BIG Apr-Jun 2016

April // June 2016

AVAILABLE ON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS, AIRLINE OFFICES, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & CAFES THROUGHOUT BORNEO

Editor’s Note F

irst of all, to all the people who came to our magazine’s 10th Anniversary Picnic Festival celebrations at the Jerudong Park Colonnade on 24 January, I would like to tell you that you made our day perfect! We were happy, though a little surprised, to see the huge crowd at the festival. We had envisioned a casual day out in the sun with some music, eyecatching tables of homemade artisanal food and handicrafts, we prayed for good weather and quietly hoped for a modest turnout. And we received much more than what we asked for. It was a double blessing because the healthy numbers produced a good amount of donations from the entry tickets which went to the two charities (MKM and CAS) that we were raising funds for.

It was a beautiful day - though the sun was strong, a constant breeze swept off the heat and made it pleasant throughout the day. People parked themselves on the grass, children tore around with balloons and selfies were the order of the day. We threw in seven excellent local performers who shook up the vibe and got the crowd grooving and singing along. What made the event outstanding was the massive online chatter and sharing of photos of the day by those who were there. The chatter continued long after the event. Weeks later, I was told that people were still talking about the big BiG event. This is the first time the local community has seen a large outdoor music carnival at the Colonnade in a long time and the experience created a lasting excitement that was shared all over the social media.

There were several factors that lent its weight to the success of the day: the perfect venue (Jerudong Park with its beautiful landscape and colourfully-lit ferris wheel and merry-goground made a picture-perfect location), a good co-organiser (The Collectives Arts worked tirelessly to produce the scene), supportive government authorities (who were keen and willing to stoke the creative fire of local talents and small businesses), our hardworking BiG team, and an enthusiastic community thirsty for an artistic channel to connect to. It is the beginning of an era when creative hands in the country can join together and rock that cradle of artistic culture. Let’s give them a round of applause!

biG stands for Borneo Insider’s Guide. It is a quarterly magazine that aims to entertain and share with readers the best there is to offer on lifestyle and travel in enigmatic Borneo and beyond. It is distributed at travel fairs, international events and Brunei high commissions abroad.

Publisher

CHMP MEDIA Editor-At-Large

Wan Zainal Shazali Editor

Pauline Chan Assistant Editor

Intan Abu Daniel Designer

Novri Rinaldi Editorial

Pamela Fletcher Thanis Lim Iris Tan Heidi Munan Sales & Marketing

Bina Chauhan Brunei | biG contact@borneoinsidersguide.com T: (673) 2331031 F: (673) 2231031 Unit 49, Second Floor Haji Munchit & Hajah Dayang Rapiah Complex Kg Jaya Setia, Berakas, BD2713 Brunei Darussalam

biG is available at the arrival hall of Brunei International Airport, Brunei Tourism offices, Royal Brunei Airlines business class, all hotels, popular food and beverage outlets and foreign missions in Brunei. biG has a distribution network in the neighbouring states through the Sabah and Sarawak Tourism Boards as well as via prominent hotels in the respective capitals. Besides being Brunei’s very own publication for bridging its residents with a myriad of commercial and cultural offerings within the country, each issue also serves as the world’s window into the rich tapestry of Borneo’s life and culture. www.borneoinsidersguide.com

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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various writers in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of biG Magazine.

events

biG dates

Jun

TO look 3-4

out FOR

SUNSET MUSIC FEST Sabah

Savour classical and contemporary performances at the tip of Borneo while taking in a view of the spectacular sunset in the background.

this quarter Apr 2-3 SUZUKI CHALLENGE CUP

Brunei

Organised by Boustead Sdn Bhd together with Persatuan Kereta Tahan Lasak Brunei (PKTLB), this is a four-wheel drive challenge for all the Suzuki 4WD drivers out there!

Set to take place in Tanah Jambu, this is a race for 4WD enthusiasts to test out their vehicles under extreme road conditions.

May

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ISRA’ MI’RAJ

Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak A holiday celebrating the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Muslims observe this day with special prayers and gatherings at mosques.

Apr 4-6 CLIMATE CAMP Brunei

Apr 22-24 23 REGATTA LEPA RD

SEMPORNA Sabah

Teenage participants of the Climate Camp, to be held at Sumbiling Eco Village in Temburong, will undertake various activities to gain a better understanding of the importance of climate change issues and environmental situations in Brunei.

An annual event that pays homage to the lepa – a traditional single-mast sailing boat of the Bajau tribe. Watch a flotilla of colourful boats compete for the title of ‘Most Beautiful Lepa’. There are also cultural performances, a beauty pageant, fireworks display and traditional games.

Jun 3-4 RANAU INTERNATIONAL PARAGLIDING

Contents

Sabah

biG talk We chat with personalities and discover their specialties.

ACCURACY CHAMPIONSHIP (RIPAC)

This aerial sport championship takes place in the hilly region of Ranau - a popular launchpad for paragliders.

May 13-14

BORNEO JAZZ FESTIVAL 2016 Sarawak Held in Miri for the 11th year, the Borneo Jazz Festival promises a great time with a fantastic line-up of jazz musicians from around the world.

www.bruneitourism.travel | www.sabahtourism.com | www.sarawaktourism.com

biG dates Get out and about; let us show you what you can do around Borneo this quarter. biG scoop We scour around town and discover the newest and best products for you to love and desire this quarter. biG feature Take a closer look at what the Borneo Islanders are up to. biG trail Follow our plucky writers as they bring you stories from around Borneo. biG focus See who and

what we’re pointing our cameras at.

biG buzz We put our ears up and find out what is buzzing in town. made in Borneo We learn more about inspiring locals who have made their mark in Borneo. biG appetite We try the food so you can follow suit. Check out our food journeys.

biG listings We make a list of places to eat, drink and chill. biG essentials Here are some helpful tips for visitors just stepping onto our shores. biG navigator Find your bearings in Bandar Seri Begawan, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching with our walking maps of hot spots around the capital. biG screen See what’s playing in the movies around town.

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

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biG feature

Coffee and Instagram Imagine a paper cup filled with delicious hot brewed coffee delivered to your office or your home at a click of a button. With online vendors at large these days, it’s never been easier for consumers to have things delivered– so why not coffee? And if you can’t have it delivered, you can arrange to have it picked up at a convenient location. So browse through Instagram, pick your desired cup of coffee and let these online coffee vendors do the rest!

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& 3 The Krema @the_krema (673) 897 3600 2 Ran’s Coffee Bn @ranscoffeebn (673) 8697700 Aingnuman @aingnuman (673) 899 8668 5 The Dream Coffee @thedreamcoffee (673) 860 2558

biG scoop

The Krema of the Crop

The Trick to Youthful Skin Good news for all those fighting their first signs of wrinkles: The Body Shop has found a pretty good substitute to the elusive fountain of youth! The Drops of Youth™ is infused with a trio of

potent plant stem cells known to encourage natural skin renewal.

Use the range in your daily skin care regime and notice the difference – skin is hydrated, lines are smoothened and skin looks rested. One bottle of this bestselling concentrate is bought every 23 seconds worldwide, confirming what we never dared to believe

before: youthful-looking skin can be achieved from a bottle.

Available at all The Body Shop outlets in Brunei.

The Body Shop Grd Flr, The Mall, Gadong Bandar Seri Begawan Tel: (673) 245 0339 www.thebodyshop.com

It’s In The Bag Ever wanted a designer handbag but can’t get past the hefty price tag? Apart from its exclusive collection of brand new designer bags, Paris Station at Oceanus Mall also takes in pre-loved designer bags looking for new owners to give them the love and attention they deserve. Product authenticity is verified by its in-house experts to ensure that you get the real thing but at a more affordable price. Paris Station also offers its signature ‘spa’ treatments to rejuvenate your favourite designer bags to make them smell and look almost new again. Brand new or pre-loved, a designer bag is a must for any fashionista!

Paris Station Lot G36, Oceanus Waterfront Mall Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, 88000 Kota Kinabalu Tel: (6088) 273 673, (6019) 833 3969

No time for a coffee run? No problem. The Krema is here to make sure that you don’t have to go any further than your front door for a cup of coffee. Wake up to a latte at your doorstep in the morning or have it delivered to your office.

Offering delicious varieties of coffees, The Krema ensures that the coffee delivered into your hands is a pleasing cup of hot or iced caffeine treat.

All you need to do is text them your order and your caffeine fix will be on its way!

Look out for The Krema’s brick and mortar shop that will be offering more drip coffee, cold drips, pour-overs and more ways to enjoy your coffee.

Opening soon!

The Krema Coffee Instagram: @The_Krema Tel: (673) 897 3600

I Heart Washi What is washi tape? It has the same texture as masking tape – but with patterns and designs that makes it so much prettier – which you can use to decorate anything from notebooks, gifts, even your mobile phone.

ILoveWashi sells these pretty rolls of patterned tape in cubes around Brunei, so hit Pinterest for some washi ideas and start decorating!

ILoveWashi Cube W36 at Rent A Cube – The Mall, Gadong Cube S4 at De’Cube Shop – Times Square Shopping Complex Cube 16C at My Little Cube – KB Sentral Instagram: @ilovewashi Facebook: www.facebook.com/ ilovewashiwhodoesnt

Great Gifts

by Flint and Steel This local label is the brainchild of a pair of twin sisters who wanted to create their own brand of designer products. Quirky and unique with a whole lot of cute, Flint and Steel Co offers quality paper goods and gifts designed by them. From notepads and mugs to planners and postcards, visit their website to check out the lovely gift ideas they have in store, or maybe you could just buy them for yourself!

Visit www.flintandsteelborneo.com for more information Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

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BiG

feature

I WANT MY COFFEE! You can’t turn a corner in any city in Borneo today without passing a coffee shop, whether it’s an international franchise that serves caffeine with seasonal flavours or an independent café selling artisanal coffee in painfully cool surroundings.

In this issue of BiG, we talk about coffee, coffee and more coffee, and for your benefit, we also list down a few cool coffee shops that serve the best cups of coffee for you to try out. (Word to the wise: don’t try them all at once – not unless you’re planning on staying awake until December.)

ess n i s u The B ing biG feature

ew r b of

ffee o C might think Some people are slow to that Bruneians ffee craze e co catch up on th eated the rm pe s ha at th is I say: better world but to th Today, the r! late than neve ee has made ff co of business ing stars in baristas the ris rage scene ve be d an the food le are talking here and peop s. Making bean about coffee st a business ju t no is ee coff the coffee d an t, but an ar cs. With iti drinkers, its cr ving into a ol ev re coffee cultu nei, we talk to lifestyle in Bru egrown café m ho a few key e e a part of th owners that ar om here. local coffee bo Intan Abu Daniel

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High Frequency Lifestyle Café High Frequency Café sits comfortably in Batu Bersurat, selling specialty coffee and a menu of gourmet dishes.

Here you can enjoy a cup of joe while sitting on retro furniture amongst the hip and the happening in this eclectic café. But providing a place to be seen is not this outlet’s priority – serving you the right cup of coffee is.

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Café owner Po Loong Ng is a certified barista from the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) and he does not take the business of coffee lightly: baristas in his café are personally trained by him and the coffee beans used are of specialty coffee grade. And a specialty cup of coffee comes from specialty coffee beans – defined according to the SCAE as coffee beans that are graded on a 100-point scale, which are grown in ideal climates in certain soils that

result in its unique flavours and tastes. Add the Victoria Arduino Black Eagle espresso machine – the first and only one of its kind in Brunei – with a trained barista and you’ve got yourself a really, really, really good cup of coffee.

As the folks over at High Frequency say, “The quality remains long after the price has been forgotten.” And that’s exactly how a cup of coffee from High Frequency is to us: unforgettable, and worth every cent.

No need to go fancy in High Frequency – order a cup of latte, sit back and savour that full-bodied taste of coffee.

High Frequency Café is located at 1st Flr, Unit 5, Blk B, Sempurna Complex, Batu Bersurat or you can call them at (673) 242 8262 recommends

Piccolo Café In a time of specialty cafés with gimmicky ideas to pull the customers in, Piccolo Café keeps things classic

biG feature

1. A cup of coffee is prepared at Another Cafe 2. The modern interior of High Frequency Lifestyle Cafe 3. A cup of Lavender Latte from Piccolo Cafe 4. The unique interior of Another Cafe

and simple. Located in the city center, owner Kristy Lim didn’t hesitate to open a café in what was once considered the quietest location in Brunei, despite warnings from her

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friends. Catering to the tourists and the numerous people working in the area, and along with the improvements made to the city center since she first opened her café in August 2014, she has no reason to regret her choice.

To make a good cup of coffee, Kristy believes that simplicity and consistency is key. All baristas are trained by her to ensure that all cups of coffee are of the same standard, so no matter when you order their coffee, it will not vary. The coffee beans used are roasted fresh and ground just before making a cup of coffee, and fresh milk is used, whenever it is possible. The focus on consistency has paid off in spades, and these days when you’re looking for a good caffeine fix, Piccolo Café is always on the list of recommendations.

Try their Lavender Latte – a latte sweetened with syrup infused with real lavender flowers. Unique and delicious.

Piccolo Café is located at #11 Jln McArthur, BSB or you can call them at (673) 224 1558 recommends

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Another Café Situated in the busy center of Kiulap, this café consistently sees regular patronage and it’s not unusual to find it bustling with customers in the evenings.

The cafe’s grey stripped walls and floors, bare bulbs, visible pipes and wires all contribute to an industrial look that puts the ‘hip’ in this hipster look, and you’ll find many a skinny-jeaned patron making themselves comfortable here and ordering their usual. Its second branch in the city centre has a more rustic look to it, but when it comes to coffee, the two branches do not differ.

When Another Café opened in May 2014, café owner Perry Lim was his own barista and his own lab rat, trying out different beans and techniques until he found the perfect taste. Even today, he continues to experiment and all the coffee beans used are from Hong Kong, specially blended and roasted for him.

“Our coffees now consist of this blend because I love the dark roast, the boldness of its flavor, the nutty taste and the slight acidity with a hint of citrus,” Perry explained. To maintain the quality of every cup of coffee, he trains his own baristas into replicating the same taste, never allowing a barista to serve his patrons until he is satisfied with their coffee.

The hard work and attention to detail has paid off - its unique interior designs and consistently excellent cups of coffees have proven that Another Café is not just another coffee joint.

A cup of Flat White, arguably the best in Brunei.

Another Café is located at #2 Grd Flr Hj Abd Rahman Complex, Kg Kiulap or you can call them at (673) 223 3593 recommends

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biG feature

Brewing for Perfection

Where would you go for a good cup of coffee? If you are like the majority of coffee drinkers in Sabah, you would head over to your favourite ‘kopitiam’ (coffee shop) for a cup of strong dark coffee served with sugar, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk or just plain black.

