i <3 u.k's sandwiches and m&s salads

Nom nom nom


Ze Salad+pasta (rice like)



Ze sandwiches! Nom Nom Nom



What iz dis my lil siblingz... =x

hola dari U,K!

greetings Matey! Arrrrr~~~~~~

Right now in u.k, finished my graduation on the 16th july 2009@4.30pm and now i am gonna enjoy the few days left with my lil sis before heading back to Brunei.

gonna update soon. enjoy a few sneak peeks from london (yes! you my family! i know you're expecting pics by now hehehehe)




last pic is for qilah and adik XD
edit: it's 2008 not 2009! lol thanks for pointing it out mum! =D

ONOZ! its raining!

It was raining, and the bad news, I had to walk all the way to my faculty in the rain....

bad news: My newly purchased umbrella is in my friend's room, and she left already

bad news: my registration is in the afternoon...

bad news: going back all the way to my room, all wet...

good news: hot water

:\

Sahur!

What I had... a few Krispy Kreme donuts a diet coke. Nice combination eh. Sigh, since we arrived late to the uni, I do not have the cooking utensils as the shops are all closed. While sahuring, I update my blog using M.word... Gotta go to the city to buy stuffs.

Real Men don’t cry...

We only shed tears... a lot... Yeah, now I know how all international students feel of being homesick, away from your love ones. What made me cry was that I have limited credit for my mobile, thus very hard for me to communicate. Adding to that there is no internet. And finally this when unpacking, I remember the times with my mother buying, preparing, laughing and eating out together to spend some quality bonding time before I depart from Brunei.
Another blow (well sobbing quietly alone session) is when after a few sms to her, she replied back “...mudah2an ko sihat walafiat n sentiasa dlm lindungan Allah. Luv U”. I just cry and cry quietly, thinking of my mum and family. Yeah I am anak manja, but it can’t be denied, syurga di bawah tapak kaki ibu (heaven lies beneath mother’s feet) and she was the one who gave birth, raises and nurtured me and shape me to become who I am.
The current blow is writing this blog (especially mentioning of mum and family) and the call I received from my mother to tell me the number to top-up my credit number. I was overjoyed. Finally I can listen to her voice, updating each other, and listening to each other voices. Mind you mother, I was holding my tears when we were talking to each other , and when the call ended, my tears seems unable to stop flowing until I finished this sentence.
Yeah ma, me as a real men don’t cry, we just shed tears... a lot... I love you and miss you truly, and I shall become a good son you expected me to be, and I shall return with my masters as a triumphant trophy for you to be proud off.
Gotta end now, tissue getting scarce.
Love you all (especially to my mother)
+dbckun+

My place!

No! I am not referring to the “My Place Cafe brunei”. XP moving on, we went to the girls room to temporary drop off our bags (as I have not got mine yet), and continued to go down to attend the “Meet the Resident’s Tutor house” as they discuss fire safety and the do’s and don’ts (personal note, need to meet them later to introduce myself and need a quick recap and advice). After all that, we went to the Accommodation officer to get my room, and finally! It is done! I have my room in the Constable Terrace house, a 2 individual room, with sharing toilet/shower pod with a sharing kitchen (an oven with an electric stove, a sink and a small refrigerator). Unfortunately I didn’t get the Norfolk or Suffolk terrace, and the disadvantage of this place is that is the other end of the Uni (very far from city) and requires quite a bit of walking towards the shopping (uni area) and the classrooms/faculties. The advantage is that it is VERY near to the mosque, so that’s a plus for me. The room is small, enough for a bed, a table, 5 plug outlets, a heater, a window with a limited opening range, 2 small cupboards (enough for my clothes), a pin board and a wall mantel thingy. Oh yeah, all that for 80pounds per week, INCLUSIVE of water, fuel, heat and INTERNET! But then again, have to wait till Monday till I can register myself T_T
Anymore? Hmm, I have a Jordanian muslim, mr. A, as my roomie, but we kept to ourselves, and I hope not much problem shall arise between us (would like to make him my friend but for now he is kinda reserve).
Thus here I am in my room, preparing to face the challenges of studying abroad.

UEA here I come!

