Breeze January 2020 Issue

BORNEO’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 141 THE NEW YEAR ISSUE

HORIZONS SKY

Brunei & Singapore: $2.00

BAR AND CIGAR

RM5.00

LOUNGE GETTING YOUR BODY READY FOR 2020 AND CNY

ROUNDING UP THE DECADE A NEW BEGINNING FOR A NEW YEAR & A NEW DECADE COOL PRIZES TO BE WON! NASI LEMAK BAMBOO DINING VOUCHER WORTH RM20

JAN. 2020

KDN PPH 308/10/2013 (033079) ISSN 2180 -365X

SINCE 2008

OITOM: THE NEW BLACK THAT KOTA KINABALU NEEDED

FLORA & ABNER:

CONQUERING OBSTACLES AS MOTHER & SON

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WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS

January

SABAH | SARAWAK | BRUNEI IREITIC

Innovative Research in Engineering and Information Technology International Conference

3rd - 5th January 2020 The Innovative Research in Engineering and Information Technology International Conference aims to be more specific in the development and cutting-edge technology related to Engineering and Information Technology. The conference provides a platform where researchers, professionals, academicians, and industries to share and generate a forum of the latest Engineering and Information Technology research and development.

Avangio Hotel Kota Kinabalu infomdsg@gmail.com

Effective Payroll Administration

Borneo Yoga Festival 2020 4th - 5th January 2020 Borneo Yoga Festival is back!

Welcoming all yoga teachers and practitioners from around the world to join!

Suria Sabah Shopping Mall 010 361 4321

This time Spaced Out kicking it up a notch by showcasing 6 indie bands from both KK and KL in this night of epic proportions. If you have been to the previous Spaced Out gig, you know it’s going to be a blast!

Goodang, Kota Kinabalu

Petroleum Asia Expo

Future In Tech:

14th - 16th January 2020

Sarawak

Petroleum Asia Expo is going to be held in BCCK, Kuching, Malaysia starting from 14 January. It would be a 3 days business Trade Show organized by AMB Exhibitions Sdn Bhd focusing on the companies news, products and services of Power & Energy industry.

10th January 2020

BCCK, Kuching

Accuracy and Statutory compliances are important in Salary and Benefits Administration. Compliance to the relevant Labour Act and regulations (and ensure compliance to the latest revision and new regulations) are critical to avoid negative staff morale and costly penalties. The accurate definition, compliance and computation of wages, working hours, overtime calculation, EPF & SOCSO, and many others will minimize disruption to your operations and company integrity.

dzahir@ambtarsus.com

SSTcourse@gmail.com

11th January 2020

mntbmy@gmail.com

6th January 2020

Hilton Kuching

Spaced Out 2020

Targeted at secondary school students and parents, the programme seeks to explore key skills and areas of studyneeded for the technology driven future and award winning local and international academicians/ industry experts.

Naim Street Mall, Bintulu contact@tegas.com

24th Consumer Fair 15th January 2020 Something new will be bursting in and serving you with a different cultural experience, only now everyone will be welcomed to enjoy it with the CF family! This 24th Installment is prepped in offering you a good New Year time!

International Convention Center ICC, Berakas Brunei +673 2453666

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE

EDITORIAL

Sub-Editor Tembadau Food-Editor Thanis Lim Writer Eilvane Chieng Writer Andro A. Sandor Writer Devyne Koh Writer Beverly Chow Writer Adelina Adna Writer Cherelle Lim Writer Iffah Hazirah Writer Noel Jinguli Copywriter Illiana A.

CREATIVE

Creative Director Dinoza Mahruf Graphic Designer Clarinda Peters Fashion Director Glam Squad Photographer Jofanna Bridal Photographer Jeremiah Sebastien Photographer Vance Tan Photographer GMT+ Production Photographer Aznan Johary Photographer Radzie Rahman Photographer Duncan Gent

Hi Breeze readers, 2020 is finally here. Who would have thought a decade has passed. It is time for a new beginning and I hope you are having a great start so far for the new year.

Our New Year issue begins with Flora & Abner on the Cover, mother & son duo who have risen from hard challenges in life to be where they are now. Flora is now a successful international tour leader while Abner runs both a construction company and a bar & grill outlet. Read about their rise in Personality.

If you’re planning to do something different this month, why not visit the brand new Horizons Sky Bar and Cigar Lounge. Turn the pages to Destination to read about this excellent spot to chill with a breathtaking view of islands and the sea especially during sunset. It doesn’t just stop there. Go to Restaurant Review for a read on Oitom, Kota Kinabalu’s latest popular fine dining spot. We promise you will be enjoying a scrumptious meal and a unique dining experience when you’re there.

Many more interesting reads on other pages. As you browse through this issue, you will also notice that we did something different for 2020. We really hope you enjoy the magazine’s new page layout that we have designed to give you a refreshing and better reading experience.

Have a great 2020 everyone!

Cover featuring Flora John & Abner Apines Cover photo by Radzie Rahman Makeup by Adel. A Hairdo by Amos Hair Studio

MANAGEMENT

Managing Director Sonny Ali Finance Director Zainaba S. Sales Director Rover Tham Sales Executive Alina Lim Events & Promotion (E&P) Shana K. Administrator Florence Masri Online & IT Director Eddie Bee Marketing Director Mohd. Iskandar Marketing Director (KL) Mimi Khan Marketing Director (Labuan) Leonie Peter

CONTACT INFO

Editorial/Marketing 088-268 180 Administration 088-316 926 Fax Number 088-316 936 Email breezeborneo@gmail.com Marketing (KL): +6012-635 6227 mimikhan227@gmail.com Printing by JC Printer SDN. BHD (Co. No. 75764-p) No. 15, Lorong Dewan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

P.O. Box 11984 88821 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Tel: 088-230749, 242378 Fax: 088-235806 Email: jc.printer@yahoo.com

Scan to read online copy

Breeze Mag

The views and opinions expressed in Breeze are those of authors or contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of MB Managers & Consultants (45857 T), its directors or editorial staff. While every reasonable care is taken in compiling the magazine, the publisher shall not be held responsible for any omission, error, or inaccuracy. Please notify the publisher in writing of any such omission, error or inaccuracy. Editorial contributions are welcome but unsolicited materials are submitted on sender’s risk. The publisher cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage. ® All rights reserved by MB Managers & Consultants (45857 T). No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s permission in writing. KDN PPH 308/10/2013 (033079)

content THE NEW YEAR ISSUE #141 22ECO NEWS NEW YEAR, Chinese New Year, Hear Ye’, Hear Ye!

