Green Tea revolution

Hello readers, my apologies for the lack of updates. The law course is especially demanding at this time of the month but I am still spa-ing and making a mental note to myself on the many treatments I have tried at this ever-stressing month of April. Its such an irony, in a work heavy month of April, where normally involves rather frequent visits to the spa – yet I have not found the free time to blog about the spa experience.

 

Japanese art of brewing

 

 

Green Tea: you either hate it or LOVE it! Fortunately I am of the opinion of the latter, my life have turned green-tea-nised if there is such a word for that. Do you see, green tea products appearing in supermarkets and the only beauty store in Brunei, Guardian? I just love how its smells and how very zen and organic to support this green tea revolution! It starts with my addiction and favourite drink right now:

Heaven and Earth Green Tea – all I can say genius!

I am hooked to the drink, WHO KNOWS what chemicals to they put inside the green drink to make you all addicted, I don’t CARE!

I consume an average of 2 cans of this daily! Its better than those high sugary, high cal soft drinks.

 

 

 

Apparently Gywneth and Victoria swears by green tea – it is scientifically proven that consuming 4 cups of green tea daily will boost your fat metabolism and help you lose weight faster! And the antioxidant properties of green tea gives your skin a healthy glow. 

Gywneth Paltrow promoting Estee Lauder's green tea products

The article below was taken from wikipedia:

Green tea has been traced as far back as over 4000 years ago in China. The medicinal properties of green tea have been given serious scientific studies and debates. And studies showed that if you drink four cups of green tea a day, it can reduce the risk of developing stomach and lung cancer as well as heart diseases.

Green tea has high anti oxidant activities as it contains ECGC, a cancer fighting flavonoid. What makes green tea uniques is that it’s proven to fight cancer at all stages, from chemical carcinogens, to inhibit the spread of tumors.

Numerous studies revealed that green tea contains chemical components are 100 times more powerful an anti oxidant than vitamin C, and 25 times more powerful than Vitamin E.

It’s also reported that green tea can even help prevent tooth decay. And green tea also possess the ability to destroy and kill bacteria and prevent food poisoning.Green tea antioxidants have been shown to have cholesterol lowering effects.

Green tea also causes carbohydrates to be released slowly and thus preventing sharp increases in blood-insulin levels, this activity promote burning of fat, and this is the reason why many people are comsuming green tea for the sole purpose of losing weight.

Many scientists believe that the efficacies of green teas can help us restore our health, improve our immune capability and protect us against cancer.

Green tea is also very effective in helping you lose weight, and many green tea user have managed to lose weight within  short period of time, usually within 4 – 6 weeks of consuming.

If you’re not such a big fan of the drink, green tea can also be appreciated in other ways. The ones which I have personally used and try are incredibly organic.

Endorsed by yours truly

Its of great importance for us to be environmentally aware, plus its now a cool thing to be environmentally friendly. Green tea is healthy and the smell is just divine!

Beauty and spa products: Green Tea in Brunei

Citra lasting pur’ity Green Tea Body scrub – $2.85 in Hua Ho department stores

Verdict: I’m so happy to find a really cheap scrub for everyday use! And with the green tea infused with antioxidants and detox moisturising properties – just after application, it makes my skin smooth and glowing! The best part its just $2.85! Bargain!

 

Guardian green tea facial wipes – $1.95 in Guardian stores nationwide

Verdict: What can I say, I’m a big green tea fan and absolutely love the fragrance! Although it only does what it says, my face is cleanse and the detox properties of green tea can work wonders to your skin.

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea scent spray – available in selected Hua Ho department stores

 

Verdict: Although this perfume have been on the shelves for a while now but with the green resurgence, it has regain its popularity. Smells very green tea and perfect for a zen woman.

 

 

 

Citra Beauty moisturising lotion extrak teh hijau – available in Hua Ho department stores

Citra moisturising lotion

 

 

 

Verdict: It goes with the spa range, the body scrub. What can I say, I love the smell. And such a bargain!

 

 

Ambi Pur Total Fresh Green Tea fragrance

Verdict: Spread the green tea fragrance to your home, closet, car, drawer anywhere! I have one put in my car – creating the whole relaxing spa atmosphere while driving.

