debt free, the feeling of abundance and freedom is greater and it will also reflect on my attitude as well which will be more positive. Now ain’t that a strange thing to think about especially when you are in place of tourist attraction and all these awarenesses or lessons just come by and hit you hard. 2013 will definitely be a road to recovery of my well being and one of the techniques is money management and I’m gonna ask ALH for help as she’s apparently applying that practice and it works 😀

Ok, enough about my ramblings and I shall post some pictures of my time in Bali and though I have yet to explore the other side of Bali such as Nusa Dua, I’m pretty content just to hang around Ubud which is a place full of nature and it’s very much peaceful place to be too. And let’s not forget the great company around to make the trip quite a memorable and fun.

You notice that my posts are getting slower but I hope you understand that I’m taking my sweet time and just enjoying my stay here in Bali. I have a few more days left here and I’m gonna make the most out of it 😀 Happy weekend, peeps!!!
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Checking up on the latest news in Brunei while enjoying the comfort of the pool

Boys will be boys, teasing each other

Jayden had a quick preview??

We went to a restaurant up the mountain but the food was so-so

This was the view from the restaurant. Awesome and beautiful.

Outside the restaurant, we came across this huge bat and it was unique in a way because it was exposed to broad daylight. The Dark Knight was definitely rising.

The final shot outside the restaurant before heading to the temple up the mountain

It was must to wear a sarong and we were preparing to wear one just before entering the Pura Besakih the mother temple of Bali

Ken had other ideas of using the sarong and turbanized himself

Notice the little giant hiding somewhere

This temple was amazing and this temple is located at Mount Agung and it was quite a fair ride to the destination. At least an hour plus from Maya Ubud Resort & Spa.

The views are just amazing once you go from different levels and view from the top at different angles. If you walk to the northeastern part, then you will the best view of the lot.

Taking a break from the humidity

The little girl got more than she bargained for. The “greenness” managed to convince more $$$ into her pocket and man, she kept following us through out our walk *lol*Oh yeah, before of the tour guides inside the temple, it’s not necessary for you to get one. You can walk on your own and enjoy at your own pace.

Taking a break from the heat

I have to say the reaching the temple is an exhausting experience as it was a fair amount of walking from the car park area and once you enter the temple, you might have to walk upwards to the top the get the amazing view

Durians were selling by the side before entering the temple and it was pretty darn cheap and tasty too according to my friends. I’m anti-Durian for your info.

Jo having an ice-cream after the one hour ride to town from the mountain

Jayden and Llona enjoying their ice-cream at Oops Gelato

Jerry quickly did the Gangnam before a rush of bikers

I love these concepts of shops along the street as compared to shopping malls. It gives a more homely feeling.

It was a cool sight to see all the students getting on their bikes after their school just finished

And this is the same spot after just 5 minutes… Amazing!!

This is how the police car looks like

The taxis at Ubud are quite competitive and cheap and they can take advantage of tourists like us

No one wanted my service though

Walk About For a Cause

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Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) launched BIBD Blessing Rewards 3 at a ceremony held yesterday in the Indera Samudra Grand Hall of The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Jerudong. BIBD Blessing Rewards 3 is the third installation of the immensely successful Blessing Rewards campaign initiated by the bank in 2011.

Earlier this year, a BIBD customer won a brand new Lexus IS300 convertible, the grand prize of the Blessing Rewards 2 campaign. During the ceremony yesterday, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Hjh Noraini Hj Sulaiman unveiled a sporty Toyota 86 as the grand prize for this round of the campaign.

The other five prizes in the campaign were also revealed. The second place winner can choose between a holiday package for two to Melbourne, Australia, or a travel package for two to perform umrah in Saudi Arabia. The packages include air tickets, accommodation and spending money.

The third prize is a package to furnish a home with Samsung household electronics such as a refrigerator, microwave, washing machine, dryer, vacuum cleaner, a 46-inch LED 3D TV and a Samsung Home Theatre system to complete the prize.

The fourth place winner will walk away with 1,000,000 AirAsia BIG points, which will allow the winner to fly to destinations such as Tokyo, Melbourne or Beijing, among others.

The fifth prize winner will receive Apple products, such as a MacBook Pro, an iPad and the latest iPhone 5.

Lastly, the sixth prize winner will take home a Samsung package consisting of a Samsung NX11 kit, a 32GB Samsung Galaxy S III and a 16GB Samsung Galaxy Note.

This campaign is open to new and existing customers of BIBD who sign up and maintain personal accounts with BIBD or successfully sign up for BIBD facilities from now until February 28, 2013. The CFO also emphasised the prizes for this round’s Blessing Rewards, saying that the prizes are much more exciting than in the previous rounds.

Entries for the campaign are generated and entered automatically by the system upon approval or activation of the product or service, without the need for customer to fill in forms or vouchers manually. Ammirul Adnan of The Brunei Times.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Hjh Noraini Hj Sulaiman in her welcoming remarks

The Grand prize is the Toyota 86

The 2nd and 3rd prize are still awesome!!

….Or the AirAsia points is still a good catch

Sometimes it’s best not to negotiate with these guys on the street

I think this is their version of 7-Eleven

We had our lunch here around Ubud. I give it 7/10

Loads of dishes being served

They even have this deco at the restaurant to show the Balinese tradition

I saw this around Kuta, Bali

Be careful when you visit the money changer. Some are opportunists and some tend to give counterfeit ones. Do ask the driver for suggestions.

Loads of foreigners rented bikes there

Pirated DVDS are pretty common and you can even rent them

They have a 5D simulator but we never tried

*LOL* Smart idea of a restaurant but way too smart for my liking

I see a huge bird cage in one of the restaurants (Am I being naive?)

