Turquoise and Roses

Disclaimer: This post is scheduled. Right now I’m probably swimming in the clear blue waters of the Andaman Sea, or tanning on the white sandy beaches of Pulau Langkawi. But please do read and comment on this post, and I will reply and come back to it as soon as I can.

One of the places we went to during our stay in Bangkok was the Thonburi Snake Farm. It was apparently part of the Chao Phraya River tour that we bought upon our arrival to the airport. Of course, we didn’t know at that point that a visit to the Snake Farm was part of the tour.

Initially we were quite excited about going to a zoo. But of course I wasn’t expecting much from a THB200 per visit. Perhaps it’s anther small Louis Mini Zoo.

The “Thonburi Snake Farm” is considered as one of the key attractions of the Bangkok khlong tours. It’s not only a snake farm but also a zoo of some sort, with a small number of animals kept in cages for the sole purpose of entertaining tourists.

I didn’t know zoos still keep animals in cages. It looks very sad to me.

It is obvious that the purpose of this zoo is to entertain. Each cage had names yet no information of the animal. All animals are fed corn cobs, even the carnivores.

Cages were very dirty and very bare. Animals must have been bored out of their minds.

The look sad as well. Some animals are meant to do certain things, run, fly, roll around. But for many of these cages, there were just not enough space for those activities. And the were usually put alone in their cages, which makes it even more sad.

There are many places in Bangkok that I would so recommend to you to visit, but the purpose of me writing this post is so that you would not spend your money here. Spend it elsewhere.

The Thonburi Snake Farm should seriously improve living conditions of the animals. I don’t pretend to be a lover of all animals, there are some animals that I wish I would never come across.

But I like zoos and I had many great experiences with zoos when I was little. I genuinely think that zoos serve a noble function in educating children and people about animals and how animals live.

But I do believe that animals should be given respect especially if you’re making money out of their suffrage. They should be put in spacious enclosures that mirrors their natural habitat as far as possible, instead of barren cages. They should lead life that mimic their lives as in the wild as much as possible.

Instead, they are subjected to this. Objectified. Sadly so far away from the way that they are supposed to live.

A sad thing is that these animals have been in cages too long that putting them back in the wild would just immediately kill them as they do not know how to survive out there.

Coincidentally if you like zoos, perhaps you will enjoy this book. It’s called the Life of Pi by Yann Martel, and I think it’s one of the most thought-provoking books  have ever read. Unfortunately it’s not leisure reading but more of a serious book, which you might appreciate more with a reading guide. But I do recommend it to everyone particularly if you are fond of zoos. Enjoy.

Hi y’all, look who’s back! Tangah Laki finally comes in to berdudun after so long! He says his legs hurt, but I don’t believe him because I saw him last week rounding up his buffaloes, looking rather healthy and radiant!

I’m gonna leave you all with him while I pack, I’ve asked him to tell you a story. Have fun!

Awu belarai tia lagi anak kamanakan ku ani. Orang kaya bah indada keraja lain. Kawan nya abis sudah kekaraja, kedia lalai lalai kan menanam anggur. Tumbuh alum jua tau tumbuh! Sariatu belarai nya ke mana kah, melawat TEMPLE. Illallah kadiaku kan mambawa UMRAH inda ya tekabir. Buat melawat temple tia pulang daulu! Andangnya kanak kanak jaman masa ani. Luan luan mandulur ati. Ani, alum panas duduk di rumah, belarai tia lagi! Ke Langkawi. Pakai Airasia. Eh, atu inda ku kompidan tu. Bisdurang Hajah Kandis, pupu ku dari Pakilong Muara, parnah, ke KL mambali kain, naik Airasia anak cucu nya membawa. Iyatah nya Hajah Kandis, BAGAGAR bah kapal atu BAGAGAR! Yatah ku uri tu lai, ijap ku banar banar. Umur ani lagi jua pindik, malas ku mamindikkan lagi. Taubat ani alum jua tau kana tarima kah inda.

