“Selamat Datang ke Malaysia!” I still remember the day I first set foot on your land, Malaysia. It was on the 24th of February about 7 years ago and I stayed in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah for one day en route to Brunei Darussalam. I liked your country the first time I saw it and in […]
What Makes Travelling And Team Building Extra Wonderful

August 9th until 13th is the most unforgettable time of the year for me and my colleagues because weheaded to The Philippines for a team building trip. You might think that I should not be excited about it any more since we were going to my homeland anyway. But, then, who doesn’t like travelling? Certainly, […]
Snippets Of Hari Raya Over The Years

The word, ‘open house’, comes to my mind when I hear about the Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Yes, open house! For the past 6 years, I was fortunate enough to have been invited for the said celebration in the homes of my students and colleagues. This is the time of the year when I feel that […]
The Beautiful Irony Of Eating The Famous AMBUYAT

Sambal Belacan. Urat Kunyit. Candas. Tahai. Tempoyak.Ikan Goreng. Binjai. I know you’re making a word association now. Yes,these meals complete the set of your Ambuyat! For a Filipino who is used to soup-based food like Sinigang or Tinola and sauce-based food like Adobo or Menudo, the Ambuyat tastes bland. Really. The first time I tried […]
My Hari Raya Aidilfitri Experience in Brunei Darussalam

Every year, during the celebration of the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, many visitors like the citizens, foreign workers and tourist go to the Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and his family. Why do many people flock to the palace? On ordinary days, one is not allowed to visit inside […]
Reinvent Your Weekend- Labuan, Malaysia Blend

How to reinvent your weekend? There is the Labuan, Malaysia blend. Pause and slow down. Do things that excite you. Cruise along the sea and allow the breeze to tousle your hair. Indulge in seafood and dine along the beach. Go sightseeing. Visit a museum and learn something worthwhile. Laugh with your friends. Argue over […]
What I will Miss about the Ramadan Month

In my 7 years of stay in Brunei, one of the few things that I really look forward to in the year is the Ramadan month. The whole environment suddenly changes and somehow our lives simply follow the rhythm. We get adjustments in our work schedule. On regular days, we finish work at 5pm, but during […]