Interesting … Would you like to know your own personality? Try this website:
http://dna.imagini.net/friends/
At each question, there will be 14 pictures. Select the one closest to your character. Repeat the process until the end. It will give you a profile of yourself… and more…
Have fun!
“I am open for a business chat. Contact my PA … come and sees me in the office.” – Dato Hamdillah
If there is an award for the best Brunei Government servant, I would definitely vote for Dato Hamdillah, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources.
The above image (which I took from Ranoadidas.com) shows he really meant business and to me, that shows his openness. I know he is somewhat over-exposed in the local media scene but his presence has an essence. Behind that grinning-dimpled face is a brain that, to me, works 24/7.
In one press interview, Dato is aware that there must be a change in the mindset of the Public-Private-Sector partnership, asking SMEs not to be reluctant in providing feedback and criticism on the many government SME programmes due to fear of backlash. I await the announcement from the ministry on the ‘re-engineered schemes based on current business reality and feedback/learning points from past experience’.
Dato Hamdillah has done a number of projects, schemes and initiatives from facilitation scheme to tourism to saving Borneo’s rainforest and the possibility of the 4th wave of foreign direct investment opportunity, that I have lost count on the actual numbers.
The Enterprise Facilitation Scheme for example, with a loan ceiling of $1.5 million, has already provided loans totalling $28:6 million to 86 SMEs from 1999 to 2007. Another financing loan is the Microcredit Financing Scheme which has a loan ceiling of $30,000 and has provided $7.79 million worth of capital to 409 SMEs from 2001 to 2009 (next year?).
What remains an issue at the moment continues to be on the start-up capital for SMEs. Hope MIPR is also looking into this? Thanks.
So you are a movie fan? Check Flixster site and see the amazing world of movies. Go to the Never-Ending Quiz under the Fun page and see if you are a real movie fan. I am a bit addicted to it now…hmmm… At the moment, I am ranked 9,488,979th 
but hey, I only just started a few minutes ago(defensive mode on).
| User Homepages: | 55,120,177 |
|---|---|
| Movie Ratings: | 1,603,997,150 |
| Quiz Questions: | 4,182,576 |
| Movies: | 39,748 |
| Actors: | 158,032 |
| Photos: | 1,562,814 |
| Videos: | 399,406 |
Now this article from BBC really interest me. Why? I long for a boy. I have four girls already and the only male in the house (or THE man in the house) is my other half.
When I was pregnant with my third baby, everyone, I mean everyone, even an old woman in the street, said it would be a boy. Also, the ultrasound scan sessions that I went to every few weeks revealed it would be a boy. The time I found out I was pregnant again, I was already into the Old Wives’ Tales like exchanging the wooden spatula with mothers who would like the opposite sex (yes I did that with a friend of a friend who wanted to have girls); switched sleeping side with hubby and to eat more seafood and so on – all during my first trimester.
At that time, setting my mind that it would be a boy, I was already buying everything in blue (that code colour for a baby boy) like crazy. When the time did come, I was a bit taken aback when the doctor said it’s a girl. Being grateful to God for the safe delivery – it was a big baby – I remember at that time that I couldn’t help thinking why on earth did everyone said it would be a boy? Of course I do love all my babies no matter what. Looking at all my princesses make me smile all day long.
Now, that article I mentioned earlier, it says that a high calorie diet might increase the odds of a boy. So to say that if you want a boy, go eat Nasi Lemak or Laksa and for a girl, consume a low calorie diet. Looking back at my eating habits when I was pregnant with the four girls I have, I remember during the first three months into my prgnancy, I ate bars of almond chocolate for the first; strings of taugeh or beansprouts with the second; jars and jars of peanut butter spread for the third and endless young coconuts for the fourth. The results – yes all girls. But this is just for my case. Others might have a different story to tell (please do share? Tq).
Another thing that interest me on that article is when it says that: “The researchers say the modern trend to opt for low calorie diets might explain why the proportion of boys is falling in developed countries.” For me, this is one of the explainations on why there would be more men than women when the end of the world comes. Islam has taught us that one of the many signs when its near the Judgement Day is that there would be more women than men.
A statistics on Brunei’s sex ratio for 2006 reveals this:
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
A quick search reveals that at the moment, based on the CIA Factbook, the world has a ratio of 1.01 male to one female. The map below tells more. Red means more men and blue more women. Brunei is color-coded with pink.