Tangah ani daulu, urangnya samsing bah. Nini mu atu luan mandulur. Nah salah salah jua luan kan memanjakan anak atu, misti jua ada keseimbangan bah. Bisai bisai kana antat skulah eskep. Kana bawa basigup, mau tah jua basigup. Daulu mana tau kan bahaya apa. Indada tu di skulah, ani sudah badan tua barutah kan sadar. Sampai parnah jadi kelayi bah sama Tangahmu Bini pasal basigup ani! Ani baik jua maseh mesra. I love u darling!

Masa daulu atu ada kadiaku, si Ali, sama si Amit tu. Kami tiga ani innnnnnda bulih becarai. Segalanya kan sama sama. Membali nasi lamak ah, bebagi tiga tu, ayamnya panggal adil. Sampai ani ah, mun Tangah mengingati, rawan ati.

Pernah kami tiga ani, masa musim perayaan di bandar, balimpang di tangah tangah Padang Umar Ali Saipudin, bacarita sambil bekurik gigi. Andangnya kanak kanak ani banyak angan angan bah ah. Nya si Amit nya, eh nanti aku belisin, aku masuk asgar ku. Si Ali nya, eh payah saja belisin, mun nada matuka? Draip tah kau basikal ke Binturan. Hahaha. Banyak cita cita kami atu dulu, kawin lah, keraja lah, apa lah. Umur kami inda salah palingkungan 15 tahun tu, hangat hangat kan belisin, kecuali si Amit, iya paling tua, 17 tahun.

Tapi Tuhan tah maha kuasa. Cita cita kami mungkin satu atau dua saja yang tercapai. Tahun dapannya si Amit belisin. Mula ya belisin banyak ya tah kawan baru, Tangah pun jarang tah lagi kan bejumpa kedia. Si Ali pun sibuk jua baru tah pernah kan begalpren. Tinggal tah Tangah ani.

Entah cemana, tiba tiba kami inda lagi serapat dulu. Si Amit sudah jadi samsing kampung, kaki pukul. Mun namanya badannya bebigi bigi siapa inda galat nah. Ijap urang kan mengampiri. Eh pamos hantap. Kalau ada apa apa, garinti kedia kana lagau tu tukang antam. Angan angan nya dulu kan masuk asgar memang tecapai, tapi malangnya kana buang pasal tatatertib. Ku dangar kadapatan positive urine test. Atu yang ku dangar lah, Wallahuallam inda kitani tau banar kah inda. Tapi sayang bah padahal muda lakat. Even kitani karang ani mun kana buang keraja atu, galap tah tu masa dapan. So iya di rumah saja, inda membuat apa apa. Usin apa mamanya membari. Kesian, padahal si Amit atu tah ganya anak diurang.

Cematu tah ganya ya, hidupnya yang inda tantu arah. Kali suatu hari, Nini mu menalipun masa Tangah bekeraja. Katanya kawan mu si Amit meninggal. Lai, walaupun kami inda lagi rapat, Tuhan saja yang tau perasaan ku masa atu, macam kehilangan ahli keluarga. Rupanya iya meninggal lapas kana antam oleh samsing di Limbang. Inda ku tau apa sebanarnya ceritanya lah, tapi yang ku dangar, iya pernah mengantam adik lelaki atu, dan ani kononnya ya membalas dendam lah.

Akhirnya apa yang dibuatnya arah keluarga orang lain terjadi arah keluarganya. Tuhan maha membalas. Ia meninggal atu ya Allah, di dalam pub. Indungnya yang sudah tua tepaksa belajau mengambil mayatnya dari Limbang. Subahanallah, tabah nya inda ku tebayang. Tapi, semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat. Selalu Tangah sedakahi iya AlFatihah, semoga siksa nya kurang. Sampat kah inda bertaubat? Inda kitani tau.

