BSP 80th Anniversary with His Majesty 30/09/2009

Random pictures of today's event with the hugely popular and much loved ruler of Negara Brunei Darussalam. It was such a happy and joyous ocassion as you can see from the pictures.

BSP 80th Anniversary - The Anticipations

And special supplement from Borneo Bulletin to congratulate BSP for today's memorable ocassion.

Big Day - BSP 80 year's anniversary

BSP is 80 years old this year. And we are celebrating today with the attendance of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan And Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. His Majesty will graciously consented to a working visit to BSP Head Office today 30th September 2009 at 9.30am. We were requested (on voluntary basis) to line the pathway along the road at BSP Telecomms Building leading to the main block entrance with our little/mini Brunei flags. And we also can meet His Majesty at a few designated locations in the Head Office from 10.30am after the launching ceremony.

The preparation were in full swing for the past 2 weeks. The building was refurbished and retouched to all its glory. Very grand and sophisticated. Even shiny, flashy and bright. We even have new couch/sofa on the foyer, lol. Not to mention new picture frames and new marble tiles. And the activities were in full swing leading up to the day. For the past few days, its been full of activities, people were moving around. People we dont know, mostly from the government, the protocol people. RTB people with their big vans, sercurity personnel did their rounds and made all the necessary checks everywhere to ensure alll will be safe and sound. And our own BSP people are also busy with the preparations to ensure our offices and our atrium are presentable for all the visitors. Wow.. the Bruneians, we are indeed the main asset for this company. The foundation and the strong contingent of us the Bruneians thats make up what BSP is today.

The renovation is awesome, it showcased what BSP has achieved for the past 80 years as the leading oil and gas company in Brunei. I especially love the Technology Coridor where His Majesty will gracefully walk through later in the morning. In a way, I am proud to be part of this milestone. I know that BSP has done alot to the country. We have all the technology and the people to advance even further in this business. We are among the best in the world. And we are responsible to be the main breedwinner in Brunei.

Very important indeed.

Will upload some pictures later of today's event and the preparation leading up to it.

Long lost cousin?

Ok, I've got to record and document this, should go into history and down the memory lane. It shouldnt be forgotten till the end of time (not)!

What I wanted to write is about the cousin of mine. Its a long story between my dad and his step brother. Out of the blue, they came into the picture, after all these time. I am not here to bad-mouth them but its just funny to think and to say after all these years, after a number of wedding invitations from my parents for our weddings, after letting them know that my dad's mom has died they didnt turn up at all. Then this year they came to mend the broken link. Amazing! I guess they were offering peace and forgiveness. And of course, as a muslim and as relatives we opened our arms to accept them.

They visited my parents house last saturday, the whole family, in conjuction with Hari Raya celebrations. My brother let us know about the visit but hubby and I had other plans so we didnt join them. And yesterday my family talked about them again in one of the Hari Raya open house. How weird we felt. How out of the ordinary to find our long lost cousin, which was not lost exactly. We are not talking about long lost cousin from some other exotic places here, like from China, Korea, America or somewhere. They are just staying in KB, and remember how small Brunei is? Do you think its so hard to keep in touch?

Anyway, I dont know whats the end of this. Are they now going to stay and be part of the family. Or this is just another short and sweet episode in our lives which will then submerge not to be heard from again? I dont have the answer. I guess time will tell.

My parents and my siblings planned to visit them in KB on friday, and asked us to join them. I am still contemplating whether to go or now. I cant decide. This is so very new to me and I find it hard to adjust to the fact that they are really our uncle & first cousins. Thats close relatives. I must also mention here that I am not the kind of person who easily warm up to others. I can be so unfriendly and dont welcome outsiders or strangers very easily. And I am having a hard time with this. I dont know. Maybe I havent have the time to embrace the whole situation, I havent spoken with any of them so that yet to be seen.

I still have a few days to decide for friday so I am asking Allah to give me the guidelines. I know the best bet is to join them for the visit, no harm in doing that but I have yet to convince my own heart about it.

