Injustice to Brunei ladies

A 'Brunei woman' doll sold at The Mall

Creativity is one thing, and I absolutely love the idea of selling dolls of Brunei women for souvenirs. But then, let's give justice to the average us, Bruneian lasses. We don't really look like that, right? Let tourists be reminded of a little beauty lah. Blonde hair some more, haha. I was blonde once, but to represent us like this is a little skewed. I can appreciate the songket, but don't over do it. We do have some dress sense. Be fair lah sikit, we don't want people to go home and think of us as one of The Muppets.

Just remember, you want to sell Brunei, do a little marketing. Beauty sells. Even if it exaggerates slightly, why not? At least we can stick to being the Kingdom of Unexpected Treasure as in unexpected beauty. Plus, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I believe on average, we do have a lot of pretty women.

Struggling to respond

We've been down for over a week now. We asked some of our clients who didn't give us their e-mails to contact us electronically. As they were, the system broke down. I've tried e-mailing myself in the hope it'll bounce back. Nope, nothing. Meaning our clients wouldn't know if we never get their e-mails. So much for TPOR. Time for plan B. Problem with plan B, too slow. Hopefully, whenever they manage to solve this, we can retrieve the e-mails sent. Responding to these accumulating e-mails will be another issue (hopefully not in their hundreds, like hubby receives daily!). Better late then never, right? May not please the customers.

(pic source: www.ondisruption.com)

Road rage, and my anger

It's school holidays. Great! No traffic jams. Parents leave later to work. I can never get holidays when the kids are. My deputy booked the holiday earlier, and I don't have anybody to 'jaga our kadai'. I do get to go to work late. Sorry Boss! Confession, confession, confession: I do feel really bad and guilty about it. But there's only so many hours in a day. I try make up with lots of thinking at home. No, I just don't stop thinking, one of those Type A people. Hah.

It's funny when we talk about thinking. Sometimes you get really angry. We can't help emotions sometimes. I must admit I've not been truly positive about a lot of things. We have to have reality check sometimes, right? When things don't go right or the way we want it to be, we do have our moments. But we learn from those negativities. We should.

I went to Miri just last weekend. To finish off my leave. It was an impromptu thing. The last time I went there was March 2006, for work. My, they have a flyover already in the middle of the city. Just over one year and things are developing. Ticked my nerves. Why can't we do the same? We've expanded our road in Gadong, but still a cross-road, with traffic lights. What's wrong with a little advancement. Our car population is increasing, why can't we anticipate for something way ahead, and stop traffic jam before it even begins? I just don't get it. I'm not a planner, not an engineer, but I think it can be done. Not easy, yes. But it can be done. I remember doing a group project in US-time on Brunei road transport system (and yes we got to go to Bangkok for that!), it was amazing that between the 50s and late 80s, we were doing a lot of improvement on our road network. I'm not saying after that we haven't. We have, we've seen them, but just not too visible enough for many of us to signify, "we're where we should be". I don't know, really. Maybe I'm wrong. I know there are lots of upgrading on rural roads, and border road systems. But the main ones, like the highways are still frustrating. Or in between highways and by-passes. What's more frustrating are those highways with U-turns.

Why do we have U-turns on highways? Why can't we have alternatives like overbridges, underbridges, accommodation bridges, underpasses or whatever road-planners and engineers call it. These are costly, and go beyond budget? What about the cost of people's lives (and the cost to their families and friends and whatsoever cost can be linked to e.g productivity cost of that person should they stay alive longer, or stay uninjured), aren't these costs counted in when calculating for the 'safest and efficient road.' Then we say these people who lost their lives are of their own fault. They don't adhere to road rules and regulations. Well, how many percent of all traffic accidents are purely the fault of the road users, and not aggravated by the conditions of our road? Even road rage can be attributed from frustration being on the road, and not entirely a character thing.

but lucky we don't have these MAGIC roundabouts

Then you got those weird roundabouts with extra side-exits (slip-lanes?). How the he*l do we use them? I don't bl**dy understand these ones, e.g. the ones in Beribi - right infront of Sumbangsih Mulia. Cause I never come across them before. I've been on multiple roundabouts (UK), but with the same principle as the sole roundabout (with 3, 4 or 5 exits). I've never driven in the States, if ours follow the same system. They said the roundabouts in the States are so confusing. Little wonder.

I mean which lane should you be in when you want to go straight or the third exit. Seems like everyone is using outer lane to go to the 2nd exit. This sound logical as we have the extra side exit to get onto the first exit. But how do you evade from being rammed by other road users from the 2nd and 3rd exits wanting to go to your 1st and 2nd exits? I don't get it. Plus many are still using the outer lane not just to go to the 2nd, but also the 3rd exit. Now whichever method you use, you're bound for surprises coming from your left. You truly need to slow down, even attempt to brake, which may cause the car behind you kissing your car's b*tt. Now who's bl**dy fault is that? The user for ignorance or the road-planner for creating too fancy a roundabout with no clear directions. And what is so incredibly funny is when you get to see driving instructors teaching newbies these roundabouts the wrong way.