Hehe, I can already imagine you wanting me to tell more about Ali 1 and Ali 2. Well it’s like this, Ali the driver told me we just met Iranians which have Ali as surname, just like the Mohammads, the something something (forgotten the name). This particular Ali the driver is a 33year old driver (he claimed, I am betting he is more older than that) is a muslim but then again drinks coffee in the car, eat any food (as he said halal in the heart even though it is obviously not halal) and as I found out, drinks a few occasional beer (which he claimed is good for the body, and asked me to do the same, in which I decline of course). His car is installed with a TOMTOM GPRS device, which is a handy device to show you the way to the place, as long as you have the postcode number.
Thus with Ali as our driver, with his poor English (but at least a bit understandable, need a few seconds to decipher) we journey with him, and talk with him: about brunei; about UK, about his father having 3 wives; about his “stupid mother” marrying at 9 years old; and such. Mind you, all 3 of us heard he saying “stupid mother” and that is not from us :\
The journey has wow us, as the country side is beautiful, with the cool air seeps into the car through the narrow opening of the window. At one part, there was a traffic, but when car is not moving, ms. Z saw blue berries on the side of the road (well we could let her pick, if she don’t mind to be left behind as the car is getting ready to move on XD). Also we saw horses *woof woof*, woolly sheeps *woof-woof*, cows *woof-woof* and some few more farm animals along the way. By the way, I am trying to communicate with the animals with *woof-woof* sound but they ignore me XP.
Finally we have arrived, but a drama unfolds. Where do we get the keys? Ms.Z called her friend, thus they rush off to get the keys, as Ali wanted to go somewhere else, and asked us to hurry. I guard the bags in the car though, but Ali then showed his other nature, where he walks, asked me to call them to hurry up, paced around again, mumbling where are they? where are they? and finally went to the other side to look for them (while I still do my job). Finally the 2 girls came back, got their keys (need to show my ID first later then I can get my own keys), Ali came back, went off (yeah, Ali is kinda frustrated a bit, we can see) drop us off to our place, paid him and said our goodbyes to him.

I have arrived UK!!!

Finally I have arrived in UK (thanks to a few hours nap, music and no thanks to the remote) and wow, everything is big here and wow look at that car park (and we dared to complain cemana kan mencari parking). Went out the airplane, bus, walk walk walk to the immigration counter, got a free and quick access to the counter (students only), submit my med check to the health office, go to counter 6, get my bags and jeng jeng! Out I go to meet with the awaiting teacher outside. I wait with the others so that we can as a group go together. Unfortunately the last 2 students are late... really late... and *gasp!* a drama unfolds! The late student is waiting for their bag (told by the other teacher)
*Gasp!* a girl amongst our group found out that her bag is not hers. It looks like her bag but it isn’t, and mind you it’s a Bruneian yellow tag bag. Thus the other teacher went in, out came the late girl, went ecstatic went she found her bag (the same for the other girl) and we can be merrily board our bus, and goes to Bruhall, the centre of Bruneian (students and teachers alike) based community.
Wow, wow, wow! During the whole 1 hour plus journey from the airport to Bruhall, I am amazed by UK already, especially the beautifully clean brick houses, the lady and the pigeons (in the park), the many kind of shops, the traffic (gets jammed easily) and how close they are to each other. Seriously, they are driving too close and one time I nearly panic as the guy on a bicycle went through the small narrow opening between two buses (public and ours).
Arrived at Bruhall, but then again its nearly 12. Saw my little sis, CT, and we carried our bags to the hall. *gasp!* I got an on arrival present! A box of Krispy Kreme! I took a quick peek and boy, does the donuts made me drool! Why you could basically smell the donuts when you just open a bit of the box. Anyhoo moving on, inside, us 3, dbc, ms. Z and ms. Pink girl (hehe) discuss, and decide to go A.S.A.P to our hall, not just about the accommodation, but to at least attend the other orientation the next day (sadly we missed today’s one). So with such short time with my little sister (who I am grateful for helping me to exchange my money and getting me some water) we left Bruhall at 1++pm (after a session of briefing) and hop aboard a rented cab? Car?
No worries ma and pa, we only spent 10 pounds in total as we pay the driver 250 pounds, the 240 will be reimbursed by the Bruhall. Thus we travel to UEA, a 2 hours plus trip, with our Iranian driver named Ali 1 (we met Ali 2 earlier, but he opted out of the journey)

The Dubai transit.

