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.

photography club

28 Jan, Campus

Its a fresh new semester for my LLB Law programme at University, and its time for me to embark on a new activity. Photography!

I joined the photography class conducted by the Chief of Photography and Media, Pelita Brunei. Packed with no fancy SLRs and having left my compact digital at home, all I have was my iPhone.

The first day of class: I discovered my photography passion.

Amateurish at this stage, here are the pictures I’ve taken :

I love the contrast between sharp edges of the roofs and the shadow casts with the uneven and rounded clouds

What do you guys think?

This is the first picture I captured. My favourite

Abstract, patterns and lines.

Lines and Angles

Okay – these are the pictures which I have submitted to the Chief, which he would then analyse and criticise. He will give me feedback next week. Hope all is good.