The most expensive restaurant in Brunei seemed to be that of the Nonya Restaurant, Jalan Muara. When the restaurant was newly opened, patrons had known that dishes with rice would be $1.00 more expensive than its old branch in Gadong, however, a dinner for 3 people, which includes fish head ($20) , yam basket ($25) and scallop asparagus cost a whopping $90++ is too much… Our foreign guests were shocked as well. Never had they eaten such an unreasonable priced dishes. We didn’t actually want to eat the scallop asparagus but we were assured that it would be of normal portion – that small portion costs $35 and the worse thing is that it’s tasteless. The chef seemed to forget to add some salt on the dish.... Lesson to be learn: Do not ask the captain to recomend any dish for you... you just choose the dish you like and thats it.
I have known that the Jln Muara branch is not as good as its old trademark in Gadong but despite that, not knowing where to bring our guests for dinner, as a last option, we opted for the Nonya Jln Muara branch. Even our foreign guests told us not to go there anymore… have any of you encountered any “pisau cukur” restaurant in Brunei?
We are going to try I-Lotus in Jln Tungku soon... I hope they are not similar to the above although friends had said that their dishes were expensive... but lets have a try.... will keep you posted...
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Brunei's (B)Owling Centre & Biggest TV screen...
Brunei's only bowling centre need a name change....
The biggest tv screen in Brunei is located at Charcoal Restaurant (Batu Satu, Jalan Tutong's Crowne Princess Inn)
The biggest tv screen in Brunei is located at Charcoal Restaurant (Batu Satu, Jalan Tutong's Crowne Princess Inn)
Ancient Brunei, ...again
In the new book by Paul Michel Munoz (2006) entitled “Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula” , he identified Poli as Bali, which sent tribute to China in 472 and 630 AD, and Pu-lo-chung, is identified as the NORTH WEST coast of Borneo, inhabited by cannibals with tails (pg. 94)
I'm curious why Munoz didn’t just say Pu-lo-chung as modern day Brunei as he quickly identified Poli as Bali in the earlier paragraph… Does this means that Pu-lo-chung ) doesn't automatically connote Brunei, (hence history of Brunei as we know it will change? Pulo = Pu-lo-chung)
However, on page 303, Munoz made an error, and indicate that Pu-lo-chung was located on the SOUTHWEST of Borneo. This contridict his earlier statement which says that Pu-lo-chung is located in the North West. So which one is right? the north or the south? Munoz quoted Kang Tai's (245-250AD) work for his statement on Pu-lo-chung
Just a small error can change the history of a country dramatically.... :)
I'm curious why Munoz didn’t just say Pu-lo-chung as modern day Brunei as he quickly identified Poli as Bali in the earlier paragraph… Does this means that Pu-lo-chung ) doesn't automatically connote Brunei, (hence history of Brunei as we know it will change? Pulo = Pu-lo-chung)
However, on page 303, Munoz made an error, and indicate that Pu-lo-chung was located on the SOUTHWEST of Borneo. This contridict his earlier statement which says that Pu-lo-chung is located in the North West. So which one is right? the north or the south? Munoz quoted Kang Tai's (245-250AD) work for his statement on Pu-lo-chung
Just a small error can change the history of a country dramatically.... :)
Monday, June 26, 2006
The effect of Global Warming in Brunei
The clear effect is on Kampong Ayer... several houses, in the last several years, have been "flooded" during high tide... shouldnt we all be worried?
Friday, June 23, 2006
Beware when going to China Tour
a) The food served will always be the cheap food - vegetables, vegetables, vegetables.... At first i thought we got a 1st class service when we were usher to a private room, infact, the outside food was far better than what was served to us....
b) There's no coffee, so better get your own tapau from Brunei
c) No chili sauce, so you maybe can tapau this as well
d) Many "Classrooms" to attend = visit of Jade shops, medicine shops, pearl shop, tea shop, silk shop and other feng-shui items shops (some claimed to be own by the government)
e) Because of d), hence your tour guide will ask to move faster and skip some sites of interests to make appointment for the classrooms... for classroom, ohh... you can take your time... (darn!)