This site tells more on the sex or gender debate. So who are we to play God?
These could well be your ordinary pens with built-in camera, yes?
Behold! These pens are the future of mobile computing. With the advancement of the bluetooth technology, this is how a mobile computer can fit in your pocket. The new 3D technology fits well into any flat surface. So now you don’t have to use your (bulky) screen or keyboard anymore.
The above pictures were taken from a Japanese Tv programme on the Japanese never-ending creations and innovations. Great! Now my pc is obsolete! To Sis Kuj: must be Japanese.
Mmm…the taste of Pavlova from Bunny’s Yummies… We were celebrating my best friend’s birthday over the weekend and ordered this, ermm, how should I describe it? Mouth-watering-make-you-drooling-if-you-stare-long-at-the-picture meringue.
As we were celebrating the birthday at that famous Dim-Sum restaurant in Gadong, curious diners and on-lookers were caught peering at our table, not because of the birthday girl (hehe, you do look beautiful as ever dear) but of the meringue.
In less than half-an-hour, all six of us almost finished it off, just leaving a slice or two ‘for the table’ so as to speak (or type). I tell you, it’s the best, yummiest, tastiest and the best (did I say that already?) meringue I have ever tasted in my life.
My other friend who ordered it introduced us to the creator, it’s the famous Bunny’s Yummies. Local orders are accepted, so sorry for those outside Brunei – maybe Bunny would consider world-wide distribution. Will contact her a-s-a-p to order meringue – just for myself! Haha! Be pre-warned – this Pavlova is Bunny’s hot selling dessert.
“There are thinkers and there are doers, and there are those who think a lot about doing” - Qila
Happy Earth Day today….Hope our great-great-great-grandchildren would be able to smell fresh flowers, touch a koala bear, meet in person an orang-utan, enjoy the ocean, swim in the river, eat fresh food, know how a mambangan tree look like …
Yes, its Earth Day today and its being celebrated all over the world. For those who would like to know on how we can save our Earth - look around your house and recycle, reuse and reduce whatever items you can find.
This morning I found a sealed-cap from the Ribena bottle. My girl was about to throw it away and I told her, we can use the cap as a finger-protector (from infections especially) and use it at the tip of a finger when we want to press the lift buttons. (Hope I dont sound paranoid there). My idea on that cap was to re-use it instead of throwing it away so peeps, dont get it wrong please. It happened that we were about to leave our apartment and I was still holding the cap when my girl asked about it. I saw the lift buttons and showed my girl how we could re-use items such as the cap. Eureka!
Anyway, Happy Earth Day.
I have been contemplating to withdraw some part of my Employees Trust Fund savings and I have to make a decision sooner than later. I know if I do decide to go ahead, this will be my life-long investment – buying a house. I have checked the requirements and procedures of withdrawing my savings – it looks simple and straight-forward. I am also qualified for the early withdrawal scheme which means that I can withdraw at least 40 % of the total savings. This is indeed a good investment as part of the amount to purchase my dream house would be from the mortgage. At least I don’t have to pay that much interest.
Still I am unsure. After all the money, though it’s mine, is meant for my retirement and even TAP wouldn’t allow for unneccasary withdrawals. We could not predict what would happen to us, not just in the future but even after this very moment. I have already planned on what I would do when I retire. I don’t like the idea of depending on my children, thinking that they might help or ‘pay back’ when I am old – not hoping here. Hopefully my health will allow me to be independent just like at this very moment.
I went to the nearest TAP office and enquired in depth on the process and procedure for early withdrawal scheme. The lady was nice and I felt at ease. I like their idea on the e-kiosks. If you are a member of TAP, you just need to insert your Brunei identity card and all your records would be shown. You can check your balance and see if your employer is really putting in the five percent contribution as required by Brunei law. It also shows the dividend rate for the respective year. I noticed that for the past four years, it has increased to 4.25% from 3.1%. Nice…
I would perform the special hajat prayer and hope that God will guide me to make my decision, amin.
Brunei’s number one social activity is eating. Is that true or not? A friend once said that there’s nothing much to do in Brunei but eat. Even when we do our exercises or take part in walkathon, jogathon or whatever names that we created meaning en mass; may end with ‘refreshment’. This is not just light or finger foods we are talking about but heavy-weights like nasi goring (fried rice); mee goring (friend noodle); chicken boxing; and laksa.Another friend from abroad commented to me that she gained weight in Brunei because her local host fed her everyday, like 24/7. I am not surprised.
