Posts Tagged ‘Jakarta’
3 more days
The Good, The So-So and The Bad. Ah, Jakarta.. It has been more than 10 years since my last visit to the city. I remember my last trip was with regards to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf trip, meeting potential franchisors in the region. I didn’t have much sentimental value back then but that changed over the course of the weekend during our toastmasters trip to attend the Jakarta Conference 2016.
I’m already feeling the pressure as I have volunteered myself to be responsible in running the Brunei Conference 2016 coming October. Then again, I have a reliable set of team in Brunei and it will also test my leadership skills in managing the event and striking the right chords with my team too.
Kashish Ajit Harjani (3rd from left) won the the Table Topics District Contest in Jakarta last weekend
Denish Vaswani (3rd from left)
Reuben Chin interviewing Pranika Lama
The contestants from the tables topic contest
With Allen, Fen and Pamela during Welcoming Dinner
So the Good… Well, I like the setting of the toastmasters conference. The venue was spot on for the toastmasters delegate and spacious as well (to a certain extent.. explain later). I can learn some pointers for the banner/backdrop that was used during the conference. The hotel we stayed at Santika Hayam Wuruk was pretty cool though the rooms were slightly small and it was about BND 650 for five nights.
The best part of the conference was the re-connecting with old faces and breaking the ice with new ones. Despite the minor friction from different divisions in our District, I made acquaintance with a few toastmasters members from Medan, Jakarta and Kuching. I learnt that I am able to get out of the comfort zone (as in being with my team members) and meet other members outside the Brunei contingent. That’s one way of expanding your horizons instead of imploding. This I have to take note for future conferences.
My final say of the juicy part of the conference was the actual speech contest, notably the International Speech category. Of course, we were all in Jakarta to support our Division champion Pranika Lama, a UBD Toastmasters member, and it was her first time reaching this level. I had faith in her speech because of her pure dedication and commitment to bring the best out of her.
To my surprise, the other contestants were equally good or better. They have just raised the bar for District 87 and sometimes it does pay when you have experience under your belt in this level. Dinesh Vaswani and Rebecca were no strangers and they had a 1-2 finish respectively and well-deserved too. As for Pranika, I truly grateful to witness you just being on stage and delivered a masterful delivery and many would be inspired to be a better speaker like you.
Now the so-so. It was cool know the fact that even a turnover of Chairmanship happened three times, things doesn’t necessarily will run smoothly. It means more transference and hand-over deals that could have been avoided before the actual conference. The Annual Conference is the second biggest after the World Conference and we could see teething problems along the way which I hope the organizing committee will bring it up during their post mortem.
Our rooms weren’t handled to a delicate manner and there were a few miscommunication with the logistic person and the front office of the hotel. It took me an hour to settle my room situation upon arrival.
Another teething problem was the actual contest. Yes, I did praise about the good quality speeches but behind the scenes, it was a total mess. There were no specific Organizing Chair for the contest. Nico from Medan was their standby emcee. Even the organizing chairperson asked me halfway during the contest if I could interview the contestants (But we all know that’s the task of the Contest Chair who happened to be Reuben and Pamela).
Among all these setbacks during the contest, I have to applaud Reuben Chin for lifting the energy of the audience when there was an unexpected delay before the prize presentation due to contestants’ protests on some matters. He was purely magical and charismatic in carrying the flow for at least 20 minutes to buy time for the Chief Judge to decide.
Like I said, just some teething problems that could have been avoided with proper communications. Something that we can’t take for granted.
Peter Voon from Bintulu and Gerald Goh
Yay, our area got awarded from Toastmasters International
Area K6, one of the strongest group in Division K, District 87
Now the Bad. Honestly, as a member of our toastmasters District 87, I was hoping for a better leadership from the District. The “Reaching Up, Reaching Out” but it didn’t reach the heights that was quite ambitious by our District Director. Perhaps the lowest point was when the District Director avoided a legit question by our Area K6 Director Allen Ang who raised concerns on the financial aspect of the District 87. A similar question was raised back in October 2015 in Bali but it was brushed off. This time, the District Director and the Finance Manager were put in the spotlight for a few minutes but their replies were fruitless and inconclusive. I felt embarrassed as a member that our leaders are not capable to answer a straight forward question and just be accountable for their actions. I hope the next term will turn things around with the newly elect Ivy Lau as the Division Director 2016-2017.
Another note, I wasn’t impressed with the Gala Dinner. We started quite early and we always know how draggy the Gala Dinner will be because of the award session. This is the time where toastmaster members and clubs will be recognized for their achievements and milestones. This is the time where delegates will sacrifice their personal time and fly to Jakarta at their own expense to receive their award.