We had a short break at this cafe at Legian, Kuta

The gado-gado dish at Alang-Alang cafe

There were tons of motorbikes along Legian street

So I paid a visit to this shop and the process was easy to rent a motorbike. No licence required or whatsoever. All you need is BND 10 for the whole day or less than BND10 for two days. So darn cheap!!! I only went for one round but I still had to pay for a full day charge.

I realized I’m not ready to ride one as I was already struggling in the beginning. I rode through the traffic with a lot of start-stop moments in between *lol*

The Bali Momument where the bombing happened a decade ago. RIP.

I saw this at one of the Quicsilver shops at Kuta

This is an actual radio station and it’s broadcasting through this mini-bus.. How cool!!

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I highly recommend the Natura Resort & Spa, Ubud

Today’s the 2nd day in Bali and I’m kinda enjoying it.. I just found out how Ubud is totally different from Kuta and Nusa Dua which are the more popular destinations for tourists in terms of entertainment and shopping. Ubud is kinda remote from the busyness of Bali. I have to say that it took us an hour and a bit to get to our hotel at Ubud from the airport. Whereas places such as Kuta and Nusa Dua are nearer. Then again, I love here in Ubud as it’s full of nature and green and also quite peaceful. So if you guys want time out from the hustle and bustle, Ubud is the best choice of stay.

Now I’ve not talk so much about the hotel we stayed in. Thanks to Agoda, I managed to find an awesome place in Ubud and we’re staying at this resort called Natura Resort and Spa. I would have thought it was nearby the beach because of the resort word. However, the closest we’ve got is a river down the hill *lol* Then again, this area is pretty scenic (the green and the jungle) and I love the villas that we are staying at. The price is around $220 per night with two bedrooms and a mini pool. The master bedroom is huge and lucky lilmopiko has the whole room to herself :p

Oh yeah, internet speed is quite fast too for a remote area though I’m hardly on the internet on my macbook air *lol* As for adapter, they use a round two-pin plug but not to worry as the housekeeping do provide those adapters for your convenience. Service is pretty good too as we arrived 11ish pm on our first night and they assisted us quite well and efficient. I was a bit worried at first because we did our booking through Agoda and all we had was our printed out voucher and furthermore, we had a late check-in. But it was all good as the reception had our booking confirmed as well as the transaction from a few months’ ago.

Definitely a highly recommended place if you want a piece of mind and enjoy the scenic view of the hills and the jungle. Perhaps the downside is the breakfast as it was just average but that to me is such a minor thing. Another challenge was the numerous steps on the way to the Spa hut which can be a turn off for me.. Michelle kinda had second thoughts about her spa appointment because it can be quite tiring to walk up the steps and you will be left panting halfway through the steps (which I did *lol*).

If your want to check out the comments from tripadvisor.com you can click here. Oh yeah, it’s better that you hire a driver since there are no cab services in Ubud. Prices are quite reasonable as well for a whole day and we have an awesome driver too. One awesome hideaway and I’ve been enjoying my sleep in many months 😀 Thank Natura Resort & Spa for giving me an awesome stay experience. Definitely coming back here next time.

The “Do Not Disturb” sign on our villa

This is unique as this is the first time I’ve seen umbrellas provided in hotel rooms

I have the twin beds all to myself and this room is the smaller of the two

This is the master bedroom and one of the spacious room I’ve seen from a villa. Awesome!!!

The sitting area at the master bedroom. Sadly I don’t have this in my room *boohoo*

The bath tub at the master bedroom

A big area for wardrobe and washing up

Lilmopiko and Jasmine enjoying the morning view, down at the balcony of the villa

The breakfast dining area. We weren’t impressed with the food but it was ok still.

The hotel pool area down the hill

The steps get smaller once you keep going down the hill if you want to go to the river. It’s quite a climb too once you are all the way down.

If you want to go for the spa, this can be challenging in terms of stamina *lol*

The Spa huts and it closes pretty early at 5pm because of the lack of light

Michelle trying out the tub at the Spa

You can enjoy the scenic while you are being pampered

Ah.. I was doing this entry post here 😀

Winnie… We miss you.. Too bad you’re not able to make it. Taken before our shopping/sightseeing trip yesterday morning

Oh yeah, did I tell you that the street leading to our hotel from the simpang is narrow which is enough for one car. There are couple of times our driver had to reverse because of an incoming car.

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A smooth ride from KL to Denpasar though there was a slight delay from LCCT. Yes, we caught AirAsia flight from Brune to KL with a four hour transit before flying off to Denpasar (Bali). The air ticket cost roughly below BND300 if I’m not mistaken but we booked it months in advance. So if you’re thinking of heading to Bali, you can go fly with AirAsia.

We landed by 7:40pm and there is no time difference with Brunei as I initially thought there was. The airport is quite big and if you haven’t got your visa, then you can get your visa on the spot and go through the “Visa on Arrival” queue. I did my visa in Brunei and yea, Brunei ICI passport holders need to apply one whereas Brunei passport needn’t one. Ah, the inconvenience.. this is something the immigration department or the Ministry of Home Affairs or the relevant ageny should do something to make it less troublesome for PRs like us who travels a lot.

The area we are staying is at Ubud which is far off from the usual popular areas such as Nusa Dua and Depansar. It took us at least an hour’s drive from the airport and the traffic is predictable in a sense that it is more convenient to drive at night because of less traffic congestion. We had a great hospitality service from our new friend who is our driver, Pa’ Madi, who also has been chauffeuring our buddies for many years.

We are staying at Natura Village Hotel and wow, I am quite impressed with the architecture, the ambience, the scenery and the facilities of our rooms. A two-bedroom villa with a mini pool and equipped with wifi too. All of these thanks to information provided by Agoda.com where we booked our room and after hours and days of homework, it paid off.

