P on the highway

No kidding. He must had had a gallon in there by the angle and amount of flow.

You might find this sickening, but I got to mention it. It's a rarity we get people doing their business right on the side of the highway and CLEARLY visible IN Brunei. I mean this was just less than a kilo from Jerudong Park. By the look of his face, he wasn't drunk. Yup, we stared at each other and no, 'it' didn't stop. He looked more RELIEVED, a little confused, and possibly bemused that I stared at his face, and erm... lucky not his weapon. He did look like an ex, but NO, it wasn't him, and I'm sure the ex would never have done that. Yeh, put him on an identity parade, no doubt I can pinpoint this guy. I mean he was just a few metres away. He parked his car on the side, and did his thing right beside it. Ok, good thing he put his car signal on, ofcourse not on emergency.

(Picture opposite is not the actual photo, I didn't have a camera on me. source: http://farm1.static.flickr.com)

Like I said, he didn't look intoxicated. He must have been desperate that he just couldn't control it, and had to let go there and then. But as a man he could have gone into the bushes. There weren't any really. Okay, the very least he could have covered himself with his car door. I wouldn't have noticed it from afar, even if I was wondering what kind of sprinkler was coming from the car.

Maybe he had driven from Belait. I'm not justifying his action. Think about it. There's no service station (with loos) you can get to on this 100km ride from that district. Well, except that Telisai Filling Station, they've an okay restroom you could use. I frequent this cubicle, ever so often on my way down to or up from Belait. That's only if you knew it exist. It happened by chance, in my case, sometime ago.


When I'm desperate and had passed Telisai, I do wonder if that Royal Brunei Police Highway Patrol Post has got a portable loo I could use. Never stopped to ask. Maybe that's it, put public toilets at the same spot; maybe those coin-operated and self-cleaned ones like they have in Europe. I mean if we placed them nearby the Police post, who'd dare to vandalise it. No, it's not the duty of the Police Officers stationed there to man the toilet; that's not their job of course. We just need their presence. Not just to stop potential vandalism, but any peeping Tom we girls afraid of. Just a thought.


(pic source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/...)

Have I P.O-ed a lot of people?

Ah, that's a great question I guess never will be answered. I must have, I believed. Do I care? Yes, I do. Must I apologize? I'm thinking - should I apologize for what I believe in? For what should have been my right?

I was talking to SOMEbody this morning. Well, he's only a messenger. He delivered what needed to be delivered to me. Not a GREAT news. I should have been told much earlier. But how would they convey it nicely to me? I guess they've to wait till I 'hantar' diri. I didn't quite finished and I was interrupted. I knew what it meant.

I didn't shed a tear, even if I wanted to. I was utterly dismayed, disappointed. But, I wasn't really taken aback by the news. I mean this heart, this brain has received too many bullets and missiles over the last few months. In fact, since late last year. What's another bomb, right?

Yes, I've toughened up a little bit. No, I'm not angry. It's not anybody's fault but me. I'm not going to point fingers at others. Cause it was one mistake I made 5 years back. No, that wasn't a mistake at all. It was a miscalculation. Now thought about it again, the miscalculation was not 5 years back. It was way back December 1998. All because I didn't like disappointing a particular person. So, the blame is on me. For ALWAYS putting others over me. I never like to say NO even if it meant it'll cause me terribly. Be it family, friends, acquaintance, work.

But could it also be karma? I hurt too many people in the process. One, two, three, yeh! more than one. They must have been praying for me to live guiltily forever. I do hope they'd find in their heart to forgive me.

Then again, GOD works wonder! Does things in mysterious ways. It's incredible and amazing actually. I'm not going into details on this. But Alhamdullilah, I saw the setback of last November. Thank God, it happened. Otherwise, ... Now, this - today. I guess, I have to preservere. There must be something totally beautiful beyond this. Amin.

This was Plan B. Plan A failed. Plan A, Plan B now out of the way. I don't have Plan C. Too confident Plan B would worked. It was supposed to work. I was given the green lights. Yes, a little misled. But it's okay. Now, back to drawing board for Plan C. Gotta kill me to make me quit trying. Cause I'm too young to quit.

But maybe a getaway again, before I pen my plan C. Where to? Any suggestions?

(image source: www.pitt.edu)

Hidden talents

Once upon a time, I remember I was back in England and we were suggesting on restoring the Dermaga - such a historic building. I can visualize what happened in there, then. I remembered vividly getting a ferry to Labuan from there. Hectic. Scary. Nice. Anyway, I heard they are re-opening this place again. I'm unsure into what, but rumor has it that it'll be an Art Gallery. Interesting. But I'm not too sure about it, depends on what kinds of arts they are talking about. Still photos, oil paintings, sculptures... I don't know. It is good to showcase local and foreign talents. We've aplenty.

I believe, there's more we can do to make BSB centre alive again. Yayasan Complex - that Royal Icon, has a lot to offer to complement the new Cultural Village (I'm very looking forward to this village) and the Dermaga. The river-side - great things can be done; I know and I've seen some beautiful plans done by one lady. Hope somewhat, they'll materialize. Yes, we have to move forward. Yet we re-live the past. Differently, maybe. History and heritage have to be remembered somehow. Anyway, these aren't what I really want to talk about in this entry.

Alai Jimat - the mascot
I was at TAP's 15th Anniversary Celebration at Rizqun yesterday. I was fuzzled at first as I flipped through their programme book (see opposite picture). At a glance, I saw what I thought looked like a ' green tong-gas' (gas cylinder) in their programme book. What on earth is the tong gas doing in TAP's programme. Didn't click at all initially. Duhh. Hey, I'm pretty sure if some of you had seen BLNG's or was it BSM's safety leaflet way back in the 80s or early 90s, you'd sense some familiarity and similarity. I have a poor eyesight, must admit to that. I guess my eyes were playing tricks on me, and I automatically went into pictorial association mode, and filled in the gap. Actually, it's TAP's mascot - Alai Jimat (the bamboo tabung), part of TAP's financial planning campaign for school kids. I had a giggle with a colleague discovering my honest mistake. I did get a sense of the mascot after. Yeh, it makes sense.

But what really caught my attention, and other's I believe, was the musical act performed by SMS School students (formerly PDS). Incredible and entertaining. Talented young kids. I didn't get the chance to take a video of it, must have been on the News last night. Yup, not all of them are Bruneians, but the few Bruneians in there are just good. The props are amazing. I'm proud that a school is able to that.

This is what I really want to say. We have to open up a centre that can help nurture these young talents at a national level. Not just the very young, the young adults, or adults who are really into performance arts, stage arts, theatrics (contemporary, traditional, classical - what ever sorts); they should have a place where their talents could be harnessed and developed. Not some place where they just learn and train (I know we do have that at Min. of Culture, Youth and Sports building in Berakas), but really this would be their 'home.' Somewhere they can perform to the public every now and then. Perhaps, on weekends. The public then can come and be entertained. The performers get their talents appreciated, and get paid as well. The public can co-financed through entry fees. Private firms can sponsor. We don't need to wait for special occasions to see them showcasing their talents. We have the weekends or even weeknights if possible. At least I have extra places to bring my kids in the weekend. At least tourists have some place at nights to info/entertain. With the right talents and managers, these would be possible. If a school could do that, a ministry (CYS) can too. TUNAS BANGSA.

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.