Bruneians are well-known for their hospitality. We are great hosts too. Just ask those youths who have been here in Brunei and adopted by Bruneian families on how were they treated? I am sure they would answer, well-fed.
I heard of a story from a tourist who wanted to see Kampong Ayer. He walked around in one of the villages and after awhile was confused with the walkways and the houses. Next thing he knew, he was entering someone’s kitchen. The house-owner though startled to see the tourist, welcomed him and invited him for some food. This story tells that Bruneians are not just friendly but trust any Tom, Dick or Harry.
My mom always refer to those who suddenly appear or drop-by unannounced as orang sasat. In any meal, be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or any event; she would set aside a portion of food for the orang sasat. She would feel sorry if there is nothing to offer to guests be it us her children, or grand-children and anyone basically. The first thing she would ask would be, sudah makan or have you eaten? I think any mother would be like that.
RSVP (repondez s’il vous plait, meaning “respond if you please”) will never work in Brunei. Sometimes people said they are coming but on the actual day, they didn’t turn up; or those who already said their regrets, suddenly turn up at your door-steps. However, we always welcome anyone, as I mentioned earlier.
This is the issue in Brunei that it would be difficult to estimate the quantity of food. Whenever we plan for an event, we estimated the number of guests we are going to invite. Then we inform the food caterer or for those who do their own cooking, will estimate on how many pikul or tones of meat are needed; how many bottles of water and those colorful, carbonated drinks that some people like to drink should be bought, and so on. When the big day comes, it turn out that there were more guests than food. Malu...Then there would be times when not many turn up for your event, here, at least guests can tapau or take home the left-over. Hmm…
I have been thinking of food all the time partly because its almost lunch time now and another reason is that I am trying to starve myself – kidding – not good actually. Dieting can kill you, did you know that? You may have heard of cases of anorexia or bulimia, both are well-known eating disorders.
There was a big news last year where a Brazilian model died because of anorexia nervosa. She was still young, at 21. Her death prompted for global calls not to allow really skinny models on the runways – those with a BMI of less than 18 are banned. Some countries like the US, the UK and Italy followed this call.
The late Princess Diana was also said to be bulimic. This website tells of famous people (some I don’t really know actually) who died because of or have eating disorders.
Sometimes I wonder why people would do it – to eat and binge out or not to eat at all. I would understand celebrities like the Brazilian model – due to their work and social status but what I don’t understand is for ‘normal’ people like you and me. Depression? Isolation? Family problems? Peer pressure. Maybe yes to all of these.
Mostly affected would be teenagers, especially girls but men are known to be vulnerable as well. Pity that for these young people, slim is in and being fat is out. Even the slightest sight of a bulge would leave them screaming to lose weight. ASAP. If there is no proper guidance from their parents, the result would be devastating even fatal.
I heard of a story on a family here in Brunei – the usual scene where the parents were so every busy with their own lives that they neglected their ‘little’ girl – literally. The girl was only 16 when she was sent to the emergency and her weight at that time was that of a young girl – at 25 kilograms. Luckily she survived and she later told her doctor (where I got this story from) that she just wanted her parents’ attention. How touching.
So don’t want to think of bad things now as my tummy grumbles and roaring to be filled. I already have a picture in my mind (and up there) on what’s my lunch would be – the humble tahai. Tahai is a Brunei dish made of smaller fish called tamban and made into soup with the sour asam kulit as the main ingredients hence the sour taste. Tahai is usually taken on its own or served as a side dish with Ambuyat. The small fish was of course smoked beforehand and they are readily available at major Tamu or side-stalls along Brunei roads. Am really hungry now….
I came across this useful page from the MSN on foods that may lower your cholesterol. It says: “Following an overall healthy diet that’s low in saturated fat and abundant in fruits and vegetables is wiser than obsessing over specific “super” foods.
Still, some foods have been shown to give cholesterol levels an extra nudge in the right direction:
Oats – When women in a University of Toronto study added oat bran to an already heart-healthy diet, HDL-cholesterol levels-the beneficial kind-climbed more than 11 percent.
