Abdul Rashid's Blog

29th December 2008, Monday – At last, this night, I got my Prosperity Meal after looking around for an empty parking space, walking a few blocks away to McDonald, and lastly queueing for my turns. All of which took me about nearly one hour.

The Prosperity Meal consists of the Beef Prosperity Burger, Twister Fries, and a cup of carbonated soft drink (I choose Coca-Coca as Coca-Cola does go together with the burger and the fries). I bought the large size which costed me BND7.08 each.

By the way, The Prosperity Meal is available since last week. If you want to have a taste, please hurry because the menu is a “Limited Edition”.

As usual, before I ate the meal, I took some of their photos:

p/s: Don’t forget to request for extra packs of chili sauce, if you want something “hotter”. I think the burger and the fries only go together with the McDonald’s chilli sauce.

(Photos: Abdul Rashid bin Haji Tahir. Taken on 29th December 2008)

28th December 2008, Sunday – One of my favourite car brands is Volkswagen. But I only like a few models of the brand, that is, Toureg (my “dream” car, R50 may be) and Golf GTI (my wishlist). In relation to this, this afternon I bought a copy of Volkswagen Driver magazine Issue 102 November 2008 from a bookshop in the basement level of Yayasan Shopping Complex.

The magazine costs me BND15.60. Quite a lot of money for a car magazine. Usually, I bought the Singapore or Malaysia edition of car magazines rather than the United Kingdom edition. Malaysia or Singapore edition are about 50% cheaper than the original UK version. And the cheapest is Wheel Asia (Singapore) which costs only BND4.00. At present, there is no Singapore or Malaysia edition of Volkswagen Driver magazine.

In the November 2008 issue, Volkswagen Driver features the first drive review of Volkswagen Mark 6 that was launched recently in Iceland. And, they also feature the preview of the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mark 6 that was shown in the Paris Motor Show (4-19 October 2008)…I wish I can go to the motor show to have my own live preview of the GTI…I have not read any news if the GTI was shown in the Singapore Motor Show 2008 that was held weeks ago.

p/s: I am not a frequent buyer of car magazines. Usually, I only buy them if my favourite cars are featured in the magazines.

(Photo: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 28th December 2008)

28th December 2008, Sunday – This morning, Tasik Merimbun Bridge at Tasik Merimbun Heritage Park was officially opened by Awang Haji Idris bin Haji Mohammad Ali, Tutong District Officer. The bridge was built to connect the mainland to an island in the middle of the lake.

Some photos:

p/s: My journey to Tasik Merimbun today is the farthest destination I have ever made since I bought my Suzuki Swift in July 2008. The distance from my home in Berakas to Tasik Merimbun is about 70 kilometres. And this is my first visit there since my late father took me together with my brothers and sisters more than two decades ago.

I find that Tasik Merimbun is a nice place to have a weekend picnic. But you have to bear driving on the damaged road (there are holes here and there) stretching 2-3 kilometres starting from the junction near Lamunin Police Station to Biong Mosque. Then, you will have a smooth journey to Tasik Merimbun.

And the following is my Suzuki Swift:

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 28th December 2008)

25th December 2008, Thursday – I received my copy of Monocle magazine Issue 19 Volume 2, December 2008/January 2009 from the Best Eastern The Mall Gadong yesterday morning.

Another photo of the front cover page.

COVER TOPIC

The cover topic: The 2009 Global Forecast – The faces, forces, policies, and products that will shape the world in the year ahead.

The cover topic

TRAVEL TOP FIFTY 2008/9: A MONOCLE SPECIAL EDITION

Bundled with this issue of Monocle is a 36 pages of “The Monocle Travel Top Fifty 2008/9”. The booklet is about the surveys on travel related things, such as hotels, airlines, and restaurants, that were done by the Monocle’s editors....I wish Royal Brunei Airlines and the Empire Hotel are on the list. However, it should be noted that the “best” list is based on the editors’ opinion after themselves experiencing the services.

The supplement that come with Monocle Dec08/Jan09.

The nearest among us Bruneians (I guess) is the Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines managed to get the “Best Lounge” title (for their lounge at Terminal 3 Changi Airport, Singapore).

What are the best in the opinion of the Monocle’s Editors may not be necessarily the best in the others’ opinion, because people have different preferences and expectations. But, if you want to have a try on the services in the travel industry that are related to you, the booklet should be a helpful guide. Or it may become the benchmark what the others in the industry should provide.

Personally I want to experience some of the best, such as the “Best Lounge” of the Singapore Airlines, the “Best Hotel Breakfast” of Masuichi Kyakoden (Japan) (which offers fresh ingredients from the local area), and the “Best Club Sandwich” of the Part Hyatt Milan (It may not Halal, but it gives the recipe idea that ‘you’ can try at home).

KITA KOGA
As usual, there is an anime insert Kita Koga, in which the story and the artwork is exclusive done for Monocle by Takanori Yasaka. In this issue, Niels Watanabe tries to escape from being held by the person who is going to distrupt the Phoenix ( a Japanese government’s satellite project), and then save the project itself.

The back cover page of the Kita Koga. You read the anime comic from the back to the front, just like you read a Jawi book.

I do not know what other people thinks. I think this anime hero is similar to the James Bond. One of the question is: In the real world, do the fate of billion dollars (I guess) projects really in the hand of a single person? After watching a few James Bond films, I find out that James Bond 007’s life was based on luck. I have to tell you that the criminals (big criminal, not small one) give James Bond a lot of opportunities to complete his mission (s) and to continue his life.

The criminals should know that James Bond, who is a ‘ secret agent’, is going to give them a lot of trouble. And why should they give him a chance (though the slimest it is). I think in the real world, such criminals will end your life without hesitation. And this James Bond’s luck does happen to Neil Watanabe.


NEXT ISSUE
The next issue, February 2009 Issue 20 Volume 2, will be on sale from 15th January 2009. I expected it will available in Brunei on the first or second week of February 2009.

The next issue.

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 25th December 2008)

24th December 2008, Wednesday – The above photo shows some of the selected (though they are not the best) and printed photos that are displayed on the wall of my study corner in my home. The printed photos were taken throughout 2008.

The photos were printed this morning at one of my favourite photos printing service shop, Photo Rui Wei Li (PWRL) Utama Grand in The Mall Gadong, on the Kodak Royal Digital size 4R matt paper. Each copy costs me BND0.30.

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 25th December 2008)

1.3l engine version of Honda Jazz is waiting to be unveiled.

The curtain with Honda’s logo.
Some of the items for sale.
A speech by Loh Kok Sin, Happy Motoring’s Managing Director.

A video show about the new Honda Jazz.
The Happy Motoring’s staffs are standing at each side of Honda Jazz ready to unveil the car.

The moment that everybody is waiting for…the new 1.3l Honda Jazz 2009.

Now, 1.5l Honda Jazz is ready to be unveiled.

The 1.5l Honda Jazz is unveiled.

Managing Director of Happy Motoring, Loh Kok Sin, gives his thumb up when the press photographers and the public take his photo with the Honda Jazz.
The tyre…185/55R16.

The turning indicator lamp at the side mirror.

The engine…Water Cooled 4-stroke SOHC i-VTEC.

The new Honda Jazz 2008 brochure.

How much does it cost? The 1.3 LXR Manual costs about BND440 per month; 1.3 LXR Auto – BND465 per month; and 1.5 VtiR Auto – BND531. The monthly payments are based on the hire purchase financing for 7 years at 6% interest rate per annum.

(Photos: Abdul Rashid bin Haji Tahir. Taken on 19th December 2008, by using Sony Cybershot DSC-W130)