Sunday 25 March 2012

Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park opened to boost eco-tourism drive

Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park

AFTER almost two decades, the Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park was officially opened yesterday, in conjunction with the World Forestry Day celebrations.

The Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park started groundwork in 1993 and covers a total land area of about 275 hectares but only 10 hectares is developed and open for public visits.

When asked on the significant time period for the Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park's opening, Director of Forestry Department HjSaidin Salleh replied that the development of the park happened in stages.

"This applies to projects such as upgrading of huts, walkways, parking, signages, toilets and maintenance, painting, wooden and concrete structures," he told The Brunei Times in an email interview.

"It was deemed to be in tip-top condition this year which means it is ready for public use," he said, adding that there was an issue of budget constraints and limited funding, which contributed to the delay. "Further maintenance and upgrades will be continued such as additional parking spaces, box telephone, children's playground and toilets for the disabled," he said.

The Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato SeriSetia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar was present at the ceremony to launch the Lalak Forest Recreation Park.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Yahya delivered a speech where he talked about how nature conservation and economic development can go hand in hand.

In his welcoming remarks, Hj Saidin Salleh elaborated on the significance of World Forestry Day, stating that the "special day" is celebrated worldwide "to raise awareness among the public about the importance of forests and its benefits".

"Our participation in commemorating this event together with the global community signifies our true commitment in ensuring that our forests and its biodiversity are protected and preserved for many years to come."

According to Hj Saidin, the establishment of the Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park is "in line with the social forestry obligation and commitment towards providing a venue for recreation within the natural environment throughout the country".

The Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park was developed for nature lovers who enjoy jungle trekking, picnicking, expeditions and also fishing, he said.

Also present at the event was MIPR Permanent Secretary Hjh Normah Suria Hayati Pehin Jawatan DalamSeri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama Dr Hj Mohd Jamil Al Sufri, Deputy Permanent Secretaries Mohd Riza DatoPaduka Hj Mohd Yunos and Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim together with the diplomatic corps, head of departments,Belait Legislative council members, senior government officers, grassroots leaders and other officials.

The World Forestry Day was incepted in 1971 during the General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture as a response over the rapid and extensive destruction of the forest. 

The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/news-national/2012/03/22/park-opened-boost-eco-tourism-drive

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Ford Brunei

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http://www.premiermotor.com.bn/

Thursday 15 March 2012

Enjoy the Cheapness of Fuel Prices


SOAS mosque
About Brunei Darussalam, I have often purple bus which goes to the corners of the city Bandar Seri Begawan that the cost of the ringgit is much closer and better driver, conductor, and most Indonesian passengers. But on occasion Circle bus line number 01 this time, the bus had stopped briefly at a petrol station "Brunei Shell". 
Bus Public transport in Bandar Seri Begawan mostly size with mini metro or kopaja in Jakarta. The situation is quite good, although there is also a bit seedy. Perhaps because the vehicle is not a vehicle in Brunei are relatively rich people, but the vehicle immigrant workers from Indonesia, and Bangladesh or Indian-looking.
Bus stop at the petrol station BSP or Brunei Shell Petroleum Sendirian Berhad and then fill the diesel fuel. I had glanced at the price of diesel and see that 1 liter of diesel "only" 31 cents Ringgit Brunei. While the fuel price is only 51 cents a kind pertamax.
Fitting that in Brunei there are more private vehicles than the total population. "Every family has at least two or three cars," according to my colleague who happened to be the people of the State of Brunei Darussalam. People themselves defined as citizens and enjoy the many conveniences of life in a small country which is prosperous.
Brief History of oil exploration in Brunei beginning in the late 19th century when the first oil well was found near the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Dutch oil company, Shell immediately started to go to Brunei in 1913 after finding oil in Miri, Sarawak in 1910.
Search continues and finally in 1991 to one billion oil barrels produced in Seria and a monument was built near the Well No. 1 and referred to as The billionth Barrel Monument. This monument was inaugurated by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on July 18, 1991.
Brunei's oil producing countries are quite large and because the population is small, the energy source of wealth can be allocated as much as possible for the welfare of the people. Brunei citizenship benefits, Here there is no income tax, free education and health care or cheap paced, electricity was subsidized. Because there are no taxes, then it is definitely no taxation Institution's in Sultan Bolkiah country.

source :
http://luar-negeri.kompasiana.com/2012/02/13/menikmati-murahnya-harga-bbm-catatan-muhibah-ke-brunei-5-438694.html

Thursday 8 March 2012

Why Living in Brunei Darussalam

Boat at Belait River Brunei Darussalam
Boat at Belait River Brunei Darussalam

Dear All, I was share and combing the Web for content on Living in Brunei Darussalam and I came across the following post on Mr Brunei Resources' blog. "57 Reasons Why I Like Living in Brunei". According to Mr BR, it was written over 15 years ago by an American, Steve Ryan Brunei Expat. My guess is that Steve was an expat working in Brunei for a while. Mind you, it was written in 1997 but nonetheless, have a read. It's loads of fun!
If any of you know of Steve or of the original source of these 57 reasons, do let me know expat life in Brunei

1. Everybody drives on the wrong side of the road but head-on collisions are very rare.
2. If you wake up in a grouchy mood, it passes quickly when you see all the middle-aged businessmen marching around wearing black fezzes, bright green/purple/yellow/blue primary-colored pajamas, and gold-embroidered skirts.
3. You get an automatic wakeup call every morning from the muezzin at the mosque, even if you forget to set your alarm.