06FLASH

36FITNESS GETTING YOUR BODY READY FOR 2020 AND CNY

December 2019

14MUSIC

38RANTS&RAVES

AHMAD ABDUL: FROM DESIGNER TO SONG CREATOR

CHINESE NEW YEAR

16TECH 08REPORT

The Pixel 4: Stuck in the past

SABAH’S FIRST SCULPTURE & INSTALLATION EXHIBITION AND AUCTION AT SABAH ART GALLERY

Flora & Abner: Conquering Obstacles As Mother & Son

10FEATURE A NEW BEGINNING FOR A NEW YEAR AND A NEW DECADE

12MOVIES IN THE CINEMAS, JANUARY 2020

24PERSONALITY

18DESTINATION A NEW BEGINNING FOR A NEW YEAR AND A NEW DECADE

20DERAWAN ISLAND HOPPING IN DERAWAN: PARADISE FOR UNDERWATER LOVERS

32AESTHETIC Injectable Moisturizer to slow down your Aging - dr hana rose

34WELLNESS Build New Habits with Positive Willpower

48 RESTAURANT REVIEW OITOM: The New Black That Kota Kinabalu NeedeD

50NIGHTLIFE INDONESIAN IDOL’S AHMAD ABDUL EXCLUSIVELY LIVE

FLASH

DECEMBER 2019

MALAYSIAN WINS SHELL GLOBAL INNOVATION PRIZE Kuala Lumpur, 2 December 2019 - With an innovative thought of creating edible straws, Imelda Bragie of Benak Raya Enterprise made the nation proud when she won the special award for Outstanding Achievement in the 2019 Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Awards, a global competition which highlights and rewards businesses that demonstrate excellence in innovation as well as giving entrepreneurs a chance to shine on a global platform. Imelda owns Benak Raya Enterprise, which develops rice-based, edible straws from Bario rice that can be used to replace plastic drinking straws. As an Outstanding Achievement Award winner, she received US $10,000. This includes mentoring support by a Shell expert, an opportunity to benefit from market linkages and a possibility to be considered as a vendor to Shell or Shell’s customers.

CHRISTMAS DAY CELEBR ATION WITH ROTARY CLUB OF PENAMPANG AT BUHAVAN SQUARE Kota Kinabalu, 7 December 2019 - Rotary Club of Penampang organised a Christmas Day Celebration at Buhavan Square, Donggongon. The event featured a variety of interesting booths, performances by choirs and buskers, fund raising karaoke session, Christmas treasure hunt, children games and many more. President of Rotary Club of Penampang Octivian Basalan welcomed everyone with his speech.

He was glad to see the public having a good time during the event and thanked sponsors Penampang District Council and Sweet Garden Bakehouse for their support. Guest Of Honour Assistant Minister of Education & Innovation Sabah YB Jenifer Lasimbang was present to officiate the launching of the Christmas Day Celebration.

HYATT REGENCY KINABALU RECORD BREAKING ATTEMPT FOR WORLD’S LONGEST YULE LOG CAKE Kota Kinabalu, 11 December 2019 – In a fundraising effort to support the Ara Dinawan Island Coral Reef Conservation Programme, the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu team crafted a 1270.55-metre-long Christmasthemed Yule log cake. Executive Sous Chef Adrian Chong led the project, together with Head of Pastry Chef, Ismail Saidan, assisted by his team of pastry chefs and 20 culinary pastry students from Asian Tourism International College of Kota Kinabalu. The team worked for five days to complete the project.

The 1270.55-metre-long Yule log cake was 1930kg in weight. The public were invited to witness and have a photo session with the longest Yule log cake in the world. After the event, the majority of the cake was put up for sale. Some of the proceeds were donated to the Coral Reef Conservation programme at Ara Dinawan Island.

UCSF: Driving & Advancing the Creative Industry in Sabah Kota Kinabalu, 18 December 2019 - Borneo Art Newcomer (BANCO) which was held at University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) showcased the works of 73 graduates who have completed their training in various fields including painting, sculpturing and botanic batik arts. The closing ceremony was officiated by YB Puan Jo-anna Sue Henly Rampas, the political secretary to the Chief Minister of Sabah. In the ceremony, 3 top graduates were honoured and accepted as incubatees of UCSF’s Nature Inspiration Art Gallery (NIAG). They will be provided with subsistence for the period of one year. Also showcased at NIAG were artworks of Final Projects of Semester 1–5 students from the Faculty of Arts & Creative Media for their New Artist FACM Art Showcase (N.A.F.A.S) #3. The type of artworks ranged from traditional drawing, mixed media painting, 3D modelling, photography, graphic design as well as animation and film.

Report

SABAH’S FIRST SCULPTURE & INSTALLATION EXHIBITION AND AUCTION AT SABAH ART GALLERY and ballet dancer Clara Pla’ Ferrer from Barcelona, Spain. Clara did an exclusive beautiful performance alongside the enchanting tunes of Getaran Jiwa by Alex of Kinabalu String Quartet.

For more information on the event, contact Oliver +60 12-825 5185 or Aily +60 11-5549 5748.

S

abah’s first ever Sculpture & Installation Exhibition and Auction was held on 30 November 2019 at Sabah Art Gallery. The event was organized by Bulgarian sculpture artist Ventsislav Petrov and Tenco Urban Arts Management with the support of Sabah Art Gallery and JF Production. It featured various sculptures by both international and local artists.

During the auction, 9 artworks were sold in general: • • •

• •

3 of Ventsislav’s “The Faces of The Forest” face masks made of ceramics representing his concept of the pain that the forest feels when it’s been cut down and damaged.

Lesley Goonting’s “Bejewelled” in the form of pottery which was made of high firing clay with blue stone and mother of pearls glaze.

3 of Asnedi Bin Maduni’s artwork which includes “Tampua Bersarang Rendah” - metal crafted artwork representing a futuristic looking bird and it’s nest, “Patu Sepisis Yang Semakin Pupus” - metal crafted futuristic looking sculpture of a duck and “Monyet Belanda” - metal crafted sculpture of Borneo’s world wide famous proboscis monkey.

Christianne Goonting & Lesley Goonting’s “Count Your Blessings” which is an installation combining painting and pottery.

Christy Junior’s “Unforgotten Pottery” - metal crafted artwork representing the traditional pottery Tajau.

In total, RM10,000 of sales were made. Ventsislav hopes more sales will be made in similar future events as part of his aim to support the development of local artists. There were also performances during the event by Kinabalu String Quartet 8

REGAS PREMIUM SABAH ORGANISE BMW PERFORMANCE DAY

K

ota Kinabalu, 15 November 2019 – Regas Premium Sabah hosted its very first BMW Performance Day at Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters, Kepayan. Hosting from Saturday, 16th to Sunday, 17th November, 2019, 8am to 7pm, the event showcased thrilling, high-performance driving experience activities involving the BMW 330i M Sport, the BMW 318i, the BMW 330e M Sport, the BMW 530i.

In addition to dynamic test drive sessions, the event also showcased the newest BMW and Motorrad models to date including the BMW 740Le xDrive, the BMW 530i M Sport, the BMW 530e M Sport, the BMW X5 xDrive40i M Sport, the BMW X5 xDrive40e M Sport, the BMW X4 xDrive30i, the BMW X3 xDrive30i Luxury, the BMW X1sDrive20i, the BMW R 1250GS, the BMW C 400GT, the BMW G 310R, the BMW S 1000RR

Report

and Avoiding obstacles, Experiencing and Tackling Understeering and Oversteering situations as well as a Gymkhana challenge.

Every obstacle was engineered to test the agility, efficiency and performance of the new BMW vehicles.

With these activities, we have the privilege to engage BMW certified instructors that are trained to the official International BMW Standard and have extensive motorsport experience.

“We at Regas Premium Sabah are very passionate about delivering the premium brand promise of the BMW Group in the state of Sabah. With this special one of a kind event held here for the very first time, we are able to share this passion for premium and Sheer Driving Pleasure with our customer here.” said Matthew Tan, Dealer Principal, Regas Premium Sabah.