Kadang kadang lai, tani nda tau kenapa pekara cemani berlaku. Tapi tani memang kan besoal. Mungkin kalau ku rapat dengannya maseh dulu, iya nda akan jadi cematu. Mungkin ada anaknya jua 6 orang macam Tangah. Atau mungkin aku pun boleh jadi cematu. Nauzubillah. Tapi aku inda akan mensia siakan kematiannya. Tangah jadikan pengajaran. Bila ku dangar cerita kanak kanak sibuk kan bekelayi tah pulang kerajanya. Bukan budaya kitani tu, biartia orang bebuat jahat arah kitani jangan tani bebuat jahat arah orang.

Kisah si Amit malar Tangah ingatkan terutama bila meliat orang muda yang hidupnya terbuang. Tangah ani banyak sudah meliat orang kononnya menunjuk nunjuk yang kedia atu samseng. Nada guna guna bah tu. Buang masa. Hidup cematu hidup yang rugi. Masa muda inda terasa, sudah kamu tua, kamu tepikir kenapa masa ku muda inda ku bebuat baik? Kenapa ku inda menuntut ilmu? Kenapa ku inda buat ani? Kenapa ku inda buat atu? Sudah tua atu sadar tia, hidup ani inda dapat di rewind. Jangan biarkan masa tuamu bagai sesalan. Sengsara hidup cematu atu.

Mendangar kau tu lai? Bisai bisai membawa diri di negara orang atu. Ingat cerita si Amit. Buat baik berpada pada, buat jahat jangan sekali. Pakai kacuping. Mun beranang jangan luan asik tapi enjoy yourself ok. Tangah Bini mu suka tu di sana. Bawakan tah kami ani olih olih.

I was at Senor Pablo’s Hawaiian themed birthday bash last night at Serikandi, Kiulap. Had such an awesome time with standup act Kumpulan Beracun keeping us ALL in stitches. Boipren was exceptionally delighted as this was his first time. He has finally been BERACUNNED! Here are some of the most memorable moments from last night.

Pablo had organised many many games and one of them involved doing the Hawaiian dance. Hahah, here is Alin of the Kurapak fame attempting to what I would describe as Tarian Hantu Dari Kubur Orang Yang Mati Dibunuh.

Everyone went crazy making a fool of themselves! Hahaha. Here’s Beautiful doing her killer moves!

And of course here I am doing my short lived hoola hoop dance! Hahahaha. Won a voucher from 1982! Yahoo shopping!

Had a really lovely time last night and we ended all with the obligatory poco poco. If you haven’t go on over to the World of Pablo, and give him a very warm birthday greeting.

Check out Kurapak’s Check out your pictures on my Facebook! Campaign. Hehehe. Fun fun! Basically what you do is, shout out his name when you see him, and then he will take your photo and boom! It’ll end up on his Facebook! Or you can do what Boipren is doing up there, buy the t-shirt and take photo. Hahaha, I think it’s fun fun! Mr Kurapak has a knack for t-shirt designing I think. One of the most awesome and dynamic young entrepreneurs in Brunei for sure.

I was just watching Jangan Lupa Lirik just now with my Mum and they put on this really old song by this boy band named Kool from the nineties.

How come no one can dance like them anymore? Whatever happened to them?

More importantly I like the messages they try to put across with this song.

Lihatlah diri sendiri
Cerminkan diri sendiri
Apa yang nyata
Hanyalah dilema personalitiCuba selami hatimu
Apa kau cari fikirkan
Perbuatanmu hanyalah
Akan merugikan dirimu

Janganlah engkau mempersiakan masa depanku
Usah terpedaya dengan kata katanya

Bebas peribadimu… Perhatikanlah
Bebas tingkah lakumu… Jangan sampai
Tersalah pilihan hidupmu… Yeah !
Jagalah personalitimu… Bebas masa depanmu

