Brunei Riverine Filling Stations

This is a long overdue posts - promised to my colleagues in Melbourne & KL. We were discussing about Shell retails in Brunei back in November and we told them we have 30+ filling stations plus riverine stations.

From their surprised looks (riverine??!), I rightly assumed that it was the first time they've heard of it. Well, I don't know if other countries have that but in Brunei, we have these riverine stations in Kg Ayer to cater for the villagers motorboat fuel.

Well to Julie, Ben and Azlan, here are the pics as promised (a looooooooong while ago). Enjoy.

Korban Aidil Adha - Majlis Korban Serumpun 2007 / 1428H

The descendents of Omar Inche from Kuala Belait (of which I am one) organised the annual Korban ceremony on Sunday, 23 Dec 2007 at the residence of Hajah Hafsah binti Haji Omar Ali, whose mother was the eldest daughter of Omar Inche.

The Korban ceremony involves the sacrifice of 7 goats and 2 buffaloes, by the family members and close friends. It could've been eight goats but one got stolen on Friday night - not surprisingly the fattest of the goats was the one stolen.

It was a good collective effort from everyone and brings the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cousins together - some of those people we haven't even met before.

For more pictures, please visit this site.

Organising Committee with the Guest of Honour, Belait District Officer

Yours truly giving a hand to bring down a goat

Doa Selamat (Prayer) being read to bless the occassion

Royal Brunei Navy in Kuala Belait

RBN came down to KB for their Open Ship & Career Exhibition, and I took the opportunity to bring my family and my nephew & nieces, to catch a ride on one of the naval ships.

It was a great experience and I took the opportunity to take a rare view of the house where I grew up in. Oh, kids love the boat trip but not the sweltering sun though.

The RBN Coat of Arms

Two of the 4 ships displayed. I was told these ships take only 6 hours 

to travel from Muara to KB port.

The same ships from the back

safety is priority. great work guys.

This sailor takes his work seriously.

And this is the house I grew up in, from when I was born (1974) to 1990. Since 1991, I only spent my weekends and 

school holidays & summer breaks here. I haven't stayed here at all since 2004, though I still visit my parents every other week.

We also saw the police patrol boats, using the fish landing area as their base now.

The Plaza Sutera Biru, which houses BSP offices as well as Sutera Biru hotel (or apartment?)

BSRC Photograph - relaunched

Wednesday, 28/11/07 is another milestone in BSRC photography section. It has been quiet.... a total silent.... for nearly 2 years. Being a photography enthusiast, BSP Asset Director asked for the section to be revived and our dear friend Kantalensa was appointed to be the section's captain.

Fellow bloggers were also appointed as committees i.e. Meo, Cuboi, DD & BB - Guys, have I missed out anyone?

Anyway, the plan is to have monthly outings including one to Temburong, plus photography talks. I've been into DSLR for 16 months now but have not got a chance to attend one. The recent Panaga Club arranged talk happens to come in the wrong time for me.... well, I am looking forward to BSRC Photog section to arrange one... right guys? Enjoy the pics here

it is a bit dark, but i like the background pics... 

Our section captain Kanta with his photo, during his opening remarks.

A journey starts with a small step. Less than 20 turned up. We know from the start that we have a lot to prove, and InsyaAllah the number will grow with the committees and members commitments.

Treasurer...BB... can I have a 5D?

Meos.... Activity committee

Company Pro... enough said!

Randomclicker and a future blogger??

 

Members in attendance... in the front is cuboi & Aku


Aku... not me hehe (withaku.com) & cuboi

My ride & my family's home

AWESOME!

On Friday night I attended the BSP CLP graduation dinners.... it was AWESOME... we have sheikhs, camel, a birthday, good food, and lots of nice pics + some tears...

My wife was among the 20+ Shell employees selected for the Core Leadership Program & spouses were invited. When my wife told me that, I was honoured and agreed immediately. The facilitator was from the US and she'd love to see the participants in their national dress, so my wife & I came in our black Baju Melayu & Kurung.