Visitors also had a chance to experience the BMW Driver Training sessions which included learning and executing a series of driving exercises which included Braking, Steering

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Feature

A NEW BEGINNING FOR A NEW YEAR AND A NEW DECADE

2020

is finally here and so is Chinese New Year this month. This is not your ordinary new year to celebrate and practice new beginnings as we have entered a new decade. What are your resolution or goals for 2020? Let’s hear it from some of our contributors and past covers who are both celebrating 2020 & Chinese New Year this month.

Gordon Montoya Seet General Manager of Marriott Kota Kinabalu Hotel & Cover for Issue 130

DEVYNE KOH WRITER

Keep healthy, be happy, be forever grateful and cherish whatever we have, and spread kindness all over the place. Love really is a many splendour thing. Learn, teach and groom our future with every chance we have with humility and an open mind.

As the new year rolls around, there’s so much to reflect upon. Every year, I would sit and ponder on the year that was. With the beginning of a new decade, I hope it’ll bring me a new energy that will give me the vision, strength, awareness, wisdom and insights to open new chapters and close old ones. I aspire to keep evolving and recreate myself by improving my personal branding and eliminate metaphorical clutter. I will make more effort to breathe, reflect and consider my many blessings. I don’t really believe in resolutions, instead will keep this as a mantra.

Here’s to the beginning of not just a New Year but also to a New Decade. Wishing you and your family a Happy and Blessed New Year 2020 & Gong Xi Fatt Chai!

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning” ~ T.S. Eliot

A great year has past and another year of creating new chapters in our lives with family and friends surrounding us has yet to be written. May the year of 2020 bring in positive change in your life and your surroundings to be filled with prosperity.

Here’s wishing everyone A Blessed New Year 2020 & Xing Nian Kuai Le!

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VANCE TAN

Photographer & Founder of Genesis Design

Wishing all Breeze readers Happy New Year 2020 and Happy Chinese New Year! Hope to grow my company to the next level this year and build a strong team for coming projects. Also looking forward to improve myself in every aspect, getting to know more people, and live a balanced healthy lifestyle. God bless you all and may your dreams come true!

JOSH CHONG

Founder of Amos Hair Studio & Cover for Issue 135

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! In 2020, I wish to be fast but with patience in my actions, to always be kind to people, and to have faith in the Lord’s plan. As an entrepreneur, ultimately I wanna bring change for the greater standard of communities in Kota Kinabalu. And I believe so should my fellow entrepreneurs.

JUDE CHONG

Founder of Balloon by JC & Cover for Issue 135

I am taking this opportunity to wish everyone a blessed new year 2020 and wishing all who are celebrating Chinese New Year good health and lasting prosperity. My resolution will be focusing on transforming my life by practicing more healthy habits. Are you ready to do the same?

ALEX LOO

Founder of My Flooring & Cover for Issue 129

Wishing all of you Happy Chinese New Year 2020 and everyone to have an ONG ONG Mouse Year! I want to continue to get more success for My Flooring this year. Look for My Flooring for your flooring needs!

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movies

In The Cinemas January 2020 DOLITTLE Release Date: 23 Jan 2020 Genre: Adventure Director: Stephen Gaghan Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, John Cena, Kumail Nanjiani, Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Selena Gomez The movie follows the adventures of Doctor Dolittle, a character created by author Hugh Lofting that realises that he can talk to animals.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Release Date: 02 Jan 2020 Genre: Biography / Drama Director: Marielle Heller Cast: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Susan Kelechi Watson Journalist Lloyd Vogel’s cynical view on life changes after his encounter with television icon Fred Rogers, whom he has to write an Esquire profile piece on.

BOMBSHELL Release Date: 02 Jan 2020 Genre: Biography / Drama Director: Jay Roach Cast: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow A group of female employees at Fox News took on the toxic male culture at the network and brought down founder and ruler CEO Roger Ailes, exposing him for sexual harassment.

UNDERWATER Release Date: 09 Jan 2020 Genre: Action / Drama / Horror Director: William Eubank Cast: Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, John Gallagher Jr. A crew of aquatic researchers work to get to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory. But the crew has more than the ocean seabed to fear.

1917 Release Date: 16 Jan 2020 Genre: Drama / War Director: Sam Mendes Cast: George MacKay, DeanCharles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch Two young British privates during the First World War are given an impossible mission: deliver a message deep in enemy territory that will stop 1,600 men, and one of the soldier’s brothers, from walking straight into a deadly trap.

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21 BRIDGES Release Date: 02 Jan 2020 Genre: Crime / Drama / Thriller Director: Brian Kirk Cast: Chadwick Boseman, J.K. Simmons, Sienna Miller, Taylor Kitsch A disgraced NYPD detective gets a shot at redemption as he is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a cop killer.

THE GRUDGE Release Date: 02 Jan 2020 Genre: Horror Director: Nicolas Pesce Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Demián Bichir, John Cho, Lin Shaye, Jacki Weaver A house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death.

PLAYING WITH FIRE Release Date: 09 Jan 2020 Genre: Comedy / Family Director: Andy Fickman Cast: John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Brianna Hildebrand, Dennis Haybert, Judy Greer A crew of rugged firefighters met their match in three rambunctious kids that they rescued.

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE Release Date: 23 Jan 2020 Genre: Action / Comedy Director: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton The Bad Boys Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are back together for one last ride in the highly anticipated Bad Boys for Life.

READER’S PICK A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

movie winners

PLAYING WITH FIRE

Mik Sidion

Angel Lee I like to win this movie tickets and surprise my mum because when my mum was in her 90’s she loved Mr Rogers. It always brightened her day.

John Cena finally landed his first blockbuster starring role in this heartfelt family comedy.

Reminds me of Schwarzenegger’s Kindergarten Cop.

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE

Albert Wei It’s perfect for a guy who’s impossible to be hated is played by another guy who’s impossible to be hated. I would be happy to watch this in cinemas.

Ollie Faurillo Been watching this movie since the first one came out. You can never keep the Bad Boys out for good. Now they are back, probably another epic case to solve it their own way. Thats Bad Boys For Life.

DOLITTLE

Jason Mars Uhh it’s Mr. Rogers, Im gonna be a crying mess when I watch this movie! Can’t wait to see it!

Chin Chew

Congratulations to the winners for winning a GSC complimentary pass!

SURIA SABAH 1BORNEO HYPERMALL

CA TCH U P WIT H M ORE UPD A T E S & L A TE S T E VE N T S ON OUR FB PA GE | Breeze M ag

This is one of the thrilling opening movies for 2020 with Robert D Jr aka ‘Ironman’ becoming ‘Dr Dolittle’ with his talented funny & heart warming scenes. One of the movies we can’t miss out & definitely 100% will capture our heart. Love U 3k!

Wan t t o adv er ti se w i t h u s ?

Contact us vi a emai l : breezeborneo@gmai l .com Tel/Fax : +6088-268180

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MUSIC

AHMAD ABDUL: FROM DESIGNER TO SONG CREATOR

J

ust recently an Indonesian singer songwriter Ahmad Abdul came to perform in Kota Kinabalu for the very 1st time. Best known for being a contestant and runner up on Indonesian Idol back in 2018, we managed to catch up with him on one of his 3 days of performance at D’Atas Explorers Bar and get to chat upclose and personal with Abdul himself.