f) Many auties and uncles buy these products which outside prices are more cheaper... of course tour guide and bus driver has a percentage profit from the companies la... same like in Thailand...
g) Then when you go to HK you will hear people saying the medicine from China are all fakes
h) Toilets in the suburbs are very UNIQUE (ehehhe... )
b) There's no coffee, so better get your own tapau from Brunei
c) No chili sauce, so you maybe can tapau this as well
d) Many "Classrooms" to attend = visit of Jade shops, medicine shops, pearl shop, tea shop, silk shop and other feng-shui items shops (some claimed to be own by the government)
e) Because of d), hence your tour guide will ask to move faster and skip some sites of interests to make appointment for the classrooms... for classroom, ohh... you can take your time... (darn!)
f) Many auties and uncles buy these products which outside prices are more cheaper... of course tour guide and bus driver has a percentage profit from the companies la... same like in Thailand...
g) Then when you go to HK you will hear people saying the medicine from China are all fakes
h) Toilets in the suburbs are very UNIQUE (ehehhe... )
Why Cathy Pacific is better than Singapore Airlines
It was my first time flying with Cathy Pacific and no wonder its the best airline in the world!
The service was excellent and very efficient, even the ground staff is very very helpful. After take-off, drinks will be served within 30 minutes after airborn. Compared to Singapore Airlines which can be up to 45minutes - this with fully packed aeroplane... The air stewardess are more friendlier and smile more than those of Singapore Airlines...
Every meal in Cathy will be served with an ice-cream - my first ice-cream on an aeroplane and my trip from Singapore to Hong Kong, we were served the Hagan Daz ice cream!!! I was sooo impress...
Note: By the way, when passangers asks for deck cards (for playing poker or something), can the airlines give extras so that passangers can do something while in flight. Many forgot to give after requests and some just say, out of stock... both are international airlines, so such things should always be there right?
Royal Brunei Airlines is excellent in terms of their inflight service by the steward and stewardess - fast in giving refreshments to passangers and being a Bruneian, I love the food on the airline compared to Singapore Airline... However, RBA should try to be more on-time whenever there's a flight - just like Cathy Pacific - no waiting - waiting at their own risk....
Singapore Changi airport is still the best airport - beautiful and welcoming...
Miri, Sarawak airport maybe bigger than Brunei International airport...
The service was excellent and very efficient, even the ground staff is very very helpful. After take-off, drinks will be served within 30 minutes after airborn. Compared to Singapore Airlines which can be up to 45minutes - this with fully packed aeroplane... The air stewardess are more friendlier and smile more than those of Singapore Airlines...
Every meal in Cathy will be served with an ice-cream - my first ice-cream on an aeroplane and my trip from Singapore to Hong Kong, we were served the Hagan Daz ice cream!!! I was sooo impress...
Note: By the way, when passangers asks for deck cards (for playing poker or something), can the airlines give extras so that passangers can do something while in flight. Many forgot to give after requests and some just say, out of stock... both are international airlines, so such things should always be there right?
Royal Brunei Airlines is excellent in terms of their inflight service by the steward and stewardess - fast in giving refreshments to passangers and being a Bruneian, I love the food on the airline compared to Singapore Airline... However, RBA should try to be more on-time whenever there's a flight - just like Cathy Pacific - no waiting - waiting at their own risk....
Singapore Changi airport is still the best airport - beautiful and welcoming...
Miri, Sarawak airport maybe bigger than Brunei International airport...
Hong Kong International Aiport
bye bye Hong Kong... see you several years from now....
The best thing about Hong Kong International Airport is its magnification view of the sea as one touchdown the airport and when one leaves the airport. The sea, the islands and every 5 minutes a flight will take off and descend to the airport...
HKIA - is a very quiet airport... what do i mean by quiet? - there's no announcement in the airport of your flight... they dont believe in announcing anything... if you fail to turn up and board the plane, within 30minutes, then, you WILL be left out of the plane and all your belonging will be thrown out of the aircraft....
