Greetings Readers! I was invited to Curtin Sarawak's Open Day in September 2012. I have friends who have studied there but it was my first time on campus. One of their friendly officers showed me around and I took the liberty of taking photographs from time spent on campus. Before you scroll down to view the pictures, here's an excerpt about Curtin Sarawak from their website.

“An Australian campus in an exotic Sarawakian setting” - It has often been described a piece of Australia transplanted in Sarawak. Many equate it to stepping into another world. Thus is the uniqueness and allure of our campus.

With the opening of the impressive 300-acre campus in the suburb of Senadin to the north of the city in 2002, Curtin established a firm foothold in Malaysia. Developed as a joint venture between Western Australia's Curtin University and the Sarawak state government, it was Curtin's first offshore campus and one of the first foreign branch campuses to be established in the country. In the years hence, it has become the largest of Curtin's branch campuses spread across the Asia-Pacific region.

Such scenery reflects Sarawak's environment of constant greenery, water and bountiful wildlife, which many find truly fascinating. Coupled with Miri's famed sunsets and Senadin's location away from the bustle of the city, the ambience of the campus is one our students find tranquil, inspiring and conducive for studying.

Photographs from the Curtin Sarawak website

The use of modern technology on the campus is also very extensive as Curtin places great emphasis on utilising technology to support teaching, learning and research. Significant investment in computing and networking facilities continues to be made to ensure facilities are state-of-the-art.

The campus currently has 14 computer labs with over 400 PCs for student use in addition to terminals located in the library that provide access to the library's online databases. Furthermore, sophisticated IT linkages provide access to the online resources of Curtin’s main campus in Perth.

As research activities are an essential component of academic excellence at Curtin Sarawak, the campus boasts a number of state-of-the-art science and engineering labs, including Chemical Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Electrical Power, Electronic and Communication, Embedded System, Networking, Renewable Energy and Geophysics labs.

Film and television students, meanwhile, can count on a custom-built Film Lab and Editing Suite equipped with the latest broadcast-quality film-making equipment and software.

Information and Poster Source: NBT Brunei

The Toyota Classics marks its 23rd edition with the memorable presentation of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, under the conduction of Joji Hattori and featuring Soichi Muraji, one of the most prominent guitarists in Classic music. With its unique Vienna-flavored music, the leading Austrian orchestra promises an evening of complete delight to our distinguished audience with a repertoire of extraordinary music that comprises tunes from the mastery of Vivaldi  to the joy9 of the "Sound of Music".  The conduction of the orchestra is on the hands of Joji Hattori, who brings all his virtuosity and experience as one of the leading Japaneses musicians of his generation. And bringing to life all the marvelous notes of the guitar, the acclaimed Soichi Muraji performs the best of his art to contribute to this stunning live performance of one of the fineset chamber orchestras.

TOYOTA CLASSICS 2012 ON 10TH November, Saturday

Doors Opens: 7:30pm
Programme starts: 8:30pm
Venue: Arts Centre, Jerudong International School
Ticket Prices: B$180, B$150, B$120

Tickets are available at: All NBT (Brunei) Sdn Bhd showrooms
For more information, please call Cecilia at Tel: 2433777 Ext. 6122 H/P: 8803979 Fax: 242-1539 or Sheilla at H/P: 8732200 (for Bandar) Jessica Yee at H/P: 874-7700 (for KB)

Toyota Classics 2012 is sponsored by Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Ptd Ltd and NBT (Brunei) Sdn Bhd. All proceeds will be donated to Charitable Organizations

Press Release: Royal Brunei Airlines Begins Rebranding Journey

Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) reveals its new livery and logo on 30th October 2012 at an event held at Hangar 1, Brunei International Airport. The new livery and logo was revealed on an Airbus A320, which was painted by RB’s own in-house engineering team.

Attending the event was the Minister of Communications, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar as Guest of Honour, as well as RB’s Chairman and Board of Directors, staff and other invited guests.

Included in the guest list were some of the country’s national icons: Two of Brunei’s Olympians, Maziah Mahusin, Brunei’s first female Olympian who represented Brunei at the London Summer Olympics in the 400m run, Ak Hafiy Tajuddin Pg Rositi who represented Brunei at the London Summer Olympics in the 400m run, the Under-21 football team who were the champions of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in March 2012, and the Kilimanjaro team an all-female team who raised the Brunei Flag at the highest peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2001.

Prior to the reveal, Royal Brunei Airlines has been releasing teasers of its redefinition of travel to in the local market, both via print and online adverts and the “Smile Squad”; who has been sparking public curiosity over the past two weeks. The Smiles Squad has been spotted in different parts of the country, spreading genuine smiles and good cheer to the public.