Ok, I won’t ramble now and I’m gonna have my breakie soon.. Stay tune for more updates on my instagram @ranoadidas if you want to follow more current updates of me from Ubud, Bali. Have a great Monday ahead, peeps!!!

Enjoying the morning at our stay at Natura Village Hotel

Impressive S7 Ultrabook. Yesterday Richard Soo, Branch Manager of Acer (Miri and Brunei) introduced the latest offer by Acer computer which is the Acer S7 Ultrabook which also comes with a pre-installed Windows 8. The features are pretty impressive indeed for a thin notebook and the screen display is also a touch screen. The price of the S7 is the region of $1600+ at Concepts Computer and yesterday, Concepts Computer also had a special two hour “Acer Windows 8 Bonanza” from 11am to 1pm.

The new Acer S7 Ultrabook

New HQ, new uniform. After y 7 years, b•mobile has moved to their headquarters at Jalan Gadong though I’m not keen on the location because of the entry point but it still accessible from my home (3 minutes away). The launch of the building was graced by the guest of honour Abdul Mutalib, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications. He did raise a good point on telcos to lift up their game in order to be competitive due to the social media players such as Whatsapp, instagram and Facebook. There is definitely an increasing demand for ICT services (content and apps) as Brunei is heading towards Wawasan 2035. The staff of b•mobile will be wearing a new uniform at the new HQ where they have let go off the striking red colour and opted for maroon colors.

b•mobile new head quarters at Jalan Beribi

The new Santa Fe. I’m quite impressed with the all new Hyundai Santa Fe launched last night by Setia Motors Sdn Bhd and for those interested to test drive, you can visit their showroom today onwards. This is one of the stylist SUV I’ve seen from Hyundai. The engine has been downsized to get better fuel economy. The braking system also has improved where it delivers the right amount of braking force. So far the units available are in diesel but you can place your order for petrol. Congratulations on the launch at The Empire Hotel last night. For further information, you can call Setia Motors Sdn Bhd at 245 3506/2/9.

The new Santa Fe

The 10-day holiday trip. This is my first trip to Bali and I’m pretty excited. So I will be away for at least a week but I shall be updating my posts and editorials from Bali itself. I’ve made sure that the rooms have wifi or internet *fingers crossed* So far I’ve been reading this “Groovy Map” which gives independent reviews on places of interest, cafes, tips and many more. I have to say that the map guide is too authentic *lol* and tonight we all plan to chill at a jazz cafe around Ubud. Thank you to my readers and sorry for my lack of updates because of the time constraint.

Notice anything ironic about this pic? *lol*

The Groovy Map of Bali

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The Rainforest Gallery will be hosting a two-week charity art exhibition, themed ‘Love Cats’, from November 4 to 17.

The exhibition will feature artwork by young artists and students of the gallery. The art pieces will be up for sale and a portion of the profits from the sale will be donated to Care and Actions for Strays (CAS), a local non-governmental organisation that helps care, foster and rehabilitate stray animals and cover the costs of veterinary medical bills.

The Rainforest Gallery recognises CAS’ efforts to care for strays in Brunei and aims to help spread awareness of CAS and its objectives through the exhibition.

Denise Chhan, manager of the Rainforest Gallery said, “I follow CAS on Facebook and I see the hard work and effort they put in and the difference they try to make.”

“For a small nation, we have a huge population of strays and it is sad to see the condition these animals are in.”

“This is a great opportunity for our fellow artists and art students to do our part.”

CAS representatives will be present at the exhibition to answer any questions about the organisation, as well as attend to those interested in signing up to be members, volunteers or sponsors of CAS.

The exhibition will also feature a presentation by representatives of the Feline Appreciation Society (FAS).

Other activities set to take place during the exhibition include fun games, a colouring contest and face-painting for children.

A charity sale will also be held on tomorrow Sunday, November 4.

More than 10 booths will be set up for visitors of the exhibition, where they can purchase handicraft and artwork from the gallery, as well as see what is on offer from other vendors. A portion of proceeds from the charity sale will also be going to CAS.

One of the vendors who will be at the charity sale is home-based jewellery designer Yusrina Abdullah of Enya Bijoux, whose designs can be seen on Instagram at @enyabijoux, said in an interview, “I think it’s great that the Rainforest Gallery is giving an opportunity to up-and-coming local businesses like mine, in particular the home-based ones who are just starting up, to be a part of the event and help us gain exposure, while simultaneously doing a good deed to help the CAS organisation.”

The Rainforest Gallery is located at Block B, Unit 8, on the first floor of Shakirin Complex in Kiulap. Text by Zatty Joanda of The Brunei Times.

I won’t complain about referee this time. Regardless of the game last night, DPMM FC performed brilliantly this season after coming off a 2 year hiatus after Brunei was suspended by FIFA. Simunic’s target for the season was Top 5 and he bettered that goal by finishing a healthy second for DPMM FC. So all in all, DPMM FC did an awesome job this season and I’m more than grateful. Yes, it was so close that DPMM FC could have won the title then again it would rely on a resilient Harimau Muda to beat eventual champions Tampines Rovers.

Though a consolation victory over Balestier Khalsa would have been a better deal, the visitors caused a shock 2-0 upset over DPMM FC. They become the third team to beat DPMM FC at the national stadium after SAF FC and Harimau Muda. They defended well and the visitors had nothing to play for as they are settled for mid-table position.

Two goals from Balestier came from counter attacks. The first goal came after Azwan Salleh of DPMM FC lost possession and the visitors quickly countered and scored in the 80th minute through Zulkiffli Hassim. The second one was a beauty as Park Kang Jin raced towards the goal unmarked after a corner from DPMM FC was cleared and the Korean chipped the ball over a helpless Wardun to seal the fate of DPMM FC.

