Saturday 27 July 2013

Grand Orbit @ Sheraton Macau

 Mr Koh
 Chiok
We initially wanted to try out the buffet at Grand Lisboa (we heard it's very good and had to make bookings in advance) but chanced upon the Grand Orbit as we were going out to buy some foodstuff for the folks back home. As we are still full from our coffee break earlier at Palms Cafe, we booked a table for 8.30pm (we are planning on having dinner after our shopping). The buffet here is very lavish and there are many varieties of cuisines available. At approximately B$54 per person, it's a bit on the high side but I think it's still worth it! After dinner, we split up as those who wanted to gamble headed for the casino and as for me, I explored the surroundings with Chiok (a friend who is sharing a room with me) before heading back to our room to sleep. I must give myself a pat on the back as this is the first time I actually didn't gamble in Macau!

Sands Cotai Central

Macau has always been our transit point en route to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) where we will be taking the flight home to Brunei. This time we chose to stay at the Sheraton Macau as it is cheaper than the other two hotels, ie. Conrad Hotel and Holiday Inn. Our rate was B$195.00 nett as it was a Friday and I remembered it was B$320.00 nett during our last trip (more expensive as it was a Saturday, 12 January 2013). Upon arrival at the hotel, we were made to wait for more than half an hour for our rooms as the system only reflected one room booked while we actually booked two rooms. However, it was finally sorted out and we went straight to the ferry agent's counter to book our ferry tickets for the next morning's 10.30am ferry to HKIA. After that we went back to our rooms; had a shower before heading to the Palms Cafe for a snack at 4.00pm. 
Quick snack at Palms Cafe

Thursday 25 July 2013

Tian Tian Restaurant, Shenzhen

 Ah Long & Mr Koh
 Yours trully & James
 Duck's tongue & liver.
 It's normal in China to come across "broken english"
We also have a Tian Tian Restaurant in Brunei (no connections with this one) but this one in Shenzhen is bigger and better! We had a Dim Sum lunch here this afternoon after finishing our respective tasks in the morning. The Dim Sum here is very good and cheap as well! Ah Long, our friend in Shenzhen always brings us to different restaurants whenever we visited him and Tian Tian Restaurant in Shenzhen is definitely a good recommendation!

Friday 19 July 2013

Sungkai @ Atrium Cafe

 Zati & Elis (twins? hehe)
 L-R: Evelyn, Chloe & Ramli
 L-R: Nurul, Jennifer & Mr. Koh
 Hari Raya deco at the lobby
 The supermodels!
It's Puasa Month and every year we will host a Sungkai gathering for our staff and prior to that we made a head count and only 17 of us could make it. Some were on shift duty and others have prior commitments. This year, we (or rather Chloe, our Accounts Assistant) chose the Atrium Cafe of the Empire Hotel & Country Club to break fast with our Muslim colleagues. The price was B$28.00 plus 10% service charge per person. However, a 20% discount were given for Empire Select members and 25% discount for Baiduri Bank Platinum (or Infinite) card holders; of course I used my Baiduri Bank credit card for that additional 5% discount which is quite substantial especially when we have a big group! Selamat Berpuasa!

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Humanitarian Aid to Fire Victims in Temburong

 Reporters from Borneo Bulletin & Media Permata
 Unloading supplies from the truck
 Lunch at Sarimah Curry House in Limbang after our trip to Temburong
On 5th July 2013 after midnight, a fire razed a 15-door longhouse in Kg. Sumbiling Baru in Temburong district resulting in extensive loss of property and made 102 people homeless. Persatuan Warganegara Malaysia (PWM) under our President, Mr. James Lee initiated a donation drive to sent humanitarian aid to the victims and yesterday Mr. James Lee, four other excos (Raja Segaran, Chris Ng, Johnny Lam and yours truly) and two reporters from the Borneo Bulletin and Media Permata departed from BSB at 9.00am for Temburong to hand over supplies consisting of rice, sugar, oil, cooking stoves, diapers, clothes, etc. to the victims. The truck we hired had already departed at around 7.30am. We arrived at Pekan Bangar around 11.00am and was greeted on arrival by some of the victims, the Acting Penghulu of Mukim Amo and officials from the Temburong District Office. We arrived back in BSB around 2.30pm. Well done, PWM and we are already looking forward to our next expedition to visit the Penans sometime in August or September!
UPDATE
Media report in the Borneo Bulletin dated 10 July 2013