Hindarkan diri mu ini
Bukan niatku mencaci
Dadah bahaya kerana
Akan menghancurkan dirimu

Usah tertipu semua
Ingat kataku supaya
Personalitimu terjaga
Cuba kau fikirkan

Janganlah engkau mempersiakan masa depanku
Usah terpedaya dengan kata katanyaBebas peribadimu… Perhatikanlah
Bebas tingkah lakumu… Jangan sampai
Tersalah pilihan hidupmu… Yeah !
Jagalah personalitimu… Bebas masa depanmu

This post is wayyyyy overdue. I went on this trip sometime end of May and haven’t gotten time to blog about it, until today. This is the second of my KNK Adventures, the first one being my trip to the Sumbiling Eco-Village. This tour was organised by Freme and cost about $98.

As usual, the day starts of very early, at the ungodly hour of 7am. We waited at the jetty in Bandar for our boat which will take us on a 45 minute ride to Bangar. Above are my children, Ches, Ror, Jay and Azam. Haha, they really are a riot. And yes, that is the same shirt I wore the last time I was in Temburong, in another colour.

As we arrived in Bangar, we were greeted by a pretty Iban girl, Melissa, who was our tour guide for the day. She took the above picture of us before we stuffed our faces with cucur ubi (which I distinctly remember was very nice). We scoffed and talked about how many calories that was and things like that. Little that we know she was preparing us for the strenuous jungle trek (falsely advertised as “leisurely walk through the jungle”) that only cucur ubi can provide fuel for.

Then was the fun 30-minute ride on the temuai towards the National Park. It was quite interesting. Bumped into a few people coming in from the other end and had to slow down each time. The water was pretty shallow so the driver had to navigate carefully or the propeller will be spoiled by the rocks on the riverbed. Ches and me kept wanting to sing, “JUST AROUND THE RIVERBENNNNNDDDDD!!!!!!”. Well, I don’t know if he wanted to, but I really wanted to.

During the temuai ride, you can see loads of interesting sights. Not sure what Jay and Azam saw up there. But if you’re lucky you can see some those giant green lizards, or monkeys and squirrels and things like that. But I thought the people were quite interesting. Some were just hanging around on the rocks, kinda like those men up there. I don’t think they’re fishing cause their net it like hung on a tree branch. I mean, what are they doing??? But they were never stingy with the hellos and his. Waved when we went pass.

30 minutes of ooohhh and ahhhh, we finally arrived here. This is where we were supposed to get down from the temuai to register our names. Since we are going to enter a protected forest reserve, we were required to log in our names, and IC numbers and stuff like that. Not really sure for what.

All was nice and rosy, until… *cue 70s horror movie music* the JUNGLE TREKKING.

Well, let’s just say these guys had to wait for me, more than once. I pretended to take pictures so I can stop and picnic. It really was very pathetic. Melissa our guide? SHE WAS WAYYYYYYY BEYOND IN A LEAGUE OF HER OWN. Went up without even breaking a sweat.

Finally on top! Took me ages! Hahaha. Here’s the obligatory group photo. We had to wait a while for the first group to finish climbing the canopy walkway. There is a certain number of people allowed on the walkway at one given time. They were so noisy man. We made fun of the boot camp tour guide hahaha who was like, “You want to go back to the hotel or not?? YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO HOTEL OR NOT??!! Then climb upstairss!!” Hahaha!!! I kid you not!

Then it was our turn! The canopy walkway was in short, awesome.

Here we are in different states of elevation.

It’s extremely high and perhaps those with extreme fear of heights or extreme fear of falling headfirst into the brown earth will probably have doubts about the safety of the walkway. But if you could just overcome that fear, you’d have the most awesome view.

God, this picture does not do the view any justice. And the sky was just so beautiful. The air there was amazing as well. Perhaps this view is worth the $98?

Red ant I saw on the way down. Perhaps this red ant is worth the $98?

Follow the safety guidelines!