However, it didn’t go as planned. The entertainment took bulk of the session over dinner where the awards should have given much importance. In the end, the award ceremony only started after 10pm which is pretty late and the overall experience seemed so rushed. It was probably the fastest award ceremony I’ve experienced as a delegate and it felt it was given less importance. Something for the organizers to look back and analyze on this event. The entertainment was already great on the Welcoming Dinner but to have on both nights, you will need to strike a balance on the Gala Dinner.
Brunei Speakers’ Club were awarded with two accolades
One of the energetic speakers at the Jakarta Conference. Cheeky too.
Our District leaders for Brunei, Indonesia, KK, Kuching and Labuan
During the District Council Meeting last Friday
Allen Ang raised a few valid points that still remains unanswered from District
The panels of District 87 leaders
The flag bearers for the opening ceremony
Some night activities during Welcome Dinner
There are many others that I want to highlight but I shall leave that offline. Overall, I had a splendid time because of the people around that I connected and reconnected with. Thank you, once again, to the organizers but don’t take my feedback personally but as a learning lesson.
Having said all these, it might backfire since I am the next organizing chair. I’m not raising any expectations for my conference either but at least, we as a team want to make everything run as smooth and make the delegates especially the international ones feel like home. That time will come and we will be ready to host all of you.
With the beautiful Pranika
Dinesh one of the most experienced public speaker. He will fly to Washington to compete in the World Conference this August. Good luck 😀
One of the table topics speaker
I was pitching for the delegates to come over to Brunie
Team KK are well ahead as they have secured 100 paying registrants for their convention next year
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So Nice
Shoppers, on your mark: It’s the Weekend again and Malppy has been coming up with different knock out deals each week. This weekend is no exception and this time it’s even better! Introducing their latest promotion program which they called it the 2ndBasket, otherwise commonly known as Purchase with Purchase in the departmental stores or supermarkets. Their second basket items vary from accessories like earrings to necklaces and bracelets which you can get it at a fraction of the original price. You will be entitled to purchase 3 of their price saving 2nd Basket item if you buy any one of their main item.
To find out more about their 2nd Basket Promotion program, please click here
LAST REMINDER: We have come to the last weekend of Movember in a blink of an eye. Don’t miss out the chance to grab your FREE Movember String Bag which worth $23.90 in their malppy store now. You just need to purchase $50 above in one transaction and the Movember String Bag is yours for FREE. 2 more days till the end of November. Head on to Malppy.com now!
Review of Penguins of Madagascar with co-host Del Goh. Was it a hit or miss? Do find out!!
The Energy Kitchen, Brunei’s first truly healthy restaurant is proud to present Jason Lew as its new Executive Chef. The addition of Chef Jason to our international team of both local and international chefs will further improve what is already one of Brunei’s Best Healthy Restaurants. Chef Jason has been in the food industry since he was 19, with professional training and very inspiring work experience in Australia. On top of that, he has previously worked for 5 star international hotel chain where he has the opportunity to pick up fine dining skills in the kitchen. Prior to joining The Energy Kitchen, he also made a name for himself as a home-based caterer under his brand The Fat Chef, cooking up creative feasts and hosting dinners for a wide variety of events and functions.
Inspired by The Energy Kitchen’s healthy vision and His Majesty’s titah, which is to build a healthier nation in the country, Chef Jason decided to embark on a transformational journey from “Fat Chef” to “Fit Chef”. He took up the challenge to do something truly different with food, that is to continue to create delicious food, but with a twist to make it truly healthy and exciting.
According to Wu Chun, “In addition to his new, healthier approach to food, Chef Jason’s newfound commitment to his health also involves undergoing rigorous fitness training and frequent brainstorming with the certified dietician at Fitness Zone. Together with The Energy Kitchen, Chef Jason is keen to show Brunei what ‘REAL FOOD’ is all about – fresh food, made from scratch with minimal processing, high nutritional value (Superfoods!) and lighter cooking methods (no deep frying!).”
Chef Jason added, “Their mission is to show Brunei that healthy food does not have to be bland, boring or plain. In fact, it is entirely possible to enjoy tasty, wholesome food daily, and continue to lead a healthy lifestyle.”
Wu Chun of Energy Kitchen, holding a new inspired dish, Grilled Chicken Satay Beehon, with Chef Jason of Energy Kitchen
In conjunction with the announcement, The Energy Kitchen is introducing a number of new healthy dishes that owner Wu Chun and Chef Jason have been working on. The new Grilled Chicken Satay Beehoon is a delicious combination of brown rice vermicelli tossed in signature Almond Satay Sauce, egg, blanched kangkong, and succulent cumin grilled lean chicken breast. The Beef Stew is slow cooked with root vegetables, served with refreshing herbed quinoa tossed with raisins and cucumber. The Energy Kitchen’s version of Gado-Gado, their Nihon Gyu (Japanese inspired) burger and few other new dishes will also be added to the menu.
