Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A Primer on Brunei Classical Literature
If you have been a regular reader of this blogsite and of my column in Brunei Times, you would notice that I have several constant or regular references which I always refer to. This includes the Syair Awang Semaun and the Batu Tarsilah or Genealogical Stone Tablet. Sometimes I refer to other classical works. I don't know about you all but I personally have been curious whether out there lies
Spotlight: Hotel Sedona Manado
Time for a guessing game. The newest winner of Indonesia's best resort, from the World Travel Awards?Seems I gave it away by the title of the post, but it's the Hotel Sedona in the diving Mecca of Manado, beating out a number of better-known luxury chains. Those rival general managers must be gnashing their teeth.
Perched at the top of North Sulawesi, far from Jakarta's bustle and smog, Manado is known mainly by scuba divers and snorkelers for its rich undersea life. The hotel and its 247 suites are only a couple of years old, part of a hotel network that's prominent in Asian locales like Myanmar and Vietnam.
I don't know much about the Sedona chain, but given that its Manado resort fronts a fabulous private lagoon, and boasts diving that's perhaps unparalleled on the planet, I can only assume that the World Travel Awards know what they're talking about.
Today's Top Stories
Death toll from bird flu climbs to 119
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By then it'll be some new technology anyways
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Origin of Kampung Kiulap
During lunchtime yesterday, I spent it by visiting the book fair again. There are lots of bargains to be had, new books to be looked at and interesting educational stuffs. This is about the only time that we have such a concentration of books to be at least the quarter of Borders. The books I have to admit looked much better, even our local ones. I guess there is much progress in terms of book
Let's create an Indonesia bubble!
As the Dow sinks into oblivion today, it strikes me that the only real money is ever made during ridiculous asset bubbles. The dot-com bubble of 1999-2000, the home-price bubble of 2002-2007, the grand old South Sea and Dutch Tulip bubbles. As long as you got out in time, you made serious coin.After all, regular savers always seem to get shafted. The Protestant ethic of work-hard-and-save seems to have been blown apart in this latest meltdown, when savings-account interest rates have approached zero and stock portfolios have been totally obliterated. Bubbles even destroy those who haven't really participated in them.
Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Let's create a crazy asset bubble, and then get out while the getting is good. And why not Indonesia? Let's pump the idea that Indonesia is the Next Big Thing, drive the Jakarta Index into the stratosphere, and then cash in our chips and go live on a private island somewhere with a lifetime supply of mai-tais. Who's with me?
Today's Top Stories
Species more endangered than ever
Put the money under your mattress, everybody
Kalla runs for prez, hurts SBY's feelings
Mainly because no other banks are left
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Memoir Sultan Omar Ali
600 years ago, Brunei was at its height. It controls all of Borneo Island and extending it as far north as southern Philippines and as far south as some say even some parts of the Java Island. By the end of the 19th century, Brunei had lost almost everything except the rump of today's Brunei. Even Limbang was lost that Brunei found itself split in two. Sultan Hashim made an agreement with the
Random musings on rice for breakfast
I like to think of myself as pretty attuned to the Indonesian psyche ... as much as any white Canadian can be, anyways. But one leap I was never able to make: Having rice for breakfast.
Now, I know it's far healthier than any sugar-laden product from Kellogg's, or the deadly bacon-and-eggs combo that clogs up most Western arteries. But I could never wrap my mind around rice in the morning. In fact I was so psychologically damaged after my first stint in Indonesia, that I couldn't eat (or even look at) rice - at any time of day - for at least six months afterwards.
Now, I suppose since much of the country is around or below the poverty line, you eat what you've got. Which, with that climate and terrain, is usually rice. Understood. And perhaps one day I'll get beyond my biases, and enjoy some basmati or jasmine varieties as the sun comes up. But until then, nasi goreng in the a.m. is one cultural bridge too far ...
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Battles Juarez to a draw
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Brunei's 2009 Book Fair
I was at the bookfair today at the Indoor Stadium. I was quite surprised to see a huge tent next to the stadium. I thought at first that tent was for additional activities. I did not realise that this year many book and educational exhibitors took part compared to previous years. The huge tent had more booths inside it.I was told that there are more than 120 booths featuring both local and
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