Born in Kupang, Indonesia, Abdul moved to Bali in 4th grade and is currently residing in Jakarta. Can you believe that he used to be a graphic designer by day and plays at cafes and bars by night time? From just being a part time thing, he decided to give the music field his undivided attention. Music has always been his passion, and joining Indonesian Idol has opened up a lot of opportunities for him. When asked about his role model in the music scene, he mentioned that he does not have anyone in particular because he listens to anything and everything. From Coldplay to Ed Sheeran, he instead stresses about the importance of being authentic especially when creating and delivering his music. First a drummer and later on a guitarist, his singing talent was discovered by his sister and friends but playing musical

by Iffah Hazirah Image | Aznan Johary 14

instruments were all self-taught. As far as his creative process goes, he mentioned that his ability to write songs is a gift and as long as he like where his writing or music is going, he will seek help from experts to help him improve or polish his music and writing even more.

Being a musician has its highs and lows, but Abdul loves what he is doing and he accepts whatever challenges that comes his way because for him, as long as he and his team are together, they could go anywhere. When talking about writer’s block he mentioned that it is better to tackle any problem that arises as soon as you can, just give your best shot and avoid thinking too much. Recognized by international artists such as Adam Levine and Callum Scott, Abdul’s goal for the year 2020 is to go on tours and spreading out his music more but his main goal is to bring joy and happiness whenever he performs.

Being his 1st time in Sabah, he mentioned that KK city is a great escape from the hectic city of Jakarta. The people are friendly and he is enjoying his stay so far. He is looking forward to explore more and just go with the flow. When asked whether he will come back again, if everything goes well, he would be more than happy to.

FUN FACT: “EASY GOING PERHAPS? I’ll LET PEOPLE DECIDE ON THIS ONE” - Ahmad Abdul

tech

The Pixel 4: Stuck in the past Today, the Note 10 starts at 256GB. With the increasing camera resolution and image sizes, we NEED bigger memory. Being a camera-centric smartphone, Google should’ve known better.

The battery sizes are hugely disappointing as well. The Pixel XL finds itself with a 3700mah battery which is debatably “acceptable”.

However, the regular Pixel comes with a 2800mah battery – which is not favorable in the least.

Here’s the final nail in the coffin, recent tests show that the Pixel’s durability is in serious question. Remember “Bend gate”? This is arguably worse - Instead of bending, Pixels are breaking.

E

ver since Google released the Pixel series, it’s been the go-to for smartphone photography. It’s quite simply – the best (at least when it comes to photography). Last year we saw a shift in the camera photography trend, wide-angle lenses arrived. Pixel users were undoubtedly excited.

“What will Google do for their wide-angle lens?”

Unfortunately, the Pixel 4 released – without a wide-angle lens.

It’s a missed opportunity for Google to move forward in the smartphone game. It looks like third-party manufacturers can still sell Pixel users those wide-angle lens converters.

Unfortunately, that’s not the only error they’ve managed to commit this time around.

“The internal memory starts at 64GB. In early 2018, the S9 released with 128GB internal memory.”

by Andro A. Sandor BattleEverything Image | Unsplash

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As one of my favorite devices, I never thought I’d recommend the iPhone 11 Pro Max over the Pixel series. Let’s hope the Pixel 5 significantly improves next year.

DESTINATION

HORIZONS Sky Bar and Cigar Lounge Located on Level 11 & 12 of The Pacific Sutera Hotel, the new hotspot in town is set atop a perch overlooking the panoramic view of the South China Sea and the vibrant city of Kota Kinabalu. It offers tropical craft cocktails, a wide selection of fine cigars, a modern deco design and curated menu. Be entertained by a house DJ in a sophisticated ambiance.

Opens daily from 5pm to 1am, except on Mondays; Horizons sits up to 180 pax at one time with Ladies Night happening every Wednesday from 7pm onwards. All patrons in smart casual are welcome and to adhere to proper dress code to be allowed entry.

I

f we can captivate all the splendour view of Kota Kinabalu in a simple walk through, then imagine watching the city on top of a building with a charming atmosphere. This panoramic scene is undoubtedly offering an exclusive view.

Combining fantastic views, great mixes, of the quaffable and auditory kind, and above all experiences you want to tell your friends about, here comes Horizons Sky Bar and Cigar Lounge, the latest hotspot in Kota Kinabalu.

In the heart of the vibrant city of Kota Kinabalu, this Sutera Harbour Resort’s gorgeous new rooftop bar is a great place for soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying panoramic views of the city and the tranquil South China Sea. It’s beautiful by day, but especially alluring at night when this rooftop nirvana acts as a magnet to sophisticated revellers, attracted by Horizon’s romantic ambiance.

Gerard Tan, Sutera Harbour Resort’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer said that this new milestone is a result of SHR’s passion in creating an exceptional leisure destination and key landmark within a location that truly celebrates the city.

‘We look forward to welcoming local and international visitors to Horizons as we continue to add unique attractions to Sabah’s tourism landscape,’ he said during the official opening of Horizons, Sky Bar and Cigar Lounge.

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www.maswings.com.my MASwings maswingsmates maswingsmates

YOUR BORNEO CONNECTION PRIDE OF SABAH, SARAWAK & WP LABUAN

ABOUT US MASwings is the regional community airline for East Malaysia states of Sabah and Sarawak, also fondly known as Borneo.

The Airline was officially launched on 1st October 2007.

Its operation is mainly focused on the Rural Area Services (RAS) routes within Sabah and Sarawak, which connects the local community of their hometown to the big cities.

Airports Airstrip Not Available for Operation ATR - 72 Routes Viking Routes ATR - 72 BIMP - EAGA Routes Codeshare Route Charter to Layang-Layang by ATR & Viking

MASwings offers affordable fares, convenient schedules and extensive connections within and across Sabah and Sarawak complementing its tagline MASwings – Your Airline, Pride of Sabah, Sarawak & WP Labuan.

ROUTE MAP & OUR FLEET M A S w i n g s i s s e r v i n g a n e t wo r k o f 24 d e s t i n a t i o n s a n d o p e r a t e s w i t h t e n ( 1 0 ) 6 4 - s e a t e r AT R 7 2 - 5 0 0 , a n a d v a n c e d t u r b o p r o p a i r c r a f t w h i c h c o n n e c t s Ko t a Kinabalu, Kuching, and Miri International Airports to m a j o r t ow n s a n d c i t i e s i n E a s t M a l a y s i a .

M A S w i n g s a l s o s e r ve s d e s t i n a t i o n s i n t h e B I M P - E AG A r e g i o n s u c h a s B r u n e i a n d Ta r a k a n ( I n d o n e s i a ) .

In addition to the new turboprops, MASwings’ the sole o p e r a t o r w i t h i n t h e R A S r o u t e s i n S a b a h a n d S a ra w a k operates six (6) 19-seater Viking Air DHC6 400 Series Tw i n - O t t e r, o p e r a t i n g o u t o f M i r i . T h e s e a i r c r a f t a r e d e e m e d v i t a l l i f e l i n e i n p r ov i d i n g a i r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n into remote and highlander areas many of which are i n a c c e s s i b l e by r o a d .

M A S w i n g s ’ r e g u l a r Tw i n O t t e r s e r v i c e o p e r a t e s o u t o f e l eve n ( 1 1 ) S h o r t Ta ke O ff L a n d i n g ( S TO L ) p o r t s a c r o s s Sabah and Sarawak.