Pamela Fletcher

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hese rustic kopitiams have been the mainstay of Sabah’s coffee culture for decades where patrons go to indulge in neighbourhood gossip, talk politics or grab a quick pick-me-up. The distinctive dark colour, taste and aroma come from coffee beans harvested from estates in the interior and east coast where it was first planted in the 1800s. Tenom district, located some 150km south of Kota Kinabalu, is the heartland of Sabah’s coffee industry where the popular Robusta species is grown,

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roasted and distributed to coffee shops throughout Sabah. Two of the biggest coffee factories, Yit Foh and Fatt Choi, still use the traditional method of roasting their coffee beans over a wood fire to bring out the full aroma of the Robusta beans.

The lesser grown Borneo Liberica coffee bean is known for its unique pungent aroma with a bitter sour taste. You get that extra kick or ‘kaw’ (strong) from this robust bean which Cap Kuda Coffee Company, one of Sabah’s largest coffee manufacturers, wants to make popular in the

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1. October Café enhances its cozy interior décor with casual seating areas to catch up over a cup of coffee and a little nibble 2. Locally trained baristas are now finding their niche in Sabah’s growing trend of independent cafes serving specialty coffees 3. Santola Café uses Liberica beans in its coffee mix to produce its signature strong black coffee

..achieving the right balance of taste, aroma and acidity by skillfully roasting and mixing coffee beans for that perfect brew is the personality of each cafe. market. Mixed with coffee beans from all over the world, Liberica beans offer a full-bodied coffee experience for the palate that is desired by die-hard local coffee drinkers. The beans are sourced from only one estate in Ranau and are served in the company’s branded Santola cafes in the city.

The company also runs its own coffee school with programmes ranging from understanding coffee, to roasting, advanced coffee making and running your own café.

Locally trained baristas are now finding their niche in Sabah’s evolving coffee culture with the emergence of independent cafés.

While traditional coffee shops are still doing brisk business with their legions of loyal customers, international coffee chains such as Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and a growing list of independent cafés run by young entrepreneurs are giving these baristas the opportunity to change the way coffee drinkers look at a cup of coffee.

The third wave of coffee culture began to take root in Sabah about three years ago when Sabahans who had studied, worked or travelled abroad brought back with them a different appreciation for coffee. Influenced by new technologies and lifestyle

changes, they wanted to recreate a similar experience for coffee drinkers at home. Having a barista to brew a cup of specialty coffee is just one of many adaptations in Sabah’s new wave coffee culture.

Of equal importance to achieving the right balance of taste, aroma and acidity by skillfully roasting and mixing coffee beans for that perfect brew is the personality of each café.

Interior decor run the gamut from chic to artistic with comfortable seating, ambient lighting and art pieces hanging off the walls. These cafés often have a selection of homemade cakes, pastries and other snacks to complement your brew of the day and stay open till late, long after your neighbourhood kopitiam has closed for the day.

Preparation techniques such as drip, siphon and French press add a level of sophistication to your usual run-of-the-mill coffee as do the choice of coffee beans from every major coffee growing country in the world. This holistic approach to preparing a cup of specialty coffee comes with a price that purists of the kopitiam genre often balk at and is an opinion that prevails.

With the third wave still a ripple, independent cafes are apt to set up shop near more affluent residential areas or suburban business hubs away from the proliferation of traditional coffee shops. Coffee lovers all agree that what makes a good cup of coffee is very subjective and up to individual taste but appreciating the uniqueness of each coffee bean, its flavor and tasting notes is a wonderfully uplifting experience.

Café owners in and around Kota Kinabalu are a close-knit community bent on riding the wave of change and, for now, fulfilling the cravings of a new set of coffee lovers that have emerged from Sabah’s long history of coffee culture.

Here are some specialty coffee places to check out:

biG feature

PREGIO by Barista Caffe Metro Town, Block J-0-1, Ground Floor Corner Unit, Jalan Bunga Ulam Raja, Kota Kinabalu Open: 9.30am-6pm. Closed on Wednesdays Tel: (6088) 382 579 www.facebook.com/ PREGIO.Sabah INCH Coffee Movement 1B, Perdana Park, 88100 Kota Kinabalu Open: 2pm-10pm Closed on Mondays Tel: (6016) 639 3807 www.facebook.com /inchcoffee Adelphi & Co 24, Block C, Damai Plaza, Luyang Open: Mon-Fri (10am-10pm), Sat (10am-11pm), Sun (10am-5pm) www.facebook.com/ adelphicoffee The B Side 21, Ground floor, Lido Plaza, Jalan Nosoob Hungab, Penampang Open: Tues-Thur (10am11pm), Fri (10am-12am), Sat (9am-12am), Sun (9am-11pm) Tel: (6088) 715 453 www.facebook.com/ thebsidekk October Café The Peak Vista, Lorong Puncak 1, Tanjung Lipat Open: 10am-10pm daily except the last Wednesday of every month www.facebook.com/ 10OctoberCoffeeHouse

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biG feature

Top Coffee Shops in Kuching The food city of Kuching might be famous for their mouthwatering laksa and kolok mee but when in Kuching, one must certainly check out the coffee culture, which is gaining popularity with the social media savvy generation. While there are international coffee franchises in Kuching, there is a growing number of local artisan cafes. Here’s a list of my top picks of cafes in Kuching.

Thanis Lim

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Earthlings Coffee Workshop Earthlings prides itself as not only a café that has internationally trained and certified baristas, but they also roast their own coffee beans and supply them to other local cafes in the region. You can choose from different blends for your lattes and cappuccinos but for the true coffee connoisseur, you will be happy to try their great selection of single origin pour-

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overs. It is the favourite place for many who enjoy a cup of coffee tailored to their liking. They have two branches but I prefer the branch at Soho East Hq. I would say they serve the best coffee in Kuching.

Sublot 16, Soho East Hq, Lot 188, Lorong 5 Jalan Wan Alwi, 93300 Kuching Tel: (6082) 337 066 Open daily: 10am-11pm

Sukha Cafe Sukha is a cozy cafe with an unusual décor: tables are reconstructed from sewing machines, bicycle wheels hang from the ceiling and there are curious ornaments in each corner of the café.

The coffees are up to standard but their café food is the main attraction. They serve very good crispy fried chicken with their signature

waffles, and gorgeous-looking caramelized apple waffles with apple slices arranged in the shape of a rose on top of the waffles. Be sure to try their famous nasi lemak!

Ground Floor, Lot 11963, Block 16, Brighton Square, Jalan Song, 93350 Kuching Tel: (6082) 454 158 Open: 11am-10.30pm (closed on Wednesdays)

biG feature

Black Bean Coffee & Tea Company

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Located at the famous heritage Carpenter Street, this tiny café with a nostalgic feel showcases a unique style of coffee. Sarawak coffee beans, which is usually brewed the traditional way in local kopitiams are brewed here using espresso machines.

Besides Sarawak coffee, they also serve coffees using Arabica, Liberica and Robusta beans grown in Java and Sumatra, as well as premium Oolong and green teas from Taiwan. You can enjoy a cup of coffee here after the touristy heritage walk along Carpenter Street.

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87, Ewe Hai Street (Carpenter St), 93000 Kuching Tel: (6082) 420 290 Open: 9am–6pm (Mon-Sat)

Coffee Factory Coffee Factory is quite a drive from the city center, located next to a music store (owned by the same proprietor) and opposite an army camp. The spacious two-storey café showcases a bar-like set up on ground level with a loftlike setting on the first floor and a metal mezzanine floor.

Reclaimed wood and metal garden chairs round up the décor of the place. They serve a good mix of Asian and Western dishes to go with the good coffee here. I like the idea of having a cup of latte while having a spicy nasi goreng served with chicken satay, and a delicious crepe cake as my happy ending!

JT Building, 7th Mile, Kuching-Serian Road, 93250 Kuching Tel: (6082) 627 050 Open daily: 1pm–11:45pm (Mon) / 10am–11:45pm (Tues-Sun)

Rusty Bean & Batter

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1. Enjoying a cup of coffee at Earthlings Coffee Workshop 2. Dessert is served at the Rusty Bean & Batter 3. Black Bean Coffee & Tea Company, located along the famous heritage site Carpenter Street 4. The cozy interior of Sukha Cafe 5. The spacious interior of the Coffee Factory

Sporting a vintage décor, you will notice the warm light bulbs that are scattered throughout the ceiling attached to vintagelooking pipes, and the rustic painted wooden furniture in the café. The café serves an all day breakfast menu: poached eggs, sandwiches, waffles, pancakes, and a good selection of coffee, juices and smoothies, all beautifully presented for all your hip Instagramming pleasures.

M42/M43, Level 1, ST3 Shopping Mall, Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching Tel: (6019) 633 8866 Open: 10am-12am

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

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BiG snapshot This photo of a happy boy running home from school through heavy rain was taken at Kampong Ayer.

Novri Rinaldi

BiG trail

Intan Abu Daniel Novri Rinaldi

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Should you recycle?

When we recycle, used materials are converted into new products, which means that we use less natural resources, hence protecting more natural habitats - less trees are cut down for paper, less energy is used to extract raw materials, leading to a reduction in air and water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions which is causing havoc on our world climates.

To helm this kind of project you would need businesses to take our trash away, literally, so that instead of having our trash buried underground, burned or piled

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up, they are sorted, baled, shipped off and then broken down and processed to begin their lives anew.

Recycling, in a nutshell, is a multiwin situation.

In Brunei, there is an increasing public awareness on the necessity of recycling. Project Manager of Daikyo Environmental Recycling Sdn Bhd, Jeffrey Hung said, “Before, recycling was solely an incentive to earn some cash, but these days, recycling gets a lot of coverage from the media, and from private companies and the government. We work closely with the Department of Environment,

Parks and Recreation (JASTRE) that falls under the Ministry of Development. Every year we celebrate a National Environmental Awareness Day.”

Sort Out Your Trash!

Trash is collected from government buildings, private offices, supermarkets, schools and other public areas. The papers are manually sorted into five different categories: newspaper, cardboard, glossy finish paper (like in magazines), black paper and mixed coloured paper. They are compressed into

bales, weighing about 1,000kg on average. Daikyo exports 15 containers to China every two weeks and 28,000kg of bales are needed for one 40-footer container. These bales of paper are drowned in an Olympic-sized pool that washes the paper into pulp, so if there’s any contamination (such as an errant sheet of black paper in a bale of white) it would ruin the entire production process.

Much of the same is done to the rest of the trash: sorted, segregated, compressed and exported to different countries for a new lease of life. The manual

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1. Cardboard paper is compressed into bales 2. Aluminum cans are compressed into bales before being shipped off 3. Sorting through electronic waste 4. Jeffrey Hung, Project Manager of Daiko Environmental Recycling Sdn Bhd

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labour that goes into recycling and sorting is intensive, as staff spend hours and days going through the trash carefully to make sure that not one errant piece of material is in the wrong pile before it gets compressed.

So when recycle bins are filled with the wrong kind of trash, it just makes the work less efficient and more tedious.

“We hesitate to direct people to the nearest recycle bins because sometimes they’re just not used properly. Sometimes they’re full of rubbish. Not all of them are but

for those that are, we don’t turn a blind eye to it. We supply bins for free, but if it’s misused, we take them back and put them in a location where it will hopefully be used properly.”

So can everyone please stop throwing the wrong kind of trash into the recycle bins?

From Bins to the Depot Right now, Daikyo has two depots in Brunei: one in Serasa (just before the entrance to Serasa Beach) and the other in Kuala

5. Recycling bins such as these are distributed in certain locations around Brunei 6. Papers are manually sorted before going into the baling machine

Belait. “We would appreciate more locations for our depots in each district. Some of the feedback people give us is that Muara is so far away! So that’s why we do pickup and collections. As long as one place has roughly 100kg worth of trash, wherever you may be in Brunei, we’ll come and collect it. It’s a free pick-up service and we pay them for the recyclables.”

“We also collect condemned cars and take on electronic waste, which is hazardous and it can’t be disposed of in landfills. Daikyo is the only company in Brunei that accepts e-waste and have the license to export it to Japan.”

“Collections are mapped out strategically, that’s why the minimum weight is 100kg.

Anything less will leave a carbon footprint. We have to be sustainable not just in our business but in our practices as well.”

In conclusion?

“Someone once said: if you bury metal in the ground, ten or twenty

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years, it’ll still be there,” Jeffrey explains, “Whereas if you recycle it, you’re not just helping your country, but also the planet that we call home, and it’s the only home we have right now.”

So, should you recycle?

The short answer: yes

For more information on Daikyo Environmental Recycling Sdn Bhd services, contact their hotline: 277 3380, email daikyorecycling@gmail.com or visit their website www.daikyorecycle.com For more information on recycling and other recycling companies around Brunei, download the PDF format of the Recycle 123 Handbook on the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation website: www.env.gov.bn

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biG trail

Out of the Shadows Mt Trusmadi is the second highest mountain in Sabah and Malaysia, but is often overlooked by mountain climbers who naturally favour Mt Kinabalu, which is the highest at 4,095m and has the most developed summit trail.

Pamela Fletcher

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t 2,642m (8,668ft), Mt Trusmadi may sound like an easier trek judging by its height, but its narrow trail with dramatically steep inclines towards the summit can be a real test of endurance. There are some steps and ropes to help you over the steepest parts but more often than not, you’ll be pulling yourself up by the tree roots. The soft mossy ground at higher elevation can also get pretty mucky and

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slippery during the rainy season, which makes walking, and staying clean even more challenging.

There are three trails up Mt Trusmadi from the districts of Tambunan, Keningau and Sook.

Dennis Ikon has been running Tainiskon Camp in Sinua village in Sook since 2010. With years of experience as a jungle guide, he has trained many of the youths in the village to be guides and porters. Their enthusiasm and care in what they do make walking this beautiful and challenging trail a fantastic experience.

The Manan Trail from Sinua takes two days to complete,

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1. A view of the summit of Mt Trusmadi (the peak on the left side) 2. Porters and guides help with carrying equipment and leading groups through the trails 3. Pitcher plants can be found along the route 4. A breathtaking view on the trail to the Mt Trusmadi 5. Views while trekking from the first peak to the summit of Mt Trusmadi

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traversing over two lower peaks before reaching the summit with an overnight camp ground located just before the first peak.

Water is very scarce except for rain water collected at the camp so trekkers have to ensure that they have enough water to last them through the trek.

Reaching the summit for sunrise is often the goal but opting to watch the sun rise at the first peak is equally, if not more, spectacular. The landscape here is more open than the summit and you get a sweeping view of the valleys under a blanket of clouds as the

sun’s rays pierce the horizon.

Taking this option also gives you the opportunity to do the rest of the trek in daylight to admire the surrounding vegetation, especially pitcher plants which grow profusely along the route.

Mt Trusmadi may be the second highest mountain in Sabah but it is not second-rated, and the people who are there to share its beauty with you are first class. It is time for Mt Trusmadi to come out of the shadows and take its rightful place as one of the not-tobe missed experiences for mountain climbers in Sabah.

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elcoming, diverse and full of natural beauty, Brunei offers a unique environment in which to learn: a safe haven where students can develop the intellectual, social and leadership skills necessary for success in the global community.

Built on over 300 acres and surrounded by a breath-taking coastline and pristine rainforest, Jerudong International School (JIS) offers a broad, liberal British and International curriculum (with IGCSE, International Baccalaureate and A–Level examinations) in the heart of South East Asia.