Truthfully climbing up or climbing down was not as scary as I thought it would be. It was pretty secure, especially with the metal railings and steel cages that protects you just in case you slip. I did get a few jitters here and there when the wind is pretty strong, but as long as you hold the railings, and follow the guidelines, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t feel safe.

Then we swam around, well more like drifted around for me. Hahaha. I really don’t know how to swim in the river. Currents are weird. I’d rather swim in the sea where we have waves. In the river it just flows non stop. But water was very nice and cool, perfect after the sweaty jungle trek. Had a little “scare” which I am not at liberty to discuss, but all was well. Hehe. Everything that happens in the Temburong River stays in the Temburong River.

Then it was time to go back to the Lounge and clean up before our delicious prepared lunch.

I was illustrating the mouth of the crocodile which we thankfully did not get a chance to witness. Then we packed up and left for Bangar, where our boat was waiting to send us back to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Kids all tired (and some traumatised) after the day’s activities slept all the way back. Huhuhu.

This was before we too dozed off! LOL.

Was very sunburnt. Had a lovely tan for about 2 days. Haha.

Overall the trip was just okay for me. I have to say that I enjoyed the first trip better as it was more leisurely and more personal, plus we get to eat jungle stuff. This trip had barely any animal sightings, aside from that one lone red ant. Also had to do with our guides. Melissa looked quite intimidated by my 4 children who were chatting non-stop and pretty much left us on our own. It was ok, we liked her giving us some space. The information given was very basic as well, things we could’ve looked up on Wikipedia. I would prefer more insider knowledge, which the guides at Sumbiling had very much shared with us. Made the trip quite special. However, I would recommend this trip for the canopy walkway experience. It is really absolutely breathtaking. DO come by for a visit if you like seeing nature from a rare perspective. But if you like to interact with nature, then perhaps Sumbiling would be much suitable for you.

That is all. Stay tuned for more KNK Adventures!

Went to Bangkok last month and had one of the most awesome times ever! Nonnie has been diligently blogging about each and every single day of our trip and she does such a great job at it. If you would so prefer a more detailed account of our trip, please go on over to these links below:

• Day 1: Bangkok, the Land of AWESOMENESS
• Day 2: Temples, Houses, Mango Trees and SHOPPING!
• Day 3: Shopping, Massage, Makan
• Day 4: Hi Cambodia! Here comes Si Makan dan Si Tidur!
• Day 5: Siem Reap Happenings
• Day 6
• Day 7
• Day 8

As you know, the trip is divided into 4 parts. First we take an RBA flight from Brunei to Bangkok, and spend 2 nights there, then from there we go on AirAsia to Phnom Penh. The next morning we take a private car to Siem Reap and then back to Phnom Penh. Next day we go back to Bangkok and after 1 night, we are homebound back to Brunei.

Not complicated at all! I now vow to go to at least 2 countries whenever I travel. Save money and double the experience.

1. Brunei International Airport: Here we are looking all fresh and excited,

2. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok: After months of (not) planning, we are finally there in Bangkok! One of the best cities in South East Asia!

3. Arrived at our Hotel: The Best Bangkok House Hotel. Was very very cheap, but we have noisy neighbours!

4. KFC in Indra Square (Pratunam): As per recommended by August, we delved into the famous Thai spicy wings!

5. Shopping at MBK: This picture was taken in my now favorite shop there: Beauty Buffet. MBK was quite boring I thought. Would rather shop at Platinum, same items yet cheaper price.

6. Patpong (Need I say more?) And yes, we went to watch the ping pong show. There I said it.

7. BTS Sky train (I think that is an important part of modern Thai culture) Must try! Hehe. I wish we have these trains in Brunei. Would have been awesome!

8. Chao Phraya River: We did a tour package. On the day we arrived in BKK, we were offered this free tour around Chao Phraya River. It was quite interesting, we had a very capable tour guide who will put all Bruneian tour guides to shame. But the river cruise itself was tooooo long!