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VIKING DHC-6 TWIN OTTER (6 AIRCRAFTS)

DERAWAN ISLAND HOPPING IN DERAWAN: PARADISE FOR UNDERWATER LOVERS

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hile I sat in front of my computer screen reminiscing about my recent travel to Indonesia, oh how I wish I was back island hopping and swimming in clear blue waters around the islands in the East of Kalimantan. As an archipelagic country, Indonesia has an abundance of islands and diverse aquatic lives. Located in the Berau regency, Derawan Islands consist of more than 30 islands and among the famous ones are Sangalaki, Kakaban & Maratua to name a few.

Our trip started off from Kota Kinabalu International Airport and we took a flight to Tawau and a connecting flight to Tarakan with Maswings. Both flights took 40 minutes respectively. Upon arriving to Tarakan, do take the time to visit the insta-worthy restaurant called Gudeg Bu Harman and sample their delectable Jogjakartan cuisine to fuel up before the 3-hour speedboat ride to Derawan Island. We spent 3 nights at Derawan Dive Resort, Berau which offers a private beach, comfortable chalets and just a few steps away from the town which has plenty of food stalls, souvenir shops and homestays.

Our 2nd day was spent exploring islands and the diverse flora and fauna. First stop; Sangalaki Sea Turtle Conservation. A 1-hour boat ride from Derawan, Sangalaki Island is widely known as an island where turtles lay their eggs. Despite the heavy rain, we managed to witness baby turtles emerging from the sand and we were even encouraged to handle the baby turtles before they release it to the sea. After a brief lesson on snorkelling, we head out to the open water in attempt to chase the manta rays at Sangalaki Manta Point and to experience the beautiful underwater scenery in Sangalaki. Our next location brought us to one of the only two places on earth where you can find stingless jellyfish and Kakaban is said to be the only location that has the most variety of species. The island of Kakaban was once a lagoon but years of geological pressure turned it into a lake where millions of harmless jellyfish now dwell and is safe to actually touch and swim with. A small fee of IDR 5,000 was charged per adult for the locals that help keep the place clean.

Supported by

by Iffah Hazirah Image | Jollence Lee

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We continued our adventure to Kehe Daing Lagoon, Kakaban and you are given two options to reach the lagoon; the stairs or if the tide is low enough, a small tunnel or cave will appear which connects the outside to the lagoon. The lagoon offers a serene and stunning scenery and white sandy beach, perfect for photo-taking moments. Just 30mins from Kakaban is the island of Maratua and here you could find the Haji Mangku Cave.

Located in Payung-Payung Village, you could reach the cave either by trekking or by boat. The cave is mysterious and cold and it features a natural pond with approximately a depth of 2030 metres. Visit the cave at noon to witness sunrays penetrating the deep water, making the cold water warm enough for a nice dip and experience some adrenaline by jumping into the water from a 5-meter height.

The next day, we woke up at 5 am in order to observe the whale shark. On our way to the whale shark point in Talisayan which was a good 1 to 2 hours speedboat from Derawan, spot the floating platforms of fishing pontoons called “bagan” all over the open sea. As the appearance of whale sharks are dependant on the location of the “bagan”, the timing for you to spot one could vary. It was definitely worth the wait! From Talisayan, we spent 1 to 2 hours of speedboat ride to Lake Labuan Cermin. Located in the village of Labuan Kelambu, Kecamatan Biduk-biduk, Labuan Cermin is an extremely clear lake that has two different types of water. With a depth of 8-10 meters, the bottom half of the lake is salt water, and the top half is fresh water which also includes a more diverse species of fish swimming in the lake.

A one-way fare is IDR 100,000 per boat ride. We also managed to visit the island of Manimbora or more popularly known as Spongebob Island where we spent taking photos and enjoying the white sandy beach. Our last night in Derawan, we were lucky enough to witness a turtle laying her eggs just on the beach close to our resort.

We spent our last day exploring the city of Tarakan. From visiting the Baloy Adat Tidung and dropping by The Bekantan (Proboscis monkey) and Mangrove Conservation Park it was an amazing experience indeed. The trip to Derawan Island was arranged by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia Kota Kinabalu and it was eye opening and very insightful. When people say that Derawan is a hidden gem of Borneo, I couldn’t agree more.

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ECO NEWS

NEW YEAR, Chinese New Year, Hear Ye’, Hear Ye!

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year ago, we shared about the effect we humans have on the living environment. We talked about the need for us to do our part in reducing our total carbon footprint on the earth. We called everyone out to not only walk the walk but also to talk the talk.

environmentally friendly businesses and instead of not going to places that aren’t on the environmental bandwagon, start up a conversation with them and ask them to explore environmentally friendly solutions. Remember it’s always easier to win people over with “honey” than it is with “vinegar”.

As we tried to keep our content in line with Breeze’s monthly themes, we were overall happy to see how things have been developing here in Sabah. Sustainability has always been our monthly mantra but we are also happy to see the new positive changes taking place.

More and more people from all sectors of the community are becoming environmentally aware. Government agencies are pushing agendas with environmental aspects. Private companies are doing more for the environment and their annual KPI are starting to include environmental key factors. Individuals are starting up various waste and plastic related NGOs and other Enviro-movements. People are reducing their usage of singleuse products and some are getting creative to find ways to use these products more than once. People are refusing plastic bags, bringing their own bags and cutlery, ride sharing and exploring many other earth-friendly actions.

It’s great to see all these positive things happening. We urge you all to keep pressuring the Government to keep up with the changing times. We urge you to keep patronizing those

by MB Enviro-Healers Image | Unsplash

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All the positivity for the Environment, that has been developing in Sabah over the past year, will all mean nothing if it doesn’t continue for this year ahead. Let 2020 be the year of Sustainability. If you aren’t doing something “green” in your life, NOW is the time to do it. To those of you already heeding the charge for this New Year, keep it up! Don’t stop till everyone around you is doing what you are doing.

Once again, we urge you to Think before you Act. Plan before you move and be responsible for our environment in Sabah and for generations to come.

PERSONALITY

Flora & Abner: Conquering Obstacles As Mother & Son

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am sure that most of us here ask this question way too often. planted, flowers everywhere burst out singing and everyone lives Why is my life so hard? Why can’t I have what he had? Why happily ever after. must I go through this? This is not fair!

But unfortunately, we all know too well that life does not work We often wished that our life is like a picture perfect Hallmark that way.

Christmas movie. Where the beast meets the beauty, a kiss was Meet Flora John and her son Abner Apines. As both of our personalities had their share of ups and downs in life, their stories reminded us that every cloud has its silver lining.

by Duncan Gent Image |Radzie Rahman

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And no matter what life throws at us, get up, and keep walking.

Things may not change overnight, but it will eventually. That’s something that we can look forward to.

FLORA JOHN

to the Philippines and from there I had worked with a lot of local travel operators such as Air World, Popular Express and currently I am attached with Pelancungan Tembok Besar as an international tour leader.

What are your best moments in life?

It was 2016, and it was my first time bringing a tour group to Europe. I prayed hard before the trip because I was nervous since it was my first time. But thank God, everything went well.

We managed to visit every destination in the itinerary and all my clients were satisfied.

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he first time I saw her, I knew instantly that this is a woman of ambition and determination. The bright red dress that she wore says “throw me into a pack of wolves, and I’ll come back leading the whole pack”.