Simunic said that perhaps the second half performance was affected by them knowing the result of the other game which was not in favour of DPMM FC. Nonetheless DPMM FC still gave some glimpse of brilliance but it wasn’t a convincing performance from the home team. Perhaps some of the players were still recovering from fever after their Singapore trip last week.

It was a great scene though after the final whistle to see the fans still cheering for DPMM FC. There was also a round of applause from The Crown Prince and the Royal entourage towards DPMM FC players. Now that DPMM FC finished second in the league, would this mean Simunic want nothing less than the S•League title?

Thank you to DPMM FC for bringing the fun and the bonding among the fans and thank you to the management of DPMM FC for giving me the opportunity to work with you guys and it has been a fun season all round.

DPMM FC celebrated their success after finishing 2nd in the S•League and next year, they will be stronger

Grand opening tomorrow (Sunday)

Charity Carwash Challenge at b•mobile new HQ

Acer Malaysia is offering a special 2 hours “Acer Windows 8 Bonanza” to new or existing customers at selected PC Fairs and Dealer Stores. This 2-hour only bonus event will take place on 3rd November 2012 from 11am – 1pm at these locations:

This “Acer Windows 8 Bonanza” program is made especially for Acer new or existing customers who have been waiting for the new Acer products pre-loaded with the latest Windows 8 operating system.

Concepts Computer is listed under the “Acer Windows 8 Bonanza”

The first 100 visitors to the selected locations from 11am – 1pm will receive a goodies bag worth BND50 while stock lasts. In addition, customer who purchases any Acer products pre- loaded with Windows 8 will be entitled to an immediate rebate through a dip where you will walk away with a limited edition Acer Ferrari Mouse, Acer 500GB HDD or discount as much as RM500 or B$200. You will also be in the running to participate in the ultimate Speedy Sweep Contest where you will be rewarded with more fantastic prizes.

So Brunei is listed by Acer Malaysia to be part of the Acer Windows 8 Bonanza and you can drop by Concepts Computer at Kiulap and be the first 100 visitors to receive goodie bags!!!

Concepts Computer also have pre-installed Windows 8 in the latest Acer computers

Tonight is the big night for DPMM FC.. Good luck!!!

Will this be Simunic’s biggest glory? Tonight DPMM FC will hope for a favour from Harimau Muda to draw or beat Tampines Rovers but of course, DPMM FC will have to get points tonight against opposition Balestier Khalsa and should everything go as planned, then DPMM FC will be crowned champions. This will be Simunic’s best achievement as well as DPMM FC’s too for grabbing both the S•League Cup title and the S•League title.

According to the interview by Jason Thomas on Simunic, the DPMM FC coach remains calm before the final game of the season. He believes that DPMM FC is the team of the year and they have scored many goals and played attractive football. He was tight-lipped when asked about Harimau Muda who will be fielding mostly second stringers in their final match against Tampines Rovers.

So peeps. Tonight I hope for a packed stadium to support our local club and the tickets are selling at $5 and $8 for the public. Ticket holders are also entitled to a lucky draw and stand a chance to win a Macbook Air, iPhone 5 and many more.

Chinese establishments also to close during lunch hours

The talking point in town is about the closure of business establishments in the nation during Friday prayers. The memo has already been circulated from the Municipal Board that businesses must close from 12pm to 2pm. Today’s paper highlighted that the Chinese businesses must also close during Friday prayer.

I won’t be surprised to see a long queue in restaurants or fast food chain for take aways. I guess the community especially the non-Muslims will get accustomed to the new order.

The anniversary cake of Netcom Computer House

Netcom Computer House celebrated its 17th anniversary yesterday by holding a four-day offer at their branches nationwide.

Being established for 17 years, the company has become one of the largest IT retail shops in the Sultanate. Netcom continues to expand and develop its powerful team by building more leaders in order to provide excellent services, quality products and competitive prices to its valued customers.

During the celebration, which was held at their headquarters in Kiulap, they held a cake-cutting ceremony with all its team members to show appreciation as they are the main asset for the company’s growth. The ceremony was led by Netcom’s Managing Director, Vincent Goh and General Manager, Jackie Lim.

Staff members were also dressed in their new uniform which is light blue in colour with a hint of white on the shoulders, different compared to the previous white ones.

Currently, Netcom is the authorised distributor of some leading global brands like Dell, Prolink, Kingston (RAM Modules), Trendnet and QNAP. The company is also the authorised dealer for Acer, the business partner of Hewlett Packard (HP), the authorised reseller of Canon and the master dealer for Kaspersky products.

Highlights of Netcom’s 17th Anniversary Big Sale includes a deal for Dell Inspiron 14R i5-3210M 3rd Generation processor notebook pre-loaded with Windows 8.

Any purchase of Windows 7 notebook and desktop during this promotion period will get a free upgrade to Windows 8 if requested.

Existing Netcom customers who purchased Windows 7 notebooks and desktops can upgrade to the all-new Windows 8 at a special price of $19 only.

They have a tent set outside Netcom at Kiulap

Netcom’s Managing Director, Vincent Goh and General Manager, Jackie Lim, with the management and staff of Netcom Computer House

The staff of Netcom singing happy birthday song

The items being displayed at the tent

Netcom members whose birthday falls in November get a free Prolink USB mouse without requiring any purchase by showing their Identity Card at any Netcom branch during the offer period.

Customers who spend $100 and above will be entitled to bring home a Dell umbrella, while stocks last, for free and with the amount, they will automatically be registered as a Netcom member where they can enjoy member benefits, promotion on special events and more.

With the celebration of Netcom’s 17th anniversary, selected items are available at $17 only. Prolink and Trendnet products, including Kingston RAM (notebook, desktop and server) will also be given a special 17 per cent discount.