Hehe, guess who I met in Dubai? (Sorry question is only related to brustu-ians) Answer: Xhudess and lilac! We took a few pictures, talk about UK and stuffs and walk to our gate.
Ok, interesting part. Part one, our group is unlucky enough as we cannot do some quick shopping (except lilac buying some cinnamon buns) as we have to walk all the way to the other side of the terminal to gate 32. Part 2, our journey is from airplane, bus, terminal, walk to one end, bus, and finally reboard the airplane...
(...)
By the way, guys and gals beware when screening the bags through the X-ray machine, as Xhu’s went missing for a while (can I say he nearly went ballistic?) as lots of important documents inside and his wallet. He told me the staff just shrugs their shoulders when he asked for his bags. Magically after a few minutes, his bag reappears. Not sure how the story goes (gotta ask Xhu again) but thank Allah it’s all in there.
There was also drama in my part. Empty my right pants pocket contents (wallet, key etc) and went through the metal detector.
*Beep*
Went out and open belt
*Beep*
Went out, stupid enough not to empty my LEFT pocket, took out my switched-on N95, and it went beep less when I walked through. (><)\ <-kira ampas kepala lah ni
And thus ends the drama in Dubai XD

The Journey from Brunei to Dubai.

As usual the flight is delayed. Inside found my friend ms. N.H where our friends were searching for her outside the terminal. She told me that she came into the terminal lobby early because the counter staff told her to get in at 6.30 ><. No worries though as she managed to say some last words to our friend outside using my phone (before I go in of course). Finally boarded the plane and I sat at 27h on the aisle side. Reason I want that side because of my size, thus reducing the inconvenience of passing though the neighbouring passenger when I want to go to toilet (which I tend to go a lot). Unfortunately there are the con side of the aisle seat. First your arm (my left) is subjected to accidental butt strike by passing passengers and the steward/stewardess. Second is the fear of the falling objects from above (where the bags were stowed). Finally is that you have less or no view of the outside beautiful scenery (as the window seat passenger control the area).
The sad part of this long journey is that my seat, 27h has I think a faulty remote, as I cannot access the entertainment centre. The 2 kind stewardesses tried to reset the system for me twice but to no avail. They did offer me to change seats but I decline (personal reasons). So dad or RBA-staff in Brunei, take note of my problem, and try to rectify it before another passenger complains.
‘Twas a long journey (7 hours) and I can’t go to sleep due to excitedness and the occasional hit-and-butt-bump events. Thank Allah that the other side of the remote is functional thus I can use it to listen to music and watch TV... with lots of re-runs of 1 episode Frasier, “The secret Millionaire”, Just for laughs and such. Had dinner but then I just realised something. Sure the N95 is a multipurpose device, but then again 1 major disadvantage arises in special situations. Such a situation is what I am experiencing now as I cannot switch on my mobile (to access the camera) as “it may cause interference” as one stewardess said. If I have a separate camera (and mp3 player) those items can be used, but not mobile...
Thus the journey is just that for the 7 hours (entertained for a while, tried to sleep) and finally we arrive at Dubai to be transit.

The beginning of the journey.

Arrive at airport at 5-ish pm. Checked in but due to excess kilos by 6, I hand carried my friend’s traditional malay cake (which is 3 kgs) and leave my bag and a smart shoe (brought home by my father).
At the airport, my family (including my aunts, uncles, grandpa, grandma, cousins and uncles) and my friends were sitting/standing there, chatting and waiting for my departure at 7.30pm. While waiting, since this is the fasting month, the family break “fast” and had a light food. While eating, I jokingly said that “we should have bring along a mat for us to sit and eat on the floor”. Not long after that, what I joke became true! It was a sight to be seen, as people watch me, my aunts and my mom sitting on the mat, in the airport lobby XD. It does not end there, as a reporter (from which newspaper, we weren’t sure) took our picture sitting there, and asked a simple question on whom was sent (me) and to where (UEA, Norwich; UK!). I do hope the pictures can be sent to me from Brunei
The time finally arrive, and thus this anak manja (pampered child?) kiss, hugs, asked for forgiveness for one last time before going into the terminal. My feeling right now as I typed this was the same as when I was at the airport, trying my best to hold my tears, but the in end, the inevitable occurs, as the thought of leaving your love ones, your good life, your mates, your stuffs and your country is too unbearable to think of. And for one last time before I entered, my best mate, Emad Syukri, gave me one final bros handshake and thus began my journey to a country I have never been before, alone but hoping to bring out the best in me, for me, my family, my friends and my country.