Its Time to Re-Introduce Myself

Hello everyone and Happy New Year,

It has definitely been a looooong time since my last post here.  I wasn't being lazy.  In fact, its the direct opposite of laziness.  I was working hard against time to mold my new found blogging name......  i.e a re-branding effort to properly re-introduce myself.

If you have been following my tweets, its been mentioned again and again of my journey to finally reaching this destination and posting my 1st ever post on the new blog.  So here it is: http://vibrantkitty.blogspot.com/

I'm still twitching some of the widgets, which I thought I've covered before the great 1st post. Duh, I guess its not as easy as I thought.  Sigh!

Do continue to support me as without you, I would die of not hearing comments .

All inconvenience is deeply empathized.

Luv,
CC signing off to be rebranded as Vibrantkitty

Missing in...... blogging

I swear, I swear, I swear I did not mean to not blog for the past weeks.  Was extremely engaged with office work and the need to recuperate after a major ending at a high note for this year.  It was my office's annual dinner which saw more than 1,000 guests turned up.

I definitely feel that age is a major factor towards my need for a longer period of recuperation.  What do you expect from a mother of 2 who is approaching the big 40 in 3.5 years time?  I guessed when you keep telling yourself that you're still in the 30s', mentally that still sounds young. But once you pass the age of 35 and as every year adds on to the previous, seriously, it doesn't sound as young anymore.  I'm SERIOUS when i say it takes a longer time to recharge this body.

WTF?? Am I whining here?  As serious as what I have just said above, this kitty has no intention to mean that at this point of her life, she is surrendering to a lesser energize life.  There are still sooooo much to experience and explore.  She will still show her fabulous-ness as she colours her life with utmost shades of vibrancy.  Ain't calling herself "Vibrantkitty" for nothing!!

** Follow me on twitter : https://twitter.com/vibrantkitty

** Yes-yes, I know, aren't I'm suppose to be a refreshing drink?  Let's just say I'm a kitty loving the drink.  And she is in a transition to bring out her fabulous side via twittering for now.

And so, here's a pic of herself before the oh so tired after effect:

The modern goddess and her gladiators

U will understand y the tiredness after seeing the next pic :

All night standing!!

Allow me to recuperate pls!  Thank you for your kindness

Eat, Drink, Play, Joy in Brunei (Part 2)

BURP!

Excuse me as I just harp the sound of a satisfying eat.  Mmmmmmm!!

After a hotel's meal and a warm Tarindak teh tarik, wouldn't it be nice to visit some places of interest in Brunei?  Well, not some, but the 1 place that boasts utmost luxury and pampering to a gal sooooo fancy the finer things in life.  Yes, that gal is none other than yours sincerely .

# 1 The Empire Hotel & Country Club

This is Brunei's latest luxury addition located in Jerudong.  Here's a pic taken by Dinoza to start our "Empire" journey:

# 2  Journeying with style

Aw, man!!.... the pic below that I took inside the hotel does not even shout luxury at all :

It looks old.  Seem like there's some sort of yellow filter.  The lighting was bad.  Overall, it spells BLAH!  But the truth is, this place is darn handsome.  What's that? You want me to repeat myself?  Okay, the truth is, this place is DARN HANDSOME! High ceiling, gold trimmings, escalators in the hotel hall itself, gigantic resort pool, picturesque scenery, motive floor tiles, etc, etc, all the juicy luxury lifestyle for those with the dough (not me ).

Notice the escalator?

Breathtaking view overlooking the South China Sea.  The pool though, was under renovation.

One of the many floor motive

Now y did I refer this hotel as handsome?  A man who knows what a lady wants, is an attractive man, right?  A man who understands and place details to please a lady with joy, come on, who finds such a man ugly?  (You men out there, this is a golden tip, psst!! Its the inner beauty that counts ).  So guess where did I took my next pic?

# 3

Well, excuse me if you think these pics looked funny, but this handsome hotel placed multiple mirrors of elephantine proportions in the ladies.  We just HAD to snap away and express our gratitude to such an understanding and loving us female friendly hotel #vainmode.

# 4  Snap-snap

Want more friendliness?  How about some pampering session with sugar and spice and everything nice?  Yes, that's what all fab girls are made of #morevainmode .

# 5  A luxury cake boutique in The Empire Hotel

# 6  Oh so sweet!!

So, yeah!!, my 2nd food buy in Brunei!!  B$12 for 8 pcs.  Its a steal!!  Well, maybe not, but since I couldn't get them in KK, so yes, its a steal to me.

We continued our walkabout while easing and digesting the food taken earlier.  Little did we knew Thanis had arrange a feast for us that night.  Soon, we left the handsome hotel , with a mini in a box sight to ponder :

# 7 Was there a real mini in that box?

After a short rest in our hotel rooms, it was soon time for dinner.  Rain was pouring heavily on the street.  I guessed that's where the guys caught their cold and all the sickness hullabaloo.  Luckily before all sickness start kicking in, we had a sumptuous authentic Indonesian food.

How should I describe the food here?  Hmm??.........  pleasantly fragrant, full of exotic spices, delicately prepared, mouthwatering presentation, delightful taste, aromatic, and many many more yummy adorations that I can't think of for now.  But guess who gets the first taste of the food?

Not the guys, but their cameraphones *diehardbloggerheads

Not the ladies, but their DSLR *diehardsnappingaway

*Patiently waiting for the snaps to end*.

Woohoo!!  Let's feast!!

I gotta say this, as a food blogger, Thanis made the right choice in recommending the restaurant to us first timers.  The food was all succulent and delicious.  Very very recommendable.

# 8  These are my favorite three dishes consisting of lamb, chicken and beef

I can't really recall the names of these dishes, but do not be despair, for I will reveal a solution to my absent-mindedness somewhere at the end of this post.

