Post Raya Syndrome...

Assalamualaikum my friends... hope you had a fun and safe raya. Wow, has it been 2 weeks already. Feels just like yesterday that all of us were rushing to do our last minute shopping before the big day. And now, most of us are thinking... why oh why did we have to spend that much?? 'Iatah nama nya belanja setahun sekali ni...' as the Kristal FM BIBD advert clutters in my mind. Speak for yourself buddy, I'm not alone when I say that we don't only go shopping once a year!!! Anyways, that out of my system its back to my Hari Raya tales. 1st off... Hari Raya eve.. Mrs. SandMan was still busy at my in-laws doing her final 'Kek Raya' preparations. As for me, I was busy cleaning the car as no respectable washer would accept any more 'orders'. So it was up to me with my new air compressor... hehehe. Anyways, raya eve was as usual 'meriah'. Who said it was too early to go raya'ing'. As usual, went to my uncle's place just next door as he is now the eldest in the family. Back home around 10pm and started the house compound cleaning. Yup, you read right... It's no fun if you do it any earlier, don't you agree. It won't be raya if you don't do everything last minute. As for previous years, Jame' Asr is the destination for Sembahyang Raya. It just feels grand to sembahyang raya di sana... heheheh.

Anyways, morning raya won't be complete without visiting Babu at her final resting place at Makam Di-Raja in Mile 1. I still miss her... Tears came running down as I recited the Tahlil for Babu and the rest of the family members who had left us. But as the saying goes, Life goes on.... Back from 'kubur', we headed off to my parent's house for 'light' breakfast. Antah ah? Sudah tau inda puasa atu lapar saja tia pulang. But I had to control myself, as it is always on the 1st day of raya you tend to visit the little boys' room the most.. To be fair to Mrs. SandMan, we headed off to my in-laws in the afternoon in Kg. Ayer. Personally, the atmosphere there is more lively and more 'meriah' compared on land. It may be because they are just a very close neet community in Kg. Ayer. Even your next door neighbour visits you on the 1st day. I could go on and on with the Raya thing. But I'll stop di sini dulu. I don't want to go ramble non stop, because you guys might get bored. Anyways, raya is still in the air so I'll post a few more Raya adventures when I get the chance to. For the mean time, enjoy the remaining 2 weeks of raya guys... Next stop for me is the Empire Driving range....

Selamat Hari Raya...

Assalamualaikum, how time flies when you're having fun. Has it been a month (29 days to be precise) of fasting already? Evidently it is... I'll certainly miss Ramadhan. I don't know how to put it, but there's something in the air when 'Puasa' rolls by. Maybe its the fasting, 'stadiuming', late night gym (and golf) and the Hari Raya shopping. I pray to Allah the Al-Mighty that my family, friends and of course myself be able to enjoy Ramadhan again next year and many more years to come.. InsyaAllah. To all my Muslim visitors, readers or what ever they call blog readers heheheh.... I wish you all Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin.... Now its time to 'main badil!!!!!' God help us....

40 years of Majestic Reign...

Alhamdulillah, today is a day that will be remembered as a milestone in our beloved country as we all celebrate the 40th year His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah ascended the throne. Eventhough the celebrations to commemorate this aupicious occassion is low key (out of respect for the fasting month) but the celebrations are not without its grand scale. Thanks giving prayers were held last night (4th October 2007). With the main focus being held at Jame' Asr Hassanel Bolqiah. However, prior to this, recitation of the holy Quran (Tedarus) have been held for the past couple of days. In my opinion, this is a more suitable way of celebrating His Majesty's 40th anniversary being puasa and all. And by the way, just in case I don't update my blog anytime soon, I wish everyone SELAMAT HARI RAYA, Maaf Zahir Batin... May this year's Hari Raya bring you banyak duit raya and sakit parut hehehe.

Fade, slice, shank...

You might be wondering what the title has anything to do with my entry.. well, for the most part all of the above are golfing terms... and let me tell you, yesterday's golf round in RBGCC Jerudong exhibited all three. Was it me, my swing or what ever factor contributed to my dismall game yesterday.. I'll never know. But heck, I was someone who could not get the ball to go straight. Out of the 9 holes, the lads (Luq and Azmi) and I played yesterday, I only made 2 fairway hits!! I was in excellent form the night before at the Empire driving range, I even gave Azmi some driving tips. Hmmm.. maybe, just maybe... its Azmi's fault... He took all my golf powers!!! What powers??? hahaha.. I guess I'm just in denial. Oh well, that's golf for you. You might have a good game on 1 day, but you'll have a horrible game the next. Well enough of golf, let's talk about yesterday's sungkai.