Promoting traditional values and a global outlook through its holistic approach to education, JIS has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 1997, now boasting a student body of over 1700 from across 55 nationalities comprising day pupils, weekly and full boarders. The school ethos is based around six key aims: Leadership, Active Engagement, Language, Integration, Thinking and Participation, working together to empower students to achieve excellence in all that they do.

JIS Principal Mr Barnaby Sandow comments, “An education in the boarding houses provides a nurturing environment where children thrive. Ultimately, they emerge as well-rounded, self-sufficient individuals that are capable of success as independent citizens on the global stage. They understand the importance of community and have the self-belief to make a positive impact on the variety of societies into which they graduate.”

There is no better way to view a school than through the eyes of its students. For George and Carolyn Brien, education is a thoroughly family affair and all three of their children (17 year old Kate, 16 year old James and 14 year old William) are boarders at JIS. The vertical House system is designed to foster community values and a healthy

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Boarding in Brunei

- A home away from home at Jerudong International School Katherine Duckling sense of competition from an early age. These Houses play a vital role in establishing and maintaining a strong school spirit, and the dedicated live–in boarding staff work tirelessly to create a ‘home away from home’ that is safe, secure and above all, caring. It is this unique environment that prompted the Briens to opt for boarding for their children.

“What we like about the boarding experience is the quality mentors guiding them through their teenage years,” said George and Carolyn

Brien. They added, “It is important to have other adults in their lives who take a genuine interest in their well being. This ethos flows into the school, whether you are academic, athletic or into the arts. The children have many opportunities to excel with quality teachers who are able to elicit the most out of them.”

Kate is a long-standing JIS student. Currently in her final year of the International Baccalaureate (IB), she has been at JIS since September 2011. “It’s the sense of

community that makes JIS what it is. All of us are proud to be students there. I’m not sure there are many schools where students genuinely love being there,” she says.

House Captain for girls’ boarding House Osprey, Kate is making the most of the Sixth Form. She plays in the women’s touch rugby league (with matches against people of all ages across Brunei), and recently completed her Gold International Award (in the UK known as Duke of Edinburgh or DofE award)

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culminating in a two-week trip to the Himalayas in India, trekking and working with local communities to build houses in the magical setting of Spiti. An experience that Kate describes as ‘life-changing’, the Duke of Edinburgh is hugely popular at JIS despite the large time commitment that is demanded of the students, with a total of 157 students signing up for the International Award this year - 80 achieving Bronze, 46 Silver and 31 Gold.

Part of the student team that implemented the Polio Points system across the school (a meritsbased reward system whereby student achievement across the

six school aims is converted into Polio vaccines), Kate believes that JIS’ dynamic, inclusive environment enables students to have the confidence to lead their own projects and take on challenges they might not have thought possible. “The staff is unbelievably supportive, both inside and outside the classroom,” she explains. “The boarding community is especially encouraging – we have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, each with different interests, and their enthusiasm for everything rubs off on us.”

Kate, who is planning to read International Relations at university, continues, “Although I’m looking 2

forward to starting university and all the challenges that will bring, I also kind of don’t want the experience at JIS to end. And that’s definitely due to the incredible fun I have boarding – it’s extra special.”

Her youngest brother William is in Year 9, studying a wide range of subjects based on the English National Curriculum. Passionate about music, William takes full advantage of the Arts Centre (containing a 725 seat auditorium, dance studios, smaller theatres and rehearsal rooms) and performs regularly in the school’s varied programme of musical events, including the annual “Showcase” and most recently, the whole school production of Les Miserables in December 2015. William, a singer, guitarist and frontman in a band, explains, “I really love the practice rooms and the amazing performance spaces on offer. Performing in Les Miserables to over 700 people was incredible, like being in a professional theatre. It’s not like

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1. House Captain Kate plans Boarding events with Osprey Housemistress, Mrs Scott and fellow student, Gayatri.

2. As an IB Diploma student, Kate is studying 6 subjects in small classes 3. Les Miserables gave William an opportunity to show his dramatic flair 4. Head down! James is in the final year of his IGCSEs

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most schools, and I realize how spoilt we are!”

Like most teenage boys William also loves sports and plays both football and basketball, and has fond memories of a football tour to Phuket.

The impressive range of sports facilities (an outdoor swimming pool, gymnasium, netball, basketball and tennis courts, together with soccer and rugby fields) is about to be boosted still further when the new sports hall, featuring a fully equipped gym and indoor pool, is completed in January 2017.

In the same boarding house as his younger brother, James (Year 11), is currently studying IGCSE, with plans to take the IB next year.

James enjoys the wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer and credits boarding with enabling him to do more than he might otherwise be able to as a day pupil.

Currently busy completing his Silver Duke of Edinburgh, James is hoping to follow in his sister’s footsteps at Gold, either in the jungles of Sabah or the mountains of India.

“We get to do DofE training in the rainforest and on the deserted beaches of the South China Sea. It’s pretty incredible,” comments James. “The outdoors is definitely a big plus of being a student here.”

As Year 11 rep for the Upper Years Council, James is passionate about student rights and is an avid debater, chairing JIS’ Model United Nations (MUN). Interested in world issues, both Kate and James have represented JIS at The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) at Singapore and various locations across South East Asia.

“I really value the diversity at JIS. I have friends from all sorts of different cultures and nationalities, and there are so many opportunities to travel in the region that we almost start taking it for granted,” James enthuses. “It makes the discussions in class and activities such as MUN a lot more interesting, as we have a wider range of experience and attitudes to draw from.”

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Wheeling Towards a Good Cause A trio of like-minded souls converged with a shared purpose and cycle around the globe together on a ‘World Bicycle Tour’. Their goals are twofold and equal in importance: to spread awareness about environmental issues and HIV/AIDS. Intan Abu Daniel

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efore Dr Amrit Baral, Mr Shankar Poudel and Mr Ajit Baral began their journey, they all had their own reasons for going on a world cycling tour. As a member of Dirghayu Nepal (a local NGO in Nepal), Dr Amrit Baral visited many villages affected by the devastating earthquake that hit the country on 25 April last year, to treat and supply basic relief materials to victims.

It was during these visits that he decided to embark on this cycling trip and deliver a message to the whole world about how the environment can impact a country for the worst.

Mr Ajit Baral’s journey began in the city where he was born, Pokhara – a city of beautiful lakes and rivers, breathtaking waterfalls and green forests.

Growing up in this city, he began to notice the deterioration of his home – the lakes were polluted, deforestation rid his city of its natural resources and beauty, and he wondered if a small city like this can face such issues, what about the rest of the world?

So he began his journey with his two comrades to inspire people to preserve their environment.

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Mr Shankar Poudel started his cycling journey a decade ago but was forced to abort his mission when his grandmother passed away. He was actively doing social work in the villages of Nepal for various organizations before he got back on his bicycle to continue spreading the message of environment preservation to the world.

The trio began their tour on 20 September in their native Nepal and has since travelled to most parts of India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam before arriving in Brunei. So far, the voyage has provided many memorable moments for them, from camping in the forests of Laos, sleeping in pagodas in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, and facing immigration issues in Cambodia, to being hosted in the house of a nice man named Joe Nguyen from Saigon in Vietnam, whose mother cooked delicious food for them. They spent a total of 10 days touring Brunei, continuing their mission to educate youths about the dangers of HIV/AIDS as well as the importance of protecting the environment from pollution.

Human beings are united by one common problem: the dilapidation of our shared environment and its impact on the planet.

The environment is our home and our food source, and the importance of conserving our natural resources is colossal.

Pollution is a major factor in the degradation of our environment and protecting the planet against it should be a major priority.

Their journey is far from over – the troika intends to travel by bicycle to a total of 100 countries within a span of five years, touching every continent except Antarctica. Their last stop will be China, and from there they will cycle to Tibet and then finally, back home to Nepal.

Support their cause! Go to www.gofundme.com/worldtourcyclists to donate funds for their mission.

To learn more about their World Cycle Tour, email world.tournepal34@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page: World Tour Cyclists – An Awareness Project.

Equally important and also unsolved is HIV/AIDS. As of the end of 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 36.9 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS, 2.6 million of which were children under the age of 15, the vast majority of which are living in low- to middleincome countries. It is one of the world’s most serious health and development challenges. Today, despite efforts from the global health community and leading organisations, most people living with HIV do not have access to prevention, care and treatment, and there is still no cure.

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BiG talk

All Creatures Great and Small When Ada Ang was a teenager living in Singapore, her house was full of rescued animals.

When she moved to Brunei, her big compassionate heart would not allow her to turn a blind eye to the suffering of the stray cats and dogs in the streets so she rescued them.

It became an ongoing mission and over the years, the growing number of rescued strays and injured animals became too much for Ada to handle alone, so in 2009, with a group of likeminded people, she founded the non-profit organization Care & Actions For Strays (CAS).

Intan Abu Daniel

Novri Rinaldi

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da Ang was kind enough to take time out of her incredibly hectic schedule to talk about what we can do collectively to help the stray animals issue in Brunei and make our environment a better place for both humans and animals.

How will good stray management benefit our society?

A lot of people think that CAS is all about animals, but we are also working for our society.

Mahatma Gandhi once said: the moral standards of a country can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Urban strays is a problem

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caused by irresponsible pet ownership and to effectively control this issue, the community must work together. If we can work together to reduce strays via a humane method, there will be less animals suffering, less stress for the people and the society benefits as a whole.

How can we enforce effective stray management in the community?

For effective stray management, we need mobile clinics that will go around and sterilise all the stray animals in what we call the Trap, Neuter and Release program, where we capture the strays, neuter them, and release them back into their area.

Legislation will play a vital part in this management, and licensing

of animals must be enforced. Do all of this, all at the same time, and the stray population will drop.

So how can someone contribute to this cause?

To begin with: practise responsible pet ownership. Sterilise and neuter your pets, and don’t let them roam the streets. Don’t buy pets, adopt instead.

Not only do you save money, you are giving a stray animal a home too. And the key important thing: be patient and tolerant of the animals. The Trap, Neuter and Release program requires time, so please be tolerant and understanding, eventually you will see the stray population drop.

Most don’t realize that spaying and neutering animals benefit the animals and society. Is public awareness still an issue in Brunei?

Our real issue here is our lack of manpower. Education is the cornerstone of the work that we do. What we’re doing now is, what we call, a knee-jerk reaction, but to solve the root cause of the problem, the long-term solution here is to educate the younger generation. If we have a good team of teachers or volunteers who can educate children in schools and the community on a committed and consistent basis, then that would be a big help.

Is there an interview process before someone can adopt an animal?

Yes, we have a very strict process.

First, we conduct a phone interview when we’ll ask questions about their household and why they want to adopt an animal – these are asked for safety reasons: to ensure that the animal is a good match with the potential owner. After that, we will bring the animal to the new owner’s home to meet the family.

If all goes well, the candidate has to fill in an adoption form and only then will we release the animal to them. We have strict conditions: the animal must not be passed around and we also require that all animals adopted from us are sterilised or neutered when they’re old enough.

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Save A Life, Adopt an Animal “Humanity’s true moral test, its fundamental test, consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals.”

– Milan Kundera

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ountry, culture, religion, animal type, society, ignorance – all of that shouldn’t be an excuse, because no animal should be treated with cruelty.

Strays spend their day-to-day lives never knowing what to expect from humans. Some are lucky to have lives that are, for the most part, uninterrupted and carefree. And then, there are others that suffer terribly.

These ‘Industrial Dogs’ were found in a warehouse. The mother, Choco, was first taken in by a worker in the factory to

be used as a guard dog. While it was there, Choco gave birth three times – most of her puppies have been taken by people except for these four: Burnie, which came from her first litter, two skinny puppies in her second litter, and Jackie, from her third litter.

When CAS first happened upon Burnie, he was a starving puppy with a large burn wound which was caused by a worker next door who had poured scalding hot water over it. Jackie is a sweet and gentle giant of a dog who was attacked by another dog and

lost one eye in the process. The other two puppies suffered similar fates, starving and suffering from malnutrition in the warehouse.

These happy, fun-loving dogs are looking for new homes, along with many other rescued dogs under the care of CAS. If you are interested in adopting or donating funds for the care of these dogs, contact:

Care & Actions for Strays Email: care.actionsforstrays@gmail.com Facebook page: Care & Actions for Strays (CAS)

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BiG Magazine Celebrates

10 Anniversary th

with a Big Picnic Festival BiG celebrated its 10th anniversary this year on 24 January with a fun event – The BiG 10th Anniversary Picnic Festival – at the Jerudong Park Colonnade. The event was opened to the public and featured open-air picnic spots, live music performances by popular local artistes Maria ‘Eia’ Grace Koh, Astroturf, Bridget Ang, FN Duo, Eda Brig, Ghaz Abdullah and the DIG Records Preservation Blues Jazz Hall Band. Lucky draws, a photo competition, great food and creative crafts on sale by 50 local and regional vendors made it a day of non-stop fun for all ages with a feel-good vibe from day to night!

Jointly organized by the BiG magazine team and ‘The Collective’ – a creative arts organization, the BiG anniversary event was not just a celebration of BiG magazine’s 10th year in print but it was also to raise money for two local charities: Majlis Kesejahteraan Masyarakat (MKM) and Care and Actions for Strays (CAS).

BiG Magazine and Adam Hanif

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biG buzz

biG buzz

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biG buzz

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Van available for catering services

Interested parties can call (673) 7188803 or (673) 8762778 for inquiries

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The y a r Sp

people

Amey Sheikh Ali

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-year old Amey Sheikh Ali, who is currently based in Kuching, came into this art scene as a self-taught master of graffiti art. It all began in 2013 when, armed with acrylics and a paintbrush, Amey painted a reindeer, gleaning an unexplainable satisfaction out of doing such a huge piece of art on a large expanse of wall space. He revisited the wall again, this time armed with a can of spray paint, and building upon his original art piece, he began to learn and master the art of creation through spray paint.

About his art form: “I draw pretty much everything. I’m always amazed by the art of imperfection, glitches, corrupted data, retro sci-fi stuff, so I strive to insert these elements into my work somehow.

And another thing: I never like it when the end result looks too tidy.”

On his projects: “The biggest project I ever did was #tanahairku

by Petronas - a project in conjunction with Malaysian

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Independence Day. I was paired up with my best bud, Dean. R, and we were given six days to finish a mural on the biggest wall we had ever painted. Six days of scorching hot weather, a 30-feet expanse of wall, Montana Gold - what a roller coaster ride! The final artwork was displayed at the Petronas Art Gallery.”

“I’m currently working on a project under Sacofa - the leading telecommunication infrastructure provider in Sarawak - to paint the ‘fortresses’ that secure their towers in four cities, and so this is a project that allows me to travel to Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Kuching. It’s an exciting project for me because I get to travel and meet people and learn different cultures.”

About the future of graffiti art: “The independent art scene here in Sarawak can and will go far, I have no doubt about that. There are so many talents here. They just need people to pay more attention.”