At the Technical Service Centre, customers are entitled for a free inspection of their notebook or desktop, 20 per cent discount on service charges and customers who spend $30 and above will get a 50 per cent discount voucher which can be used for their next service.

With every purchase, customers are entitled to join Netcom’s draw, standing a chance to win a Dell Inspiron 14z i7 Ultrabook and other attractive prizes.

All the above promotions and offers are available for all five Netcom branches nationwide until November 4, 2012.

During the promotion period, the operating time for Kiulap branch will be from 9am to 9pm. For more information, visit Netcom’s Facebook page “NetcomBrunei”.

Additional promotions are also given for every customer purchasing a Dell battery 6-cell 8NH55 for Inspiron N5110/N4110/N4010/N4050/N5010/Vostro 1450, which is priced at $119. They will get a Transcend 500GB 2.5″ USB 3.0 HDD (Hard Disk Drive) for free. Text by Ammirul Adnan of The Brunei Times.

Vincent, Boon Hui and Hassan

Yazid and Rayner looking for router at Netcom

For a promotional price, this bag is only $17 to commemorate the anniversary

They even sell phones such as iPhone, SIII, Note II and many more

Shoppers are eligible for lucky draw at Netcom Computer House

The promotional items at Netcom House Computer

The voucher sample from Netcom House Computer

The Smart Pass do come in handy

I was introduced to this unique gadget by Aaron Sitai, the owner of GadgetPlus Store (GPS) and he showed me a quick demo on how convenient a Smart Pass can do for car owners.

Let’s give this scenario. I drive down to “kedai runcit” and I normally buy my goodies or newspaper and it’s just a 30 second pitstop. We have the tendency not to turn off the engine and just leave it on and take for granted that Brunei is a safe place. Well, you will be surprised. It happened to my friend and in a matter of seconds, he lost his valuables in the passenger seat.

So now, with Smart Pass, you can safely lock your car with your engine still running by tapping the Smart Pass on the censor of the device (Smart Pass RF Reader). Now these are pretty ideal especially those who fall in this category and also companies that does a lot of delivery services to their clients. Of course, it’s still convenient for the usual drivers like us too.

Not to worry, peeps, as it won’t harm your ECU as the fitting won’t tamper with it. The best part is that if you have your existing central locking system, it is still compatible with Smart Pass.

The Smart Pass locks the car by just tapping it on the Smart Pass RF reader

You can even put the Smart Tag in your smart phone for convenience

If you buy one, it comes with a Smart Pass RF Reader and two tags (a card and one for smartphone)

Each box set comes with the Smart Pass device and two tags – one for your smartphones and the other a credit card sized tag. For your info, each Smart Pass RF Reader unit can allow up to 7 authorized smart tags to be registered onto its system allowing multiple users with an authorized tag to access the same vehicle. Additional tags can be purchased separately.

So far that this awesome gadget works with Korean and Japanese cars. Of course, other continental cars do still work but it might need more work depending on the complexity. So far the cars that have been tested are Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and KIA to name a few. It has also been fitted to Audi, BMW and Chevrolet too.

So what’s the pricing for the Smart Pass?

Smart Pass – $399 excluding fitting fee
Additional Cell Phone Tag $28
Additional Card Tag $28
Waterproof Sports wristband $48

So far the authorized fitters are Autopro Typre (behind The Arch call: 242 7242) and Fong Seng & Co (Goodwood Building, Menglait call 245 0780)

You can contact Aaron directly if you want to know more info about the Smart Pass at 710 9929 or add him on Facebook: Hibernator Awake. You can also view some videos for demo here here and here

Local reporter Quratul Ain Bandial along with journalists from fifteen other countries will be in the United States as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) titled “Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists” from October 27 to November 17.

The three week program invites up and coming media leaders from around the world to examine journalistic practices in the United States. The program is an innovative public-private partnership between the Department of State, the Aspen Institute, and leading U.S. schools of journalism.

U.S. Embassy Brunei Darussalam selected local reporter Quratul Ain Bandial from The Brunei Times to participate in the program.

“The ER Murrow Project offers media professionals from around the world the opportunity to interact with some of the most venerated media institutions and personalities in the U.S. What I hope to bring back to Brunei is a better understanding of the challenges journalists face in a rapidly evolving industry – such as sustaining the relevance of traditional media with the advent of digital media,” Quratul said.

“I am confident my participation in the ER Murrow Project will contribute to my professional development and bring a fresh perspective on current trends and challenges facing the media industry,” Quratul said.

U.S. Ambassador Daniel L. Shields presenting Ms. Quratul Ain Bandial with her tickets and important IVLP information

Prior to departing Brunei, Quratul met with U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shields thanking him for the opportunity to learn more about the U.S. media and political culture.

Ambassador Shields encouraged Quratul to make the most of the professional development program and noted it is an exciting time in the U.S. with the presidential elections. Quratul agreed the trip was especially timely and said she looked forward to being able to witness it firsthand. Ambassador Shields said he was pleased with her selection and the deepening of people-topeople ties between the United States and Brunei Darussalam.

The Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists examines the rights and responsibilities of the press. Participants explore the operational practices, standards, and institutions of the media in the U.S. and gain insight into American social, economic, and political structures. As the presidential election will take place during the second week of the program, the program also addresses political reporting and the role of the media in the election process. Unique features of this project include a day-long symposium highlighting current trends and challenges in the media profession and foreign affairs reporting; and partner university programs focused on the implementation of journalistic principals.

The IVLP program is an all expense paid trip supported by the U.S. Department of State.

From 247 Assist

The awesome spacious leg room will be much appreciated for movie goers

Guess what? All that constructions at Times Square paid off. The much awaited cineplex at Times Square is almost ready for business. News are slowly spreading on social media on tonight’s screening of Skyfall which is the only movie showing so far. So it’s kinda like a soft or dry run for the new cinema – TimesCineplex.