As a successful and well established certified international tour leader, her success did not come easy. From being a single mum, to losing her eldest son in 2006, it was a long journey for Flora but through deep faith in God, she’s able to stand where she is now.

So tell us about yourself.

My name is Flora John Jambun, a 56 year old, single mother from Kampung Bambangan, Inanam.

What do you do?

I’m a freelance international tour leader, I’ve started doing this in 2009, when my sister Melanie, introduced it to me as I needed money to fund Abner’s school fees. My first tour was

You are a busy woman, how do you cope with all your work furthermore being a single mum?

Honestly, through prayer. When I lost my eldest son Adam in 2006, I felt really down. I went to a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with depression. I was on medication for one year. However, things started to change when a friend asked me to join a prayer meeting in church. There, I was taught to sing praises and to speak everything out of my heart. Finally, I am able to accept things that happened to me.

So you are saying, by accepting things that happened in your life, you are able to break free?

Yes. With acceptance, I managed to fight my depression. Happiness comes forth and blessing comes rolling in.

What is your 2020 resolution?

I want to travel all around the world to places I’ve never been yet.

Now, I am planning to go into the US. And do you have any advice to the young people out there?

Believe in yourself and work hard. If you fall, do not lose hope, dust yourself off and keep on walking with a firm goal in yourself.

Also, always reach out a helping hand to those in need.

Fun Fact: Flora John has a fear of flying and she hates snakes.

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Tell us about Mosulu.

Well, Mosulu is named after my great grandfather. We came a long way since 2016, when the office was sharing the same space with my brother-in law’s tattoo parlour. However in 2018, we moved to our own office at Pintas Avenue.

What do you do in Mosulu?

We specialize in renovation, house design, construction as well as retention slope.

ABNER APINES

What makes you want to open a bar & grill spot?

So me and my friend were drinking at Pick & Pay, Plaza 333 one day and an idea struck in our heads. Instead of us purchasing our food & drinks there, how about we open our own outlet instead? So we did!

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fter a series of unsuccessful attempts in job hunting, 23 year And how does Laughing Lion get its name? old Abner Apines decided to start his own construction I was scrolling through Facebook and I saw this video of a yawning company with his cousins. lion, and instead of the usual roar, the lion was laughing (it was edited). I was laughing at the video so hard and at that precise Abner’s first assignment was a module office project at Keningau. moment, it clicked to me that Laughing Lion would be the name.

Having no workers, they had to do it all on their own.

Which is perfect because because people generally come to a bar to chat and laugh for a good time!

However, managing a construction company on your own was not as easy as it looked. Unfortunate accidents occurred, the What do you recommend people to order at Laughing Lion? company suffered a loss due to internal conflict and even a car Our delicious Popia Tuhau Manuk and double cheese burger is a accident that caused the loss of two lives were the challenges that must try!

Abner had to face.

What is your 2020 resolution?

After the car accident, Abner and his cousins had to use the only I plan to invest more on stock as well as property, to purchase car that they had (a Myvi) to transport the entire set of equipment more equipment for Mosulu as well as bringing new concepts to required to the project site, including cement and pipes.

Laughing Lion.

But despite all of what happened, a resilient Abner never thought Any advice for the people out there? of giving up and with faith, he kept pressing in. His mum Flora Never give up, because whatever challenges that you face, it will is his best advisor and kept telling him to never give up, keep eventually make you stronger. walking forward and never look back.

All that was in 2016. Fast forward to 3 years later, Abner now operates two companies, Mosulu Construction and Engineering and Laughing Lion Cafe, a popular bar & grill spot at Pintas Avenue, Penampang.

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Fun Fact: Abner Apines used to be a musician, a guitarist and an altar boy. He also has a fear of snakes.

AESTHETIC

Injectable Moisturizer to slow down your Aging - dr hana rose

Fact: Did you know your body collagen and elastin will reduce by 50% at the age of 50 years old? In fact, it is uncommon among us to experience premature aging as early as 30 years old.

What is collagen?

Collagen is an abundance of protein that plays very important role especially in the extracellular cells. There are 16 types of collagen. However, when we talk about collagen, we are focusing more on skin collagen which is type 1. As we grow older, our collagen will naturally degrade, as skin becomes rougher, loss of elastic tissue, more fragile and easily bruised due to thinner vessel walls.

What can we do to increase collagen stimulation and slow down collagen degradation ?

• Exercise • Good nutrition & drink adequate amount of water • Good sleep (minimal : 8 hour/day) • Skin boosters treatments that the experts rate (teosyal redencity 1 / volite juvederm / rejuran healer / hydrabooster / restylane hb/ Filorga) • Energy heat base device (HIFU/ ULTHERA /Radio Frequency/ Thermage) • Good skin supplement that are approved by KKM Today we focus on injectable skin boosters, how injectable moisturisers and boosters work.

Skin booster : Newest non-invasive cosmetic treatment that use injectable moisturisers to make your skin look brighter, bouncier and more even textured skin, without changing the shape, volume or muscle movement of your face. Injectable skin boosters are becoming one of the most booked treatments as it has no risk of pillow face and minimal downtime.

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How do injectable moisturisers differ from fillers and botox?

Skin booster are different from Fillers and Botox as it won’t have volumizing or muscle freezing effects. It is made from Hyaluronic acid but the way it is formed/ bonded is different with traditional fillers (more viscous but more free-flowing, evenly, improving skin hydration and cell function from within while providing subtle, universal skin rejuvenation).

Are injectable moisturisers the same as mesotherapy?

Here underlines how injectable moisturiser treatments differ from meso: the contrast between injectable moisturisers and mesotherapy lies in the additional components of the mesotherapy cocktails in this way, mesotherapy allows for the treatment of a wider range of conditions (scars, pigment, stretch mark. Alopecia etc). Mesotherapy cocktails are injected into the middle layer (mesoderm) of the skin, while injectable moisturisers plump and hydrate from just below the surfacethe injections are shallower.

How skin boosters can dramatically change your skin.

Improves skin tone, texture and elasticity, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves hydration in the skin, increases microcirculation in the skin.

How does it work : The deposits of skin boosters increase fibroblast activity under the skin, and these fibroblast cells are responsible for collagen and elastin production.

How fast will you see results?

Results vary with individuals, but a non-cross linked skin boosters tend results after about 1-2 weeks. Rejuran, more of a skin healer, takes a longer produce results due to the time cycle rejuvenation and repair. Results typically show after 2-3 weeks of the procedure.

So which skin boosters is better for you?

The type of skinboosters to choose will depend heavily on patients’ preferences, and also a thorough skin examination with our doctor. Kindly get consultation before any treatment as it depends on skin type.

Dr Hana Rose

typically to show as it is time to of cell

WELLNESS

Build New Habits with Positive Willpower

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appy New Year 2020! How has the New Year been treating you? I hope you’re feeling refreshed and raring to go to face 2020!

If you’re like most people, you’ve made New Years Resolutions, and by the second week, have given it up or forgotten it. So let’s explore this shall we?