4. Peaceful. Only the military has any guns, and they never shoot them.
5. It's really a change to live in a country where the one guy worth more than $30 billion is a decent, polite, college-educated human being who is genuinely concerned about the welfare of others and not an evil, petty-minded, greedy monopolistic geek peddling lousy software.
6. It's a hoot to see cute giggly teenage Muslim girls wearing their head scarves and generally acting like, well, cute giggly teenage girls.
7. The Government can hang anybody they want, but they never bother to.
8. No obnoxious drunks. (OK! Very few, then!)
9. Very little crime. But they cane the HELL out of anybody who steals your stuff or vandalizes your new car.
10. Admission to the big Jerudong amusement park is free, and so are all the rides.
11. No rednecks, baseball, or tractor pulls.
12. Chinese, Malaysian, Bruneian, Thai, and Filipino girls are so cute.
13. Gurkha soldiers are pleasant chaps and smile all the time, even when marching in formation in the hot sun wearing throat-cutter kukris.
14. No poverty or homeless people spare-changing you.
15. Sultan has more airplanes than the national airline, and cooler ones too.
16. No irritating politicians, deranged TV evangelists, or tiresome election rhetoric.
17. Many amusing English mistakes in local newspaper every single day.
18. All Bruneian bigshots and Gov't Ministers drive fast Turbo Porsches, Mercedes, BMWs, and Jaguars so police never dare to run speed traps.
19. Only 150 Americans here so each of us is considered very interesting, especially to the local female populace.
20. Sultan will wave back to you if you wave to him on the street or while driving.
21. No American football, golf, or basketball shown on television. Traditional national sports in Brunei are spinning big wooden tops (no kidding) and kicking a rattan ball over a badminton net.
22. Kids wear the funny fezzes, pajamas, and head scarves too.
23. Police cars are all BMW 735i's.
24. Weird plants, bugs, and animals everywhere. Big troops of proboscis monkeys in the Temburong forest!
25. Free bananas and coconuts.
26. You can safely see creatures that would give Jacques Cousteau nightmares, just on a visit to the Fish Market.
27. Water taxis have rowdy drivers that enjoy splashing and rocking other boats with their wakes.
28. Fun to learn to shift gears and adjust the radio with your left hand.
29. OK to either A) drive like a maniac, or B) poke along at 15 MPH looking at all the weird stuff by the side of the road. Nobody gets mad; everybody does one or the other.
30. Geckos scuttling all over your house instead of cockroaches. They make funnier noises, too, like: "Chuck - CHUCK!"

31. Cobras and pythons generally stay in the jungle and not in town. But no problem to go find some to play with if you really want.
32. Three words: It's Not Houston. Three more: Or New York.
33. People like to set things on fire over here. It's ok to burn things in your front yard in huge flaming pyres, and nobody gets excited even when the roadsides catch fire, which they frequently do. You can also quickly spot roadside satay snack vendors by spotting the dense smoke and flames billowing from their grills.
34. Cops are polite even when they catch you doing something you're not supposed to be doing.
35. Monitor lizards walk funny, all bowlegged with their stomachs held up as high off the ground as possible.
36. Technical mistakes during local TV evening news are hilarious.
37. Get to see lots of funny-talking British expatriates and ridiculous-looking tourists wearing black socks and shorts.
38. Demonstration of even the simplest UNIX computer-hacking tricks draws genuine gasps of awe at your technical prowess.
39. They have no shortage of HBO, CNN, Discovery Channel, fast computers, and Jolt Cola.
40. Dirt-cheap pirated software and five-dollar bootleg first-run videos even in the big reputable department stores.
41. Funny to watch women who are 4 feet tall wearing head scarves and big sunglasses trying to drive huge Mercedes.
42. You can take up as many spaces as you want when you park and nobody will try to kill you.
43. Odd, interesting local language (Bahasa Malay) but everybody speaks English readily.
44. America considered a weird scary faraway place that few people are ever likely to go to.
45. Plenty of unusual odors you have never smelled before. (Some, you never want to smell again.)
46. At night every bush and hedge in your yard buzzes, chitters, hoots, chirps, croaks, whistles, creaks, moans, honks, rattles, hisses, hums, grunts, etc. etc.
47. Royal Brunei Airlines stewardesses' uniforms. I can't describe it, you'd have to be here to believe it.
48. Karaoke restaurants heavily taxed and strictly regulated as public nuisances.
49. Fun to drive by the Sultan's Palace and watch the policemen in their little guardhouses trying not to look utterly bored out of their minds.
50. Get to surprise everyone by quickly agreeing with their criticisms of the USA's interventionist foreign policies, and then enjoy listening to them complain we don't do enough to help other nations.
51. Get to watch scratchy Indian movies on TV where the hero and heroine wail nasally and dance around each other grimacing in an amusing and incomprehensible manner.
52. All Muslim, Christian, Chinese, and other folks' religious, traditional, national, and what-not holidays are recognized as official days off for the government and the banks; since these employ over 50% of the people of Brunei, everybody takes these days off. This works out to every day being an official holiday from Thanksgiving to the end of February, and about half the working days in the other months. With so many cultures, it's always somebody's holiday.
53. They have real pirates over here, which adds a definite sense of adventure to any yachting excursion.
54. If your change comes out to somewhat more than fifty cents, they'll often round it off in your favor up to the next dollar, except in the big Japanese department store.
55. Jollibee has MUCH better burgers than McDonald's, and they have killer slow-burn chili sauce.
56. No 7-11s, Stop 'N Gos, K-Marts, etc. Stores tend to have more interesting and mellifluous names like (looking out window) - SYARIKAT PERNIAGAAN ANEKA TUJUAN.
57. Interesting, colorful money with little plastic windows in it and cool pictures of Sultan, airport, oil rigs, plants, etc., that seems to spend much more readily and less painfully than real greenbacks.

source
http://www.projekbrunei.com/Home/living-in-brunei.html
http://bruneiresources.blogspot.com/2007/01/57-reasons-why-i-like-living-in-brunei.html

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