9. Thonburi Snake Farm: It was part of the river tour. Very interesting snake show. Scary to be exact. But the snake farm is also home to many many animals and birds. Unfortunately they are all kept in very cramped cages and look very sickly. I hope they will do something about it.

10. Chatuchak Weekend Market: Eating halal chicken sausage. There are loads of halal foods in Thailand, and if you don’t like Thai food (WHY???) then head on over to KFC, that has halal chicken. Chatuchak is an amazing shopping heaven for those who enjoy bargaining for those unique printed tees.

11. SIAM Paragon: Posing in front of CHANEL. Sigh! One day!

12. Samyan Market: A cheap food centre where students from the nearby Chulalongkorn University usually eat after and in between classes. We took advantage of this because where students hang out, there will be authentic local food with student prices! (Coincidentally, the guy featured in this photo works at the magazine that I linked “Samyan Market” to)

13. Erm, some Chinese dessert cafe place: A few blocks down from Samyan Market is some sort of a ChinaTown. We stopped by this dessert bar, and ordered a bowls of these yummies. You’re supposed to pick 3 toppings and they will put these topings over shaved ice and evaporated milk. Cost about $0.50 each bowl.

14. Ratchada Weekend Night Market (OMG I look so shiny!): This was an awesome market that sells vintage stuff! If you dig well enough you can find really great deals, but of course you must know how to bargain. I love this place as there is not even ONE single tourist there, it was definitely for locals only so learn some Thai before you go there!

15. Platinum Fashion Mall: This is a wholesale fashion mall, where I bought high quality dresses for $5 each! Enough said!

16. Pantip Plaza: This is one of the biggest malls dedicated to IT, kind of like the Thai version of Low Yat Plaza I went to when we were in Kuala Lumpur. Also this was where I thought I saw Big Reeds! How appropriate is that we saw him at an IT mall! Hehehe. But only at first glance they look alike, after the second glance, Anakbrunei is more hensem.

Pantip Plaza is supposedly where everyone gets their pirated DVDs. So some people may get excited but I personally think Kadai Komunis in Gadong has better selection heheheh.

17. Some Thai Massage Spa in Petchburi Soi Sip Ha: What trip to Thailand is complete without having Thai massage. Perfect after a day of hard-core shopping.

17. Streets of Silom also known as the District of the Third Sex: We had dinner here. This is one of the red light districts of Bangkok and it was quite interesting to see some “local business” going on there. Hehehe. Less blatant than Patpong, look out for people just walking aimlessly and standing around as if singing “Too Sexy For My Shirt” in their heads.

18. Phnom Penh International Airport: After a short flight from Suvarnabhumi, we arrive to our next destination, Phnom Penh!

19. Bourgainvillier Boutique Hotel: Stayed here throughout the duration of our stay. A bit on the pricey end, but for two lady travellers, it was very safe and was located at a prime destination, only a few minutes walk from a street of halal restaurants.

20. Tonle Sap Lake: The largest freshwater lake in South East Asia! Been there!

21. Sisowath Quay: Overlooking the Tonle Sap Lake.

22. Siem Reap: I’ve wanted to go here, eversince I co-wrote that article with Ahim Rani. I never told you guys, but when we wrote that article we spent many hours online and Ahim will be telling me about his experiences and the smells and colours and flavours and his opinions of the place. It stayed in my mind, this imagined place in my head, and that was the only thing I had to help me write the article.

It made me determined to come here one day. And I did! Ahim Rani inspired this trip through his story that I had the privellege to tell, and his photos that honestly have such a life of it’s own.

23. Angkor Wat: This icon of Cambodian culture has got to be one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever set foot on. When I went there I felt the same sort of jitter I felt when I went to Taj Mahal, that sense of “Wow, I’m actually here”. Awesome, awesome place. Really beautiful.

