Friday, June 27, 2008
(Graphic and Photo: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir)
I bought this Oreo donut from Lof Cake and Bakery (Address: Unit 8 Ground Floor, Block C, Delima Square, Brunei Darussalam). This donut costs me only BND0.90 each.
I like this donut. Its taste and texture are to my preference. The texture is spongy and not soft.
More photos:
(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 26 June 2008)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
(Graphic and photo: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir)
On the morning and afternoon of 22 June 2008, I went to ‘majlis orang kahwin’ (wedding ceremony) for one of the UBD student-teacher who had done her teaching practice in my school (SRTLDB). The ceremony was held at the Dewan Muhibbah, Berakas.
I bought one piece Nutty Choco donut which costs BND1.30 each in order to have a taste. The taste is okay but the donut texture is a bit too soft (for me). I prefer donuts that a bit spongy. However, I want to try some more with the other toppings.
More photos:
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
(Photos: Abdul Rashid Tahir. Taken on 21st June 2008)The strong winds started about 4.30pm on 21st June 2008. Luckily, there were somebody at home. We managed to hold the camps and do something to the camps located in front of our house (not shown in the photos) from causing damage to our house and my car nearby.
However, we were not able to do something to the camps shown in the photos. Luckily, the wind was not strong enough to make the camps flying and reached the house or cars nearby.
Monday, June 23, 2008
The inscription is in Malay:
"DENGAN RASA DUKA NESTAPA YANG TIDAK TERHINGGA TUGU INI DI-DIRIKAN UNTOK MEMPERINGATI ORANG2 AWAM YANG TERKORBAN DARI 15HB FEBRUARI 1942 HINGGA 18HB OGOS 1945 SA-MASA ANGKATAN TENTERA JEPUN MENDUDUKI SINGAPURA".
(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 6 June 2005).
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Yesterday morning (21st June 2008) I went to The Mall Gadong just to see what is the latest happening there. I drop by at QAF Auto Sendirian Berhad latest BMW Roadshow.
The roadshow started on 20th June and ended on 22th June 2008. The cars that were on display are BMW X3, BMW X5, and BMW 3 Series. BMW merchandise are also sold there at a discount price from the listed price (though it is not necessarily cheap enough for a person like me).
I do not ask anything to the salesperson there because surely I can not afford one. There is a lot of thing to think of if I want to buy one: the deposit money, the monthly payment, the routine service, maintenance costs, and repair costs.
I did ask one question to one of the salespersons there, “Can I take the magazine?”. They said, “Yes”. And I got one. The magazine (as shown on the photo below) is BMW Magazine Issue 3/2007.
(Photo: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 21st June 2008)
According to the magazine itself, BMW Magazine is published quarterly by BMW, Germany ; produced in Singapore by Mediacorp Publishing Private Limited; and printed in Singapore by KHL Company Private Limited.
I got a copy for free from the BMW Roadshow. I do not know how to get it quarterly and at what price. You have to ask the salesperson at BMW showroom for further details. I did get one or two issue some times ago (for free, also at QAF Auto Roadshow), and in addition to BMW full color brochures.
What I like BMW Magazine and brochures? Their magazine and brochures have nice photos, a lot of them. I like car photography myself. But I am still a beginner level and doing it just for fun – still do not take much car photos yet. The magazine is also included articles about travel and architecture
(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 21 June 2008)
As a Muslim, I need to be particular about the ingredients. However, my judgement on its halalness is based on the listed ingredients in the wrapper. If you have any doubts, you can contact the manufacturer (the e-mail adress should be available at their website).
Photo shows the cross-section of Snickers bar. (Photo: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 21 June 2008)Wednesday, June 18, 2008
English: This ceremony is held to celebrate the new converts who are pupils from Sekolah Rendah Pantai Berakas and their family members. It is common practice in Brunei Darussalam to organise such ceremony for a new convert.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
By Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir.
One purpose of photography, especially photojournalism or news photography or documentary photography, is to record an event that will become history. In relation to this, Reuters does a good job by presenting us the history in their latest book, OUR WORLD NOW (paperback).