Learn more about Amey Sheikh Ali and his work by visiting www.ameysheikhali.tumblr.com or follow him on Instagram: @ameysheikhali

on t he Authority and artist has made a reconciliation of differences, and from its early beginnings in New York until today, graffiti art has made a huge leap from vandalism to acceptance. Borneo is no different, and these days it’s not unusual - though still a pleasant surprise - to find the bright colours of stylised wall art adorning stretches of walls in cities and vacant lots.

We catch up with two graffiti artists making huge splashes in the street art scene and find out a little bit more about this burgeoning art form.

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Fai Zaini

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prominent figure in Brunei’s thriving art scene, Fai Zaini heads the art crew KWS (Kings With Style), a group of graffiti artists from Brunei, UK, Indonesia and Malaysia, and he is also a member of the Zinc Nite Crew (ZNC), an art group created in Singapore with hundreds of members worldwide. Fai’s love for graffiti art began 10 years ago, when he incorporated graffiti art into his A-levels art subject back in pre-university. His love for the art continues unabated and he has gained recognition both locally and internationally for his graffiti work.

On the reality of being a graffiti artist: “It’s clearly an expensive hobby which has left me starving on several occasions. However, it has also fed me through professional opportunities and commissioned works. It’s a love-hate relationship that I’m stuck with.”

On opening STAIN - Borneo’s first and only graffiti shop: “10 years ago when I just started graffiti art, it was really

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hard to find supplies so we often had to paint with industrial spray paints and improvise on materials and tools that we didn’t have access to. It was a dream to open our own graffiti shop and finally it’s here.

Now that we have access to spray paints made especially for this type of art, the quality of the local graffiti work skyrocketed and local artists are finally getting the international recognition they deserve. It’s also brought the community closer together and attracted new interests from the youths.”

On the graffiti art scene in Brunei: “Graffiti art is slowly picking up. The reason for the slow growth rate, in my opinion, is probably due to the unavailability of supplies to some individuals, but we’ve changed that with STAIN, now more youngsters are braving the graffiti art scene. In my opinion, we have the talent and the determination, we just need a kick start and relevant support. Maybe one day Brunei will have its own Hosier Lane or Leake Street Tunnel - who knows?”

Learn more about Fai Zaini and his work by visiting www.tagone.blogspot.com or follow him on Instagram: @tag_one_kws_znc or @stain.bn

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made in biG feature Borneo

For the Love of Art, Music and Business Carved from a single bole of wood, the sape is a traditional instrument of the Orang Ulu tribe. Once played exclusively by men, it was taboo for women to even touch the sape. Alena Murang, who is partKelabit, learned to play the sape at a young age and continues to play it today. Besides being a visual artist, Aleng also has a background in business and this talented woman is set to promote art and traditional music to the world.

Iris Tan

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madebiG in feature Borneo

I’m an artist, a musician, a management consultant, a project manager, a strategist, a social entrepreneur and a teacher.

For the past year, I’ve been working two full-time jobs: one concentrating on my art and music – either teaching, creating or consulting with clients, and the other working as a strategist with a non-profit organization called Teach for Malaysia Foundation.

We’re part of a global movement that’s trying to bridge education inequality and last year we opened an office in Miri. I don’t think of these things as jobs, because they’re things I enjoy and things that I’m good at.

I think it’s normal for any artist, be it musician or fine artist or dancer, to take a bit of themselves and put it into their art. I grew up around Borneo culture. As a child, I sang traditional songs and performed traditional dances, my mother is an anthropologist and studied basket designs when I was young, so I was always involved in a lot of cultural stuff in Kuching. So I think it’s only normal that when I’m working on a piece that I’m inspired by, I try to put my own perspective into the work. And since Borneo is a part of who I am, most of my pieces have a Bornean theme.

I started Kelabit dancing when I was six and learning traditional Kelabit songs when I was about 10. One day someone asked me, why don’t you learn how to play the sape? So I did! Actually it used to be taboo for girls to even touch the sape, my music teacher back then told me he was questioning himself whether he should even teach me!

The sape is a very unique instrument. It’s an old, sacred instrument that you modify to your own style – you can tune it to any key and use whatever strings you want, you can move the frets around - so every sape player has his or her own style of playing it.

It’s a very personal instrument.

These days there’s actually an overwhelming demand for sape classes. It’s becoming very relevant to this generation.

I think Sarawakians take pride in the traditional music that we have. There’s definitely awareness and appreciation, we need action to learn more about the instruments and money to support the industry. Corporations or the government can give grants to learn traditional music or maybe sponsor a person’s class for a few months. Conduct more workshops and more talks so people can learn. It has to be more of a ground-up, communitybuilding movement.

I’ve played the sape in the UK and most recently, in the US. I went on a music tour of the Midwest with my band, Diplomats of Drum, where I played the sape with 11 guys who play mostly percussion instruments. We used bamboo flute, saxophone, union pipes, bass and electric guitar, didgeridoo and Latin-American drums too – we’re a world music band. Once the tour ended, the

boys went home but I continued on to Gettysburg College with my sape and conducted a talk for the anthropology majors. After that I went to New York, where I did a short sape-sharing session with the music majors of the Manhattan School of Music. The purpose of this tour was to show that Malaysia is full of different races, religions and instruments.

The members of Diplomats of Drum come from five different religions and eight different races, but we’re all Malaysians and we can all get along and make music.

We had a lot of great feedback from the American audience, I think we managed to open minds about our different religions and how we can all work together to create something beautiful.

In my tours, I find that a lot of people are curious about the sape. To musicians it’s a very interesting instrument because not a lot about it is fixed. It’s unique. It’s gotten a lot of interest and I really hope that we can push the sape overseas and have more opportunities to share it with other people.

What I also find interesting about the sape is that people enjoy it, but they don’t understand it. For me, that is successfully communicating with the language of music, rather than just words.

Alena Murang will be performing solo at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching from 5-7 August 2016 where she will also be running Borneo art and storytelling sessions for children.

To learn more about Alena, go to her website www.alenamurang.com or follow her on Instagram: @alenamurang_art

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biG feature

biG appetite

Coffee Delights at It’s A Grind L

ike a dark horse sneaking its way through the back door while other international franchises take the spotlight, It’s A Grind Coffee House is galloping fast into the limelight. It’s A Grind (IAG) started out in Brunei last year in Muara town. Their rationale was that it was better to dip a toe in the water first before diving into the ocean. But it didn’t take this international coffee franchise from the USA to realise that Bruneians will drive anywhere for a good cup of coffee, and despite their location in the far corner of the country, a regular customer base grew, people appeared at their doors daily for their caffeine fix, and sometimes, a gourmet sandwich.

So when IAG opened their second branch at Citis Square in Kg Jaya Setia in February – an easy stone’s throw away from the BiG office - you can imagine our delight. It seemed like a good idea to say ‘hello’ to our new neighbours so unabashedly, we invited ourselves over for some coffee tasting. We sat down with the Operations Manager, Firdaus Omar, who schooled us on a few of their specialties while we happily sipped little cups of coffee samples.

Nutty Cookie Gnar Gnar (24 oz) “Gnar gnar,” Firdaus helpfully enunciated for us. “Like the sound Cookie Monster would make.”

Coffee, chocolate, cookies, peanut butter and ice - blended to a texture that Cookie Monster would approve. A nutty taste of cookies and a hint of peanut butter, this was the IAG’s best-selling cold beverage in Brunei in 2015, and it’s not hard to see why. Gnar gnar!

Funky Monkey (24 oz) An ice-blended concoction of creamy chocolate, banana, peanut butter and coffee, sipping a Funky Monkey is like sipping a dessert that has all the ingredients of your favourite sandwich.

Like the Nutty Cookie Gnar Gnar, the level of coffee in this beverage is lower than the others in their Espresso IceBlended range, but if it’s a pick-me-up that you’re looking for then that nutty, buttery taste of bananas on coffee will easily do the trick.

Fun facts about It’s A Grind Coffee House, Brunei: 3 million coffee beans were used to serve coffee lovers in Brunei in 2015.

• If you stack up the amount of cups served to the local coffee drinkers in 2015, it would amount to 24 times the height of the Ministry of Finance building.

New Orleans Coffee (24 oz) This cold-brewed coffee with maple syrup over ice tastes like a sophisticated version of a kopi ‘c’ special from your favourite kopitiam. And that’s a recommendation, not a complaint! Light in density and not as thick as their iceblended beverages, this is a beverage for those who like their caffeine with no fuss and no muss.

Café Mocha (16 oz) It’s safe to say that you can find a cup of Café Mocha in most coffee shops – from the franchise giants to the independent cafes – and it is so universally liked that it would be utter madness not to have one on your menu. Essentially, this is a café latte with chocolate, but its smooth, creamy, chocolatey texture makes it seem more like a hot chocolate with coffee. Their Café Mocha is delicious in any weather but particularly satisfying on a cold, rainy day.

Nutty Cow Latte (16 oz) It might sound like it’s all fun and games but this drink means business. A blend of Turkish hazelnut and coffee, this is a strong cup of latte that’ll have you bouncing off the walls. Sweet with a slight hazelnut aftertaste, this is the drink that will power you through your day.

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biG appetite

Tamu Trawling

Visit any tamu or market in Brunei and be greeted with a kaleidoscope of colours, smells and sounds. Multicoloured fruits and vegetables, rows of seafood, heaps of golden dry shrimp – it’s a feast for the eyes and the nose! Whether you choose to go to a market to pick up some items or to snap some photos, this is an authentic Bruneian experience that shouldn’t be missed.

In this issue of BiG, we trawl around and pick up some products typically found in your nearby tamu or market and chat with the vendors to find out a little bit more about some of the food sold here.

Sagun Ever come across bags of white crumbs and wondered what that was all about? Well, these little bags contain a traditional food called sagun, which is made from coconut, rice flour and a hint of sugar, fried together until it becomes powdery white.

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Add a bit of water to sagun for a traditional type of oatmeal, or sprinkle sagun on top of a local fruit, usually bananas, and you’ll get a tasty, healthy and easy breakfast that has been enjoyed by generations of Bruneians.

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Binjai Binjai is a key supporting player to sambal. This fragrant, juicy, sweetsourish fruit is most commonly used with the spicy condiment eaten with ambuyat. The flesh of the fruit is sometimes pickled and kept in jars.

A sweeter version of this fruit, the belunu, is eaten fresh. Also used in sambal, the membangan fruit has a rough, potato brown skin with a bright yellow flesh inside that is delicious to eat when ripe. The skin of the membangan is typically dried and then used for sambal.

Kembayau The Kembayau is a fruit that can be enjoyed on its own – this small purple fruit has an oily yellowish flesh and is quite tasteless, but scrape off some of that skin, boil it in some hot water, then add a little bit of sugar and you’ve got yourself a creamy, delicious snack.

The inside of the kembayau seed contains a greenish nut that can also be eaten but you will need to pound that seed open with a mortar and pestle as it can be quite tough!

Madu Kasirat Unlike its namesake, no honey was involved in the making of this dish! This is considered a traditional kuih or cake and has been served in Bruneian homes for years. Savoury and spicy on the tongue with just a hint of sweetness, the ingredients that make up madu kasirat are rice flour,

glutinous rice flour, brown sugar and grated coconut.

These ingredients are mixed together, put in a tray and cooked over low heat until it becomes thick and sticky.

Madu kasirat has been known to warm up the body so those with highblood pressure would do well to stay away from this little dessert!

Buah Pinang Kering You‘ll find many brightly coloured fruits and vegetables at any local market, but the buah pinang kering is not one of them! Dried up and terribly unattractive, the real gem in this fruit (also known as the betel nut) is the hard nut inside.

This nut is traditionally eaten with daun sirih, the betel nut leaf.

Generations before now, when visitors came knocking on one’s door, it wasn’t coffee and biscuits that were served. Instead, it was a chellapa – a type of tray with containers on it. Each container would have buah pinang kering, lime, gambir (a herbal extract from the leaves of a gambier plant), and daun sirih, along with a kacip (nutcracker) to crack open the buah pinang.

The betel leaves would be brushed with lime, a dab of gambir added (not too much of this because of its strong taste), rolled up and chewed with a pinang until it leaves a red stain in your mouth and all over your teeth. This is a snack plate that you won’t see much in houses nowadays but this traditional dish is still served to illustrious guests attending royal ceremonial events.

The health benefits of eating the buah pinang are numerous: increased salivation, stronger teeth and gums, great for skin and it is known to heal unsightly scars too. Just one piece of advice: don’t chew too much of it because it has been known to also induce euphoria!

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biG appetite

Sakagura Japanese Restaurant

Element Fusion #8 & 9, Blk A, 1st Flr, Gadong Central, Kg Menglait, BSB Tel: (673) 717 2992 Open: Mon-Thur and Sat-Sun (11am–2.30pm, 5.30pm–11pm), Fri (5.30pm-11pm) Intan Abu Daniel

D

espite being smack dab in the middle of a very congested area, the soothing quiet of the restaurant makes one forget about the earlier stress we had of finding a parking space. The wooden partitions within invoke a Japanese look while the formal dining furniture and vintage pictures on the wall feel distinctly Western, giving the place a ‘fusion’ look of east and west.

Element Fusion serves unique dishes that are a blend of Japanese and Western food.

Scared? Don’t be – it’s not as dramatic as you would think.

Our Pistachio-crusted Fish – a red snapper with a nuts and herb crust, served with wasabi buerre blanc sauce and

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G-23A & G-25, Oceanus Waterfront Mall Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Tel: (6088) 273 604 Open daily: 11.30am-3pm, 5pm-10pm Pamela Fletcher

T

ucked in a quiet corner of Oceanus Mall, Sakagura offers diners an unforgettable culinary experience in refined Japanese cuisine. Premium

quality ingredients are flown in weekly and crafted into an array of authentic Japanese dishes that delivers on taste, quality and presentation.

With 10 Sakagura outlets in Japan, this is their first venture outside the country. Chefs trained in classic Japanese cuisine head the kitchen to ensure a consistently high standard in their food and service, with exceptional offerings like sushi and sashimi made from Hokkaido sea urchin and blue fin tuna. Another stand out dish is their Kobe Beef Teppan Grill made from freshly imported 100% Wagyu beef grilled to tender perfection.

Time your visit right and indulge in extraordinary dishes made from seasonal seafood such as monk fish and medai - Japanese butterfish. Make sure to check online what specials are on to prepare your palate for a unique dining experience.

Expect to pay premium price at Sakagura but rest assured it will be money well spent for quality authentic Japanese cuisine.

Novri Rinaldi

a heap of salad, managed to be inventive without going overboard.

The fish was cooked perfectly, and the sudden spiciness of the wasabi was a good addition to an otherwise Western-style dish.

The menu features plenty of options, with many Western staples for the less adventurous.

Starter options are interesting and good value: our Rock Shrimp Popcorn was served on a tall bed of salad and its cocktail dressing had a slight hint of spice to it giving the dish a good kick. There are also options of pasta, lunch specials, sandwiches and desserts.

It must be noted that the food here is quite pricey, but the good food, attentive service and its seclusion from the busy outside world make it a great place for special occasions.