 

 

Green Tea Iced Frappuchino

 

 

 

I can’t live without: Starbucks Green Tea iced frappuchino RM 15 for a Venti size

 

 

Verdict: Had the first taste of it back during my vacation in Kuala Lumpur, it was just heaven! Went back to try a version of it in Coffee Zone – which was horrible and so do not understand the whole green tea concept. Few days ago, I was over the moon to find Starbucks during my trip in Miri, Malaysia. 

 

 

 

So people, stay green and be aware of your carbon footprint – and try going environmental and be GREEN. Its so in – I heart green tea! Join the revolution today!

orgasmic joy of brownies & bakerlyn cafe

There’s no denying to people that I am a sweet tooth. I have an inkling for anything sugary and high fructose contents in my desserts and chocolate. Let me share you with a childhood memory of mine – I’m the kid who meets the dentist every other fortnightly, and vivid recollections of horrible tooth extractions and tooth grinding. My parents as most Bruneian parents are incredibly indulgent and relax when it comes to their children’s diet. I know that I love the sweet taste, and the high energy I often get afterwards. I was pretty much a hyperactive child with tooth cavities.

I have sobered and refrain from eating deserts on a daily basis but lately, well I guess you could say I have “relapse”. This is partly the reason why, and you will agree with me because this pictures is ever so mouthwatering. Wait till you actually try the brownies.

 

I introduce you Miss Syazwana Monroe’s home-baked brownies.

The outside: Chewy and incredibly mouthwatering, so much so that I could not resist for a taste while driving in my car. The moment you put the brownies inside your mouth, its orgasmic indulgence: the texture which was chewy and crisp on the outside, but the inside: gosh, the moisture and the bitterness of the chocolate was heaven. There are no words to describe what I felt for this incredibly indulgent treat.

 

The aftertaste which is regarded as the definitive quality of the chocolate, is bitter and stimulating to the mind. Its like a rush, yet you feel deeply relaxed. Dark chocolates are scientifically proven to boost the part of your brain which deals with happiness and pleasure. The liberal use of dark chocolate in Syaz Monroe’s brownies makes this one to watch for, it definitely separates this from the rest of the mass-produced brownies available in Hua Ho or bakeries.

Syazwana, your brownies made my otherwise uneventful Saturday and I appreciate the complimentary box of brownies! One box of brownies costs $15, and you can call to order: Syazwana, 8950000.

Also worth mentioning is the day when I visited the newly open Bakerlyn Cafe in Kiulap. The cafe is right above a florist, so you literally can smell the fresh aromas whiffing at the cafe’s entrance. It was the middle of the week, and had a class until 4pm – now that Maurina is working in the same University, so we decided to check out after a long day!

Bakerlyn bakery shop near Vincci, Kiulap is already famous with their donuts and their pricey birthday fruit cakes (their bakers very creative and continually impress me with their skills!). The owners decided to expand their business, and open a cafe! Once inside the cafe, I feel like I am transported to someplace besides Brunei. The theme: the French countryside, with grapes and acres of vineyards.

Although, I do not get the orange paint of the walls which spoils the ambience and the look that the owners were striving for. We ordered for the donuts, since Bakerlyn are famous with it. Unfortunately, this was unavailable which was such a disappointment. 

Why put something on the menu when you don’t serve it? 

Your donuts are one of your specialties and since Bakerlyn Bakeshop is just 3 minutes away, it will not take an arm or a foot to deliver fresh donuts to the cafe no?

Then my eye caught this on the desserts display:

 

And boy! I am not disappointed! The fruits on the top is fresh. This is the fruit roll: very French indeed. Following the theme of the interiors, most of the cakes are French inspired and fusion-esque.

In a way, I am glad that the donuts was unavailable. Hands on, the cake is nyaman (Bruneian word to describe incredibly delicious). Its not too sweet like the brownies which gives you headache from eating too much sweet. The taste is just nice, and the variety of the fruits are worth mentioning. Bakerlyn cafe is worth visiting especially that its different than most coffee cafes, I’d say this one is another category altogether. Its more like a bakery/cake cafe.

Life is more enriching with things like this, monotony is so passe -  Sanctuary Brunei will continually strive to discover Brunei, this kingdom of unexpected treasures. Hope you readers enjoy the journey so far, more to come promise!