If you could not fail, what new resolution or habit would you like to inculcate in your life? For many of my clients, these include: • Starting a new health or wellness habit • Learning a new skill • Managing their finances better What’s yours? How confident are you between 1 to 100% that you can start, maintain, and strengthen this habit? What needs to happen in order for you to be 100% confident? Pay attention to the list you made in your head when you asked yourself the last question. For it contains keys to your habit change.

by Dr. Sivakumar Kumaresan Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sabah’s First NLP Trainer at UMS Investment Holdings Sdn. Bhd Image | Unsplash

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Whatever it may be, there are some fundamentals to habit changes that can help you maintain the changes you wish to make. One key is to understand the role that willpower plays in maintaining habits. Research by Professor Roy Baumeister from the Florida State University, has shown that the following practices can increase your willpower: • • • • •

Getting enough sleep, as having more sleep results in a clearer mind Regular exercise, if possible daily, as it reduces mental resistance to new habits and increases mental focus in practicing new habits Taking time to focus on slow breathing, even a minute a day Making sure your blood sugar is sufficient, as when you have low blood sugar, you tend to get distracted easily. Snack wisely though with high fibre and high protein snacks Whenever you fail, just restart, and let go of blaming yourself for failing. As the Japanese saying goes, Fall 7 times, get up 8.

So choose one new habit or resolution you wish to start, then ask yourself the question of what needs to happen so you are 100% confident you can maintain this resolution. Use the 5 points listed above to guide you on this new resolution!

Have a wonderful 2020 with your new resolution. Live Well and Live Strong!

If you’re keen to change your life and make a difference in other people’s lives, visit http://www.top-notch-talent.com/ to know more about the training offered by Dr. Sivakumar Kumaresan on Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and NLP related topics.

Bring a copy of your Breeze Magazine and get a free one hour NLP coaching session from Dr. Siva.

FITNESS

GETTING YOUR BODY READY FOR 2020 AND CNY

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s we are kicking off the year 2020, and since time passes by in a blink of an eye, it’s important that we start to recognise a proper lifestyle and diet plan in order for us to keep fit and stay healthy. FitPro Empire assures that it is not too late and still very much achievable, with these few very simple guidelines you can use to ensure a happy body.

Staying on track during CNY Since the festive season for Chinese New Year is near we shouldn’t take it as an excuse to spoil our diet. Here are the aspects that you can follow to help keep you on track during CNY festival.

Stay away from temptation, be more active, get enough rest, and enjoy the festive season.

Setting a SMART Goal Setting a SMART Goal does not have to be huge, it should be depending on one’s capability to achieve it. Just by referring to this sequence S for being Specific of what you want to achieve at the end, M for Measureable, make sure that you are able to keep track of your progress. A for Attainable, set a goal that is reasonable and also fairly achievable, not too easy but also not impossible. R for Relevant, you don’t have to go through a 30-minute drive to the gym to use the treadmill, instead you can just walk or jog nearby your living area. T for Time-based, make sure to commit and dedicate to an acceptable time-period where you are able to set aside a period for yourself to exercise and also to reach your goal. Once you have determined your SMART Goal then you have successfully taken the first step towards having an awesome body.

In conclusion, it is not too late to get started on your awesome body between now and Chinese New Year, every guideline that you successfully follow will take you one step ahead until you manage to transform yourself into a better version of you.

Choosing a Program Whether it is choosing a training program or diet program just stick to one only that you are capable to follow and enjoy. Your training should start with a low-impact routine first plus you can check out our Facebook page (Fit Pro Empire) for daily workout routines that you can utilise.

by Brian Lee Chun Jet FitPro Empire Image | Unsplash 36

Rants & Raves

Chinese New Year

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s quickly as it came, 2019 is over. As we entered the new year of 2020, we all hope that it can be once again a wonderful year filled with new experiences and adventures. In the coming year, the most festive season for everyone especially the Chinese is right around the corner. That’s right, Chinese New Year falls on the 25th of January this year. It’s practically like one holiday after another. With the Christmas holidays ended, we are welcomed with the exciting Lunar New Year! Everywhere will be decorated with red and most shops will close during the weekend.

Everyone will be going back to celebrate in their hometown in hopes of getting more ang pao’s! With 2019 over, we no longer get years ending with -teen. It’s amazing how quickly a decade goes by! Some of us don’t even realise how fast it went by. It was as if yesterday was just the beginning of an exciting new year. Also traditions of wearing cheongsam and changshan during Chinese New year seems to be popular every year. Some years more than others but the trend I remember was when families would wear the same outfits! That was really cute in my opinion. Although the changshan isn’t popular among men to wear during the Chinese New Year, women love wearing the

by Cherelle Lim Image | Unsplash

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cheongsam for Chinese New year. Some love the traditional and elegant look, while some actually go for more modern designs that look different from the traditional cheongsam.

Chinese New Year is also a time for distant relatives to gather and bond over the holidays. Distant relatives from around the country, world or even just different kampungs will gather and celebrate together. So I wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year!

POP CULTURE

Rounding Up The Decade

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nother year has come to an end but this time it’s special. We’ve gone through the 2010’s and are now into the 2020’s. A lot of things have changed through the decade, many sad and happy moments were shared with the people around us. Let’s just take this opportunity to look back at those moments and reminisce at the experiences.

First, let’s take a look at the bigger events that took place. Locally, Malaysia celebrated a change in government for the very first time in the country’s history in 2018. While in 2016, the presidential election for the United States of America made headlines all over the world. No matter what your opinions are on both matters, it’s hard to deny that both are huge events for the decade.

Innovation wise, smartphones made big leaps from a thick slab to folding screens, changing how we interact with them. Electric vehicles became popular when Tesla made them cool to the average consumer. We were also able to see how an actual black hole looked like for the very first time in 2019.

The world of sports also saw some memorable moments, mostly happening in 2016. In football, underdogs Leicester City won the English Premier League against all odds. In basketball, Lebron James finally won the NBA Championship for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Also, Usain Bolt smiled in the Summer Games as his competitors chase after him in a race.

In entertainment, we witnessed the end of two sagas in different movie franchises. The Marvel Cinematic Universe saw an epic conclusion with the release of Avengers: Endgame. The Skywalker

by Noel Jinguli Image | Various Sources 40

Saga has also supposedly ended with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker rounding off 2019.

Lastly, just as we have gained many things, we have also lost.

Never forget those who lost their lives in natural disasters, acts of violence, and even freak accidents. In addition, we’ve also lost some big names due to their personal struggles, their memories and legacies will live on.

Through all the good and the bad, we must remind ourselves that the future is always in our hands. So let’s look forward and do our best to take positive steps to make it brighter.

EXPAT

Philippe Oudoire

His wedding was one of the best moments he’s had in Sabah.

Apart from that, he enjoyed the picnics and barbeques he’s had with friends and family around Sabah, specifically at Tamparuli.

When Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) came around, he queued in excitement to try the food that the food stalls had to offer. Among other things, he has also climbed Mt. Kinabalu and went white water rafting.

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rowing up in the suburbs of Paris, France, Philippe Oudoire landed in Sabah in 2013. He moved for his job as an engineer for marine vessels. When Philippe met a local named Nataly, they tied the knot and he decided to start a family here in Sabah.

One of the things Philippe enjoys about Sabah is the weather.

He prefers the warmer temperatures compared to when he grew up in France. He also praises the kindness and hospitality that the locals have shown him all through the time he has spent here, making him feel at home.

Philippe is able to speak French, English, and even Spanish, but he is still trying to get a grasp on the languages here in Sabah. However, Philippe doesn’t have a hard time adapting to the food in Sabah. Sambal belacan (chilli paste), cencalok (fermented shrimp paste), and nasi lemak are among local foods that Philippe enjoys here.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Philippe Oudoire

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Philippe is happy to live in Sabah, his home with his family and friends.

