Brunei - the fifth richest nation

It has been a while since I wrote a blog.  I just can't help but be inspired and share my experience during my trip to Brunei.

I went there with my husband as a celebration of our 30th wedding anniversary.  The destination was actually picked not on purpose but on budget.  We planned to go to Thailand and I was trying to book for a cheaper flight but unfortunately, the rate going to Bangkok is high all year round.  So I kept browsing and I came across Brunei, half the price.  So I decided to book for the two of us on a 3-day vacation.  

Then I started to look for cheap hotels, (that's what back packers do) when my Boss convinced me to book for Airbnb.  I started browsing and I found 3 hosts in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei.  The first thing to check when booking Airbnb is the feedback of the guests who came from that place.  Then of course the location.  So I chose Lau's House.  Their house is a 15 minute drive from the airport.  Our host is a couple from Malaysia and Indonesia with a cute 2-year old daughter. I've read so much positive experiences before I decided to book this one.  The rate is cheaper compared to a hotel plus it will be a new experience for us.

Our host Eirene with her cutie little daughter Becca.

We arrived late night, but a friend who works in Brunei picked us up at the airport.  We reached Lau's house at Simpang 41.  It's a simple one, clean and homey with a spare air conditioned room where we stayed.  The following morning, James (the husband) dropped us off to down town and told us where all the interesting places we could visit.  With a map on our hand, off we go.

First stop is the "Water Village"  where the Cultural and Tourism Gallery is.  The place is called Kampong Ayer.  We were the first and only visitors that time because it's too early.

Taken at the Cultural Gallery.  Oooops no taking pictures inside, sorry. 

39,000 people live in this water village and considered as the world's largest water village.

We noticed that almost all the establishments, malls, stores have Filipino workers.  We learned that the amount of workers in Brunei is almost 23,000.  Starting salary is about $400 and some of the kababayans we talked with were already in Brunei for like more than 10 years and receiving salary of more than $800.

Her name is Chelle, lived in Brunei for 3 years with her husband and their kid.  She said living in Brunei is simple yet peaceful.

One thing I can say about Brunei is....there is no traffic.  As my hosts put it, it's paradise there.  If you are from Manila or India or Jakarta?  You will appreciate Brunei.

Then our friend Marlowe, who's working in Brunei for almost 7 years now, took time to tour us to the town of Seria where the Billionth Barrel Monument is located.  The monument was built in 1991 to commemorate the production of the billionth barrel of oil extracted in the rich Seria field.

With my friend Marlowe.  

Taken at the Billionth Barrel Monument 

The place is simply spectacular.  You can feel the richness of the land.  With all the oil extraction machines around you, that pumps the oil non-stop.  This is where the wealth of Brunei is coming from and it's there right beside us.  Simply amazing.

Taken in front of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque. The mosque's most recognizable feature - the main dome, is covered in pure gold. 

It's called the most beautiful mosque in Asia Pacific - Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, it's the symbol of their Islamic Faith.  I just learned that they are not allowed to build high rise buildings taller than their mosque, so most of the buildings in Brunei are on average height.  People go to this place and pray.  Our hosts warned us that since it is a Friday, every establishment in the city close down from 12-2 pm to give way to their prayers.  We have to grab an early lunch.

Below are some of the interesting places we've visited:

Inside the super elegant 7-star hotel in Brunei.  The Empire Hotel.  

This is where the Sultan of Brunei resides.  It's called the Istana Nurul Iman.  Located on the riverside of Brunei River , a few kilometers south of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei.

In front of the most lavish and largest mosque in Brunei.  Jame-asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.

Jame'asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, located in Bandar Seri Begawan, is the largest mosque in Brunei. It was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the sultan's reign, and opened in 1994. It is known locally as the Kiarong mosque. 

It's impossible to miss this mosque.  It's glaring at night. You can get here by bus for a very cheap 1 Brunei dollar.

The escalator on my back is the sultan's own personal escalator at his private entrance to the mosque.

This experience for me is one of the best I have ever had.  I learned a lot about the culture, the country and the people.  I wouldn't mind coming back, maybe 2 years from now.

An update on my Bucket List

It's been years since I wrote my bucket list.  A friend once advised I can update it now and see what have I achieved over the years.  Let's see:

My bucket list may not be that interesting but it consists of goals that I want to achieve, dreams I want to fulfill and experiences I want to do before I die.  Here is my list.

1.  👍 Visit Grand Canyon

I visited this place in 2014 when I was in California.  My brother works and currently lives there. 

2. Visit Disneyland with my grandchildren 

This will happen in November this year.  I am saving up for this.

3. Visit Petra Jordan with my husband

Still on the list.

4. Visit Santorini, Greece with my husband

Working on this

5. Finish my MBA

I am halfway through.

6.  👍 Have our own car

I have mine.

7. Visit Norway with my husband

Still working on it.

8.  👍 Play with snow

One item ticked.  Did this with my sister and her family in Nevada.

9. Visit Safari

My colleague Rose Ndungu promised to take me there

10. Visit Jerusalem

Still a dream

11. Put up a small nursing home for elder people 

This is one of my optimum dreams, to put up a small home for elder people so we can give them the best care they deserve even before they die.  I still don't know how to do it but I am hoping I will be able to do this in the future.

Praying for this!

12. Be able to support at least 10 children to send to school

I learned to value education during the mid-years of my life.  It came late but pursued to finish my degree.  I want to start helping people, of course, the less fortunate ones who can't afford to go to school.  I think I already started my first step as I provide school supplies to a few children close to me.  I have been doing this for quite some time now.

Currently, I am supporting mostly relatives.  Giving school allowances and helping with their tuition fees.  Almost there but still a long way to go.