OUR WORLD NOW is published by Thames and Hudson (First release on 20 May 2008), which is also the publisher of THE STATE OF THE WORLD (in 2006). The book has 352 pages with full of color photographs from Reuters photographer.
OUR WORLD NOW is about a year in the life of our world , that is, YEAR 2007 which is remembered in over 350 photos. The photos are selected from 500,000 photos that Reuters photographers a.k.a photojournalists produced (?) (taken) in 2007.
OUR WORLD NOW covers a range of news photography themes, that is: politics, commerce, conflict, the environment, accidents and disasters, faith and festivities, entertainment, celebrity, and lifestyle. This is similar to THE STATE OF THE WORLD book which covers about the range of themes, but in terms of time it covers from Year 2000 to Year 2005. OUR WORLD NOW, however, is about things that happened in Year 2007 only.
OUR WORLD NOW presents photographs that “encompass the fantastic diversity of trends, moods, and stories that defined 2007”.
OUR WORLD NOW is available at Amazon.Com. List price is USD24.95. Amazon price is USD16.47 (not including the delivery charge). Price may change from time to time. For further details, click the link below:
p/s:
1. I include this book in my wishlist and I intend to buy one in the near future for my reference and collection.
2. I find out about this book from the News Photographer magazine June 2008 issue which I received this morning. (Too bad for me, I still have not receive my May issue which should arrive earlier. I still do not know what really happen to my magazines).
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Reuters’ THE STATE OF THE WORLD is first published by Thames and Hudson Inc. (Website: http://www.thamesandhudsonusa.com/) in 2006. The book has 384 pages (including the index). It has 537 color illustrations in the form of photos from Reuters (Website: http://www.reuters.com/).
THE STATE OF THE WORLD is about “The story of our new century told through these extraordinary photographs from Reuters”. The story is about “the moments that changed the world, the trends that touch all our lives, and challenges will shape the future”. (The quotations are from the book’s jacket)
THE STATE OF THE WORLD features images by 277 Reuters photographers of almost seventy nationalities and written by nine Reuters journalists. It is dedicated to journalists killed in the course of reporting news in the first six years of the 21st century, and nine of them are from Reuters.
THE STATE OF THE WORLD is divided into 11 sections: (1) Introduction, (2) Big Issues, (3) Science and Technology, (4) Pattern of Belief, (5) Power Politics, (6) War and Conflict, (7) The Global Economy, (8) Culture in the Digital Age, (9) Ways of Living, (10) Looking Forward, Looking Back, and (11) World Timeline of the Twenty-First Century.
My comments
THE STATE OF THE WORLD is a good book to understand what the world have gone through since the turn of the 21st Century. In terms of photography, it gives ideas and understanding what photojournalism photographs are. Photojournalism photography is about telling the thruth about an event or issue (the journalism aspect) through captivating photos, if possible, to attract the viewer to stop and think (the photography aspect).
The topic of each section can give you some ideas what sort of photojournalism photos that you can take. However, you have to keep in mind that taking photojournalism is not merely about taking photo for the sake of photography. It is a responsibility that is being burden to each photojournalist. And, in carrying out such responsibility, many photojournalists killed, kidnapped, threatened, or sent to jail. (As such, you can opt to play safe. You have choice).
Availability
The listed or cover price is USD50.00. It is available at a discounted price, if any, at Amazon.Com (delivery charge is applied).
If you want to have one, you can buy from Amazon.Com by clicking the following link:
A book review by Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. This review is done on 14 June 2008 by using the copy that I have. I buy it from the Amazon.Com in March 2007 for USD31.50 (for the book) and the shipping and handling costs me USD13.38. The total cost is USD44.88. The price may change from time to time. Visit Amazon.Com (by clicking the above link) for futher details.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Sekolah Rendah Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei Held Farewell Ceremony for the University Brunei Darussalam Student-Teachers
Sekolah Rendah Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (SRTLDB) was having a short farewell ceremony for their three University Brunei Darussalam student-teachers on the 12th June 2008, Thursday. All the three student-teachers, who are all female, started their teaching practice in early February 2008 and ended (officially) on the 29 May 2008.