Can planners now create a signage of which lane we should take to avoid us getting highly emotional on the road. I mean it's fine if it's just a honk, but when you get the fore-finger gesture and you see the other driver swearing at you, it doesn't feel nice at all. Especially when you think you are right. But, you think again, they might be right, too. Importantly, to avoid us from not just being emotional, but spending our hard-earned salary (either cash/credit) at the workshop. You're lucky if you are not at fault. Who acknowledges its their fault anyway, when you can't figure who's right and who's wrong!

Irrespective of the slip-lanes, I use the normal principle of the roundabout: outer lane for the nearest and second exit, and inner lane for second (inner), third (inner) and u-turn (or back to my exiting road). I made sure I indicate well (i.e. not too early, i.e. just before the exit I want to take). But again, I'm following the British highway code. I could be incredibly wrong, while thinking I'm right all these time. So, my requests:

1. road-planner (MOD), please put up some label 250 metres before the roundabout for the correct lanes to take and directions. Labeling them on the road isn't good enough (e.g. the mega-roundabout infront of Jame). Either have it way in advance or above the road.
   
2. Land Transport Department with Printing Department, perhaps can produce and publish a book/phamplet on Brunei highway code, so we can read it at our own time. Sell it a considerable cost (I can't recall how much it cost me, the British highway code; very minimal GBP2 the most)

I don't know how much these costs to the government, but I think it'll be worth it. We are all trying to save here. Save money and lives. But lives are our priority, right?

BALI-bur

Now this is another quick log.

Me surfing on tiny waves and
so UNcool wearing a helmet! Damn!

Bali was great last week. I learnt to surf. Manage to stand up (ofcourse with a beginner surfboard). I've the photos to prove them (dare I put them in here? Maybe not. Not with my face identified, just in facebook perhaps). Didn't matter, it was fun, and I got addicted to learning to surf. I have every intention to purchase a surf board and to go back to Bali for another surfing holiday. I will. I wish we've the waves for this. I could get a hang of this game.

Kuta Beach

Kuta was happening - we stayed for 5 nights there. Didn't dare go clubbing, haha. The bombsite was enough to dampen the spirit to boogie all night. But, we did see Cokelat at Hard Rock. Awesome. But Digital Band got me appreciating TRASH metal for once. The bass and lead, the drum roll were incredible. I was ready to purchase their CDs, but ofcourse at 60,000 RPH for a CD at the retail got me thinking of home, and pirate CD copies at Kadai Komunis. Should I buy or should I not? Ethics aside, at almost $10 it is a bit steep. I'm one of those who try get things for free if possible. Typical Bruneians? Not really. Regardless the nationality, we all seek for the cheapest deal. I've friends from England who'd take every opportunity to buy pirate CDs/VCDs/DVDs when they are in Asia. Who would not. Why should we feel guilty? For they make millions of dollars/pounds already. Maybe not the newcomers, but who knows about these newcomers anyway? Who watch them? We usually buy those with established names, and they are the one with the millions. So no harm done, really. Ofcourse, we make the pirate operators happy. Well, I'm happy, too. So what difference does it make. Well, plenty of difference, actually. If we think about it. I'm not going to talk about that now. I don't intend to make this log a guilt-making session. Cause I am on leave. I am FREE. I should try be free in all aspect, including guilt-FREE.

Tepi Sawah Villa and Spa

Anyway. We stayed in Ubud, the first 3 nights. Lovely place. Tranquil. Perfect for a romantic getaway. Haha. If you take that opportunity any way. Not to say we didn't ;) Stayed at Tepi Sawah Villa and Spa. Our room (Batuan Villa - cheapest of all) has a beautiful view of the sawah padi. Highly recommended, except its breakfast was pretty monotonous. The same thing almost everyday. But whatever it is, the place is awesome.

Gunung Batur

On our way back to Kuta, spent a whole day out touring. Enjoyed a morning Barung Dance by Batu Bulan villagers. Late lunch on Kintamani by Batur Volcano (lunch wasn't great, but view was amazing). Visited an 11th Century Hindu temple - Goa Gajah and Bali's holy spring - the Tirta Empul. (Damn, can't put a lot of pics here due to identifiable features. Sorry!)

Sunset at Jimbaran

They say don't leave a romantic getaway without a sunset dinner at Jimbaran. Beautiful seafood and tropical juices they claimed (a whole load of crap! If I want proper seafood, I'd still say Dragon Seafood Restaurant on Jln Baram in Miri just 15 minutes away from Marriot is the best. Unless you are in Bangkok). We did head to Jimbaran on our final night. The sunset is awesome. But they don't set on the horizon (neither the sunset at Kuta). I'd say Jerudong sunset is as beautiful or even better (so stay at The Empire Hotel main building if you are looking for a gorgeous sundown).

Bali was great, and I'd go there again. For the various 'S' holiday: Sun, Sea, Sand, Surf, and whatever S you like to include in there. RBA doesn't fly there anymore, so Air Asia is our next bet. Oops. I got to go. I've to run to our beautiful resort, the one with the gorgeous view of Punyit Isle. I hope it'll be fun. I'm not committed to talk, cause I'm on leave. It's enough to observe. Listening is what I do best, these days.