Pinang Nyonya (non-halal) 18, Grd Flr 2nd Precinct Jln Setia Raja 93450 Kuching, Sarawak Tel: (6082) 459 162 Open daily: 11am–2pm (lunch), 5pm–9pm (dinner) Heidi Munan

T

he restaurant aims for a Nyonya atmosphere with its pleasant décor, plain wooden

furniture and some interesting Glas ARAS artwork. There is an air-conditioned ‘inside’ section as well as an alfresco ‘outside’.

Pinang Nyonya is a little out of town, visitors will need to take a taxi to get there.

The menu is comparatively small but choice. Only the best ingredients get past the kitchen door and cooked to perfection

by Madam Elsie, in the inimitable Nyonya style made famous by many generations of Straits Chinese. Some canny Kuching townsfolk come here especially for the koay teow - fried rice noodle dish topped by fat prawns.

For visitors, Pinang Nyonya is a good introduction to Nyonya cuisine; for regular locals, we come again and again for the ambience, the service and the excellent food!

biG advertorial feature

Tea & So Much More at TeaBox I

t may have the word ‘tea’ in its name but tea beverages on offer these days are about as far removed from the standard teabag and hot water combination as you can possibly get.

Taiwanese bubble-tea franchises have sprouted up around Brunei, ready to offer you a plastic cup of delicious, flavoured cold beverage with an essence of tea. These brightly coloured, vivaciously flavoured drinks typically adorned with tapioca balls or a large lump of pudding, have caught on to the modern world, and is changing the way tea is consumed by the new generation.

coffee frappe with whipped cream

The bubble tea franchise might have originated in Taiwan but now we have our own local brand, TeaBox, which is targeting to open in Miri soon and hopefully after that, the world! TeaBox has been selling specialised teas since they first opened in 2006 and they now have three branches at: Giant in Tasek Rimba, The Mall in Gadong and their latest, Jaya Centrepoint in Gadong. From their first branch in 2006, they have changed their original concept of a Bubble Tea Café into a One-Stop Drink Kiosk – offering a variety of flavoured teas and other types of drinks

vanilla oreo frappe

BiG Recommends

for customers on the go. Best of all? The prices are lower than your typical bubble-tea vendors, giving you the same great quality at a much more reasonable price.

As a locally-owned business, the management of TeaBox designs beverages and snacks to suit the current local market. Aside from beverages, they are now offering healthy snacks from their own brand such as tortillas, sandwiches and a variety of desserts such as puddings, cheesecakes and cookies. Hopefully this will become a starting point for a local halal brand that will expand further to other regional markets.

pearl milk tea

peach orange frappe

a tortilla washed down with a Malacca Frappe and a cheesecake for dessert.

Delicious!

Visit TeaBox at any of their three outlets: Giant Tasek Rimba Tel: 246 1493 The Mall 2nd flr, Gadong Tel: 242 8738 Jaya Centrepoint Foodcourt Tel: 245 0436 Or follow them on @bruneiteabox or TeaBox Brunei

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biG listings

Brunei

Guidelines: The restaurants and eateries listed are arranged by food types, and not in order of our preference. Reviews are written from a typical diner’s perspective and written based on actual visits to the establishments listed, without the prior knowledge of the restaurants. Information given on menus, hours or prices may change and should be checked. In Brunei, all restaurants are closed between 12 noon and 2 pm on Fridays.

HOME-GROWN TALENT FAVOURITE HOME BRANDS

Chatterbox Kopitiam 2 Grd Flr Bgn Hasbullah 2, Gadong (673 820 1212)

Aminah Arif 2 & 3 Blk B Grd Flr Bgn Hj Abd G S Seafood Restaurant Rahman, Kiulap (673 223 6198) Sri Aman Complex, Tutong (673 422 1882) – Call for other branches Babu’s Kitchen C44 Blk C Grd Flr Gadong Central, Kg Menglait (673 245 7868)

Golden Leaf Coffee House Blk 1 Grd Flr PAP Hjh Norain Building, Bandar Seri Begawan (673 222 0422)

Balkony by Mamih Grd Flr Blk C10 Shakirin Complex, Kg Kiulap (673 862 9864)

Gratitude Café Grd Flr Serusop Complex, Kg Delima Satu (673 234 1123)

Chop Jing Chew 10 Spg 5 Jln Gadong, Kg Menglait (673 242 4132) Kaka Restaurant 2 & 3 Spg 100 Jln Jerudong (673 267 2333) KaPow Burger Stall S8 1st Flr Times Square Food Court, Kg Jaya Setia (673 877 6081) MY Favoureat Restaurant 9 Grd Flr Bgn Hj Munchit & Hjh Rapiah, Kg Jaya Setia (673 233 9410) Restoran Makan & Soto Rosmini 1 Spg 15, Jln Gadong (673 871 9946)

Lee Loi Fatt Blk A #7 Grd Flr Serusop Complex, Kg Delima Satu (673 234 2384) – Call for other branches

Anjung Saujana & Cilantro’s Gourmet Patisserie Departure Hall, Lvl One, Brunei International Airport (673 233 1853)

I-Lotus 20 Spg 12-26 Perumahan Rakyat Jati, Kg Rimba (673 242 2466) Li Gong The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Jerudong (673 241 8888)

THE SPICE ROUTE SPICY DISHES FROM AROUND THE REGION

Old Time Kopitiam G2 Grd Flr Bgn Hj Ibrahim, Kg Menglait (673 244 8282)

Ahan Thai 10 Blk B Abd Razak Complex, Gadong (673 245 2852)

Pondok Sari Wangi Restaurant 12-13 1st Flr Blk A Abd Razak Complex, Gadong (673 244 5043) – Call for other branches

Amsarra Shawarma & Espresso Grd Flr Airport Mall, Kg Jaya Setia

TEABOX Jaya Centrepoint Foodcourt, Gadong (673 245 0436) Call for other branches

Bali Pit-Stop 15 &16, Spg 150 Grd Floor, Block A Bangunan Habza, Kuilap (673 720 9992)

Thien Thien Restaurant 10 Grd Flr Mas Panchawarna Complex (673 222 2435) – Call for other branches

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

Rajah’s Restaurant 3 Grd Flr Blk A Bangunan PAP Umi Kalthum, Bandar Seri Begawan (673 224 0379)

Nyonya 3 Grd Flr Bgn Hasbollah, Gadong (673 244 7090)

Axtivo Restaurant Spg 13 Hj Uthman Complex, Berakas (673 233 5642)

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All Seasons Restaurant 17 1st Flr Times Square Shopping Centre, Kg Jaya Setia (673 233 8068)

Phongmun Restaurant 2nd Flr Teck Guan Plaza Jln Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan (673 222 9561)

Sui Heng Restaurant Grd Flr Hj Munchit & Hjh Rapiah Complex, Kg Jaya Setia (673 233 8321)

Lotus Family Restaurant 27B Grd Flr Delima Jaya Complex, Berakas (673 234 2049) Nur Wanita 10 Blk B Kiarong Complex, Kiarong (673 242 6789)

Dynasty Restaurant Grd Flr The Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong (673 243 0185)

Anjung Layar Luncur (Nur Wanita Serasa Branch) Simpang 287, Pantai Serasa (673 277 1879)

ADVERTISERS

GALLERY

Le Taj 2-3 2nd Flr Seri Kiulap Complex, Kiulap (673 223 8996)

FINE CHINA CHINESE CUISINE AT ITS FINEST

MyTown Eating House Grd Flr The Crown Princess Complex, Jalan Tutong (673 224 1880)

Rice Bowl 72 T.C.Y Building, Batu Bersurat RMS Portview Seafood (673 863 0665) Restaurant #44 Jln Sultan, BSB Sapphira Cake House (673 223 1466) 3 Grd Flr Seri Anigma, Kiulap (673 223 2021) Seasons Restaurant Lvl 2 The Centrepoint, Taty’s Café Gadong (673 242 2291) A9 Grd Flr Muara Centre, Muara Town Seaworld Neptune 8 Spg 791, Jerudong ASIAN DELIGHTS (673 261 2613) DELICIOUS ASIAN FARE

Gwad Basha Arabian Restaurant #1A&1B Heng Thai Property Centre Spg 22 Jln Dato Ratna, Kiarong (673 245 0009)

Saffron Restaurant 8 Blk C Shakirin Complex, Kiulap (673 223 5888) Sameer Restaurant & Catering G1 Grd Flr Sg Akar Sentral, Berakas (673 233 6613) The Wrap #2 Jerudong Park Food Court, Jerudong Zaika Restaurant A4 Lot 308 Bgn Maju Jln Bunga Raya, Kuala Belait (673 334 7430) WESTERN STAR ENJOY THE BEST FROM THE WEST Bistro Chez Fio 13 Grd Flr Blk A Q-Lap Complex, Kg Kiulap (673 223 4933) Buccaneer Steak House 92-93 (B) 94 Grd Flr Jln McKerron, Kuala Belait (673 333 0406) Charcoal BBQ & Grill Restaurant Grd Flr Le Gallery Suites Hotel, Jln Tutong (673 222 1171) – Call for other branches

Baristas by Modesto Baristas, brought to you by Modesto Bistro and Grill, is here for your caffeine needs. Each cup of coffee is made with a 100% premium grade Arabica mix of coffee beans, so you know each cup is going to be a smooth jolt to your senses.

Juices, smoothies, mocktails and other beverages are available for the non-coffee drinker – if there are any left in Brunei – and if you’re hungry, choose from an all-day menu featuring a variety of delectable western cuisine, and plenty of snacks and desserts to munch on.

Grd Flr Food Arena, Seri Q-Lap Mall, Kg Kiulap Tel: (673) 720 3777 / 223 7771

Bello Café ‘Bello’, which is Italian for ‘beautiful’, is certainly the right name for this elegantly designed café with their beautifully-styled food. Offering a tasty range of snacks, desserts, western and local main dishes, they are famed for their Swiss Burger and Chocolate Lava Pudding.

OPEN DAILY Mon-Fri 7.30am-10pm, Sat 7.30am-11pm, Sun 8am-10pm; L1/12 Seri Kiulap Mall, KIULAP (673 223 3989) Casbah London Kebab Pick lamb, chicken, beef or fish and have it dressed and wrapped your way – tikka, kebab, doner or shawarma style! A quick and deliciously meaty meal for hungry diners on the go.

OPEN DAILY; #G2a Grd Flr Times Square Complex, KG JAYA SETIA (673 234 3001) (Times Square Branch) or #204 Spg 210 Kg Lambak, JLN BERAKAS (673 880 3183) – Call for other branches Deals This modern, refreshing and contemporary restaurant offers an extensive menu. Enjoy a gastronomic experience featuring new dishes such as roasted slipper lobster with black pepper and roasted garlic butter, Grilled Australian ribeye and many more popular dishes.

OPEN 7pm onwards (Mon-Sat), closed on Sundays and public holidays; Radisson Hotel Jln Tasek, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (673 224 4272) Tasek Brasserie A perfect spot to dine with family and friends in the heart of the city, Tasek Brasserie provides casual dining in a relaxed atmosphere.

Customers can enjoy light snacks and a cool mocktail while lounging at the outdoor pool, or dine on the variety of cuisine from their ala carte menu or sumptuous buffets.

OPEN DAILY 6am-6pm; Radisson Hotel Jln Tasek, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (673 224 4272)

biG listings Cheezbox Café External Café Ramp A The Mall, Gadong (673 242 5506) De’ Olde Cottage 2 Grd Flr Blk C Sempurna Complex, Batu Bersurat (673 242 6982) Fish & Co 18 & 19 Grd Flr Citis Square, Kg Jaya Setia (673 239 2555) Home Kitchen

by Tree-Bit Café D8 & D9 Lot 11620 Grd Flr Jln Gadong, Kg Mata-Mata (673 242 9366)

Bento Brothers Specializing in takeouts and speedy meals, their tagline is “The New Fast Food”, and this new fast-food restaurant is certainly no burger franchise. Instead, they serve satisfying and unique dishes from ayam penyet, green curry rice and pasta to a ‘Poutine’ selection, and much more. Every dish is served to the customer within 10 minutes after ordering, making this a perfect restaurant for those on the go! #B19 Blk B Bangunan Habza Spg 150, Kg Kiulap Tel (673) 223 6800

MoMo Restaurant Grd Flr StarLodge, Kg Jerudong (673 261 1618) Paddington House of Pancakes 3&4 Spg 58, Berakas (673 233 1668) Savy’s Brasserie 204 Lvl 2 Mabohai Shopping Complex, Mabohai (673 224 0829) Senja Restaurant 8&9 Grd Flr Seri Kiulap Complex, Kiulap (673 223 5313)

Swensen’s 2.34-2.36 2nd Flr The Mall, Gadong (673 245 1864) LOOK EAST ORIENTAL DELIGHTS Excapade 4 & 5 1st Flr Blk C Abd Razak Complex, Gadong (673 874 0012) – Call for other branches Genki Teppanyaki & Restaurant #38 Grd Flr Citis Square, Berakas (673 233 2118) Kitaro 5-7 Grd Flr The Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong (673 245 7373) – Call for other branches Ko-ryo Restaurant B16 Bgn Lim Eng Ming, Kiulap Pho Hoa Restaurant #6 Grd Flr Bgn Hj Abd Rahman, Kiulap (673 223 6218) Pho Real Fuzion 1st Flr Citis Square, Kg Jaya Setia (673 233 8599) Shabulicious Restaurant 1 & 2 Blk C Delima Square, Berakas (673 233 8333)

ADVERTISERS

GALLERY SCR EXPRESS CITIS SQUARE The latest avatar of one of the oldest food franchises in Brunei, this outlet can accommodate over a hundred patrons in three seating areas: the main dining area, the outdoor balcony and the lobby.

The ala carte menu caters to the gastronomic delights of patrons looking for great food at great prices coupled with good service, with over a hundred different types of dishes to choose from.

The restaurant is currently holding a promotion: offering delicious cakes free of charge for any private function held at the lobby area.

OPEN DAILY 7.30am-10pm; #20&21, 1st Flr, Citis Square, KG JAYA SETIA (673 718 0315/233 9391) – call for other branches

Soto with a View

Bruneians love their soto – this is a truth acknowledged by every local. Noodles in a beefy broth, strewn on top is your choice of meat, bean sprouts, a sprinkling of coriander leaves, chopped red chillies, fried onions, a squeeze of calamansi and a spoonful of a fiery chilli concoction called “lada rindu”.

Heavenly! Soto can be found just about anywhere in Brunei, but if you like the idea of slurping your soto with a view, there are two restaurants that fit the bill. Both situated along Jalan Kota Batu, these two restaurants promise you Instagram-worthy views of the river and delicious bowls of affordable and lip-smacking soto!