Here's another dish I find heavenly gratifying .  The name, for once, I remembered , definitely captured my attention too :

Ayam Bakar Wong Solo

Ayam Bakar = Roasted Chicken
Wong Solo = People from a place called Solo.  This place is in Central Java, Indonesia.

BURP!!  Ooops, excuse me, but my tummy was bulging from another satisfying eat (again!!).

Phew, so many good-goody eats in a day.  Time to retire on a rainy night in preparation for the coming day's task. *Psst, I blogged earlier on the task and here it is.

BTW, here's a pic of us charming ladies with the owner of Pondok Sari Wangi Restaurant :

#9  I looked funny.  I think I was eyeing my cendol thirst quencher. 

To find them:
Pondok Sari Wangi Restaurant S/B
Blk A, No. 12, Abdul Razak Complex,
Jalan Gadong,
B.S.B. BE4119,
Negara Brunei Darussalam

For reservations:
Tel : +673 245 2250
Email: ridwanho@gmail.com

Follow them:
www.facebook.com/pondoksariwangi
twitter.com/pondoksariwangi

I wonder whether they do express delivery to Sabah?  *wishful thinking*.

But I'll be sooooooooooooo glad if they consider a branch in KK. *wink wink*

Photo credits:
Angel Bear (#1, #3 left, #5 left and right, #7, #8)
Dinoza (#2, #6, #9)
Leanna Chong (#4)

** Huh???  Seems like there'll be a part 3 of my fab trip to Brunei.  Swell!!, to be continued.......

Eat, Drink, Play, Joy in Brunei (Part 1)

I was in Brunei for 2 main purposes:

My 1st purpose was for the Borneo 2.0 Un-conference, you can refer HERE.

While my 2nd purpose was for the ThinkBIG Forum, you can refer HERE.

The trip wouldn't be complete without serving the side dishes, I mean, my other activities besides the official.  And by way of having side dishes, its none other than the eats in Brunei.  Who's a better guide other than Thanis Lim himself?

However, before I begin with the eats, my immediate good-good experience started with the Royal Brunei Airlines.  Its a 20 mins flight, but good enough for a positive experience.  I mean, if I have declined their fruit juice, but the stewardess came back with a cup of water (which I wasn't seriously asking for one), she must be attentive, right?

The lovely stewardess.  Now give her a pay raise!

Introducing my cheapo camey via the mirror in front of my sitting area

Immediately upon arriving Brunei, well, the immigration check was A BIT of a hassle.  But then again, all airports hustle on security checks, afterall, we are talking about national security.... but with 2 counters out of the many?  And the long long long queues to the only 2 counters OUT OF THE MANY?  Dang, please do not blame me if I'm being shallow and not understanding, but ITS ANNOYING.  Luckily baggage claim was a breeze and catching a cab was even breezier.

A short ride later, we reached our hotel, Terrace Hotel.  Max-max A bit of a vintage-y feel.

Classic or naut?? Hee hee

Baggage claimed.  

Checked in with the ladies in a 3 bedded room while the guys were next door with an adjoining door between us.  Okay, I'm not indicating anything here.  Just that err??...., there's an adjoining door.  My moment of  quirkiness upon settling down, everyone started roaming around the rooms for connection.  What sort of connection?  The willingness to grab a wifi connection is now my new found lesson and form of art:

#1   

#2 Not productive blogger me, not taking photos nor online  

Where is Thanis Lim?  Waited till 1pm and still not around.  The gals decided to search for food which is non other than....... hotel food  .

My 1st eat in Brunei, Terrace Hotel Special Fried Rice

We had our lunch at the hotel's outdoor pool with fruit trees surrounding us.  Its like a mini oasis, very peaceful, very relaxing.  A much needed escape from my busy working life.

Found a ciku tree with fruits.  Other trees were also bearing fruits.

That's Leanna by the pool.

Unlike us, Leanna upkeeps a picture blog.  She travels whenever she can and take unique photos.  And I can see some potential in her.  Take for example the pic she took below:

#3 Artistic or not?

This was in the hotel itself.  Its amazing the picture came out this nice.  With my naked eyes, that area looked like a mess.  But she saw the uniqueness, and took alot more nice photos of the hotel.  You can visit her pic blog HERE.

Soon we're done with lunch and so was Thanis who finally showed up.  As the guys have not eaten, we immediately drove to this place:

Tarindak d' Seni @ Kota Baru

#4 d' Entrance

 This place is not only a nice eatery, it also showcases Brunei's handicrafts.

Appreciating every little details of Brunei's handicrafts.

The restaurant is located on the building's first floor.  Very spacious and very pleasant.  Not knowing whether this is true, but I heard the food served here is of equal quality to those enjoyed by the royals.  Its afterall, a team of kitchen crews who also cook for the royal families of Brunei.  Wow!!, munching royal food *Ngom, ngom, ngom. Act royal here*.

Food costs B$15 for buffet lunch.  CHEAP!

#5

#6

Unfortunately, I did not take any food there.  As you know, *ahem* I had a pleasant lunch by the pool.  But my glass of *royal* teh tarik was deservingly rated as gratifying, <3 .

With all our tummies filled, everyone's satisfying look to end my post.

#7

Photo credits to:
Leanna Chong (#1, #2 & #3)
Dinoza (#4, #5, #6 & #7)

** Did not expect postings on this Brunei trip was going to be that many.  Soooooo many more untold yet.  I need to *ahem, ahem* be more hardworking .

** Ooops, 1 more photo to end this:

The royal maintenance guys maintaining the building area.
So, does my suspicion of the royal kitchen crews still stand?