Almonds – A 2005 Tufts University study found that substances in almond skins help prevent LDL cholesterol from being oxidized, a process that can otherwise damage the lining of blood vessels and increase cardiovascular risk.
Beans & Lentils – In results reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2005, LDL-cholesterol levels fell almost twice as far in volunteers on a low-fat diet who added beans and lentils (along with more whole grains and vegetables) to the menu.
Blueberries – contain a powerful antioxidant called pterostilbene that may help lower LDL cholesterol, scientists at the Agricultural Research Service reported in 2004.
Barley – When volunteers in a 2004 USDA study added barley to the standard American Heart Association diet, LDL-cholesterol levels fell more than twice as far.
Avocados – The monounsaturated fats in avocados have been found to lower bad LDLs and raise good HDLs, especially in people with mildly elevated cholesterol.
I seek forgiveness from Allah and there is no God but Allah who stand on His own and I seek remorse from Him. This is the prayer for Friday morning from the Ministry of Religious Affairs site.
It’s Friday today. For Muslims, Friday is the holiest day of the week. Muslims believed that Friday was the day the Earth was created and the Dooms Day would also be on a Friday. Prophet Adam (a.s.) and his wife, Hawa, were married on a Friday; they both ate the forbidden Fruit on Friday (hence left heaven on Friday) and on Earth, they met at what is now the Arafah plains (part of the Muslims pilgirmage rituals) also on a Friday. [Side comment: I remember my late grandma said that the elders believed that for those who are doing their pilgrimage, they can perform a sembahyang hajat or a special prayer and wish for an everlasting marriage while at the Arafah plains - Insya Allah].
Those who passed away on Thursday evening or on Friday itself would be sparred from the pain in the LifeAfter. Its also a kind of a good sign for the departed. [Any comment here?]
This is similar to the Sabath day for the Jews. The Christians also has a special Friday called Good Friday, the day Jesus Christ was crucified and celebrated before the Easter [I don't know why you are celebrating]; whilst the Americans have this ‘holiday’ called Black Friday which is a day after Thanksgiving. Actually this marks the start of the traditional Christmas shopping.
Friday the 13th could also be considered as unlucky for some supersitious people, along with other ‘bad’ signs. I don’t really beieve in any of this. Numbers are just numbers and days are just days, yes?
Traditionally for most Bruneians, the start of Friday would mean visiting the graveyard though not on a weekly basis. More visits and respects are usually expected during the fasting month of Ramadhan or on the anniversary of the deceased’s death. For myself, after a visit to my late father’s grave, I would definetely buy stuff at the Tamu (this is something like a workflow for me, come to think about it).
The other traditional good deed to do during Friday is to give sedekah to the poor or anyone basically, as long as your intention is sincere – because of God. I remember when I was small, my mom, my late anty and late grandma would be sending round food to the neighbourhood on a Friday morning. There would be all sort of Malay kueh or delicacies such as calak lambai, penyiaram, cakoi, bingka, putri mandi, so many I couldn’t remember all. Being the active one, I would usually volunteered myself to send around these goodies and believe it or not, just in my seluar katak, a kind of Brunei’s own version of a girl’s panty. If there is any picture of me in THAT panty, I would surely burn it down – how embarassing – but I was little then. Those were the (carefree) days and paedophiles were unknown (maybe the word was not even created yet)
For those (in Brunei) who would like to do your bit to the community and you have loads of clothings or whatever useful items that could give (no matter how old but preferably still in good condition), please send them to the SMARTER Shop at the Wisma Jaya in Bandar. Proceeds from the shop would be used for the SMARTER Association – the NGO for children with autism. Even if you don’t have anything to give, you buy any items at the shop – they are really good bargain.Ranoadidas has more details.
Did you read on a story where a baby girl was born with two faces? Allahu Akbar! Apparently the baby has the two faces, two noses, two pairs of lips and two pairs of eyes, all four eyes blinking at the same time; and yes, she is drinking milk normally. Amazing!
The baby was born to an Indian couple on March 11 in a northern Indian village, 50 kilometers, east of New Delhi. She was named as Lali (in Brunei Malay, lali is a verb meaning forgetful).
Now the Indians believed that the baby is a reincarnation of a Hindu goddess of valour, Durga, a fiery deity traditionally depicted with three eyes and many arms. So Lali is being worshipped with flocks of people, accounting of up to 100 daily, visiting her at her home, with offerings and blessings.
