Proboscis Monkeys in Brunei

“I can get you Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool. Come! We also have Super Man! What you want?” One overly enthusiastic boatman approaches us as we stand on the bank of Brunei Bay weighing up our touring options beyond the streets of the very small city centre. Kampong Ayer, the water villages, scatter right across the waters, and their water taxies cut through the bay like jet boats, narrowly avoiding each other delivering locals and visitors alike to and from the villages to the main ‘land’. I can’t help but notice, that all the boats have something famous painted on them, whether it be a football club or a fictional super hero, it’s evident that speed is not the only competitive factor in the lives of a boatman here.

After some persuasion and negotiation, I board ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and before I have time to warm my seat and consider the safety options, I am traveling up the river in quantum speed. With my hair and ears flipping in the wind, Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan is soon past as the boat slices through the water weaving a blanket of waves with the other boat traffic. Heading up the river, I pass the palace and a derelict boat rusting in the waters on my right, and wave at three excited children playing on the mud bank on my left........

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The Grounding of Tiger Airways in Australia and What It Means for The Aviation Industry
- published on Trifter.com, 8 July 2011

Tiger Airways has been grounded of its operations by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority over safety concerns over its maintenance of aircrafts. This gives other Australian domestic carriers such as Qantas and Virgin Australia a chance to gain consumer confidence and some unscheduled income gains. However experts say it may mean a rise in airfares and more grounds for Qantas and Virgin Australia to maintain their landing rights.....



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Review: The Intercontinental Hotel - Sydney
- published by Yahoo! Contributor Contents, 2 Mar 2011

Date stayed at the Intercontinental: 25 Feb 2011 for 1 night
Room type: Bayview King Room
Room number: 1310
Breakfast: Included
Price paid: (via hotelclub.com.au) AU$299.00

The Intercontinental stands mighty and tall against other buildings surrounding the Circular Quay in Sydney. We heard that Oprah treated her 300 guests to a room here during her Sydney visit and the likes of presidents of the U.S.A have also enjoyed its luxury that we felt it was time we also basked in its glory too.

I had booked an internet special of a Bayview King Room and was given a room on the corner of the building looking onto Elizabeth Street and the Conservatorium of Music. There were bay views; however the water can only be seen by turning our heads sideways toward the awkward corner of the window for a glimpse of the bay.

The room was spacious, with ample lounge space between the bed and flat screen TV. The pillow was oh-so fluffy, however the bed was slightly stiff and minutely uncomfortable......

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Top Five Things to Do in Kuching, Sarawak
- published by Yahoo! Contributor Network, 09 Feb 2011

Every international visitor to the island of Borneo wants to visit Sabah, and few show enough interest to venture into the next Malaysian state of Sarawak. Those who do will discover a pleasant and interesting contrast from its capital city, Kuching.

With a name that means 'cat' in Malay, the city sits on the river Sungai Sarawak. The city worship cats, with statues of cats in various states of play dotted around the city streets, and a museum located in a city hall that is dedicated to the furry felines. Besides the fascination about cats, the Cat City also has many attractions to keep the intrepid visitor busy and amused. Here, are the top five favorite spots to visit when in the capital of Sarawak......

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Saying 'Lazat' at the Cooking School in Kuala Lumpur

- published by Yahoo! Contributor Network 19 Jan 2011

I believe there is no better way to experience the local culture than to be in it with the locals, and when in Kuala Lumpur where the city continues its development into a sophisticated metropolis, joining a cooking school in the suburbs was the best way to learn to go back to the basics of Malay culture.
"Eating is one of the most important aspects of the Malay culture," explained Ana, owner of Lazat Cooking School in Kuala Lumpur. "We celebrate each and every occasion with a specialty dish, and recipes of these dishes are often passed on the generations with extreme pride." The word Lazat, means delicious. Ana worked hard to ensure that her students can all go home with the knowledge that each and everyone of us can make a delicious meal. "It would mean that I have done a good job, in passing some of the recipes that I am proud of!"In the morning, we were dropped off at a local suburban market for a tour. Ana led the way, and pointed out a selection of the ingredients that are basic to Malay cooking.........

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Among the Shadows of the Sultans at Brunei Darussalam
- published at Yahoo! Contributor Network, 04 January 2011

Just in case I wasn't hallucinating from the humidity and the heat, I asked my tour guide to repeat what she just said.

"Yes, the roof of the palace is made of 24 carat gold, pure gold!" She beamed me a wide smile, and as if that wasn't enough to shock us, she continues, "and the tip of the gates and the fences around the palace are painted with 18 carat gold."

I wanted to befriend this Sultan, whose wealth is among the world's top richest thanks to the large pool of oil deposit right beneath the country. Brunei Darussalam, a small country wedged between the two Borneo states of Malaysia, has got the bling. The Sultan's residence is the largest residential palace in the world, with 24 carat gold roof and 18 carat gold gates. The palace is only open for visitors three days in a year during the Hari Raya festival of the Muslim calendar, when the royal family greets and blesses the public, including any international visitors and provides a three day free feast at the palace grounds........

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Visiting Beethoven' House in Bonn, Germany
- published by Yahoo! Contributor Network (formerly Associated Content), 16 December 2010


Had I walked any faster and not been paying attention, I would have completed missed the small, insignificant sign that says "Beethoven-Haus". Following the sign, I turned at the footpath, passed a small but

beautiful courtyard leading to a dark yellow structure, and entered through heavy wooden doors.

After paying my entrance fees, I stood in the centre of the sitting room, quietly, basking in the spirits of my favorite classical composer.......


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