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!

Beautiful Sunset

I finally got the chance to upload the pictures in my digital camera to my laptop. And boy, it was a lot of pictures to sort through. So I spent the entire afternoon today, organising the pictures into mini folders. I’m such a neat freak – feel so happy getting things organised.

Anyway the sunset pictures below were taken from the Empire Hotel and Country Club pebble beach. Prior to this, I have never actually watch the sun set. It is definitely one of those things you have to see during your lifetime.

Sunset taken from the Empire Hotel, Jerudong

The white clouds turning greyish all of the sudden and green colour on the leaves was just so intense with colour. Just when the sun was about to set, everything was put on standstill and the sea breeze seems to stop. The experience is much better with friends, Suse and Peejah came to join me to watch this amazing spectacle. We aren’t the only ones at the beach. Two lovely couples were there too, with comfy blankets wrapped around them and looking especially stylish with classic Ray Bans.

Peej and Suse enjoying each other's company

The pebble beach at the Empire Hotel and Country Club is one of my favourite places, there’s plenty of activities you can do while waiting for the breath-takingly beautiful sunset. Bring your close friends, get your feet dipped in the resort pool or if you feel adventurous take the beach buggy out for a ride at the beach. And later head to the pebble beach, bring your shades and blanket just in time for the sunset.

The clouds turning indigo at sunset

Going through the pictures, 2008 was such a great year for me. I went to loads of beach barbeques – beach volley ball and riding on the beach buggy. Now with the weather back to normal, I suppose I should plan another beach social soon. Its going to be fun. Anyone care to join me?

Great sunset views in Brunei besides the Empire Hotel pebble beach:

Seri Kenangan Beach, Tutong – Go there on Sunday afternoons, you have to try the beach buggy ($10). Come early, to get the open-air huts.

The pebble beach behind Jerudong Medical Centre – It’s the same with the one at the Empire Hotel but its more private. Great place to bring your loved ones.

Happy Chinese New Year

Sunday, Kilanas

Its been raining for the entire month, and I was talking to Joyce, Thompson Furniture about the peculiar events that have been happening in Brunei just in time for Chinese New Year. With the electrical outage affecting major businesses in Brunei, and the floodings due to the heavy rain and then the solar eclipse that coincidentally falls on the same day as the New Chinese Year, The Year of the Ox.

She mentions about last year it was happening to China just in time for CNY, where the entire country was succumbed with frost and snow storms making thousands of Chinese stranded on the train, unable to reach home for CNY. Now this year, its happening in Brunei. What a peculiar coincidence. I don’t normally believe with the Chinese auspicious-ness with months and star animals, but this year is suppose to be my year. I’m born on the Year of the Ox. I suppose good things will come to my way this year. I do sure hope its true.  Well come to think of it, ever since the new year of the Ox, I have made achievements with this blog in particular and I won first place for a speech competition in my University – which I will be receiving a prize later this afternoon. It could be the year to do new things and take more risks.

Joyce and her husband of Thompson furniture was kind enough to invite my family to their open house Sunday afternoon – we were quite lucky that we arrived at 4pm just in time to watch the Lion Dance at their residence in Kilanas. The food was catered by Brunei Hotel, nasi lemak with battered chicken and typical daging rendang.

here the lion comes

This is actually my very first time seeing the lion dance up close. With the sounds from the drums and gongs, I have to say it was quite an experience.

The drums can be seen from the background

The lion dance is believe to ward away any bad omens from the house and bring prosperity and luck to the residents of the house.

here comes the golden lion!

The lion dance troupe hails all the way from Sungai Liang, Belait. I have to admit they’re really good.

Lion seeing the ang-pao - takes a whole lot of acrobatics

Ang Pao gone!

Thanks Joyce and family, Thompson furniture for the invite. May you and your family have a prosperous new year.

Father & son in the background

Joyce receiving a souvenir from the Sg Liang troupe

To my Chinese friends, Happy Chinese New Year