The first show will be showing tonight and you can call 234 1122 for bookings if I’m not mistaken. But for now, the escalator is not operating just yet so the only access is going through Times Hotel lift and go to the 4th floor. I will be catching Skyfall later at The Mall Cineplex and will pay a visit to TimesCineplex after my Bali trip.

TimesCineplex will make it the 5th Cineplex in Brunei Darussalam and I believe competition now will get stiffer, considering the Cineplexes between Seri Q-Lap Cineplex, The Mall Cineplex and TimesCineplex is only a 5-7km radius. Well, competition is good and by the looks of it, I like the atmosphere at TimesCineplex and the seats as well. Looks like The Mall Cineplex and TimesCineplex will have my thumbs up.

Not sure when will the escalator will be in operation

Shahrazen Said can end the Singapore League (S-League) season second in the goal-scoring charts but the striker insists it won’t mean a thing unless DPMM FC beat Tampines Rovers FC for the title in tomorrow’s season-ender.

The country’s only professional club is gearing up for its biggest match in history, facing Balestier Khalsa FC at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas tomorrow night in a must-win match if they are to lift the S-League trophy for the first time.

Defending champions and league leaders Tampines take on Malaysian national Under-23 side Harimau Muda at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore in the night’s other game, and a slip up from the Stags combined with a DPMM FC win will see the Great Eastern Yeo’s S-League trophy travel across the South China Sea. Click here for more of the article written by Jason Thomas.

This picture is a special memory for Sairol who made his first appearance in DPMM FC colours during the Malaysian League. The familiar faces are Wardun, Rosmin and Subhi.

So peeps, another great reason to come and watch DPMM FC this Friday 2nd November is because you will stand a chance to win an iPhone 5 and the management are giving away two of those *Awesome* Other great prizes are a Macbook Air, a huge flat screen TV, PS3 console, Samsung Galaxy III and other cool gadgets.. Now aren’t these awesome incentives for you to come and watch DPMM FC play their final game at home grown and furthermore, even a great chance of lifting the S•League title? There’s also a sponsor who will be giving away 200 DPMM t-shirts as part of the lucky draw. By the way, the tickets are only on sale this Friday starting at 9am at the National Stadium.

Guest of honour Awang Mutalib distributed the sacrificial meats to needy members

Guest of honour Awang Mutalib distributed the sacrificial meats to needy members

AITI held a korban ceremony at the AITI premises, Anggerek desa. The sacrifice is an annual ceremony, which is the third that has been practised by AITI. This is done in remembrance of the religious significance of the sacrifice that Nabi Ibrahim was willing to do to show his loyalty to Allah SWT.

The Guest of honour for the function was Awang Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yusof, Acting Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Communications and also in his capacity as the acting Chairman of AITI last Monday.

The function was also attended by the management and staff of AITI. The function began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Mohammad Erman Bin Nassar. This was followed by takbir hari raya led by Sheikh Abd Hamdani Bin Dato Paduka Sheikh Haji Abdul Gani. A talk on the benefits of korban and aqiqah was also held, given by Ustaz Haji Suhaimi bin Mohd. Noor from the Pusat Da’wah Islamiah.

Two buffaloes and two lambs were sacrificed for the ceremony. 15 AITI staff and family members took part in the sacrifice. The sacrificial meats were distributed to 10 needy members of the community and also to the 75 staff of AITI.

Thanksgiving Doa Selamat was read at the end of the ceremony by Mohammad Erman Bin Nassar. Press release by AITI.

Have you tried the cuisine at Caliente? First opening its doors in the month of April of this year, Caliente which is located in Regent Square has satisfied its patrons with its Spanish cuisine.

Spanish cuisine has a rich and cultural history drawn from a mixture of European and North African food and even a slight greek influence.

One popular food item is tapas which was originally used to refer to a piece of bread used as a lid to cover drinks. Today tapas is the most acquired Spanish cuisine owing to the versatility and ease of its preparation, Caliente offers its patrons this versatile experience drawing from the best loved tapas enjoyed all over spain which could either be a perfect appetiser or even a complete meal.

Spanish tortillas, chorizo, prawns mackerel and anchovies along with the simple yet scrumptious patatas bravas are all featured in Caliente’s hot and cold tapas selection.

The owners stated most of the ingredients used in spanish cuisine are olive oil based and uses fresh green vegetables. Some of the ingredients are even specially imported from Spain such as the case for the flour used to make Caliente’s nachos and many more. Soon they will be bringing another European chef.

Caliente now has new promotion such as the Tapas specialty selections and spanish corn dog and they also have the executive lunch set. So a good reason to give Caliente a visit.

It is located on 1st Floor, Regent Square at Kiulap. Call 223 4549 for reservation. Oh yeah, I’m quite surprised that not many know of Regent Square at Kiulap.. Maybe they know of the building but not of the name of the area. You can also visit their Facebook to look for updates.

The Bandar Run 2012 event is an event held in celebration of commemorating the 42nd Anniversary of changing the name Bandar Brunei to Bandar Seri Begawan. In 1970, Bandar Brunei was renamed as Bandar Seri Begawan in commemoration of Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien as Seri Begawan Sultan.

The event is organised by Municipal Board and supported by Armtrix and Cityneon. There are 2.5km, 5km, 10km and 21km runs available and it’s happening on the 25th November 2012 at Taman SOAS. Participants will get a T-shirt and also a finisher medal except for fun runners. The last day of registration is on 8th November 2012 and you can download the form here. For more inquiry, you can email info@larianbandar.com. Another awesome thing is that they have awesome lucky draw prizes ranging from iPhone 5, Macbook Pro and many more.