Enjoy the pics below but for more pics, please go to my other blog: gembo@multiply.

skit no 1: sheikhs & camel

skit no 1; sheikh Bert's birthday

New York... New York lalalala

skit no 2: shopping!

skit no 3: sheikh ordering Ambuyat

sheikh cuboi running away with the camel :-)

Muhammad's reward for fasting 16 days

This photo is long overdue. My son, Muhammad Abdurrahman fasted for 16 days during Ramadan was rewarded by his auntie, my sister in law, with not one but TWO hot wheel toys. He loves it so much that he took it everywhere for the Hari Raya for over a week.

Helicopter take off

      The glorious new S92 in the hangar prior to be towed out for afternoon flight.

Recently I teamed up with colleagues from the Group Risks & Insurance to review our Aviation Operations risks. We were given the honour to climb quite a number of steps up to the control tower, and it was well worth the steps... we stayed to watch a helicopter lands, refuel and takes-off again, and to see how the controller handles it. Not an easy job and he has to be on the watch.... good that they have buddies up there.

Do you know that it reduces the take-off & landing risks if the chopper takes-off and lands like an airplane i.e. taking an inclination (did i say it right) compared to vertical take-off & landing? well, i just knew about it. well, check out the pics below.

Chopper towed out from its hangar

The controller on duty is a buddy from A-levels. He's been with BSP for 14 years!

      View in the tower

      A chopper lands.....

      ..... and takes off again.

Puasa gift for a 6 year old

I promised my son, Muhammad that I'd buy him a present if he fasted a few days in Ramadan.... He actually did for 16 days and here is his gift, a 3-in-1 lego - Jetfighter, Helicopter & Hovercraft.

It was also a chance for me to test my Canon 60mm/f2.8 macro lens.... although i had it for 6 months now, i had never used it as the narrow field made it difficult to take non-macro shots at home (to benefit from the f2.8), although the intention/justification to mrs was to get more macro shots teeheehehe. Anyway, will post more pics of the hovercraft & helicopter version once my son is bored with the jetfighter....

Please also visit my other blog, gembo-home.blogspot.com about my house construction.

end of Month 2

The construction of our house, which began with land clearing on 15 May (i think) is going well. Ground floor columns have now been completed and now being prepared for the upper floor beams and floor. According to the contractor, the main (skeleton) structure should be ready by end of August, in time for the arrival of the rooftiles from Malaysia. Got a couple of pics here.

Quiet time

Not been able to update my house blog lately, been travelling to Singapore and KL.... Singapore to buy lights for the house and KL to accompany my other half on her course. Lucky i have this contractor, as he allowed me to join in his container shipment to Brunei, so we bought a few pendant lights and a lot of downlights for the home, spent more than $5k, but it's worth the saving, InsyaAllah. What's left to buy are the fans and exhaust fans, in wall speaker cables, speaker wall connectors.... 37 hours in Singapore is not enough, seriously not enough especially if you want to buy lights, but in our case we window shop on the first day and go for the kill on the second... till the next update, more shopping in KL.

6th Anniversary into Fatherhood

At 4.28 pm 28 May, 6 years ago, i officially became a Pengiran after the birth of my eldest child and only son, Ak Muhammad Abdurrahman.

This year is the first time we made a big birthday bash for him, hosted his classmates at home and played a number of games: pass the parcel, treasure hunt, musical chair and "menari karau" (frozen dancing heheh). It was good fun actually, he really enjoyed it especially as he got lots of presents... Knowing that he loves to read, i bought him the Story Reader, a device which looks like a book and reads the text of the active page etc.

He grew up so fast, it feels just like yesterday that i call the Azan to his ears when he was born... (teary eyed...) enjoy the pics!

My sister's B'day.

Liza celebrated her 23rd birthday last nite, so we had BBQ and i made her favourite amongst my pasta, chix n mushroom linguine in white sauce. we forgot to buy her card but managed a contingency, asked my son (Muhammad, 6) to draw up a card. And she loved it, more personal! enjoy the pics.