BEAUTY | CHIC-CLIQUE

Model: Annatahsa Shanty Makeup Artist : @ayangkamell Stylist : Suria Hassan Art Director : Sahila Sulaiman Hijab : @thericorinaldi Handbag : @avamoonyofficial Accessories : @obagmalaysia

Get this look Dior Foundation Face & Body Foundation 4.5 Neutral Nars Blush/Bronzer Duo Nars Orgasm Oil-infused Lip Tint Nars Orgasm Illuminating Loose Powder Nars Inferno Eyeshadow Pallette Nars High-Pigment Longwear Eyeliner

FOOD

Chicken Char Siu INGREDIENTS • 5 pcs Boneless Chicken Thigh • Hoi Sin Sauce • Honey • Red Food Colouring (Optional) • Salt & Pepper • Oyster sauce • 3 Tablespoon Oil for sauteed chicken • Ginger & Garlic Blend • 1 cup of water METHOD 1. Marinate all of the ingredients mentioned.

2. Heat oil, add chicken skin side down.

3. Flip on each side for 2 minutes.

4. Add 1 cup of water & cover with lid until chicken is cooked.

5. When sauce thickens, set chicken to rest.

6. Cut chicken & serve with rice.

Restaurant review

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OITOM: The New Black That Kota Kinabalu Needed

or the Kadazan-Dusun ethnic in Sabah, the word ‘oitom’ rings the colour black in their native tongue. Speaking to its name, OITOM is a modern restaurant designed with a black theme in mind, but that is as far as the native language you need to know as your tongue is only needed for one purpose, which is one of the most memorable dining experiences in Kota Kinabalu.

your dining companions instead, they do have more private dining tables as well. During our time of visit, OITOM serves up a few selections of red and white wines, most of which are in the affordable price range below RM200. For those who want to bring their own wine stashes, corkage is currently set at RM50/ bottle.

OITOM is Kota Kinabalu’s latest and most exciting restaurant to date. Chef-Owner of OITOM, Raphael, alongside his executive chef, Juan are both locally born and bred Sabahans. Having collectively more than 11 years of culinary working experiences overseas, they wanted to incorporate that with their own unique ideas, to present us a new and refreshing dining experience in Kota Kinabalu. Having kickstarted their operations back in 2 November 2019, OITOM’s inaugural menu (currently priced at RM176++) consist of 9 courses – all of which are meticulously curated, extensively sourced, executed with precision and care.

If you are planning to make a trip to OITOM, reservations are a must and do prepare to spend a good 2 hours of your evening there, it was definitely a worth-it episode in our case.

To cut things quick yet precise like the chefs at OITOM, we thought every dish presented to us was equally formidable in their own ways, with each of us diners having their own firm favourites based on personal preferences. We understood then, OITOM is not just about the sensory experience, it is also how the different chefs at OITOM took ownership to present and explain to us the concept and story behind every single dish that they were serving, bringing us along the culinary journey that they embarked upon when they decided to start OITOM. Personally, my favourite dishes during the night includes the 1st course - Fermented Rosti & Ikura, a fermented then slow baked potatoes topped with crème fraiche and ikura. This dish had Chef-Owner Raphael, storying his culinary experiences back in Melbourne, where he got through his days by eating baked potatoes due to budget constraint. It was not only a daring first dish, but also an accurate representation of Raphael’s adamant belief in the endless culinary possibilities he could create back in his hometown, Sabah, which led him to start OITOM.

As we pushed through the sleek wooden entrance of OITOM, we were greeted by an enthusiastic front of house, and all smiles from the young passionate kitchen team of which their average age (very possibly) does not exceed 30. We were then seated at the chef ’s table, where we got an overview of the whole kitchen operations throughout every single course. If you are a food enthusiast or even an aspiring chef, the chef ’s table would be the perfect spot to dine at, but if you prefer to spend more time with 48

If one may think that OITOM falls into a rather uptight finedining situation, one cannot be any more wrong. The 3rd course – Smoked Fresh Cheese and Beetroot was fun as Chef Juan got

us into cracking wheat flatbread crackers with our spoons (or hands) and dipping them with house-made smoked cheese made from local fresh milk paired with balsamic infused beetroot. There were even lovely surprises such as the 4th course - Borneon Farm Oyster which is amongst one of the most memorable dishes. We are often influenced to perceive premium quality ingredients are usually imported, who would have thought we could have fresh oysters of such calibre in Sabah which is comparable to the likes of Australia and Europe?

GRED A PRAWNS FROM RAMSAR

A1 LOCAL

The 7th course – A1 Local Beef is one which is worth a special mention. Albeit being part of 9-course meal, OITOM offered a generous serving of a 180g dry-aged rib-eye which is sourced locally from the local dairy farm – Eco Yap based in Keningau, who supplies a small batch beef which stood on equal grounds in terms of meat quality compared to their Australian counterparts.

Considering Chef-Owner Raphael as a first-time restauranteur, OITOM is currently off to a strong start with the amount of support and positive feedbacks they have been receiving. However, what lies ahead are the challenges of them being able to maintain that same level of enthusiasm and continuously pushing out new seasonal menus of the same calibre in the coming months and years. OITOM is the new kid on the block which many of us had been waiting to appear in Kota Kinabalu, and she finally did. A lot of us might not understand her immediately, but with time and perseverance, we hope that OITOM can turn into that fine young lady who is well respected not just in Sabah, but also nationally and better yet, internationally.

ADDRESS : Unit J-1-1, 1st Floor, Block J, Lorong Pusat Komersil 88/1, 88 Market place, Kota Kinabalu TEL : 088-218 551 OPENING TIME : 6PM - 10PM FB : OITOM KK | IG : oitom_kk

GRILLED KB CORN

by Eugene Chiu Image | Radzie Rahman

BONATERRA SABAH CHOCOLATE

FERMENTED ROSTI & IKURA

BORNEON FARM OYSTER 49

NIGHTLIFE INDONESIAN IDOL’S AHMAD ABDUL EXCLUSIVELY LIVE 13 DECEMBER 2019 | D’ATAS EXPLORER’S BAR IMAGES BY AZNAN JOHARY

NIGHTLIFE

kota kinabalu

Hard Rock Cafe Kota Kinabalu

+60 88 273 952

Oceanus Waterfront Mall

Image | Alex Fell

NIGHTLIFE SUPER GOOD CHRISTMAS 2019 Biru Biru | 7 December 2019 Super Good Christmas 2019 is an initiative started by Supermassive Creative Agency (SCA) with collaborative efforts from SPArKS, Breeze Magazine, One Big Project and friends.

It was organised with the goal of bringing more meaning to Christmas. The event featured the premiere screening of SCA’s brand new Christmas short film, The Little Boy Who Couldn’t Wait to Grow Up and also the screening of showcases from PapayaSam and Encrypted Film; as well as music performances

by MKNK Music and Me Gusta!

22ND EDITION OF DEKK CITY LOUNGE SABAH | 14 DECEMBER 2019 DrinkEntrepreneurs in Kota Kinabalu (DEKK) is back with its 22nd edition. As usual, there were fun ice-breakers and lots of goodies were given away as lucky draw prizes with attendees who were enjoying the night away mingling with each other. DEKK is a social movement to foster entrepreneurship and build lifelong friendships in Kota Kinabalu.