Since everything is in pending mode, there’s nothing much that I can really do here. After updated my entry for the day, I decided to take a nap.

It wasn’t long enough when my colleague waked me up on phone as our local partner was on his way to bring us to visit our new accomodation venue for the next trip.

He brought us to Gadong, one of the small town here, which is quite happening during night time. We proceeded to a service apartment here, forgot what’s the exact name though. It’s quite big with 3 rooms, B$1000 per month. Anyway, we decided not to give it a call as my colleague and I felt that it’s smelly and awful.

After been looking around for a while, we came to Grand City Hotel. Coincidentally, I was on phone during that time, so didn’t have a chance to look around. Anyhow, according to them, it’s very clean and the price is quite reasonable as well, only at B$61 per night (published rate). However, since our partner is under tight budget, they might to have a work around on this. I hope this’ll be fine, since it’s Wi-Fi connected as well, convenience enough for me to online and of course, to update my blog!

It was almost 8pm when we reached the RMS Portview Seafood Restaurant at the Bandar Seri Begawan. This was my first time in the city since I landed at Brunei. We were very lucky as our partner’s boss specially requested the Italian chef to stay back and cooked some delicacies for us. We had pasta, pizzas, freshly catched seafood, it was so great! Wines and whisky are being served too.

A floating village is just opposite the restaurant which is called Kampung Ayer. Accordingly, that’s the initial settlement of Bruneian until Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien, who is the late father of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah developed the then called Brunei Town. His illustriousness made him fondly remembered as the Architect of Modern Brunei. There were boat services across the river, to serve the locals who work across the mainland. I manage to talk to a few locals there and grabbed some info about the service. I had been told that tourist can take a boat ride around the floating village for B$10. But what attracted me the most is, boats to Limbang and Labuan are available too! Wow, seems like there are so many places for me to visit, must plan well then.

On the way back, we passed through Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation Complex, used to be one of the hotspot for shopping. The rental is so expensive until most vendors move to Gadong, which is another latest hotspot. Then we came to Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. It’s so grand, so elegant, all kind of words that you can actually think of. What a waste that I don’t have any camera with me. Next, the Istana Nurul Imam, the Sultan’s official residence and seat of government, said to be the world’s largest residential palace! I was left speechless, just by looking into the entrance, ONLY! Security is so strict there, just wondering how would I turn out to be if I just simply take a snapshot. :-|

In fact, I already seriously shortlist Brunei as one of my retirement avenue. Reason wise is very simple as I’m so sure that I can achieve and enjoy that kind of quality of life here, which is a totally impossible priviledge in KL. Well, let me do some drafts first, then I’ll share more about the social-economic wise of staying in Brunei in my coming days.

I’m back to KL tomorrow, for weekend. But for sure, I’ll be back again very soon, probably next Wednesday.

Probably missing of Brunei later? Maybe ….

Supposedly, I should be on board by now, having my in-house lunch, but somehow due to some unforseen circumstance and a tremendous high level U-Turn decision, I have to stay back.

Again, after pack and unpack, run through some documentations, manage to sneak some time to surf. Not bad, the signal is doing well today, unlike previous days.

Incidentally, I manage to come across movie reviews on The Star which titled Sepet at here and here. Two reviews, at least should be on par then.

I read through the synopsis and don’t think that I’ve to reveal much of the storyline here as I believe most of you guys know more than me. I must be quite outdated that it was released on 24th Feb 2005 and only to find out now. Never mind, not late though. Hopefully I manage to watch it, IF I’m back to KL and IF it’s still on show.

Either I can make it or not, this is definitely a MUST see rating movie by my definition. Last option and the best option, what else? Pirated one la …

Quote:

“This movie will make you laugh, make you smile, make you cry. But most importantly, this movie will make you think.”

I hope every Malaysian will watch and think, really.

A little bird dropped me an email regarding some accomodation issue which happened to be at University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), started since 2001 and it spans until now.

Accordingly, the Student Affairs Department (HEP) proposed that ALL students must stay in the campus, stated security concern as the main issue.

Meanwhile, construction of new hostels was already in final stages.

While some of the students might appreciate the goodwill of HEP, other concerns arose which might as well cause students new problems. HEP and students must come out with a dialogue session to eliminate the discrepancies,
If it’s really for students’ good, something must be done to help those involved, not to furthermore burden them, in case there is any.

After all, the existence of student affairs department in every university are meant to help people, isn’t it? Correct me, if I’m wrong.

Event Chronology:

Session 2001/2002 semester 2

The construction of new blocks in KTF, KTHO, KTR, KP,
K9, K10, K11, K12, K13, K14, K15, K16 and K17 were in
final stages. Students Affairs Department (HEP) had
begun to take over the administration of new blocks
from Campus Development Department (Pejabat
Pembangunan)

Session 2002/2003 semester 1

In mid June, after passing some regulations, HEP
proposed that, due to the deterioration of security
outside the campus, and reasons like newly built
blocks are more comfortable to live in, all students
must shift into colleges provided by HEP.

All students were not satisfied with the proposal as
soon as the news spread out. Since it was just a
proposal, no further actions were taken. Moreover
several student representatives came forth to voice
out the problems faced by the majority staying outside
such as termination of house contract, telephone
deposits and so on. So, after several weeks of
discussion, HEP implemented the order only on newly
enrolled students while those who were already staying
outside would be exempted.

Session 2003/2004 semester 1

HEP finally announced the full scale implementation of
the above order, that all new students enrolled in
session 2002/2003 and later, must remain in campus
colleges every semester till the end of their study in
UTM.

Session 2004/2005 semester 1

Due to the status conversion from diploma to degree,
some 150 ex-diploma students from Faculty of Build
Environment (FAB) were treated as newly enrolled
students and they were forced to stay in campus though
many of them had been staying outside for quite a
period.

Facing problems such as violation of house contract
due to sudden termination, all the involved students
might lose their deposit as compensation. Therefore
they submit their letters of appeal to the Vice
Chancellor of Student Affairs Department (HEP)
together but until now, no decisions were made by the
authorities yet.

While waiting for approval, the students were forced
to pay the rental for campus colleges besides having
to pay rental for rooms outside campus. The worst part
was that all the students mentioned above were unable
to obtain loan from PTPTN due to some technical
difficulties. In the end they had to pay approximately
extra RM480 per person for campus rental. Is it fair
for them?

Anyone in the know and know more, please feedback.

After an hour delay, I reached Brunei International Airport.

While I was at immigration, after the custom guy stamped on my passport, I thanked him by saying that “Thanks man” with a reply “I’m not your man” in a serious node, not even look into my face. I shared this with a partner who fetched me, he said those people expect us to respect them in a way by calling them “Tuan”. First lesson well-learned.

I like the no-frill traffic here, just smooth, not like the one that I experience everyday at KL.

The hotel that I’m staying in is quite comfortable, wi-fi enabled.

Tomorrow, a kick-off meeting would be conducted with the client. Our partner had already warned us that the project owner is very “interesting”, so I might as well having big time here.

I’ll share more about Brunei when I have time.

Till then, good night to everyone, wherever you’re.