24. Bayon: The many many stone faces were rather eerie as they stared at us taking photos of the building. This was a very awe-inspiring building for so many reasons.

25. Angkor Balloon: I was very very excited about going on the Angkor Balloon but as fate has it, it was closed that particular afternoon we were there. Nonnie and I were very disappointed. If you ever go to Angkor, do stop by the Angkor Balloon. Bayon and Angkor Wat must be amazing from up there. It’s about US$11 for a criminally short 10 minutes. It will be the best purchase ever.

26. Khmer Angkor Restaurant: Yes, that is really the name of the restaurant! Stopped by here for lunch! Had the famous Fish Amok.

27. Halal Restaurant: When we got home, we were famished! Had dinner here at this very unsubtly named restaurant. Food was very cheap!!!

28. Toul Sleng Genocide Museum: This has got to be one of the most depressing sites I have ever been to. More depressing is that when I try to explain the significance of this place to friends, I realise many do not know of the gloomy era of Cambodian desperation and death under the Pol Pot regime.

“The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a museum in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The site is a former high school which was used as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979.” Please read more about this Museum.

29. Cheoung Ek Killing Fields: Another site which had seen a lot of evil.

“The site of a former orchard and Chinese graveyard about 17km south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is the best-known of the sites known as The Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge regime executed about 17,000 people between 1975 and 1979. Mass graves containing 8,895 bodies were discovered at Choeung Ek after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Many of the dead were former inmates in the Tuol Sleng prison.” Read more.

30. Royal University of Phnom Penh: Sent off Yoyo, my friend to Uni after having lunch with her. Will miss her! I love this photo.

31. MY Hotel: Back in a more modern Bangkok, we checked in a very nice looking hotel only 10 steps away from our old hotel! Hehehe.

32. Centralworld: One of the most happening places in Bangkok! We went here again the next day. Hehe. I love the wide open space outside the mall.

33. TK Park! Met up with the ASEAN +3 Youth Caucus gang.

34. Suan Lum Night Bazaar: Shopping! Somewhat more expensive than the last few markets, but Silom is more tourist friendly with vendors speaking many languages and easier to navigate. Careful what you say because they sure can speak Malay here!

35. Fish Spa: Hehehe, mad expensive but just trying. Sat opposite handsome Japanese tourist.

36. Back to Suvarnabhumi International Airport: Finally homebound. Wore a mask because I was still down with the sniffles caused by dusty Phnom Penh! Don’t wanna scare everyone with my runny nose!

**********

The end of another awesome trip. I love Bangkok and the awesome convenience that the city brings. It’s certainly very easy to fall in love with this country with its delicious food, friendly people and mad shopping. But Phnom Penh, though less modern, charmed us in with those many moments of “huh?!” and French detail buildings and how fiercely they fought to be free of oppression. I really think I learnt a lot from this trip, and I have to thank Nonnie for being the best travel buddy!

I keep on opening this WYSIWYG editor but I could never put down anything. I apologise that my blog is pretty boring now.

Hohoho, what you guys doing inside heh????

When I woke up this morning, Twitterland and Facebookland was abuzzing with a lot of activity pertaining to the Titah that His Majesty the Sultan had given during the Special Meeting at the National Disaster Management Centre (do correct me if I’m wrong).

I would’ve been terrified to be sitting in front of His Majesty this morning listening to his Titah. I have never heard him so straightforward nor have I ever heard him so emotional in delivering his Titah. Perhaps it’s my overactive imagination but several times I swear he even almost choked on his words. It was so heartfelt, containing not only issues that you know are important to him, and everyone protecting under his umbrella, but also issues that concern the hereafter. I really do feel that this is one of his best titahs. Even better than the one during this year’s National Day.

Now what do we do?

For now we know our mistakes. We note them down, be excited. Because tomorrow, is a new day, in more ways than one.

ALLAH PELIHARAKAN SULTAN.