Soto Babu Nini – Spg 605 #605B Kg Sg Besar, Jln Kota Batu Soto Pabo – Spg 222, Jln Kota Batu

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biG listings

Wing-It Wing-It might have only just opened in Citis Square earlier this year but these legendary hot chicken wings have been on the local radar for the past three years, as an online vendor operating out of a house in Mabohai. In the unlikely case that you haven’t heard of Wing-It, this restaurant specializes in Americanstyle fried chicken liberally smothered in sauce. There are 14 types of sauce to choose from - mild Honey Garlic sauce to the Atomic sauce, which is perfect for spicy food lovers. Aside from their wings, there are also lamb ribs, sandwiches and quesadillas, and side dishes such as butter rice, seasoned fries and corn dogs. #16 Grd Flr Citis Square, Kg Jaya Setia Tel (673) 722 4999

Pepper Lunch Brunei Pepper Lunch has been feeding Japan and Asia hot sizzling meals in over 200 outlets before arriving in Brunei. Originating in Japan, this is a DIY fast service concept where you are your own chef – they just provide the premium ingredients. The signature dish here is the Beef Pepper Rice – raw beef slice, Japanese rice, corn and freshly ground black pepper are served to you on a sizzling hot plate.

Fry up the slices with the rice, add in any of their delicious sauces (a choice of honey brown sauce, garlic soy sauce or black pepper sauce) and dig in!

The hot plate keeps your food warm as you eat up, so every spoonful is a smoking, delicious bite.

C9/10 Grd Flr Setia Kenangan II, Kg Kiulap Tel: (673) 225 3000

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Shabu Me Restaurant #3 Blk A Abdul Razak Complex, Gadong (673 222 2266)

Din’s Bistro 8 Blk E Grd Flr Abd Razak Complex, Gadong (673 873 1154)

Sushi Tei 42 & 43 Grd Flr Blk C Gadong Central, Kg Menglait (673 244 9977)

Fratini’s Restaurant #1 Grd Flr The Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong (673 245 1200) – Call for other branches

Yam Yam Sarang Korean Restaurant 6 Blk J Grd Flr Bgn Pg Hj Menuddin & Anak-anak, Batu Bersurat (673 860 7830)

Pastamania #9 Grd Flr Blk H Abdul Razak Complex, Gadong (673 245 7441) – Call for other branches

EUROPEAN LEAGUE ITALIAN AND SPANISH CUISINE

Spaghettini The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Jerudong (673 241 8888)

Sorriso Restaurant & Pizzeria 14 Blk B Grd Flr Regent Square, Kiulap (673 223 3030) CAFÉ CULTURE THE BEST OF CAFÉ FARE Another Café #2 Grd Flr Blk A Bgn Hj Abd Rahman & Hjh Siti Ajar, Kiulap (673 223 3593) BELLUNO Café #2 Blk C Kiarong Complex, Kg Kiarong (673 242 9010)

Brew Café & Bakery #47 Grd Flr Blk C Gadong Central, Menglait (673 242 7554) Countrypatch Café 3 Grd Flr Blk D Bgn Hj Abd Rahman, Kiulap (673 223 2368) – Call for other branches Danes Café (non-halal) #102, Bgn Batu Bersurat, Jln Batu Bersurat (673 242 8914) Fleur-de-lys L1/1 Seri Q-Lap Mall, Kiulap (673 223 1777) – Call for other branches

biG listings

Pan & Wok

Games & Lattes Café

This take-out place understands the working men and women who can only grab a bite to eat for lunch. A concept that is certainly considered new in Brunei, Pan & Wok’s inviting space at the ground floor of the Airport Mall features chillers and warmers with attractively packaged food ready to be grabbed to go, although you might want to take some time picking a suitable meal as Pan & Wok offers plenty, from Chicken Caesar Salad, Roasted Beef Wraps, to soups, desserts, even Beef Rendang!

Food is prepared daily, so be assured that every packaged container contains a fresh meal.

Created by board game and coffee lovers for board game and coffee lovers, Games & Lattes Café opened its doors in late December last year with a bang – providing their patrons with a variety of coffee and meals, and over 200 board games to suit any level of player from the newbie to the hardcore board-gamer. And if you’re confused about the choices of board games on offer, not to worry, the staff here can give you recommendations and even teach you how to play! So grab a table, a board game, a cup of coffee and a meal, and get your game on!

#28A Grd Flr Airport Mall, Kg Jaya Setia Tel (673) 234 2836

#E9 Grd Flr Blk E Setia Kenangan II, Kiulap Tel: (673) 223 5200

WHAT A VIEW MEALS WITH A STUNNING VIEW Atrium Café The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Jerudong (673 241 8888) Fratini’s Restaurant Blk H Yayasan Complex Waterfront Side, Bandar Seri Begawan (673 223 1466) – Call for other branches Kaizen Yayasan Complex Waterfront Side, Bandar Seri Begawan (673 222 6336) – Call for other branches

The Energy Kitchen Grd Flr Fitness Zone Kiulap (673 223 3323)

Nasi Katok Mama Express 3 Blk A Grd Flr Kompleks Madang, Madang (673 864 1681)

Tien Hsing Vegetarian Restaurant Bangunan Hj Abdullah, Jalan Gadong, Menglait

INVIGORATE

QUICK PICKS QUICK AND EASY MEALS

The Spa at the Empire Hotel & Country Club The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Jerudong (673 241 8222)

Mei Kong Coffee Shop 108 Jln Permancha, Bandar Seri Begawan (673 224 0688)

Pearl Health Care 3 Grd Flr Blk B Seri Purnama Complex, Kiulap (673 223 6668)

Thann Sanctuary 8/9 1st Flr Bgn Seri Kiulap, Kiulap (673 223 5599) Zen Spa 9-11 2nd Flr, Suria Kiulap (673 223 7777) – Call for other branches Palm Spa Palm Garden Hotel, Kiulap (673 223 2211)

Lobby Lounge The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Jerudong (673 241 8888)

Gloria Jean’s Coffee G17 Citis Square, Berakas (673 233 8452)

Peppermint Café 14, Blk A, Grd Floor, Spg 493, Beribi (673 8221888)

High Frequency Lifestyle Café 1st Flr Unit 5 Blk B Sempurna Complex, Batu Bersurat (673 242 8262)

Piccolo Café #11 Jln McArthur, Bandar Seri Begawan (673 224 1558)

It’s a Grind Coffeehouse 1, Grd Floor, Bgn AlWarasah, Muara Town (673 277 2424) Kitchen of Jasmine by Aranda Café #17, Blk E, Atiya Complex, Spg 100, Jln Jerudong (673 899 7333) Mr Baker’s Cafeteria C47 Blk C Grd Flr Gadong Central, Menglait (673 242 7554) Ner Dee Café #F11 1st Flr Setia Kenangan II, Kiulap (673 721 4977)

Rack & Brew #9 Blk H 1st & 2nd Flr Abd Razak Complex, Gadong (673 729 9668) Rafia’s VK Café G13 Citis Square, Kg Jaya Setia (673 890 6990) The Frenz Café #10 Blk 8 Hj Ibrahim Building, Mentiri (673 279 1374) The Library Café #6 Blk C Bangunan Setia Kenangan II, Kiulap Ximply Chriz Café 8 Blk B Regent Square, Kiulap (673 223 4918)

Pantai Restaurant The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Jerudong (673 241 8888) Tarindak d’Polo Royal Brunei Polo & Riding Club, Jerudong (673 261 2500) Tarindak D’Seni Brunei Arts & Handicrafts Centre, Kota Batu (673 224 0422) GO GREEN Vegetarian-friendly options Mituo Vegetarian Restaurant Grd Flr Pg Anak Puteri Norain Complex, Batu Satu (673 222 2821) Pureland Vegetarian Restaurant #15 Blk B Grd Flr Bgn Hj Awg Ahmad bin Hassan & Anak-anak, Kiulap (673 223 6503) Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

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biG listings

Sabah & Sarawak The restaurants and eateries listed are arranged by food types, and not in order of our preference. Reviews are written from a typical diner’s perspective and written based on actual visits to the establishments listed, without the prior knowledge of the restaurants. Information given on menus, hours or prices may change and should be checked.

Credit Cards : AE | American Express MC | MasterCard V | Visa

Eat (Sabah) Bar Tzar Bistro Lot 12 The Waterfront Jln Tun Fuad Stephens, Kota Kinabalu (6088 260 211) Bella Italia 69 Jln Gaya, Kota Kinabalu (6088 313 366)

Gam Tong Hong Kong Recipe Lot G-823 1Borneo Hypermall, Kota Kinabalu (6088 488 833) Grand Port View Sea View Restaurant 16 Jln Tun Fuad Stephen, Kota Kinabalu (6088 538 178)

Kirishima Japanese Restaurant Cititel Express No 1 Jln Singgah Mata 1 Asia City, Kota Kinabalu (6088 217 868) Kohinoor North Indian Restaurant Lot 4 The Waterfront Jln Tun Fuad Stephens, Kota Kinabalu (6088 235 160)

Borneo Wild Treasure Lot 27-0 Blk C Lrg Bundusan Square1D, Kota Kinabalu (6088 732 222)

Hana Japanese Restaurant Lot S21&S22 Blk E City Mall, Kota Kinabalu (6088 538 178)

Brass Monkey Lot 1-0 Lorong Lintas Plaza 4, Kota Kinabalu (6088 261 543)

Hot Rod Sausage House No 1-G-02 Blk A Warisan Square, Kota Kinabalu (6016 804 3999)

Kudos Bistro 69 Gaya Street (inside Jesselton Hotel), Kota Kinabalu (6088 313 366)

Café De Vie Lot D-0-6 Lorong Metro Town 3, Kota Kinabalu (6088 393 863)

Hut Steak House & Restaurant 29 Blk E Damai Plaza, Kota Kinabalu (6088 238 558)

La Fuente G-816 Grd Flr 1Borneo Hypermall, Kota Kinabalu (6088 488 000)

Circle Restaurant Le Meridien Hotel, Kota Kinabalu (6088 322 222) Emperor’s Delight Lot 6 Grd Flr Jln Pantai, Kota Kinabalu (6088 288 686) Fong Ip Café Lot 100 Jln Gaya, Kota Kinabalu (6088 213 618) Full House G7&1-10 Suria Sabah Jln Tun Fuad Stephens (014 559 9306)

Jothy’s Fish head Curry & Banana Leaf Blk 1 Lot G9 Api Api Centre, Kota Kinabalu (6088 261 595) K. Sanba’s Curry Specials Blk F Lorong Plaza Utama 1 Alamesra, Kota Kinabalu (6016 833 2308) Kampung Nelayan Taman Tun Fuad Bukit Padan, Kota Kinabalu (6088 256 001)

Korean Club Restaurant 4 Jln Aru, Kota Kinabalu (6088 232 213)

Little Italy Grd Flr Hotel Capital Jln Hj Saman, Kota Kinabalu (6088 232 231) Mai Yai Thai Orchid Restaurant Lot 13 KK Waterfront, Kota Kinabalu (6088 234 841) Mdm Ing Fish Noodle Lot 21 Towering Koidupan Perdana Jln Tambunan, Penampang (6016 831 8726)

Mr Ho’s Fine Foods L-72-G Grd Flr Blk L KK Times Square Phase 1, Kota Kinabalu (6088 222 623)

Santola Café Lot 14 Blk B Damai Point, Kota Kinabalu (6088 260 188)

Nagasaki Japanese Restaurant No 19 Grd Flr Bangunan Harrison Jln Hj Saman, Kota Kinabalu (6088 216 623)

Seng Hing Restaurant Ruang Sinsugan 2, Kota Kinabalu (6088 211 594)

Nam Chai Restaurant Bah Kut Teh 10 Blk D Bdr Nam Tung, Sandakan (6089 612 603) Nan Yang Chic Kut Teh Grd Flr Lot 47 Jln Pantai, Kota Kinabalu (6016 833 5722)

Suang Tain Seafood Restaurant Lot 12 Blk A Grd Flr SEDCO Complex, Kota Kinabalu (6088 223 080)

Natural Kitchen Lot No B10 & B11, Suria Sabah Shoppin Mall, Kota Kinabalu (6088 487 180)

Sugarbun Café Lot 48 Jln Pantai, Kota Kinabalu (6088 218 326)

Nishiki Japanese Restaurant Shop 4 Grd Flr 63 Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu (6088 230 582) October Coffee House Blk B The Peak Vista Lorong Puncak 1 Tjg Lipat, Kota Kinabalu (6010 346 954) Pancake House Concourse Flr 1Borneo Hypermall, Kota Kinabalu (6088 448 110) Lot G94-94A Karamunsing Complex, Kota Kinabalu (6088 319 168) Party Play 117 Jln Gaya, Kota Kinabalu (6088 311 210) Pasta Pasta 108 Jln Gaya, Kota Kinabalu (6014 371 4665) Peppermint Vietnamese Cuisine No. 85 Grd Flr Jln Gaya, Kota Kinabalu (6012 802 4582) Port View Seafood Village Lot 18 The Waterfront Jln Tun Fuad Stephens, Kota Kinabalu (6088 221 753) Restaurant Baba & Nyonya Recipe Blk E Grd Flr Grand Millennium Plaza, Penampang (6016 810 8206) Restoran Makanan Sedap No 1-0-1 Blk B Jln Kolam Centre Phase 2 Jln Lintas, Kota Kinabalu (6088 247 459) Sailors Lot 36 1st Flr Grand Millennium Plaza, Penampang (6088 731 960)

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Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

Seremban Seafood Restaurant Lot 126 Blk O Plaza Permai, Kota Kinabalu (6088 484 922)

Supul Korean BBQ Restaurant Lot S-1-8 1st Flr City Mall, Kota Kinabalu (6088 448 844) Sushi King Blk C 1Borneo Hypermall, Kota Kinabalu (6088 447 437) Sushi Tei Lot G-68 Grd Flr Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, Kota Kinabalu (6088 485 595) Toscani’s Lot 14 The Waterfront Jln Tun Fuad Stephens, Kota Kinabalu (6088 242 879) Wah San Restaurant D2-G Blk 17 Jln Pryer, Sandakan (6089 212 626) Yamagoya Ramen Lot 109 Jln Gaya, Kota Kinabalu (6088 253 701) Yoshimi Japanese Restaurant Warisan Square, Kota Kinabalu (6088 488 388)

Eat (Sarawak) A One Seafood Restaurant Lrg Chew Siik Hiong 1, Sibu (6084 215 803) Absolute Tribal Restaurant Hills Shopping Mall, Kuching (6082 237 468) Alfian Restaurant 52 Pekan Marudi, Marudi (6085 755 215) All Joy Café 8-1 Jln Khoo Hun Yeang, Kuching (6082 243 535) Apollo Seafood Centre 4 Jln Yu Seng Selatan, Miri (6085 420 813)