The teaching practice was organised by the Institut Pendidikan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (SHBIE) of University Brunei Darussalam to expose the the student-teachers to the real teaching world and, in addition, to gain experiences in teaching their subject of specialisation. During the teaching practice period, Guru Besar and their co-operative teachers gave them some guidances. They were also involved in all school activities including the teachers’ meeting and the co-curriculum activities that was held outside the school hours.
The ceremony was started with the recital of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Ustaz Asmali, an Islamic Religious subject teacher. Then, Guru Besar of SRTLDB, Cikgu Hajah Rusunah binti Haji Paka, delivered her speech. Among her speech is the student-teachers and the present teachers need to be ready and be dedicated in the implementation of the Sistem Pendidikan Negara Abad Ke-21 (SPN 21). It is for the benefit of the nation.
Then, Guru Besar presented the souvenir to the student-teachers. After that, each of them delivered their speeches.
Photo shows the souvenir for the student-teacher who were assigned to SRTLDB.
The main event that everybody were waiting for – eating time. The menu was Japanese to-fu, chicken, mango fish fillets, rice, air bandung and mineral water. The desserts were one-hole kuih ardam, water melon, and honey dew.
One of the menu in the farewell ceremony was mango fish fillet.
Next on the menu were Japanese Tofu and chicken. 
This was my plate.
A closer look at my plate, the mango fish fillet.
Another closer look at my plate, the chicken.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Introduction to ‘orang Tutong’ and ‘basa Tutong’
‘Orang Tutong’ or puak Tutong is one of the seven puak jati (indigenous groups) of Brunei Darussalam. Orang Tutong speaks ‘basa Tutong’ – Tutong dialect or Tutong language (other than Brunei Malay and Standard Malay). To say basa Tutong as a dialect or a language depends on the perspective you look at. In term of linguistics, basa Tutong is a language. But in term of national perspective basa Tutong is just a dialect. (To explain why, I need to open my sociolinguistics textbook which I will do some days later).
Adat Burih Pu-o
Adat burih pu-o (ritual of pouring water) is the highlight of orang Tutong wedding ceremony. It is to be held if any one of both couple is orang Tutong (This may depend on the agreement between both family). The couple usually bersanding twice. First, on the pelamin (=wedding dais, a place built for the groom and his bride to be seated and seen by all the guests) inside the house and later outside the house where the adat burih pu-o is performed.
Photo shows a custom that is performed inside the house. The couple is seated on the pelamin. (Photo: Abdul Rashid Tahir. Taken on 8 June 2008)
Photo shows the pelamin outside the house where the couple are going to be seated during adat burih pu-o. The place where adat burih pu-o is not necessarily like this. A couple of nice chairs is enough. (Photo: Abdul Rashid Tahir. Taken on 8 June 2008)
The most important items in adat burih pu-o is gayung (=water scoop, the previous generation use coconut shell and a wooden as its handle), ipang (=water container made from clay), and, of course, the water (with flower added, if you want).
Photo shows the ipang and the gayung that are used in the adat burih pu-o. (Photo: Abdul Rashid Tahir. Taken on 8 June 2008)
The items may not necessarily use what the old or previous generation usually use. As long as the items able to fulfil the need of performing the burih pu-o part, it is okay. Therefore you still can use plastic water scoop and plastic water container (which are look nice, of course). But using what is usually called traditional (I do not like to use the word ‘traditional’ here) is to maintain the old or previous generations items so that such items are still can be seen by today generation (and the next generation, too). In addition, there two more items that must be ready, that is, a dangul (=parang, the malay cutting tools) and a sharpening stone.
Somebody among the family (preferably from orang Tutong side) invites the wedding guests and family members of both couple sides to come forward to perform adat burih pu-o. Usually parents and close relatives of both couple sides will do the pouring first. Then, anybody from the guests including friends will do the pouring.
Photo shows a person is collecting the money on the behalf of the couple in the adat burih pu-o. (Photo: Abdul Rashid Tahir. Taken on 8 June 2008)
Photo shows the groom's right feet is put on the bride's right feet and both feet step on the dangul and the sharpening stone. (Photo: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 8 June 2008).
Posts