Bandar Seri Begawan with an estimated population of 140,000 is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei.Seri Begawan was named after the Sultan’s late father Omar Ali Saifuddien on 5th October 1970, it’s original name being Bandar Brunei or Brunei Town. Begawan is a name given to Bruneian monarchs who have abdicated, originally coming from the Sanskrit word for “god”. Seri also comes from the honorific Sanskrit and originally means “port” or “heaven”. In Malay bandar has taken on the meaning of “town”.

Click image to enter official website

The number of family members welcoming the return of the 400 Brunei Haj pilgrims on November 1 and 3 will be reduced, because of the limited capacity of the facilities at the Brunei International Airport which is undergoing its modernisation project.

Several measures have been put in place to ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims, their family members as well as other travellers, said Abdulrahman Abdul Aziz, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Head of Corporate Services, Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), in a media conference at the Brunei International Airport yesterday.

One of the measures include opening up the P1 parking at the airport which was closed for upgrade works since December 15 last year. The parking area is expected to be completed on October 29, three days before the arrival of the first flight carrying 135 pilgrims. The group is expected to arrive at 9am.

The second flight carrying the remaining 265 pilgrims is expected to arrive in Brunei on November 3 at 4.55pm. The Arrival Hall and the interim ‘Meeters & Greeters’ area will also be closed for several hours during the entire duration of the Haj pilgrims arrival.

Abdulrahman Abdul Aziz, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Head of Corporate Services, Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) briefing to the media

The closure will take place 45 minutes prior to the arrival of the Haj flight, said Abdurahman, and will reopen when all the pilgrims have moved to the designated area at P1. The airport’s departure hall, Abdurahman said, as well as pick-up and drop-off point for passengers at parking area P2 that houses the taxi stand, parking payment counter will not be affected.

However, only passengers will have access to the departure hall via the arrival hall, he added. Upon arrival at the airport, the Haj pilgrims will exit to the designated area at P1 via a temporary 150metre passage. The passage will be equipped with two emergency doors and air-conditioning to ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims.

Temporary tents with basic facilities (such as portable toilets) will also be set up at the P1 parking area for family members. Abdurahman said family members can pick up the Haj pilgrims at the designated area the P1 parking area, located near the airport roundabout.

Entrance to the parking area P1 will only be allowed for cars with the passes issued by Haj Affairs Management one car pass for each pilgrim. Parking passes can be collected from the Haj Affairs Department on October 29 and 30 between 8am to11am, and 2pm to 3.30pm. Abdulrahman said: “We hope members of the public will give full cooperation to the relevant authorities.”

The Assistant CEO also assured the public that there will be enough parking spaces – more than 400 – for the families and officers on duty so there “is no need to rush”. Members of the media were brought to the site to inspect the progress of the modernisation project as well as the facilities to be set up with the arrival of Haj pilgrims.

The press conference was attended by senior officials from Haj Affairs Department, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Civil Aviation Department, Ministry of Communications and BEDB. Text by Rasidah HAB of The Brunei Times.

The overview map to show the flow

Do click image to enlarge

Click image to enter website

Click image to enter webpage

Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) reveals its new livery and logo on 30th October 2012 at an event held at Hangar 1, Brunei International Airport. The new livery and logo was revealed on an Airbus A320, which was painted by RB’s own in-house engineering team.

Attending the event was the Minister of Communications, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar as Guest of Honour, as well as RB’s Chairman and Board of Directors, staff and other invited guests.

Included in the guest list were some of the country’s national icons: Two of Brunei’s Olympians, Maziah Mahusin, Brunei’s first female Olympian who represented Brunei at the London Summer Olympics in the 400m run, Ak Hafiy Tajuddin Pg Rositi who represented Brunei at the London Summer Olympics in the 400m run, the Under-21 football team who were the champions of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in March 2012, and the Kilimanjaro team an all female team who raised the Brunei Flag at the highest peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2001.

Prior to the reveal, Royal Brunei Airlines has been releasing teasers of its redefinition of travel to in the local market, both via print and online adverts and the “Smile Squad”; who has been sparking public curiosity over the past two weeks. The Smiles Squad has been spotted in different parts of the country, spreading genuine smiles and good cheer to the public.

Mr. Dermot Mannion, Deputy Chairman of RB, said “Over the next year, we will be redefining the Royal Brunei Airlines flying experience, starting with our classic styled new livery and logo. This redefinition is not merely an ad campaign, but rather a long term commitment to our passengers to create a family-like, peaceful and tranquil atmosphere with high class customer service.

The new livery and logo is the first step on RB’s rebranding journey. Over the next year, the national carrier will be rolling out a new website experience (including new social media experience), new uniforms and new lounge and ticket office environments. The completion of the rebranding process will be timed to coincide with the entry into service of 787 Boeing Dreamliners 1st September 2013, making RB the first airline in South-East Asia to take delivery of this ultra modern aircraft.

Happy-ness is one of the values that Royal Brunei wants to bring to the airline

Mr. Dermot Mannion, Deputy Chairman of RB, hinted of new uniform

The current uniform will be replaced. But it’s not known when just yet.

Waiting for the new livery at RB Hangar

It was also my first time at the hangar. Man, it was pretty humid inside

The audience were also itching to take tons of photos

One of the pilots for RB

The icons of Brunei

The VIPs and the icons taking a quick picture for the media

Handing over of souvenir

Some of Dermot Mannion’s quotes during his remarks – “Tonight we are here to celebrate the launch of our first Airbus aircraft bearing the new livery and logo of Royal Brunei. This is the first step on a rebranding journey, which will extend from now until the end of next year and beyond. In that period, our remaining Airbus aircraft will complete the repainting process by March 2013. Subsequently, we expect to complete the implementation of new signage and livery at all of our customer touch points in time for the entry into service of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in September 2013.