Apple Restaurant 78 Jln Tun Ahmad Zaidi, Bintulu (6086 333 377) Aroma Café 126 Jln Tabuan, Kuching (6082 417 163) Asian Express Restaurant G40 The Spring, Kuching (6082 414 088) Bee Hiong Restaurant Café 157G Jln Muhibbah, Lawas (6085 285 137) Beei Jing Restaurant Sdn Bhd 157 Jln Kg Nyabor, Sibu (6084 330 955) Bismi Restaurant 27 Jln Sommerville, Bintulu (6086 331 835) Bites by the Batik 38 Jln Pandungan, Kuching (6082 422 845) Boardriders Café Plaza Merdeka Jln Pearl, Kuching (6082 237 526) Boulevard Restaurant 2228 Jln Saberkas, Lutong (6085 653 175) Buenas Filipino Lechon & Restaurant 329 Jln Tj Batu, Bintulu (6086 310 860) Café Min Xin Lot 1126-27 Riam Comm Centre, Miri (6085 628 839) Capital Restaurant 86 Jln Keppel, Bintulu (6086 331 160) Carvery Restaurant Jln Abell, Kuching (6082 239 449) Casabella Mediterranean Restaurant Crown Square, Kuching (6082 346 612) Chef at Home Lorong Green 1 Blk 10, Kuching (6016 858 5159) Chuan Hong Restaurant 123 Jln Council SAman (6083 322 466) Cloud-99 Precinct 99 Jalan Song, Kuching (6016 866 2716) Crown Dynasty Restaurant Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Bintulu (6086 335 908) Da Mi Xiang Gu Tou Bao Restaurant Tabuan Hts Comm Centre, Kuching (6082 458 952)

biG listings

Dynasty Chinese Restaurant Oil Town Comm Complex, Miri (6085 424 000) East Court Chicken Rice 867 Jln Club SAman (6083 326 818) Eden Everise Wisma Nation Horizon, Block C, Kuching (6016 888 4522) Escobar SF3 Damai Cenral Pantai Damai Santubong, Kuching (6014 288 1160) Fac Bravo Restaurant 7778 Jln Sultan Iskandar, Bintulu (6086 316 920) Farley Restaurant 1721 Jln Salim, Sibu (6019 816 3052) Fisherman Restaurant 4 Jln Chew Geok Lin, Sibu (6084 316 888) Fratini’s Restaurant 2512 Jln Boulevard 3, Miri (6085 431 115) Fu Lai Siang Restaurant 108 Jln Pekan Bt Niah, Bt Niah (6085 737 168) Golden City Restaurant 87, Jln Ong Chu Seng, Saratok (6083 436 139) Highlands Seafood Restaurant 298 Jln Tj Bt, Bintulu (6086 318 828) Hock Chu Leu Restaurant 28 Jln Tukang Besi, Sibu (6084 316 524) Imperial Duck Restaurant 313 Jln Padungan, Kuching (6082 336 313) Jubilee Restaurant 49G Jln India, Kuching (6082 245 626) Khan’s Bilal Restaurant 229-G Jln Maju, Miri (6085 418 440) Kim Bay HK Macau Restaurant Boulevard Shopping Mall Jln Datuk Tawi, Kuching (6082 239 308) Koreana Restaurant 10002 Jln Tun Jugah, Kuching (6082 575 072) Kuching Noodle Porridge House 115-1 Wisma Saberkas, Kuching (6082 426 005) L.L. Banana Leaf 7G Lorong Rubber 1 Jln Rubber, Kuching (6082 239 404)

Li Garden Restaurant Hock Lee Centre, Kuching (6082 340 785) Lim Hock Ann 96 1 Jln Kg Kuntal, Kuching (6082 846 533) Lok Thian Restaurant 317 Jln Padungan, Kuching (6082 3313 310) Lu Lai Vegetarian 3641, Lrg 2 Off Jln Rock, Kuching (6082 242 863) Lucky Restaurant 65C G Pekan Marudi, Marudi (6085 755 562) Lyn’s Thandoori Restaurant 7 Jln Song Thian Cheok, Kuching (6082 234 934) Mango Tree Restaurant Jalan Crookshank, Kuching (6082 235 353) Map Restaurant Bang Terminal, Kuching (6082 459 087) Marco Polo Restaurant 116A BDA Shahida, Bintulu (6086 332 458) Medan Seafood Restaurant 56, Jln Mdn Setiaraja, Mukah (6084 874 145) Merry Restaurant 187 Jln Song Thian Cheok, Kuching (6082 240 118) Metro Café 781 Jln Bangkita, Limbang (6085 215 488) Min Hua (89) Restaurant G 13 Jln Bintang Utara, Bintangor (6084 693 240)

Sin Soon Chin Restaurant 2415 Jln Boulevard 2, Miri (6012 808 5456)

Tribal Stove Blk H Jln Borneo Taman Sri, Kuching (6082 234 873)

Rejang Restaurant 6 Lrg Lanang 2 Sibu (6016 860 2636)

Sri Menanti Coffee House Restaurant 15 Lrg Pahlawan 7b, Sibu (6084 218 196)

Wang Hin Restaurant 1 Soon Hup Comm Complex, Miri (6085 413 129)

Robata Yaki 493 Jln Rambutan, Kuching (6082 235 372)

Surabaya Restaurant 288 Jln Bendahara, Miri (6085 411 239)

Rock Road Seafood Restaurant 1230 Jln Rock Bt 2½ , Kuching (6082 241 575)

Sushi Kin The Spring, Kuching (6082 245 355)

Pot & Grill Restaurant 9 Jln Tun Abd Rahman Yaakub, Kuching (6082 425 525)

Sajian Warisan Momoyama Restaurant Wisma Phoenix, Kuching (6082 537 Jln Gartak, Miri (6085 420 561) 429 911) Nam Hoi Restaurant Salleh’s Corner Café 110 Jln Penrissen Bt 7, RPR Phase 2 Shoplot Jln Kuching (6082 612 379) Astana Petra Jaya, Kuching (6012 807 8033) Orion Tropical Jln Merpati, Miri Sea View Restaurant (6085 417 417) G Pusat Tmn SDagang, Bintulu (6086 334 929) Padungan Restaurant 268 Jln Tunku Abd Rahman, Seventy2 Restaurant Kuching (6082 233 417) 894 Jln Permaisuri, Miri (6085 366 318) Pin Pin Café 18 Jln Krokong Bau Shabu-kun Restaurant (6082 763 486) 253 Jln Tj Bt, Bintulu (6086 317 311) Popular Corner Seafoods Restaurant Sheraton Restaurant Bda Shahida Commercial 37 Psn Brooke, Sibu (6084 Centre, Bintulu 336 341) (6086 319 688) Sin Lung Sheng Fu Tiao Qiang Restaurant Portico 17A Lorong Park Lane, Kuching 10788 Jln Simpang Tiga, Kuching (6082 231 260) (6019 819 8046)

Sushi Tie-tts Wisma Sanyan, Sibu (6084 342 875) Ten-Ichi Japanese Restaurant 317 Jln Padungan, Kuching (6082 331 310) Teo Seafood 787 Jln Kg Buntal, Kuching (6082 846 532)

Warung Nasi Kuning Jln Tun Jugah, Kuching (6016 809 1286) Wei Thian Restaurant Golden Square, Siburan (6082 862 968) Xin Tsui Siang Kitchen Wisma Nation Horizon Blk D, Kuching (6082 414 616) Yun Yan Restaurant Stutong Comm Centre, Kuching (6082 366 115) Zhun San Yen Vegetarian Food Lot 165 Jln Chan Ann, Kuching (6082 230 068)

The Banquet 4560 Jln Datuk Tawi Sli, Kuching (6082 451 414)

INVIGORATE

Tian Xian Relish Restaurant 313 Jln Melaka Raya, MC (606 288 1120)

AC Beauty Lane #2-10B Lvl 2 Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, Kota Kinabalu (6088 487 242)

Tong Lok Restaurant 1367 Jln Buangsiol, Limbang (6085 216 188)

Chi, The Spa Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Jln Aru, Kota Kinabalu (6088 327 882)

Tong Xin Court Restaurant 151 Lrg Datuk Abang Abd Rahim 5a, Kuching (6082 482 252)

SABAH

Hakod Oasis Day Spa Warisan Square, Kota Kinabalu (6088 487 700)

Jari Jari Spa Blk B 2nd Flr Plaza Tanjung Aru, Jln Mat Salleh, Kota Kinabalu (6088 272 606) Mandara Spa The Magellan Sutera, 1 Sutera Habour Boulevard, Kota Kinabalu (6088 318 888) South Sea Sanctuary Spa Jln Tugu Pusat Bandar, Kota Kinabalu (6088 248 221)

SARAWAK Borneo Odyssey Spa Blk 13 Hilltop Wing, Damai Beach Resort, Santubong (6082 846 999) Damaipuri Resort & Spa Teluk Penyuk, Santubong (6082 846 900) Jungle Spa Borneo Highlands Resort, Jln Borneo Heights, Kuching (6019 828 0790) Mirage Spa Lot 151 Sect 28, KUCHING (6082 424 022) Putri Sejinjang Spa Rumah Kedai Mara, Heritage Jargen, Jln Rahman Yaakob, Kuching (6082 428 660)

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

57

biG essentials

BRUNEI Banks Banks in Brunei Darussalam are usually open Mondays to Fridays, 9am - 4pm and on Saturdays, 9am 11am. Some banks have branches with later closing times. Islamic banks follow the same operation hours except on Fridays when they are closed for prayers between 11am - 2.30pm.

Cash withdrawals and deposits can be made from Automated Teller Machines (ATM) that can be found in various shopping complexes and bank branches all over the country. ATM cards affiliated with the international Plus or Cirrus systems are accepted at most ATMs.

Credit cards VISA and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards in hotels, restaurants and major shopping complexes.

Some establishments accept American Express.

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58

Money Changer Licensed money changers can be found at the airport, hotels, various shopping complexes and banks. To cash or exchange travelers cheques, visit major international banks in the capital.

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

Telecommunications Friday Prayer Time All retail, food and beverage outlets and business offices are closed between 12 noon and 2pm on Fridays to observe the Friday prayer time for Muslims.

Islamic Etiquette Although Islam is the state religion of Brunei Darussalam, it is also a country that prides itself on the diversity of its people – including their religions. Visitors are welcome to mosques, provided some etiquette is followed. In general, proper attire is required; women are required to cover their head, shoulders, and knees.

Some mosques will provide simple robes and shawls to meet these standards. Shoes are to be removed before entering a mosque. Please do not pass in front of people in prayer, and do not touch the Al-Quran. Please ask for permission before taking photographs – particularly inside!

Mosques are usually closed on Thursday and Friday, and during prayer times – your hotel, tour guide, or Muslim locals can help you determine a good time to visit.

Most public phones operate on calling cards such as Hello card, Netkad and Payless. These cards can be purchased at any store and comes in $5, $10, $20 and $50 denominations. Prepaid calling cards for the two mobile telephone operators, DST and Progresif Cellular, can be purchased from their respective authorised dealers in major shopping areas.

Taxis

Tourist Information

Centre

Located at the Kg. Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery (9am - 2pm). Visitors can obtain information about Brunei and related pamphlets and maps free from here.

Buses There are six bus routes servicing the BSB area: the Central Line, Circle Line, Eastern Line, Southern Line, Western Line and Northern Line. Normal operating hours are from 6.30am - 6pm. Bus fares start from B$1.00. Buses heading to other towns in Brunei such as Tutong, Kuala Belait and Seria depart from the bus terminal located at the multistorey carpark on Jalan Cator in BSB.

Water

Smoking Smoking is prohibited in both air-conditioned and non airconditioned areas in Brunei Darussalam. Smoking is banned in specific places, including government buildings, hospitals, recreational and educational centres, public transport and restaurants. Offenders could be fined.

Taxis can be found at the airport, hotels, shopping centres, and the central bus station in Bandar Seri Begawan.

There are no metered taxis in Brunei, therefore it is advisable to negotiate your fare before getting into one.

For your convenience it is also recommended to take your preferred taxi driver’s number to organize prearranged trips.

Taxis Unique to Brunei, the water taxi is the most common means of transportation in Kampong Ayer.

You can hail a water taxi from the numerous jetties along the banks of Brunei River. Fares are negotiable but usually a standard ride costs about B$1.00. Regular boat services to Temburong operate between 7.45am to 4pm daily and a round trip costs B$15.00.

Ferry Services Passenger ferry services to the Malaysian island of Labuan operate from 7am to 4pm and departs from the Serasa Terminal in Muara town. The journey takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

USEFUL local Malay words Good morning Good afternoon Goodnight Thank you You’re welcome What is your name?

My name is …

Excuse me Yes No How much?

Where is the toilet?

I want to go to …

Turn right Turn left

Selamat pagi

Jalan terus

Selamat petang

Lapangan Terbang

Go straight Airport Selamat malam Town Terima kasih Home Sama-sama Shops Siapa nama awda? Eat Nama saya …

Drink Maafkan saya Walk Ya Chicken Tidak Beef Berapa?

Seafood Di mana tandas?

Vegetables Saya mahu pergi ke... Rice Belok ke kanan 1, 2, 3...

Bandar Rumah Kedai Makan Minum Jalan-jalan Ayam Daging Makanan laut Sayur-sayuran Nasi Satu, Dua, Tiga...

Belok ke kiri

NUMBERS TO NOTE

FOREIGN MISSIONS

EMERGENCY Police 993 Fire 995 Ambulance 991 Directory enquiries 113 Darussalam Hotline 123

Australia 222 9436/426

FLIGHT INFORMATION General 2331747

Bangladesh 223 8420 Cambodia 242 6450 Canada 222 0043 China 233 9609 France 222 0969/961

AIRLINES Royal Brunei Airlines 2212222, 2240500 Air Asia 2333045 Malaysian Airlines 2224141/2, 2223074 Singapore Airlines 2244901/2/3/4 Cebu Pacific Air 2222666, 2227965, 2239888

Germany 222 5574

MEDICAL SERVICES RIPAS Hospital 2242424 Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) 2611433 Gleneagles JPMC 2611212 Tutong Hospital 4221336 Ext 991 Kuala Belait Hospital 3332366 Ext 991 Temburong Hospital 5221526 Ext 127

Pakistan 242 4600

India 233 9685

Unit 1.45B, First Floor The Mall, Abdul Razak Complex Gadong, Brunei, BE3519 Tel: (673) 245 7700

Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm www.missha.net

Indonesia 233 0180 Japan 222 9265/6867 Korea 233 0248 Laos 238 4382 Malaysia 238 1095/1097 Myanmar 245 1960/1965

Philippines 224 1465/1466 Russia 261 2142 Saudi Arabia 279 2822/2823 Singapore 226 2714/2742 Thailand 265 3108 United Kingdom 222 2231 USA 238 4616 Vietnam 265 1580/1587

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

59

biG essentials

Tourist Information Centre

SABAH Banks

Banks open from 9am to 4pm from Mondays to Fridays and are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. ATM machines are available 24 hours. Major shopping malls also have ATM machines and are available during operating hours.

Credit Cards Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards at hotels, restaurants and major shopping malls. Some establishments do accept American Express.

$

Money Changer

Licensed money changers can be found at the airport, shopping malls, hotels and major banks.

SARAWAK Banks

Banks open from 9.30am to 3pm from Mondays to Fridays and are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

ATM machines are available 24 hours. Major shopping malls also have ATM machines and are available during operating hours.

Credit Cards Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards at hotels, restaurants and major shopping malls. Some establishments do accept American Express.