Funbread Cafe had been one of my favorite haunts when I was still a student. Last time I went there, was for a delicious lunch with my TESL friends and I’ve been there enough times for assignments that I’ve made friends from the friendly waitstaff there. I’m not sure why I suddenly stopped going there, but I think it’s because the place is quite secluded and since I didn’t have much of a life last year, when I do have time to go out, I want to be around as many people as possible! LOL.

Apparently the whole year I didn’t go there, Funbread Cafe had gone through a major rehaul in interiors and also, menu! I like the old look actually, it’s cosy and warm but the new look is fresher, simpler, more modern and offers more light and space than the old one. As I peered through the menu, it looks very promising. Delicious sounding food items described so sinfully, complimented with porn-like pictures.

We went through quite a number of dishes that night, their specials, some duck rolls, some noodles, some pasta, oh and the creamiest seafood chowder I have ever tasted. Ever. All quite decent and enough to make me want to go back there.

But all paled in comparison to the White Chocolate Macadamia Cake.

This was put quite simple the STAR of the night. I am absolutely drooling just typing all this in. The most delicious cake I have ever tasted and I’m really not that much of a cake person. I could taste the macadamias, I could taste the white cocolate icing but the rest of it was just pure magic. If you haven’t been to this cafe, this cake can be your one reason enough to drive all the way there.

Turquoise & Roses highly recommend! If you would like to see more albums of food from the night, please click here, here, here or here.

All photos taken by Marul.

Even had a Tootsie Roll? Basically it’s a American candy but it really is a household phenomenon. You hear the name all the time right but you know, because it’s unavailable here in Brunei, I’ve never actually had a Tootsie Roll ever before. Until today. ANd appropriately, on American soil!

Behold! A little Tootsie Roll, festively wrapped in red, white and blue. I thought it looks a bit like toffee.

Yes that’s my fingerprint n the Tootsie Roll. It’s chewy and gooey and gets all stuck in your teeth like toffee. And it’s soft and buttery like toffee. Basically, it’s toffee.

Read more about Tootsie Rolls here. In the mean time, happy fourth of July my American friends. 233rd year of independence and counting!

When we were in Bangkok, one of the more memorable things we did was going on tour around the Chao Phraya River. We went by motorboat, a vehicle about double the size of the ones found on Kampong Ayer, and operates twice as noisy. The Chao Phraya River, like Sungai Brunei, runs right in the middle of the city, and so anyone who goes on a tour will be able to feast their eyes on a view of the city from the river. One will pass by many many houses and temples and it’s quite interesting to see the similarities and differences from our very own Kampong Ayer. It is true then what they say, “we are the same, but different”.

Although there is not really much difference, however, one thing very much jumps to me. Unlike in our beloved Kampong Ayer, the Chao Phraya River, is extremely clean! Sure it might be murky and brown, unlike the pristine waters of Temburong, but no where did I see any trace of rubbish! Now considering how this is a very compact and very dense residential area, that I think is an extremely impressive feat.

How did they do it?

According to our guide, the Chao Phraya River, or more specifically the smaller river canals, are fixed with one of these giant rubbish filters, that prevents the rubbish from entaring to the main stream. That way, it would be easier to clean. I’m not sure how the filtering system works but I assume it involves daily round the clock maintenance otherwise the rubbish will clog the canals.

Something that we can adapt to our own river canals perhaps? The Thais have really done a great job keeping the most important river in Thailand clean.

Fishing is not allowed near temples. This policy is very strictly enforced, and protected the catfish population there from being overfished. Boats stop by near temples to feed these fish bread (among other kinds of food), so they’re very healthy, big and very fat! And healthy fish produces more healthy fish. And what more would healthy fish want more than just clean water to live in?

I hope we can learn a thing or two from Thailand’s management of the Chao Phraya. Sungai Brunei is the most important river in Brunei, and we rely so much from it. Let’s give it the respect it deserves.