Her medical term is referred to as an extremely rare condition known as craniofacial duplication, where a single head has two faces. Doctors has suggested for little Lali to under-go a CT-scan to determine whether her internal organs were normal but her father refused because its unnecessary, he said.
I wonder how Bruneians would react with such birth? Would such child be received with open arms or would she be left out from the society? Would she have friends to play with?
I know we have the Oral Maxillio Facial Department at RIPAS Hospital where surgeons there construct facial deformities caused by accidents or are birth defects. In Islam it is forbidden or haram to change your physical appearance unless its deem necessary then it become harus or acceptable.
My first cousin was born with a down syndrome; she must be over 50 already but as with those with down syndrome, she still look like a girl. When I was small, I thought that she was an orang-putih or westerner because of her appearance. She also threw tantrums and didn’t speak properly so people wouldn’t understand her and left her. I left her because I was scared of her.
Yes she grew up at home all her life. Last time I visited her, she played with her young nieces. I asked her how she was and she just looked at me blankly. I wasn’t that close with her so I guess she didn’t know me.
Health-related conditions now becoming more apparent in Brunei is autism. Autism, according to the National Autistic Society, is a lifelong development disability. Those who have autism have difficulty with social communication, interaction and imagination. A recent news report said that Brunei has about 600 registered children with autism and less than a hundred attends counselling and therapy. How sad could that be? I don’t really understand on why parents to these children wouldn’t go. I know I wouldn’t understand how difficult it is to raise such children but at least a therapy could help yes?
Anyway, have a read at this heart-warming Bruneian blog on a mom’s experience with her boy who has autism; appropriately named: A personal journey with autism in Brunei. I intend to write more on autism…
What would our life be without rice? Rice is the staple food of Brunei as with other Asian countries. The soaring price of rice supply from countries like Thailand (being the major world rice producer) has made a great impact as most consumer countries began to feel the pinch.
And Brunei? ‘No reason to worry’, according to a report from The Borneo Bulletin, quoting an officer from the IT and State Store. ‘The current stock for the nation’s needs is more than sufficient and that the price has not change.’ The price would remain constant whatever the market situation is as the Government subsidised the price.
While in Singapore last week, my local friend asked if Brunei was having problem with imported rice supply as Singaporeans were a bit nervous when they heard on the increase of price. I told her exactly what I knew, something like the above paragraph; the Brunei Government is subsiding the price so I don’t have to worry (for now). She commented that we Bruneians are so ever lucky. I said to myself, for how long, I don’t have an answer for that myself.
Reading today’s news on rice, I didn’t realise that there are three types of local rice being produced commercially. The Agriculture Department said that they could not ask consumers to buy local rice as most would prefer the imported Thai fragrant rice.
The Borneo Bulletin today reported that Brunei achieved only 983 metric tonnes (mt) or 3.2 per cent of self-sufficiency of rice production in 2007 compared to 895 mt the year before (up by 5.5 percent). The Agriculture Department is targeting to increase rice production by 8 to 10 percent in the next five to ten years time.
I know my mom still eat local rice, known as Baras Brunei or Brunei rice. Personally, Baras Brunei is best taken with lauk rabus or fish soup (with turmeric which gives the soup its yellow colour) and local veggies such as kang kong or bayam. The Bruneians believed that rice is not just a food that fulfil your hunger. On rice beliefs, the elders believed that we must finish our meal to the last grain of rice if not, the rice would cry. I believe this in a way not because rice can cry but its more to our rezeki or wealth given by God and that, we shouldn’t waste our rezeki. (Now why wouldn’t our elders just make it straight to the point!) I wrote a post on this premises previously on wastage.
The petua or tip for continous rezeki, as taught by the elders is that, every time we want to cook rice, we must say our selawat or praises to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) with a hope that we would continue to receive our rezeki, in health and wealth. Amin.
When the first Lebanese restaurant opened its door in Brunei more than five years ago, it offered more than food and beverage. Shisha or traditionally known as Hookah was also there (for free) and soon became a trend among the youths. Yes I had my fair share…
Shisha is notorious in the Middle-East and South Asian countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Hookah (Hindi: हुक्का, Urdu: حقہ hukka) or shisha (Arabic: شيشة, Hebrew: נרגילה, Nargilah) or (Turkish: nargile). It is a water pipe widely used to smoke jurak or moasel, a tobacco-fruit, mixture, cooked to produce a dark-colored paste. The mixture is burnt either by an electrical device or more commonly charcoal. The produced smoke passes through water at the base of the sheesha and a long tube before it is inhaled.