The Energy Kitchen held its grand opening last month and it has been in operation for 6 months now. The response has been great, as the market for healthy food is growing fast and The Energy Kitchen couldn’t be more proud in helping to spearhead this trend. The Energy Kitchen will continue its quest to prove that you can go for a healthy makan that is good for your body and can be simple, innovative and always great tasting.
So why don’t you pop in and give The Energy Kitchen a try? Your body won’t regret it.
To know more, do visit The Energy Kitchen’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theenergykitchen, follow them on Instagram @theenergykitchen. The Energy Kitchen’s operation hours are 7.30am til 10.30pm. Reservations can be made by calling 2233323. Text and image courtesy of Energy Kitchen.
Synopsis of Amas
A local drama education organisation – SEEDS – is ready to perform its own original production titled “Amas” for their annual year-end activity.
SEEDS have been producing their own versions of some of the famous musicals such as Oliver!, Willy Wonka, Into the Woods, Wicked and Lion King for the past five years. This year, the team took an exciting challenge of writing their own original show set in Brunei.
The original production features “Amas” who is a 115 year old lady dreaming of the past. The audience will be taken back in time to her childhood years in Kampong Ayer, when exciting and challenging developments were afoot in Brunei.
With the background of life on the water village and relationships with her parents and family friends, Amas recalls a time when she was a mischievous 10-year-old during the beginning of schools and formal education, as well as later when she was 20 and training to be a teacher, and a discovery of oil that promised prosperity for all.
The play will surely take the audience on a memorable journey back in time, reminiscing the sights and sounds, traditions and music of old Kampong Ayer. Text courtesy of Hafiizah Maideen of The Brunei Times.
Tickets are still available at a priced of $15 each selling outside the Multi-Purpose Hall, Universiti Brunei Darussalan (UBD) and are available from 2-5pm and 7-10pm (excluding Thursday) until show time!. For more information and changes on time, don’t hesitate to contact SEEDS at their social media accounts Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/seedsbrunei or Twitter @seedsbrunei.
The casts and crew of Amas during their preview night a few nights ago. Sorry, I couldn’t make it.
Images courtesy of SEEDS Brunei
One of the scenes from Amas
Grab your tickets now and support our local talents
The APICTA is an international awards program which aims to increase ICT awareness in the community and bridge the digital divide. By providing networking and product benchmarking opportunities to ICT innovators and entrepreneurs in the region, the program is designed to stimulate ICT innovation and creativity, promote economic and trade relations, facilitate technology transfer, and offer business matching opportunities through exposure to venture capitalists and investors.
Participants of the awards program comprise of members of the APICTA Alliance. APICTA’s 17 member-economies include Australia, Brunei, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
The delegation is led by Hj Yahkup bin Haji Menudin, Chief Executive of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), who is also the Chairman of the BICTA 2014 working committee.
Brunei’s executive member representatives at APICTA committee are Hj Yahkup bin Hj Menudin, Chief Executive of AITI and Wallace Koh, Advisor of AITI, who will be attending the APICTA 2014 event and annual APICTA General Meeting.
Brunei also sends 5 representatives as APICTA 2014 Judges who will be judging the competition in different categories. These judges are Hj Osman bin Hj Ladis and Wallace Koh Hoe Aik from AITI, Pg Sarimah bte Pg Abd Latiff from IFB, Jennifer Voon from Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) and Jeremy Chua from iCentre.
Brunei delegation led by Hj Yahkup bin Haji Menudin, Chief Executive of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) with the Brunei teams competing for this year’s APICTA 2014 in Jakarta. Taken at Brunei International Airport.
These six teams competing are:
Chung Hwa Middle School, BSB with “Heritage of South East Asia”;
Kolej International Graduate Studies (IGS) with “Virtual Watch Fitting”;
Sekolah Vokasional Nakhoda Ragam with the product “SVNR Staff Network”;
Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) with “The Sulu Princess”;
Teleconsult Sdn Bhd with “Teleconsult SkyEye”; and
PHMD Publishing Company with the project “Salam Halal”.
Participation in APICTA is a continuous initiative by the Ministry of Communications to develop the country’s ICT industry by allowing ICT product developers to compete on an international level. Brunei Darussalam teams who win at APICTA will be given a grant of $50,000 by AITI to further develop and enhance their product to become a marketable product. The 2nd prize or Merit Award winners will be given a grant of $25,000.
At APICTA 2013, Brunei Darussalam won two Merit awards by Chung Hwa Middle School, KB with the product “Higher Education Guidance System (Hedges)“ and Institut Teknologi of Brunei (ITB) with the product “AutiSay”. Press release and image courtesy of AITI.
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