A few of the cousins are also working with Shell. Well, thats to be expected if you are KBians. I heard from my brother they are trying to look for me but so far has been unsuccessful. So looks like its just a matter of time that we going to find out about each other. Am I happy to hear this? I am not sure.

Of course, its a good things to find relatives. Thats what Islam is all about. Tali sirratulrahim. We are all brothers and sisters. But as I said these are all so weird and I need time to adjust.

Cancelled!

Oh crap! We are so pissed (sorry for the language). But the words still do no justice to how we feel right now. You see, our trip to KL is down the drain. We are supposed to be in KL as we speak but apparently we are not. We are still at home, although not bored to death. We still go out and have fun and go visit relatives for Raya. But just not in KL!

Hubby's course got cancelled at the last minute. Yesterday! And we were already preparing to go. We got our tickets, hotel booked and packed the suitcase. Then came the annoying phone call telling hubby due to cancellation from participants, the whole course was ceased. So now were were left with no hotel and no ticket for hubby. And since me and my girl bought our own tickets that go down the drain as well. We were speechless but then accepted the fact that it was not meant to be. Although at first we were a bit in a crossroad about the whole KL trip thing since we already planned to go in December. But then decided, what the heck, its no harm going and look forward for the trip. But as I said, we were not meant to be in KL this time around so thats ok too.

Although its boring since hubby courses never got cancelled before, but there is always the first time for everything right, so its ok.

Today is like any other day, we went for breakfast in the morning and took everything in our stride. Then we took my brother and his little family to the new Excapade Sushi in Kiulap and had a blast. That was fun! (Pictures coming soon, of course). In the afternoon we visited some relatives again for Raya. So its still a busy day despite our dissapointment.

My book shelf

Those are the books I read recently. I am in the middle of reading "Twenty wishes" then I'll move on to my next book, "A sense of belonging" which is not listed yet. There were a few more thats I've read, like "Garden of Delight", Someone like you", but I couldnt find them in the internet, I wonder why. The book I like best is Yours Faithfully, heavy drama and so melodramatic with strong characters in the book. And I so can relate! Love this book shelf, I can read people reviews about the books, all I need to do is put my cursor on the book and the reviews will be displayed. I love it!

Back to work

Only a handful of us are working today. Most are still on Hari Raya holiday, which might as well be a good idea since we are already at the middle of the week. Might just finish off the whole week and get plenty of rest and fun at home. But not me. I am stuck here working, well, not really, hahaha. I am typing my blog! While in the office where I should be working. But blogging for a few minutes wont harm me, afterall its Hari Raya and I am sure lots of us working now are either bored to death and wish to be at home, or browse the internet for the latest gossip in town. I can bet on it, hahaha.

Anyway, its been a slow start today. Office is still very quiet and not much going on at the mo. I havent started on doing my job yet although I know what I want to do for today. The work is lining up waiting for me to start but I am taking my time. And another downside of today is, we are going to work until 4pm, not like Ramadan we finished work at 1pm. Thats so boring, need some time to get used to that.

How I wish I am at home, enjoy tv on our favourite sofa. With jagus berempah on my hands ;-). What a wishful thinking, that would be the best scenario for now. But thats not going to happen, apparently, I am running out of leave. Will be going away next week for our trip to KL and I do need to take a few days leave for that. So I am stuck here for the week. My girl is planning to go to her granny today and join them for hari raya visiting later. I encouraged her to go, since she will be on her own with the maid at home. So I want her to enjoy her hari raya as much as possible. And I look forward to spend some blissful holidays next week in KL with my girl. Since hubby will be working, we gonna go out and have our girls time out next week. Its going to be just the 2 of us. I am sure it will be awesome! I cant wait.

But for now, this is it.

Raya 2009

Raya tomorrow!

As usual moon was not sighted last night as everyone was suspected. The neighbouring countries celebrates Hari Raya today but not us, never mind. See the moon prediction on the left hand side? It is already 2% meaning the moon should be there but not seen, I am sure due to fog or cloud in Brunei. It will come soon enough. Hari Raya for me is a time for reflection, on what I have achieved during Ramadan. I hope all my good deeds are blessed by Allah the Almighty. I hope I have gained some pahala but not weight hahaha. As a mother, I just want the best for my girl and hope she will enjoy her Hari Raya too. I think she deserves a good celebration since she has fasted for the whole month. Well done Ayang!