Researches have been made into the effect of smoking shisha. The Brunei Times reported that smoking shisha for 45 minutes is equivalent to puffing 50 tobacco cigarretes. Now how dangerous could that be?
The report said that according to Dr Zulhilmi Abdullah, …some tobacco products used in shisha do not contain (health) warning labels. Now, it is a law that all cigarettes must have a health warning before being allowed to enter Brunei. Is somebody not doing their work here?
The other day, I read from a lifestyle journal saying shisha is in a limbo now as people are weighing between traditional values and it’s health affects. The Arabs for example have been smoking shisha for centuries and it is more than just poisoning your lungs (and others). Shisha smoking is a tradition. For me, in this case I would choose my health over tradition. Sorry tradition.
Brunei has also it’s own version of cigarette. It is call ‘Sigup Brunei’ or Brunei cigarette. Mr Brunei Resources (BR) has put up an interesting post on this previously. The simple, hand-made Sigup Brunei is made from tobacco rolled in a what-else, a tobacco leaf. It is then lighted up and you can now enjoy your chat with fellow ‘sigupers’ or smokers.
I remember when I was small, my chain-smoker neighbour had this unique hobby of collecting used cigarette packs. I couldn’t remember the brands, must be the ones that Mr BR mentioned in his post. So, these packs would filled the consoles of an archway leading to my neighbour’s kitchen cum dining area. I tell you, it’s not in dozens, must be hundreds. And what happen to him now? You guess it. I always say that health is a choice and you are what you eat.
Read more on smoking in general from this American Cancer Society website.
Have you ever wonder what on earth does some of the food labels meant? Here are some that I would like to share with:
Fat free – Product has less than 1/2 gram of fat per serving.
Low-saturated fat - Product has 1 gram of saturated fat or less per serving.
Low fat – Product has 3 grams of fat or less per serving.
Reduced fat - Product has at least 25 percent less fat than the regular version. If the regular food is high in fat – such as premium ice cream – then the reduced-fat type may still be high in fat.
Light in fat – Product has 50 percent less fat than the regular version. As in reduced-fat foods, the healthfulness of the “light” product depends on the total fat content; but the light version is a better choice (as long as you don’t eat more than twice as much).
Food additives are substances that become part of a food product when added (intentionally or unintentionally) during the processing or production of that food. In Brunei, additives list (among others) is required by law to be included in a food label.
Food additives serve five main functions:
To maintain product consistency – Substances called emulsifiers provide a consistent texture and prevent products from separating. Stabilizers and thickeners provide an even texture. Anti-caking agents allow substances to flow freely;
To improve or preserve the nutrient value – Many foods and drinks are fortified and enriched to improve the nutritional status;
To maintain the wholesomeness of foods – Contamination from bacteria can allow food borne illnesses to occur. Preservatives reduce the spoilage that air, fungi, bacteria, or yeast can cause. Certain preservatives help preserve the flavor in baked goods by preventing the fats and oils from going bad. They also keep fresh fruits from turning brown when exposed to the air.
To control the acidity and alkalinity and provide leavening – Specific additives help change the acid-base balance of foods to obtain a desired taste, color, or flavor. Leavening agents that release acids when they are heated react with baking soda to help biscuits, cakes, and other baked goods rise.
To provide color and enhance flavor – Certain colors improve the appearance of foods. There are many spices and natural and synthetic flavors that bring out the best in the flavor of food.
Intentional or direct food additives are added to foods to produce a desired effect, such as to maintain freshness, improve nutritional quality, assist in processing or preparing food, or make a food more appealing.
Unintentional or indirect food additives are substances that are found in food during the production or the processing of a particular item. These are present in minimal quantities in the final product.
It was a very hot day and a quick check to the weather site said that the temperature was 32° C. During lunch break, I was longing for a local dish and my friend brought me to a Malay food court.
Without further ado, I ordered my all-time-quick-dish-when-I-am-really-hungry fav, the humble Soto and at just $3. Soto is a soup akin to Thai’s infamous Tom Yam Kong except that it is milder though could be hotter if you wish for it.