ITs TRUE... Even Hong Kong's famous singer/actor, "Heavenly King", Leon Lai Ming, was not spared. He thought he still have more time and went to the smoking room, by the time he come out, his plane has left!
The best thing about Hong Kong International Airport is its magnification view of the sea as one touchdown the airport and when one leaves the airport. The sea, the islands and every 5 minutes a flight will take off and descend to the airport...
HKIA - is a very quiet airport... what do i mean by quiet? - there's no announcement in the airport of your flight... they dont believe in announcing anything... if you fail to turn up and board the plane, within 30minutes, then, you WILL be left out of the plane and all your belonging will be thrown out of the aircraft....
ITs TRUE... Even Hong Kong's famous singer/actor, "Heavenly King", Leon Lai Ming, was not spared. He thought he still have more time and went to the smoking room, by the time he come out, his plane has left!
FOOD.... tim sam...
If one does not eat the tim sam in Hong Kong, one is not said to have gone to Hong Kong... and when I go there, I was aiming for the tim sam... and boy, now I know why they say, its a Bruneian culture to order tim sam at one go with about 20 dishes on the table at Dynasty, but in Hong Kong, never do that, as the portion is sooooo HUGE!...
Compare this food served in Beijing = vegatables, vegatables, vegatables.... ARGGHHH...
Compare this food served in Beijing = vegatables, vegatables, vegatables.... ARGGHHH...
Site and Scenes of HK II
Hong Kong's famous chinese temple - the Wong Tai Sin temple... many people go to this temple to pray because they believed that most of their problems can be alleviated after a visit to this shrine. (It's something like the 4 face Buddha which was recently restored after being destroyed by a miniac in Bangkok, Thailand)...
The temple also houses a temple for Confucious, the famous Chinese philosopher... and father of Chinese social values...
The temple also houses a temple for Confucious, the famous Chinese philosopher... and father of Chinese social values...
Site and scenes of Hong Kong
Hong Kong's famous habour...
The star ferry which cost only HK$1.70 (about 45 Brunei cents)to cross from Kowloon Island to Hong Kong Island. Its a good deal and its faster too...
The star ferry which cost only HK$1.70 (about 45 Brunei cents)to cross from Kowloon Island to Hong Kong Island. Its a good deal and its faster too...
Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China
The busiest city in Asia .... New construction projections are everywhere! Previously, Hong Kong shop owners were known to be rude to tourists - ie. if you just ask the price and dont buy, they will curse you to death... now attitudes has change... now, they say, lets talk about price, if dont agree, then dont buy or sell, lor....
I was surprise to see a Mosque in the middle of the city...
Shopping in Beijing is far more cheaper (one must really bargain, otherwise, the prices wouldnt be any different) than those in HK or Singapore ... when i went to Singpore's Chinatown, there wasnt much tourists but Hong Kong will always be full of tourists...
I was surprise to see a Mosque in the middle of the city...
Shopping in Beijing is far more cheaper (one must really bargain, otherwise, the prices wouldnt be any different) than those in HK or Singapore ... when i went to Singpore's Chinatown, there wasnt much tourists but Hong Kong will always be full of tourists...
Driving in suburbs of Beijing
Man, is the pig sooo big...
The drivers here is as bad as those in Brunei.... hehhe... 2 lane road become a 3 land road even though its going uphill...
The largest reservior in Beijing and where Beijing's 12million residents get their water from... this lake however is getting smaller and smaller as increasing consumption and less rain in the region has reduce the water storage in the reservior.
Chengde
The site of the replica of the Dalai Lama's Palace in China.
The natural site here is the "Standing Rock" as viewed from a distance. This is a natural rock formation and is seen as a blessing by the local people. The locals call it the "hammer" as it is shaped like a hammer.
Temple of Heaven
The temple was used by the Ming and Qing Dynasties emperors to offer sacrifices to the gods and pray for rich harvests. It was built by the Yongle emperor (1420) and has a total land area of the temple is 2.72 million sq miles.
This is the stone where the Ming and Qing Emperors converse with "God"... It is now a tourist attaction and many tourists stand over the stone to see if there's any effect on them when standing on the stone.
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