3 items ticked on my list.  Hoping to be able to make my dreams happen in the future.

I call it...PERSEVERANCE

June 2007 when I was hired at GrainPro Phils., Inc. as the Logistics and Purchasing Manager.  I was qualified I think because of my experience with Import/Export process from my previous jobs. I applied with all honesty as I did not finish any course in college.  Luckily, I was hired.

June 2008 was my job anniversary at GrainPro, Tom, our President evaluated my performance and he was quite happy with what I have achieved in one year but he asked me if I want to continue my studies.  I told him that I will think about it.

Years passed, every anniversary he would ask me if I have plans of getting a degree, I told Tom that  I am enjoying my position, and I am learning a lot so I think there is no need to study as I know my craft very well, I can basically manage 2 departments, so why do I need to study?  He was consistent on reminding me to think about finishing a degree.  Every year I would tell him, I will think about it.

Year 2011 when I learned about  New Era University-Vantage Education Management, it is an Open University  that offers on-line study.  I inquired and got interested, I told myself...why not try.  So I enrolled October 2011 but unfortunately I have to start as a freshman.  I decided to take up BSBA-Marketing Management.

Today, I received an email from the school that finally I will be graduating. Yes! When I saw my name on the list of graduating students, I was overwhelmed and ecstatic.  I ran to Tom and told him the good news.  He was so happy hearing about it.  He was a big part of this success as he pushed me every single time. Now I realized that if it was not because of his persistent nature, I will not be able to complete this course.  

I owe a lot to my colleagues too.  It was not an easy journey for me.  At the age of 44, I have to start from scratch.  The good thing is that I have all the support I have ever needed.  One of the disadvantages of studying on-line is that you so not have somebody or a Professor whom you can ask questions if you do not understand the topic or you need any further clarifications.  You have to do everything all by yourself.  Good thing is, there is Mr. Google and my ever supportive office mates.  From Accounting to Engineering, you name it, I have all the support.  Most especially to my family who believed in me and who is always standing by me.  Above all, our Almighty God who made all of my hard work, a success.

On April 29, I will be receiving my first ever college diploma.  It is a feeling I cannot explain.  I am just elated on this new found success in my life.  I finally did it and I call it...perseverance.

I love Coffee

Where does good coffee come from?  My friend and colleague Daniel claims good coffee comes from his homeland - Ethiopia.  True to his words, Coffea Arabica originated from Ethiopia and growing Arabica plant has become important to the economy of the country. Ethiopia is the world’s seventh largest producer of coffee.

But wait, my beloved friend Chema from Central America has something to say too, he totally disagrees to the facts stated by Daniel.  He claims good coffee comes from Brazil.  Brazil is the world's largest producer of coffee mainly because of its climate which is perfect for growing coffee.  

Hey, what do these facts have to do with me?  I would love to share that I am a coffee lover.  My fondness of drinking 'real' coffee, and I mean real coffee came not from Starbucks but from the everyday brewing of coffee in our office.  I came to love the smell of freshly brewed coffee.  The smell alone increases my adrenaline.

I can't last a day without coffee

Sisters

Having a sister is like having a best friend, you can't get rid of.  You know whatever you do she will always be there - Amy Li

Is this true to me and my sister?  Maybe yes.  We didn't grow up together, i have very few memories of us playing together.  What I could clearly remember is that she is far more feminine than I am.  She is Cristy, named after my father Cristobal.  She's 2 years younger than I am.  

Our Father was a US Naval Base employee for over 30 years.  He was granted a Special Immigrant Visa by the US government which serves as a way for my siblings to go to the states.  They migrated in Hawaii.  A place my father loved and admired so much.  

Cristy got married at 25, to Juan, also a Filipino but raised in Hawaii.  Blessed with 4 kids, she is trying to balance her work, being a mom, a wife and her active participation inside the church.

Meet Cristy, my sister, friends call her Kitte.

G7

The Group of 7 (G7) is a group consisting of the finance ministers and central bank governors of seven major advanced economies as reported by the International Monetary Fund: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States meeting to discuss primarily economic issues.   

Ooooops, that's not definitely us .  G7 is a group consisting of 7 Gorgeous women working together in building their dreams. 

There was a study found that people with close friendships are happier.  It is a kind of interpersonal bond between two or more people.

G7 started 2014 when the company,  GrainPro Phils., Inc., had a team building activity.  We usually hire facilitator and organizer for such an event but due to financial constraint, we had to organize the event ourselves.  Since then, all the company events are now being handled by the group.

Let me introduce the group.

Ivy Gayle  - Alluring and sexy at 36.  Fresh ideas contributor.

Kaye - the one who has the kindest heart among the group.  Our mathematician too.

Lerva - the artist and the game thinker. The brain of events.

Michelle Renee - the giggler who often ran out of breath when laughing. But also the most thoughtful.

Lizeth Ann - experienced and clever, tough life had taught her to be strong.

Sharon - the lead organizer.  Single at 32 but happy.

Practical and wise - that's me! The eldest and wisest.

Most Outstanding Freeport Worker

It started in 2001.  SBMA Labor Center launched a program which they call...10 Most Outstanding Freeport Worker.  This is an annual event where they get to choose 10 candidates from the nominations done by all the locators and SBMA departments.  I was initially nominated in 2009.  Unfortunately I was not chosen.  Then GrainPro decided to nominate me again in 2014.  Carrying all my experiences and achievements with me, I passed the initial and final interview and finally chosen as one of the 10 most outstanding freeport worker.

The awarding was held November 24, 2014 at the Subic Activity Center.  2 females and 8 males from different companies inside the Freeport Zone.  I was emotional thinking of my Father who maybe so proud if he's there with me.  I dedicate all my achievements to my Papang who taught me to be a better person.