Images sourced from www.facebook.com/redefinedjourney

What do you do?
I am a writer and entrepreneur.

Describe yourself in a few words.
Creative, Self-Confident, and I like doing things I have never done before. 

What was your first book? When and why did you decide to write it?
I wrote my first book in 2004; I was 21. It was a novel called "Look! I am on fire". I undertook a three month writing scholarship and the story was part of an assignment for a writing class. I gave the assignment to my teacher, who gave it to a publisher, and then it got published.

I always wanted to go abroad...but at the time, I did not have the money or the chance to go. The unique thing is that the book is a love story based in Seattle. I researched via the internet and wrote the book based on my research.

What are your proudest achievements to date?
I always feel proud whenever someone publishes their own book on NulisBuku.com…to see their lives change, it always make me proud. There are also two other things. First was the launch of NulisBuku.com in 2010 – it was in conjunction with a book launch; 99 writers wrote the book in nine days. It was a very special moment, standing there with 99 new writers. Secondly, this year I received the Inspiring Woman Award 2012 from Tabloid Nova. My mom was there and she was very happy. When I saw my parents happy, I am happy as well.

Photographs from Ollie's visit to UBDfm

Chevening in Brunei

Excerpt from the Chevening website: Chevening Scholarships not only offer financial support to study for a Master’s degree at the UK’s leading universities, but the opportunity to become part of an influential and highly regarded global network. Do you have the potential to be a future leader and a desire to study in the UK? If you would like to enhance your leadership skills and become part of the growing Chevening network, read on.

How to apply for a Chevening Scholarship?

First steps

• Sign up for alerts about application opening dates and candidate guidance by clicking on ‘Register’.
• Read the general criteria and consider how you can demonstrate that you meet these criteria in your application.
• There will be new minimum English Language requirements which you will have to meet before applying for a Chevening Scholarship. Some countries will be exempt, but if you don’t have a valid certificate consider booking an English language test date now.
• Research which UK universities / courses you wish to attend as you must include these on your application and demonstrate why you believe these are the right courses for your career.
• Research the English Language requirements for your chosen courses – they are almost certain to have higher requirements than the minimum requirements for applying for a Chevening Scholarship. Plan how you are going to meet those requirements.  
• Think about who you will nominate as referees on your application. You are required to nominate two referees.

All the best folks!

Editor's Note: I got to catch up with my mate Abdul a few weeks ago - one of the stars of the Oppan Brunei Style music video. I also managed to catch a quick interview (over SMS) with him before he left back to the UK to continue on with his studies. 

What do you do?

I am a student at Keele University, UK taking a degree in politics.

Describe yourself in a few words.

I would have to say I am a very huggable person (due to the unexpected fatness) hahahaha! Plus, I am easy to get along with.

What do you miss about Brunei when you are away?

I miss my family for sure...and getting chauffeured around hahahahahah!!

What was the inspiration behind the Oppan Brunei Style video?

The inspiration behind it actually came from a friend of mine - Nasir Jaafar who's the producer / director and mastermind behind all this...who himself is half korean. And if Sabah & Kuala Lumpur were able to make their own Oppan version why can't Brunei? Hahaha.

What does it mean to you to be Bruneian?

To be a Bruneian is knowing and remembering your roots, especially when studying overseas as we are all "anak Brunei" (no pun intended). Hahahaha!

Seri Mulia Sarjana School on its 20th Anniversary is proud to present Peter Pan The Musical a school production by arrangement with Samuel French and International Theatre and Music (IT&M London) on the 25th of November 2012 at 7:45pm. The musical will be staged at the Jerudong Park Ampitheatre and ticket prices are $15, $35 and $100 available at all Seri Mulia Sarjana School Front Counters.

A well-known and much appreciated musical, Peter Pan the Musical is presented by professional and amateur productions worldwide and is popular for their characters - Peter Pan, Wendy, John, Michael, Captain Hook and his sidekick Smee, Tiger Lily, the Lost Boys, pirates and of course TinkerBell.

Peter Pan the Musical will take us to Neverland where children are exposed to endless imagination and creativity, two things that Seri Mulia Sarjana School persistently instills amongst its students as they serve as foundations of numerous possibilities.

This production is being staged by Seri Mulia Sarjana School as commemorative of the school’s 20th Anniversary Celebration. This is also an avenue for the school to expose its students to the performing arts and most importantly to involve the whole school in a community outreach for the benefit of Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans. Proceeds from the Peter Pan copyright will also go to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. 

Join them in this event and be a part of our community outreach.