My entourage and I went to the nearest sungkai place around RBGCC, which is Jerudong Polo Club. We were there around 6pm, if it were any other place it would be full but Jerudong Polo Club was an exception. The place was, how shall I put this.... empty. We were the 1st ones there. Can it be true? are all Bruneian not eating out during sungkai anymore??? I wish. Soon the patrons came, but not alot though. By the fast break (breakfast sounds like sarapan pagi to me hehehe) there were only about 20 people (us included) there. What was wrong, we wondered.... The ambiounce was great, the food above expectations... the price reasonable.... Finally it all came to mind... no marketing. That was what all of us thought. I had trouble even finding the phone number for the club. No advert in the papers, not even a mention on the radio. What a pity, dare I say it... The food was much better than Empire's... there I said it.. hehehe. Choices range from a hot plate station (this was awesome), rojak, noodle station, ambuyat, ambeng rice, etc. For $19/pax and a place like this, I really thought that this was a bargain. They even have sahur buffet priced at $12/pax from 10pm till 1am. I might bring the missus out for sahur one of these days. One of these days!!?? I'll probably take her out tonight... As I said, I am on a mission... a mission to gain weight... NOT!!!

We got 'Wii'ed...

Assalamualaikum guys... hope your Ramadhan is going well. As for me, tried my luck on a round of golf last Saturday at RBA Golf Course. All in all, wasn't very tiring as anticipated, maybe the weather had a hand in it... it was a mellow day, a perfect day for golf. Alhamdulillah, was able to 'hold on' to the fast till dusk and had an overkill sungkai session with Luq and Azmi at the Airport Restaurant. The food as usual was excellent. I would say the price of B$24/pax is worth every penny. An assortment of choices was provided, nganya inda cukup parut kan makan... hehehe.

Anyways, the golf didn't stop there. We had another round of 18 holes yesterday.. well virtually to be exact. As the title precisely says... we got 'Wii'ed!!! Azmi just got his hand on the PS3 beater... Nintendo Wii. It was quiet a surprise how the game play turned out to be. All this while most of us are used to sitting still with a controller doing the movements. Oh no, not with this baby... We tried our hands on boxing, tennis... and the 'piece de resistance' (lurus kah tu?? ;D) was Tiger Wood's 2007 PGA Tour Golf Game. Yup, even in the virtual world I was able to beat Luq and Azmi hands down... heheheh. Sorry guys, I was on a role kemarin atu. Even now I'm still feeling the twitch to make a virtual swing. Hey guys at Nintendo... I AM SOLD!!! I want one... well maybe after Raya...

Anyways, sungkai yesterday was another 'eating out' affair. Mrs. SandMan and I went to Empire Hotel to try out their Sungkai promotion. Hmmmm, I wouldn't say it was the best or maybe it was just me. But personally, I prefer the food at Airport Restaurant. I don't know why but the choice of food there is more suited to my taste buds compared to the one at The Atrium. Oh well, in the end the day I was full from all the food. I wonder, whether I'll lose or gain weight during the fasting month.. It is already evident its the latter rather than the former.... Need to go to the gym...

Ramadhan is here...

Alhamdullillah, another year has gone and Ramadhan Al-Mubarak is upon us once more. For me, this is the one month (besides from Syawal) that I look forward to. Comes the terawih prayers, tedarus heard from mosques and of course the long day fasting. Not that I'm complaining or anything, this is a good chance to lose those unwanted few kilos from the tummy heheheh. New baju melayu has been sent and expecting to be done by 1st week of October. Decided to be early this year, 'baik jua dih... nya orang kitani'. Went shopping with the Missus, my auntie and mum yesterday. They went nuts on me with the Bonia begs and shoes, but hey I don't mind. Its the only time that I get to spoil my three most important and loved people in this world. This out of the way, I can now concentrate on my own preparations for the month of Syawal (hmm, baru jua sehari dua puasa, udah tia kan raya!!! hahahah). Well, I guess the little kid in me is still excited for the upcoming Hari Raya. But, the one person I miss the most is my late grand mother. Its been 6 years you left this world to be by The Al-Mighty's side, but not a day has gone by without me thinking of you.. Babu, I love and miss you so much.. Al-Fatihah

So I Lied...

Birthday wishes to one of my best mates in the world, Mr. Azmi (have to call him that since he passed his recent exam). We had a blast last week at Airport Restaurant, well at least it was fun for Luq and me. Azmi's face when he saw it was his birthday cake brought out by the restaurant staff was priceless. Sorry mat, we could not help ourselves to surprise you last week.. heheheh. I just hope you'll forget our birthdays next year. As you said, ' revenge is going to be sweet!!!'. I hope he knows that he is more than a friend to us (do I sound gay?? I hope not!!), more like a 'small' brother (phew, good save). The inner circle would not be complete without him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAT!!!