And what did I find out about the difference? No noodle! In Brunei, we could order a white (bee hoon) or vermicelli soto. That one in the picture has a bowl full of bean-sprouts which I initially thought was noodle.
Now, I don’t want to start with from which country did soto originate from. Most countries in the Asean region do have their own variation of cendol and soto. I am now beginning to think that another local dish, laksa, is actually the child of soto, yes? [Laksa is also a type of soup but added in with coconut milk to make it thick and yummier].
In Brunei, you could order chicken, beef or seafood soto. Then you must decide if you would like soto putih (been hoon), soto kuning (vermicelli) or soto kawin (mix bee hoon and vermicelli). I am yet to declare which place is serving the best soto in Brunei. My fav place in Bandar has run out of business, maybe it’s because they were offering very cheap (at $1.50) soto.
The basic ingredients for soto are the soup (which determine the taste of the soto); bean sprouts, celery, hard-boiled egg and sometimes potato. In Indonesia, turmeric would be added in the soup to produce that yellow appearance.
So, as I like my food to be a bit hot, I added in the chili there by the bowl in the picture, and to my horror, it was darn hot. Maybe the vendor put tones of lada padi! To cool my burning throat down, I ordered another fav of mine, the cendol.
Cendol is a type of dessert made up of shaved ice, coconut juice, pandan jelly, red beans, sweetened with gula melaka or brown sugar… mmmm….slurp! slurp.
Ok back to business now…
I wanted to post this yesterday when I read the e-mail alert but didn’t have the chance, so here goes.
Yes, I knew it. Brunei won! And it’s USD500,000 at that. Brunei is also the top country in South East Asia that generated the most pledges for the Greatest Race on Earth, the race for a living planet.
After the environment challenge pledge was closed, a total of 3.4million pledges were made. An update on the equation of the pledges:
· 7,973,381,200 litres of water – the same as 3,189 Olympic size swimming pools;
· 119,514 tonnes of CO2 which equates to filling 2,517 times the Sydney Opera House;
· 69,767,568 plastic bags saved from being sent to landfill; and
· 378,311 trees saved from being cut down.
So now, I eagerly wait on how the money would be spent. And, don’t forget to live up to the pledges you made.
Been away from home for some time now and a quick look at Brudirect online news tells one article on Brunei’s National Service which attract me.
Brunei would be launching it’s own National Service, though the article didn’t say when. Interesting to see how this programme would be able to produce ‘useful’ youths in the near future. I wonder which modals from around the world would Brunei’s programme be based on. The main core values such as moral and faith should be incorporated as well and I am sure that the government is aware on these.
Brunei has a large young population base. The Brunei Economic Development Board says that in 2006, 54% of the population were in the 20 to 54 age group while those below 19 accounted for 27%. In five years time, Brunei would be seeing more young people in the country.
I was discussing with my friends on how the young people of today are aware of their identities and goals in life. I was happy to hear that they talked about on what they would do with their lives and most importantly, how they are going to achieve their dreams. They know what they were talking about.
I hope the National Service programme would be able to mould the youth into useful citizens so the country would be able to utilise their high-charge energy into practical use. The younger generation need guidance (and I hope they listen) and the ‘older’ generation should let them make the decision based on the guidance. And trust them.
I am making this point as read through that online news where it quoted that the Minister of Home Affairs noted that youths with academic qualifications are not a member of their respective reps. I agree that youth should be involved as it affect the community and the country as a whole. They could contribute ideas and energy for the welfare of their own community.
On the other side, I also agree that these youths might not wish to be involved due to attitude. This could be their attutide – let the elders do the thinking and all the work – OR, the elder’s attitude – the youngs are inexperienced and they don’t know anything. Hmm… Everyone should be involved and responsible, for the benefit of the community, even children.
Other issues mentioned and what I thought:
- micro-modal facility which remains the biggest hurdle for would-be entreprenuers;
- only 220 out of the 20,000 youths (that’s only 1%) turned at the Youth Congress. This is a serious issue and relevant authorities should look into this;
- efforts to find out what youths want. Easy – have people heard of feedback or survey?
- huge allocation and the Youth Development Centre – make full use of the resources and more marketable courses please? I heard that none of the students who attended a brick-laying course got a job as, err, brick-layers. Understandable.
- building cultral hall? Now, I am not sure if that would stop our youth from getting involve in useless activities but yes, make it happening.
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