Featured on today’s post:

Syazwana Monroe orgasmic brownies – $15 per box

Bakerlyn Cafe Kiulap French roll – $5

I discovered Lomography: Delayed flash photography

I am so devastated that my precious iPhone have died on me. I have done the necessary steps to recover my iPhone, spending hours on the internet looking for people whom have encountered the same problems and how they have got their iPhones fixed.

Most of their phones are being replaced with entirely new ones, since it seemed that Apple have known about the defect. Unfortunately for me, I bought it from Qqestore Brunei. Technically they sold me an illegal iPhone which have been jailbreak. So automatically the Apple warranty is void since such acts of jailbreaking and modifying the phone software will immediately makes the phone warranty-less. I rushed to Qqstore to complain and get it fixed: unfortunately they couldn’t fixed it and returned the iPhone to me. That’s just crappy service, although the lady on the customer service line was very apologetic and promised that I will get a discount for future mobile phone purchases.

Okay, enough mulling over a dead mobile phone. Moving on: feeling naked with no touch screens mobile phones on my palm, I came back to wipe the dusts off my Sony Cybershot Digital camera. I finally took the time to read the users manual, and learned a lot of photography techniques. So very relevant since now that I’m joining a photography club at University.

Cheezebox

One night out with close friends in the bright lights of the heart of Gadong, I brought along my Sony. The occasion: To plan a friend’s surprise bachelor party at the Empire Hotel Jerudong. We were sitting outside in Cheezebox Café, lights coming from everywhere, streetlights, flashy coloured ones from the Mall and the headlights of cars moving sluggishly to find free parking outside the Mall building.

There and then, playing with the settings of my Sony: low flash and delayed exposure.

kiss me

The lights becomes strangely hypnotic and trippy. Reminds me of 90s Radiohead music.

Lomography

Anyway, if you’re reading this Azlan. We love you!

Kampachi, Kuala Lumpur: a review

Its been a two months since I had my fantastic holiday in Kuala Lumpur – its long overdue review of a Japanese restaurant which deserves the praises and accolades. I know that I just have to mention Kampachi Japanese restaurant at this blog. The name “Kampachi” is not an unfamiliar name to those people who love Japanese cuisine. Food bloggers in Kuala Lumpur have no doubt find their dining experience such a delight and is infamous amongst Japanese expats for its soba and udon noodles – If the Japanese are impressed then it should be really good.

Kampachi restaurant can be found on the gigantic designer shopping mall called The Pavilion in Bukit Bintang. As much as adore shopping, some of the shops and the prices really do make your pockets dry – even though with our currency advantage over the Malaysian Ringgit. I wonder, with prices of each item probably costing a typical one month’s salary of an average Malaysian – how can The Pavilion managed to stay in business. Luxury stores would not survive in the Brunei market in my opinion with most Bruneians prefer to go shopping abroad (although you can get the same here in Brunei).

Kampachi at the Pavilion

As I went inside the restaurant, I saw Japanese udon makers busy kneading and preparing freshly made Udon and Soba noodles. You really do feel like they put their passion into their art of making noodles. “Ohayo Gazaimasu!” yelled all the waiting staffs and the tea brewers as well as the busy Japanese noodle makers. I was impressed just by their warm welcome. I know I am in it for the greatest Japanese cuisine.

The waiting staff carefully arranged the tea and the food

The waiting staff brought a selection of drinks which includes 3 pages of tea varieties, 1 and half page was on green tea and its different variations in flavours. Amazing. Having quite a selection of tea to choose from, the waiter ask my personal tea preference – I asked for something green and light and great detoxing properties. Osakan apples infused green tea flown all the way from Japan. The Japanese do take their tea-drinking seriously. Its quite a delight to have the experience in Kampachi as well. I am beginning to appreciate tea – does that make me old?

The art of brewing tea - truly Japanese

Of course, I ordered the Yaki Udon set meal. Soba and Udon can be differentiate by the size of the noodles, with soba being the smaller just like an ordinary noodle you find in restaurants while the Udon noodles, are unique and are really big. The difference in sizes of the noodles, really does influence the flavour of the yaki udon in the end. I find the flavours more intense and spicy. The subtleties of this tiny details  – really the character of a Japanese cuisine. The noodles are just the tastiest noodles I’ve ever tasted. Definitely will order when I return back to Kuala Lumpur.

