Brunei Darussalam

Right after Miri,we went up further north to Brunei. Small country,well developed, cheap food, nice people, rich of crude oil and ranked 4th in the world by gross domestic product per capital at purchasing power parity. However, the weather wasn’t really great when we were there. So, just to fill in our time we wandered around the city of Bandar Seri Begawan and checked out the two majestic mosques. Went to the Royal Brunei Museum as well,but too bad my camera wasn’t allowed to be brought in.

above pic : we had a quick lunch at Restoran Ayamku. Oh ya,they don’t have KFC or McDonalds in Brunei. In case, you’re craving for one, Ayamku is the only option you have. Ayamku is a local KFC’s of Brunei. Hehe! The taste?Not bad,though.

below pic : Kampong Ayer of Brunei. Claimed as the biggest water settlement in South East Asia.

Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is a royal Islamic mosque located in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei. The mosque is one of the most spectacular mosque in the Asia Pacific and a major landmark and tourist attraction of Brunei. The mosque unites Mughal architecture and Italian styles. The plans were done by Booty and Edwards Chartered Architects according to designs by the Italian architect Cavaliere Rudolfo Nolli, who had already for decades been working at the gulf of Siam.

Named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, the mosque as a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei dominates the skyline of Brunei.

The mosque’s most recognizable feature, the main dome, is covered in pure gold. The mosque stands 52 m (171 ft) high and can be seen from virtually anywhere in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

This majestic structure can be found at the Gadong area (specifically Kampong Kiarong) and this was constructed with the ultimate purpose to make it as grand as possible. It was constructed in 1988 but was officially launched publicly in 1994 as a commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah’s reign as Sultan. This amazing mosque boasts of slender soaring minarets and golden domes that seem to reach for the sky.

These two majestic mosques of Brunei will leave you captivated and amazed not only because of their grandeur but because of what these two magnificent structures stand for in the way of life of lovely people of Brunei.

Miri International Jazz Festival 2010

Miri International Jazz Festival aims to be the leading tourism-driven music festival in the region. By assembling regionally and internationally recognised, jazz musicians, the musical event aims to draw visitors to Miri and the Northern Region of Sarawak for a fun-filled and entertaining experience and at the same time showcasing Miri as a city of cosmopolitanism and relaxing lifestyle.The Miri International Jazz Festival is organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board in collaboration with a select group of committee members from the private sectors [1] .As for this year,it was held at The Pavilion,Parkcity Everly Hotel from 14th to 15th May 2010.

Mellow Motif of Thailand

DJ Kate

Jeremy Tordjman of Switzerland

Waning Gibbous

The phases of the moon are caused by the relative positions of the earth, sun, and moon. The moon goes around the earth in 27.3 days, or 27 days 7 hours 43 minutes, on average. This measurement is relative to the stars and is called the sidereal period or orbital period. However, because of the earth’s motion around the sun, a complete moon cycle (New Moon to New Moon) appears to earthbound observers to take a couple of days longer: 29.5305882 days to be exact. This number is called the synodic period or “lunation”, and is relative to the sun.The sun always illuminates the half of the moon facing the sun (except during lunar eclipses, when the moon passes through the earth’s shadow). When the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the earth, the moon appears “full” to us, a bright, round disk. When the moon is between the earth and the sun, it appears dark, a “new” moon. In between, the moon’s illuminated surface appears to grow (wax) to full, then decreases (wanes) to the next new moon. The edge of the shadow (the terminator) is always curved, being an oblique view of a circle, giving the moon its familiar crescent shape.[1]

Current moon phase : The waning gibbous, 17.5 day old moon, 92.0% of full.

Captured on Saturday,28 August 2010 1.35am | 18 Ramadhan 1431 H

Miri-the petroleum city

Our journey of Borneo trip continued to Miri- the second largest city in Sarawak. Miri is the birthplace of Sarawak’s and Malaysia’s petroleum industry, which remains the major industry of the city. The first oil well was drilled by Shell  in 1910 (the Grand Old Lady), and is now a state monument and one of Miri’s tourist attractions. Lucky us, as we arrived at Miri,Elmi was there too for a conference. She offered us to stay a night at her room since it was too big for her alone.And of course,we were more than happy to give her accompany (thanks Elmi!). Hehe. Right after lunch,we wandered around the town. Went to visitor information centre and some blokes there suggested us to go to Canada Hill and checked out the Miri International Jazz Festival later that night (which soon to be upload).

The view of Miri city from our room.

Do you think so it’s the cheapest shop in town?Go figure!! Hehe.

Miri-Belait bus station. In case you want to travel to Brunei by bus,this is the place you should hop the bus on.

Canada Hill is where the first oil well was drilled.There used to be a Canadian who lived here and his main business was to recruit foreign and local workers to work in the oil fields around this hill (sound like a broker to me). Hence, it is believed that is how Canada Hill got its name.

Miri Oil Well No.1 also known as “Grand Old Lady”.Grand Old Lady is an iconic structure for Miri city and is the first well in Malaysia to be drilled by Shell company in 1910. It was eventually shut down in 1972 and declared a national monument.There were figures at the base of the Grand Old Lady, depicting the drilling process by the workers those days.

Miri Petroleum Science Museum is also located here.

The wall of contributions towards community.

The oil platform replica.

Canada Hill offers a good view of Miri city with South China Sea as its horizon. It is such a spectacular view and I was practically mesmerized by it.There are only 2 major hotels at Miri City Centre, Mega and Imperial Hotel(the one that Elmi was staying) as can be seen here. The city had a lot medium, small and budget hotels scatter around the city centre.

Interesting facts :

1) Zee Avi, a talented Malaysian singer-songwriter was born in Miri and lived there until she was 12, when she moved to Kuala Lumpur.

2) Noh Hujan from Hujan band also originate from Miri.

3)  Canada Hill is accessible from Miri city itself (east of the city) if one fancy the narrow steep walk to the hill. One can drive there but walking would be my preference as the surrounding view is just spectacular. Believe or not, on the way walking down from the hill there were lotsa cars passed by and some even stopped by to offer us a ride. And as usual, we refused the offer politely. And that man screamed at us “Are you crazy??This is very hoott!!!” LOLOL!! And yeah,it was hot and sunny when we were there. What else can you say? I LOVE WALKING.*wink*