BRUNEI STORIES: PART 2 (Sunsets and Me)

 

             

When the day decides to rest and relax

When the sun goes down to hug the sea

When the sand magically turns into gold

When the twilight sky wishes hello to the clouds

When the moon peeps out to begin it's journey

When the wind plays and races with the kids

When the blues become purple, the yellows become scarlet

When horizon shows its endless colour palette

When the birds go back home for supper

When my eyes meet nature and my smile doesn't cease

I feel content, I feel blessed; this is all created just for me 
To the sea I belong, I crave to be there for long. ☼  ☼  ☼ 



This Beach was at Panaga, Brunei Darussalam. Since it was a few kilometers away from where I stayed, I would cycle to the beach almost everyday. It was a really long stretch and was mostly very windy, making it a good weather to cycle. The beach had only a few visitors, mostly parents with kids, joggers (people are way too fitness concious abroad) and a few cyclists. May I call myself one of them? I guess I can.

After the Jee Juan coffee, I would rush to this place since I love sunsets. And this place had a peculiarity. Believe me or not, every single day, the sky had a different hue. And the colour difference was drastic. One day, the sky would be red, the very next day it would be ocean blue. At times it would have all the colours of a rainbow and sometimes, it would be simply plain dull gray.
Looked pure magical. Extremely picturesque and peaceful. 

Yes people, a walk at this beach - Highly Recommended. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

BRUNEI STORIES: PART 1 (Jee Juan - The coffee shop I loved.)

Jee Juan, Kedai Kopi (Kedai - Shop, Kopi - Coffee in Malay) ☕


It's a perfect weather. Sunny and windy. Almost 4:30pm.
I rush to this place with my sister, just in time.
We order our favourites, they get it with a broad smile.
For me its the local (Malasyian) coffee with extra milk and a chicken curry puff.
For her, nescafe with a lil' milk and freshly baked warm toasts.
The coffee arrives, I smell it's aroma. I smile and take the first sip. 
Yes, this is what we call - BLISS! 


I named it Jai Jawan, to give it an Indian touch. It is one of the cutest coffee shops I have come across in my life. Located in the heart of Brunei Darussalam, the area where it resides is as pretty as it's name - Jalan Pretty (Jalan - Street, Pretty - well, PRETTY!) 


This Irani-chai-bun maska-mawa cake type small Kopi shop is owned by a very old Chinese family. Extremely clean, minimal basic ambience and very local in nature. They make their own breads, pastries and other bakery items like chicken curry puffs, egg rolls, etc. Sounds and looks like any other Indian Irani stall? YES. So why the excitement? Because it felt warm, honest and very welcoming, unlike the branded, fake coffee places. AND THE COFFEE WAS INDEED THE BEST COFFEE THAT I EVER  HAD, IN MY WHOLE LIFE. Filter coffee in Udipi hotels (India) comes close to the second position. But this one tops the list. 


The uniqueness about this coffee is that they add 'Sweetened Condensed Milk' instead of normal milk as the base with very concentrated black coffee on top of it. So when served, you see two layers in the glass. One white which takes up 20% of the glass and the other 80% is nice hot translucent black coffe. You stir it with the spoon and the perfect brown shade is created, blending both the ingredients.


The customers came there in the morning to read newspapers and in the evening to catch up with others after work. The people who served us were extremely friendly and had a cute, peculiar way of placing order in the kitchen. Everyday in the evening, just before sunset I would go there, have my cuppa coffee and share a few laughs with my sister. The bill always surprised us because it just never went too high, even if we had something extra. Very low rates for everything on the menu. The shop would shut at 5:30 pm and we would then head to the beach to catch sunset, live in action. 


This place was one of the biggest highlights of my trip. I wish I could go there again.


Yes people, Jee Juan Kedai Kopi - Highly Recommended. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

उम्मीद

   उम्मीदें तो बहुत हैं 

   बस उस वक़्त का इंतज़ार है

   जब खुशिया अमल हो 

   और इस दिल को जीने का एक नया मकसद मिले|

THE DOODLERS - Calendar 2012

"A pencil for them is what a twig is to a bird A piece of paper is what gold is to a goldsmith Be it random, meaningful or abstract They doodle what they feel like And this common love for scribbling on anything blank Helped them create a trio called 'The Doodlers'. That's the thick-framed-spectacled team of  Abhijit, Neha & Sameer,  Who love eating everything and laughing on anything." It gives me and my other two close buddies immense pleasure to announce our first attempt on print as a team. That's us, THE DOODLERS, who have come up a collaborative doodles + illustrations based calendar for 2012. Because New Year is here and we want it to be colourful, abstract, unplanned, random, chirpy, adventurous and interesting all throughout the year. Cheers to 2012, Cheers to THE DOODLERS. Do check out our FB page here. Click Click Click.

Here's THE DOODLERS' official FB page, where you can also buy these prints: Click. Buy. Enjoy.

Distance

You are there somewhere, aiming high

I am here, trying to fly

We walk, run and take a thousand leaps

To achieve those never-seen-before dreams

Two people, two parallel lives, unknown destinations

That's us, trying to make each day meaningful

We are strangers, yet insanely waiting for each other

Just as a cuckoo calls out for rains; in that voice so beautiful

On the way to this search, if I fall, I get up again

Walk till I see a dead end

But there is a path beyond that end

Which is unforeseen and filled with a mystery

I want to unveil that treasure with you

Few moments of surprises and adventure

Without a frown or any doubt in mind or heart,

There should be a beginning of a new venture

At times words are inadequate

To share the moments of joys

That's when eyes come in the picture

And say it all, without saying 

But distance does us apart

Can't see those pretty eyes yet

Though this unknown journey is interesting

I want this search to cease, I want our lives to set.

CURRY HAD A LITTLE LAMP

Finally, the first set of photos of my trip to Brunei & Malaysia are out. I was amazed when I spotted that this basic source of light called 'lamp' were so beautifully designed . Whether a street lamp, or the interior decorating ones, they had a peculiar intricate carving style, yet all the lamps look different! It was an enthralling experience observing these lamps. People actually must have thought I was crazy as I would just abruptly get off the car and randomly start clicking these street wonders. 

Clicked with a normal Sony DigiCam, the pictures may not have the SLR depth, so my fellow photographer friends, kindly adjust. 

PS: The ones which have a golden body, are actually Gold-Plated. Not Kidding! Sultan of Brunei as everyone knows is the richest man and this was certainly visible in the country.