Trust me this blurry picture doesn't do justice

Everytime I’m in Excapade, Brunei and Yo Sushi! London, I order the Salmon Maki – and I tell you Kampachi beats them all down to shame. Excapade Brunei, its more rice than the salmon. The salmon flavours seem to have diminish a bit. Yo Sushi! London, generic and soul less – I get the feeling the Yo Sushi! sushi chefs have a step-by-step guidebook to make their sushi. Very robotic and predictable.

Kampachi salmon maki

The Salmon Maki in Kampachi, the moment you put in your mouth, the intense feeling you get from the freshly made wasabi was such a mind blowing experience. The salmon – generous and fresh. Its gooood!

Best ever.

Overall, I will definitely come back again to Kampachi the next time I’m in Kuala Lumpur. Would love to try the other selection of tea and try the unagi and the chicken curry katsu.

This was complimentary from the chef amazing.

A dining experience at Kampachi, Bukit Bintang is a must for Sushi-fans when in Kuala Lumpur.

Kampachi

Pavilion, Bukit Bintang

Kuala Lumpur

A fine Sunday

Sunday morning, The Arch, Gadong

After introducing my athletic and exercise addict cousin Rafie to Zunic Wellness Plaza Athirah, his motivations in getting his desired body image and my increasing liking for yoga with 2 hour yoga sessions, both of us has set off a part inside of ourselves: Determination. This feeling is strong and can lead to great rewards and results. We remain undeterred with challenges and muscle fatigueness. This does not stop us from refraining more exercise.

2 hours of yoga, at night I slept like a baby. It was such a good sleep, where your brain is just too tired or relax? that you do not dream.  Around 7am or so, I was awaken by a shrug on my shoulder, it was Rafie, get your butt off the bed. Remember Bukit Shahbandar?

The night before, we were getting excited with our morning jog/hike and rewarding ourselves with the fantastic views of the lush rainforests of Brunei and the fresh air – oxygen therapy. And getting fit at the same time. Excellent.

The hundreds of steps towards bliss: Oxygen Therapie

So off we went.

Expectations: Well after 2 weeks of Ashtanga Yoga training and pranayama techniques should make hiking hundreds of steps towards pure bliss easy.

Reality: Wrong! The whole climbing and hiking activities test on your cardio fitness instead!

Yes, I was huffing and puffing in no time. Tried using pranayama breathing techniques to optimise the oxygen intake of the lungs to 30 percent – still huffing and puffing. Gasping for air and the aching of my knee caps, makes the morning hike challenging!

Top of the world: Fresh winds

At last! Found the resting point. The fresh winds blowing off the awful heat from the body leaving a cool and blissful sensation. The air is so fresh especially in the morning, from the top I see the cool morning mists shrouding parts of the tropical rain forests.

After, a destress silent moment. Off we went back down the steps. Then off we hiked the same steps again. Yes. We went up twice.  My empty stomach growling and muscles trembling using up the stored sugars as energy source.

So where off next?

In a typical Bruneian fashion:

Good morning Taurean Cafe, The Arch

Just in time before 11am (by which the Good morning promotion ends) is one of the best “credit-crunch” friendly breakfast ever to be found in Brunei. Taurean Cafe at The Arch, Gadong.

For the price of $2.50, you get to pick 2 from the list below:

Kolo Mee and Hash Brown please

Or if you add another $1 you can choose 2 from the Heart Heart Set:

Yes for $3.50 you can choose 2 from the list

We went with sweaty tee shirts and trainers to Taurean Cafe, The Arch Gadong. Thinking I would look out of place with my worned-out and sporty attire, to my surprise, people wearing trainers and sweaty tees are here! I see. This is where people replenish their energies.

For a healthy and yoga friendly option: Mixed Fruits and Omelette although you probably could just get Nasi Lemak and Chicken Fried Noodles instead! If you don’t mind having love handles that is.

The Good Morning breakfast meal is available at Taurean Cafe, The Arch Gadong every morning until 11am.