One thing for sure we will celebrate Raya moderately. We will do some visiting to close relatives and that would be it. I didnt even applied for leave from work. I am running out of leave so need to be back at work on wednesday. I am taking leave for our trip to KL next week instead, we will fly to KL on the 7th day of Shawal for a week. So its going to be a simple affair.

So for everyone, Selamat Menyambut Shawal, Selamat Hari Raya , Maaf Zahir & Batin. May Allah bless us all.

Reading is fun!

This runs in the family. My girl and me love to read so much. Between us we have read lots of books and magazines. I have tonnes of books and magazines stuck away in my closet. I love reading since I was young. I started when I was in my teens, I spent all my money on books and did a lot of reading during my spare time. Now my girl is doing it too. She always spend hours and hours in her bedroom reading, beside on her computer that is. In fact its so much fun to be engrossed in your own world with books in your hands.

My girl and I always go for an outing and search for books. Our favourite bookstores are Reader's Heaven or Best Eastern. We even went to bookstores when we were travelling, like recently in New Zealand we went to a few well known bookstores and bought a few books and it was great. I even bought more than 10 magazines in NZ alone. We even bought books and magazines in every airport we arrived in! We are like children given candy when we were in a bookstore. Our eyes lit up to see the books. Thats how addicted we are.

Life will never be the same without reading for me. I must have some reading materials beside my bed on my bedside stand all the time. Usually thats the first thing I reach when I woke up during weekends when dot dot dot and the last thing I put down when retiring for the night. I dont know what to do with my eyes when I am not reading. I will feel lost and feel like something is missing.

Hubby and I had a conversation the other day. I cant remember what triggered it but we talked about being alone and loneliness. We were talking about someone who we thought was lonely and that triggered him/her to do certain things, sometimes bad. Then I said I would never get lonely even when I am alone. When I do feel lonely that I just go to my book and read. The minute I reach for my book and read, then there are people around me. People from the book hahaha. They are there with me, conversing, doing something and getting busy. And I feel like I was there too with them observing whats going on. So I wouldnt feel lonely anymore. I am in the book character world and they are usually fun to be with, sometimes sad to be with, with various problems and life experience. I can stay like that for hours and hours, immensed and engrossed in that world from the book. And I enjoyed that very much. So there is no such thing as lonely.

For now, I am reading two books, called Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber and A sense of Belonging from Erica James. They are great books and I enjoyed reading them immensely. I havent finished them yet but I am already looking forward to reading my next book which I dont know what yet. Its a mystery too, what to read on my next book!

Safari Bistro

Last night we had sungkai at Safari Bistro in Kiulap. The food was fab although I was pissed at first when our reservation was not recorded. I booked the place last tuesday and apparently they didnt record it in their reservation book. They must have missed it since it was booked earlier during the week. I was aghast but at last they repent and gave us a good spot. I think everyone had a good meal, and enjoy the spread of food, which was alot and there were 8 type of drinks to choose from with different colour each. So Alhamdulilah.

Bapa checking out the condiments before the sungkai. Maybe he didnt know what he was seeing?




My food potion. Very little for a Brunei standard. But as you all know, we tend to get full very quickly during sungkai that we didnt need to eat alot.

My eyes and my girl's eyes lit up when we saw the chocolate fountain. We never seen any restaurant having this for their sungkai buffet before, even in Empire so this was the first. It looked so yummy and I ate this almost immediately sungkai started.

My share of chocolate with mashmellow. So delicious when hot.

Good spread of food and reasonable choices.

My brother enjoying his potion (2 plates!). He was free from his usual diet last night and its time for him to indulge hahaha.

Home made

My family favourite sungkai dishes when we were at home, home made from my very own kitchen. Pasta carbonara with chicken kiev.

Bapa birthday treat - sungkai at Asma Hotel

Asma Hotel sungkai buffet was a blast. Enjoyed the food and the restaurant has a good ambience. Really worth the money. Some pictures of the night below.