London

Hello readers, I am on vacation in London at the moment. I will be resuming back to writing reviews and blogging mid-July 09 after my vacation. Stay tuned for London posts and shops blogs.

Till then.

See you next generation!

Time surely do fly so fast, and now its March already. And its a certain old friend of mine, Maurina’s birthday just around the corner. I am always mistaken that the 3rd March is her birthday, so this morning I sent a text message birthday greeting.

“Thanks, but that’s another 10 days!!”

Haha. I think I’ve mistakenly wished her happy birthday just around this time last year. March is a special month especially with Sanctuary Brunei since it exactly last year that I get myself immerse to the world of spa. Who introduced me to all this? Yours truly, It was MAURINA.

Maurina & Ideal Kawaii!

So March 2008, I thought it would be a good idea to treat Maurina for a birthday spa treatment of her choice. Back then I can’t drive, so I followed her car and off we went to Kiulap. She chose Pearl Health Care, because they do discounts for members on their birthdays so might as well just fully utilised the birthday privilege. I remembered that we chose the Foot Spa treatment which comprises of the foot soak and scrub with the foot reflexology massage.I really enjoyed my first spa treatment, although now I wouldn’t call Pearl Health Care a spa now that I have experienced a few what Brunei has to offer. Notice that Pearl Health Care was my first ever post in this blog – so now you know why!

Well Maurina, now that I have wished you a Happy Birthday today. I might as well dedicate this post to my oldest friend, Maurina!

We went to the same primary school together. We always sit right behind with each other and always comparing our lunch boxes – which one of us have the latest Disney cartoons merchandise and we shared the same love with Disney songs, I remembered our obsession with the Lion King, Pocahontas and the Hunchback of Notredame. I still remember when we were in Primary 6, just finished our PCE (back then equivalent of today’s PSR) and it was my birthday. She gave me the biggest present ever. In fact, it was the most difficult to unwrapped because she had wrapped the present with plenty of wrapping paper, so when I unwrap the paper another wrapping paper was there, so I had to unwrap layers and layers of wrapping paper before having to know what’s inside.

I have forgotten what she gave to me, but there’s this word that she said and I still remember after all this years.

“See you next generation!”

After getting the 5 As, and getting entry to a prestigious Science college – we had separate paths with her going to a separate school and then just when I thought I could meet her after finishing my A levels, getting into UBD with her. Instead, I got the scholarship to study in UK! Anyway, 4 years forward I got posted to work in a school and to my surprise Maurina is there, wearing a really bright coloured baju kurong and a big smile on her face!

And then what she said 12 years ago have dawned to me – and I feel like “See you next generation” was a promise we’ve made back in Primary 6 – we never met during our high school years or during University but we finally are reunited at a stage in our lives where some people might consider as independent adults. That’s certainly another generation, I’m glad that we finally meet. And of course now, we do have the occasional coffee and spontaneous yoga together.

Happy Birthday Maurina!

“Maurina, Happy Birthday to You

Kau tinggal di Zoo

Makan nasi daging lembu

Tinggal sama kangaroo”

See I still remember that birthday song that you sang to me back in 1996.

Maurina you’ve been such a fun and exciting friend! Happy birthday next week! Will do come to your BBQ or birthday this time around.

The City

On a side note, I am currently addicted with reality television. Just finish downloading The City – its really addictive with the drama and the uptown girls. Its a spin-off from the famed MTV show, The Hills. I’m really liking the Olivia, she reminded me a lot of the fictional character, Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. With her, straight up, independent attitude and an excellent taste in fashion – Olivia seems to be the star of the show.

Uptown New York girl Olivia totting a Hermes

Taurean Café: The Accidental Review and Ashtanga Yoga last night

Taurean Cafe, Gadong 4pm

Is it me or all of you felt annoyed with the electrical outage happening around Kiulap this past couple of days? After a hectic day, I crave for the Teh C Spesial from Fleur de Lys in Qlap Complex Mall. On my way there, I discovered that the whole Qlap Complex was compromised with no electricity at all. Cafés including Fleur de Lys and Au Lait, Jolibee, an increasingly expanding fast food chain were all closed for the day.

Annoyed – I came to the nearest cafe with electricity, Coffee Zone. Seems like everyone is flocking in the Coffee Zone. I have to say the electrical outage brings the cafe back to its heyday – where it was the place to be seen. Apparently, so much so, that there are no more seats left for me.

Disgruntled, I left my well positioned car parking and head off to the next Fleur de Lys branch in the quest for the Teh C Spesial. On a side note, my back and my fitness is improving although parts of my body (lower part of the body) is incredibly pathetic. I understand that its cause by muscle fatigue and it will heal in time. Its the how the body recondition itself and improve by synthesising more muscle to support the body for the next rigorous training.

All thanks to Ashtanga Yoga courtesy of Zunic Wellness. I have to admit I have a preconceived notion that Yoga is all humming and that meditation – practically easy that everyone can learn it in no time. You probably had guessed by now that this is so untrue. My first yoga session – it was all sweat and body strength. It does tests your core and how long can your body withstand the yoga positions. I vaguely remember the plank, Sun?, and that tree(?) pose, and amazed how my body’s ability to listen and follow such poses. Zunic Wellness is fund raising $5,000 for disabled people who require wheelchairs, so its $1 for day passes to join any classes including Pilates & Yoga and use the gym facilities. Do enquire Zunic Wellness, Plaza Athirah for these Soul Passes.

Zunic Wellness reception

Anyway, I’m sitting in Taurean Café, The Arch, a spontaneity after finding the Fleur de Lys in Kiarong is affected by the electrical outage. Surprisingly to my pleasure, they do make Teh C Spesial here, at a cheap price of $1.50, $2 less than offered at Fleur de Lys Café. The taste however differs from the usual, with Taurean Cafe serving normal Lipton, but the milk and the brown sugar at the bottom tastes exactly the same. It raises the question of whether I am paying too much for my usual tea in Fleur de Lys, what gives them the right to charge such exorbitant amount for a cup of tea which probably only costs less than $1 to make? Whatever the reason is, Fleur de Lys will still be in business – with expatriates flocking the café – a reminder of what’s on offered back in their home country.

Will I still take the 120 calories drink? But then again you probably would have guess the answer by now.

The signature drink, Teh C Spesial in Fleur de Lys costs $3.50, and still is the best Teh C so far.