During this period, we will also be progressively rolling out a number of new customer experiences. Here are a few of the initiatives already under preparation:
• newly designed crockery,
• a whole new web site experience,
• a redesign for our much loved Muhibah inflight magazine,
• more social media interaction.
• and of very keen interest to all of our staff, new uniforms for all those in customer facing roles.

Distinguished guests and Ladies and Gentlemen, our existing livery and logo have served this company well for over 25 years but the time is right for change. In the two years, it has been my privilege to serve here in Brunei I have come to know and appreciate the distinguishing characteristics and qualities of this country and of the Bruneian people. Qualities such as graciousness, style, understated elegance, peace, tranquility, hospitality and harmony with nature.

In a fast moving and ever changing world these timeless values become ever more important to the travelling public who more and more are looking for their time on aircraft to represent an oasis of peace ‘far from the madding crowd’. Royal Brunei Airlines and the people of Brunei have the tools to deliver this kind of travel experience.

The rebranding journey, which we embark upon tonight presents us with a unique opportunity to present these key attributes to our customers in a lively, interesting and contemporary way. Royal Brunei’s new brand story will be one of authenticity, optimism, timeless values, simple pleasures and golden touches, which are aimed to surprise and delight.

To make all of this work we recognize that we need the buy in of every single member of staff especially those in the customer facing departments Already we have increased our investment in staff training and empowerment with much more to come. This is already paying dividends with Royal Brunei award as ‘Best Foreign Airline 2001 State of Sabah and more recently we have been shortlisted in the distinguished company of Emirates and Qatar Airways by Business Destinations magazine for the award of ‘Best Economy Class’ to the Middle East.” Text speech by Dermot Mannion.

The Kilimanjaro ladies

Asif Poshori and the jazz band

Azlan of Mixmediaworx with the guys behind the rebranding journey, Christina Chen and Julian Barrans, Managing Director of Interbrand

Fancy the new logo?

Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abd Hamid the guest of honour presented the meat to a DST employee

More than 400 boxes of Korban and Aqiqah meat were distributed recently in the spirit of Aidil Adha celebrations.

A Korban and Aqiqah ceremony was held at DST Headquarters, Tungku Link, where boxes of meat from eight buffaloes, four cows and 20 goats were handed out to Korban and Aqiqah participants, fakir miskin (poor and destitute) households as well as members of personnel involved in the ritual slaughter ceremony.

Present to handout the meat was Yang Mulia, Awang Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abd Hamid, a member of DST Board of Directors, who was the guest of honour for the Korban and Aqiqah ceremony. Also present at the event was Awang Junaidi bin Haji Masri and Awang Abdul Latiff bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Md Yusuf, members of DST of Board of Directors, Mr. Idris T. Vasi, Chief Executive Officer, DST, DST Management and staff.

The ceremony began with the recitation of the Takbir followed by welcoming remarks of the DST Korban and Aqiqah chairman of the working commitee, Pengiran Marali bin Pengiran Haji Razali. In his speech he highlighted that Korban and Aqiqah ceremony has been annually held and volunteered by DST staff. Among the objectives of the event were to commerate Prophet Ibrahim’s (Alaihi Assalaam) willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah (SWT) to distribute the sacrificial meat to the poor and destitute. This year, there are some 120 volunteers who have inculcated teamwork in voluntary and charitable work among the staff. In collaboration with the Human Resource Department, it is rewarding to have this initiative as it further strengthen the relationship among the staff.

The Korban and Aqiqah meat will be distributed to a wider community, the less fortunate families and orphans at Brunei Muara Districts.

Pengiran Marali bin Pengiran Haji Razali, Chairman of DST Korban and Aqiqah working committee

Click image to enter The Future Fund website

Last year, the MoU among DST, AITI and BEDB was signed for the The Future Fund initiative by DST. As Idris Vasi, CEO of DST said that the Future Fund is designed to create business opportunities for ICT companies in Brunei especially to promising entrepreneurs which will also help to accelerate the ICT growth in the Sultanate. I remember a decade ago, the community will always bring up issue of fundings.. Then came in BEBD and AITI who offer grants for entrepreneurs in the past two years and now DST has joined the bandwagon to give more access to entrepreneurs. iCentre will also be playing part providing mentorship for successful applicants.

It was recently launched during the THiNK Big Innovate Forum 2012 and Hajah Safrina binti Pehin Dato Abd Rahman, Manager, Group Corporate Communications, DST and a member of The Future Fund Marketing Team said “The Future Fund is created to invest in up and coming Bruneian ICT companies, giving priorty to technology developed in Brunei and to generate business opportunities. The Future Fund is to assist entrepreneurs who have great ideas but little funding. Successful entrepreneurs will not only benefit from the funding, but also from the opportunity to link to a network of local industry players and international ICT entrepreneurs.”

On Monday, Melina Jaini of DST also shared DST’s Future Fund to the participants of the Google Development Group DevFest 2012 at DST HQ. With The Future Fund, a promising start-up can receive an investment of up to BND$50,000 for the first tranche and up to a maximum total investment of BND$150,000 per investee.

The fund is open to the public, with the criteria requiring the company to be at least 50 per cent owned by Bruneians, or for anyone who has a great idea. For interested applicants, visit The Future Fund website,thefuturefund.com.bn for more information about the fund and how to apply. Application forms together with business plans are to be submitted to the iCentre. If an applicant do not have in depth knowledge of how to make a business plan, not to worry as The Future Fund can be contacted for assistance.

For more information, contact +673 7191199 or via email at info@thefuturefund.com.bn

Melina Jaini of DST briefing on DST’s Future Fund last Monday