Telecommunications

Buses

There are three main bus terminals that operate regular services. The terminal along Jalan Tun Razak provides services within the city and its outskirts. For destinations south of the city (Papar, Beaufort, Tenom, Tambunan, Keningau), use the terminal near Padang Merdeka.

For any other destinations north of the city and all the way to the east coast towns of Sandakan, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Semporna, you have to take a bus to the Kota Kinabalu North Bus Terminal in Inanam and from there proceed to your destination of choice. Kinabalu Park is located en route from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.

Air Travel

Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is the second busiest airport in Malaysia and is the main terminal for Malaysia Airlines, MASWings, Firefly, Royal Brunei Airlines, Dragonair, Silkair and Asiana Airlines. Terminal 2 caters to low-cost carriers Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and Eastar Jet.

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A free city-tram service is available for sightseeing around Kuching with pick up points at designated hotels. A daily bus service between Kuching and the airport operates from 6am-7pm and takes 40 minutes. The main intercity bus terminal is at Penrissen Bus Terminal southeast of Kuching. Ask Tourism Information Centres for bus timetables; a ‘green bus’ in the Kuching area goes to Santubong (SCV).

Air Travel

Kuching International Airport services airlines to destinations within Malaysia and overseas via Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia, Firefly, Tiger Airways, Royal Brunei, Silk Air and Batavia Air (Pontianak, Kalimantan).

A network of services using smaller aircrafts provides access to remote destinations within Sarawak such as Bario, Mulu and Ba Kelalan.

Licensed money changers can be found at the airport, shopping malls, hotels and major banks. Some money changers may not accept foreign currency in small denomination or notes with a date or serial number that they don’t approve of.

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

Taxis

Taxis are available at both airport terminals and cost about RM30.00 to get to the city.

The journey takes between 10-15 minutes. Within the city, taxi stations are located next to major shopping malls and hotels. Long distance taxi services can be found next to Padang Merdeka.

Buses

Money Changer

$

It is possible to make IDD phone calls at payphones using coins or call cards. Prepaid calling cards are also widely available by authorized dealers at shopping malls. Most major hotels have WIFI facility either in their guest rooms or public areas. An increasing number of restaurants now have WIFI zones too.

Cybercafés offer very affordable rates for internet services.

Telecommunications

It is possible to make IDD phone calls at payphones using coins or call cards.

Prepaid calling cards are also widely available by authorized dealers at shopping malls.

Most major hotels have WIFI facility either in their guest rooms or public areas.

An increasing number of restaurants now have WIFI zones too. Cybercafés offer very affordable rates for internet services.

Sabah Tourism Board Jalan Gaya Tel: (6088) 212 121 Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sinsuran Complex Tel: (6088) 232 121 Tourism Malaysia (Sabah) Api Api Centre Tel: (6088) 211 732 Visitors’ Information Centre Terminal 1 Tel: (6088) 413 359 Visitors’ Information Centre Terminal 2 Tel: (6088) 447 075

Ferry Services Jesselton Point is the main terminal for boats to the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park islands and to Labuan Island. If you wish to drive to Labuan, use the ferry terminal at Menumbok south of the city where car ferries are available.

Express Boats and Ferry Services A boat service locally known as tambang is available for the short trip across Kuching River to the riverside villages on the other side and along the river for sightseeing. Fast and comfortable express boats connect coastal towns (Kuching, Sibu, Kapit) and villages on the major rivers in Sarawak.

The Express Ferry Terminal in Kuching offers trips to Sibu and onwards to Kapit for upriver journeys. Take a bus from Sibu to Miri for ferries to Brunei and onwards to Labuan island and Kota Kinabalu.

Taxis

Taxi fare from Kuching Tourist airport to the city cost about Information Centre RM22.00 per way. Taxies are easily found at large hotels, or at taxi stands in all the major towns in Sarawak. Taxis don’t use meters so always negotiate the fare before getting into a cab!

Kuching Visitors’ Information Centre Tel: (6082) 410 944/2 Miri Visitors’ Information Centre Tel: (6085) 434 181 Sibu Visitors’ Information Centre Tel: (6084) 340 980

biG navigator Brunei Museum Jal a

Embassy Row

International Convention Centre

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National Stadium

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Bank/ ATM/ Money Changer

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Prime Minister Office Building

SEE BANDAR MAP

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Brunei International Airport

Shop

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Mabohai Shopping Complex

Brunei Arts & Handicraft Centre Kampong Ayer

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Royal Brunei Airlines Golf Club

Public Transport

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Edinburgh Palace Times Square Hotel

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Tasek Lama Recreational Park

Orchid Garden Hotel

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Serusop & Delima

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Hua Ho Manggis Mall

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SERI BEGAWAN

Mentiri Utama Jalan

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Jame Asr’ Mosque

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Trader's Inn

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Police Headquarters

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Grand City Hotel

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Place of Interest

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SEE GADONG MAP

Tungku hraya Lebu

Hotel

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Kianggeh Jetty

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Secretariat Building Pearce

Kampong Ayer

Takaful IBB Building

Jalan Roberts

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Jalan Pretty

Jala

The Royal Regalia Building

Taman Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien

Jalan Pemancha

Su Jalan

ara

SUNGAI BRUNEI

Bus Terminal

Jala

Ston ey

EH

KIANGG

ltan

enda h

Brunei History Centre Jala n

Chinese Temple

Jalan Elizabeth Dua

Jalan B

Brunei Hotel

PGGMB Building

Kianggeh Open-Air Food Court

Dermaga Diraja Bandar Seri Begawan

Post Office

yal The Rnoial Hall o Cerem

Radisson Hotel

Terrace Hotel

nggeh

SUNGAI

r

i Kia Sunga Jalan

Kianggeh Markets

to Jalan Ca

K Jalan ampung Beranga n

elia Pusat CBentre) (Youth

n James

erita Jalan B

p Jalan Kam

Capital Residence Suites

MAP

Kota Batu

ung Kian

ggeh

BANDAR

WALKING

Jubilee Hotel

r

Jalan Tutong

Tamu Selera (Hawker Stalls)

Jalan

Batu Satu and RIPAS Hospital Jalan Ista

62

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

Jalan S toney

Syariah Courts

na Daru

ssalam

Sumb i

ling

Dewan Bahasa (Library)

Yayasan SHHB Complex

Jalan McArthur

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

Post Office

Public Transport

Shop

Restaurant

Place of Interest

Water Taxi

Bank/ ATM/ Money Changer

Hotel

biG navigator

Bangunan H Tahir A

GADONG WALKING

Bangunan H Tahir A

Gadong Fish & Night Markets

Block J Hj Tahir Complex 2

MAP

Rizqun International Hotel

Sim pa

ng

37

Block G

Block A

Block F Block B

Block C

LEX

nD

aya n

gS

iti

YONG SIONG HAI COMPLEX

Ha m

37

h

ng

U DA

Sim pa

HJ

Jal a

Block H

ida

MP

O DC

M CO

P

HO

KS

A AZ

G PIN

Block D

The Centrepoint Hotel

Public Transport

Jaya Hypermart Centrepoint don g

dong Jalan Ga

AB

X

PLE

LR

DU

Block E

The Mall, Gadong

37

Restaurant

NG I ME

Jala n Pa

BAN HALIMGUNAN SAADIAATUL H

ng

Guan Electrical

Sim pa

Bank/ ATM/ Money Changer

sar Ga

LAIT

Shop

GA

SUN Hua Ho

Mercedes Benz Showroom HASBULLAH COMPLEX 2

r Pasa Jalan

ng Gado

Hotel HASBULLAH COMPLEX

Bangunan Begawan Pehin Dato Hj Mohd Yusof

KIULAP

Bangunan Lim Eng Ming

WALKING

MAP

AN DAY E K AI

G

SUN

g Yon Man x Hau Comple

sial mer n Ko Jala

Kiu

lap

Lee Clinic

HSBC

SUN Seri Qlap Mall

ing

ngan Build

Setia Kena

BIBD Bank

Public Transport

IGS College

Shop Bank/ ATM/ Money Changer

Palm Garden Hotel

Restaurant Hotel Kampung Kiulap

Berib i

Wisma Pengiran Hj Apong Fitness Zone

Post Office

Jalan

IT GLA

MEN

d hma

GAI

Hj A

Tian & Chuan Building

Kiulap Plaza Hotel

wg an A gun

Ban

Seri Kiulap Complex

Berib

AV Electronics

p

mersial Kiula n Ko Ja l a

Urairah Qlap Bangunan Complex Haji Abdul Complex Rahman Bangunan Awg Hj Matussin

i

Post Office

Baiduri Bank

Jalan

lex

Shakirin Comp

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

63

• Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

nM

• Kota Kinabalu International Airport (Terminal 2)

Jala

• Casuarina Hotel

• Kinabalu Golf Club

at S

Tanjung Aru

alle

h

Jala

p

la Ja

nP

a en

pa

ng

By

p

s as

• Sunny Supermarket

Jala nM at S alle h

• The Sutera Harbour Marina & Yacht Club

S

ut e

ar b ra H

Bo

ul

• Sutera Harbour Marina Golf and Country Club

o ur

• Magellan Sutera Hotel

E

F

Ocean Seafood Borneo Village Heritage

la

Jala n

H

Handicraft Bazaar

• Central Market

• Fish Market

South China Sea

Waterfront Radius International Esplanade

G

Wisma Sabah, Wisma Air Asia Merdeka

I

Sutera Harbour

n Ke

b ajik

an

s Ta

ik

n

jik

Sa

an

ncil

ran

int

as

ua

J

Sulug Island

Mamutik Island

Manukan Island

Tu a

19

Ja la

Ja

n

Jal an

n la Pe

al an

Ke

Bu

an

Jalan 18

ki t

Gaya Island

Ja la

ang mp na

m bulan

Ja

la

ma

i

Kota Kinabalu

a nD

Jesselton Waterfront

• Micasan Superstore

• Gayana Eco Resort

Bunga Raya Island Resort •

South China Sea

ran

Sapi Island

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

Kota Kinabalu

J al

• Tun Fuad Memorial Garden

Jala

L rg

a gK

m aj uan

• Art Gallery • Science & Technology Centre • State Museum

Water Village

s ad Steph en Jalan Tun Fu• Le Meridien

J

Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal

• Gaya • Suria Sabah • Hyatt Regency Centre • hotel aman KK Ha ji S Plaza Jala n • Warisan • • Square Sabah Bank General • Promenade Hotel • Gaya Street • Parks Negara Post • Centre Office • Pantai Sunday Point k • Wawasan Market • Signal Hill Observatory n Raza Inn • Tu n Plaza (Bukit Bendera) Jala Bus • Akinabalu • The Mall • • Atkinson Terminal Night Youth Hostel Clock Tower • Tang Dynasty (KK Times Sabah Tourism • Hotel Market Hotel Square) Jalan Coas tal ass Bendera Board Deleeton yp B • Asia City K it Ja nK Mall • Cititel • SEDCO • Harbour City Development lan Buk • Double Six • alaBandaran J Complex Monument Express Berjaya Hotel Merdeka Field • All Saints • Central Cathedral Sabah Oriental Hotel • Kota • man h Police Ra l Hotel bdu Kinabalu A u k Station • Indonesia un Shangri-La nT Consulate General a • Istana Negeri – Residence of m La Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Jal an S e m b u l a n • The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu Tang Dynasty • Kuwasa • Karamunsing Park Hotel Complex, Complex • Royal Brunei Airlines Rahman l u • Wisma Tun Fuad • State Mosque bd A Stephens • Sacred Heart nku n Tu Cathedral J ala

• Pacific Sutera Hotel

D

Nen

• North Borneo Railway Station

ayan

ng Ar u

n Ke

• Tanjung Aru Plaza

C

d

ar

ev

• Kinabalu Yacht Club

L

Lrg

g

an

Ter b

Jalan Ta nju

an

B

Ja l an Ka

t n Buk

Jal an

Jal a

a

Jalan Se

a

ay

ntre Po

Jalan

am

ud

Lrg Ce

20

ng

Ja lan

daran

sr n A

nB

A

J ala

J al a

J. Ban

Ja

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide Jalan

J a l an I s t a n a

64 Jalan 17

ap a

Kota Kinabalu

ng Pada

10

T

Ja l a n K o l a m

ba

nM akt ab Gay a

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Sunday Market

B

Sa

ra

er Taxi

Indian Street Pedestrian Mall

Astana

D

New State Legislative Assembly (DUN)

Waterfront

Orchid Garden

E

Square Tower Gambier Sarawak Sarawak Petra Fort Margherita Open Jalan Tourism Indian Tourism Jaya Air Complex Mosque Transport Market Federation Textile Jala Police Museum n M Little Divisional ain Electra Lebanon Visitors Ba Mosque Siang Ti zaa Kuc House Police Information hing Temple r Hu Centre n Souvenir

wa

iv kR

C

Jln Bukit

Tourism Malaysia Office

Kampung Boyan

F

S ar a w a k R i v e r

Jalan Brooke

Kampung Gersik

G

Samudra Court Hotel

SRB Chung Hua No.4

Ha ji

n

Intan

Sarawak Club

Church

Civic Centre

Planetarium

Amphitheatre

Park Lane Lodge

Sarakraf Pavilion

Kua Ning Temple

Home Stay

St. Peter’s Church

Chung Hua No. 3 School

AbSolutely Atak Kopitiam Sayang ak t an Pe an Ja l

Wet Market & Hawker Cenre

a t u k W i l li a m

Land & Survey Divisional Office

Police Contingent HQ

Ja la

Market

Le bu h

H

Kampung Surabaya

Grand Magherita Hotel Centrepoint Khatulistiwa Shopping Sarawak Centre Everybread Yea Shops Berambih Plaza Mr. D’s ng u l d u Ab Rahman k Chinese Museum Tun Lodge n Tu Riverside Kuching Jugah Terminal lan Matang Majestic Wisma Cozzi Ja One Lounge Medan Padang Transport Sikh Kuching Ting Pek Cat Crossway General Pelita King Statue Merdeka Dormani Hotel Post Office Hong San Si Tua Pek Kong Temple Great Asia Star Office Top Spot Sarawak Temple Temple Jalan Padungan Uta St. Thomas ha ra Food Court WallJ Cat Tourism Church Ta Limerree a Statue Malaysia lanPad Hotel Dewan Tun Board u ng a n Airlines Abdul Razak Somerset Kim Bay Saramo Hostel St. Mary’s State Thiam Ming Museum Merdeka Palace Gateway Corus Wood Police School Library Pullman Hotel Hotel & Suites & DBKU Tom’s Bing & Resort Islamic Arts Museum • SCR s at&a Home e Museum St. Thomas’s Mata Kuching Chung Hua thi Ideas Sdn. Bhd Hopoh Secret School Ma School Old Sarawak Recipe Shopping lan 360Xpress Museum Ja Red ir Centre o Kuching Radio v Aquarium Crescent er High School • Television Bank Beds Telang Usan Res Building Malaysia Negara Syariah Court Jalan • Wisma Satok • SCR Hotel Bella’s Heroes’ Aha Cafe Monument Cat Statue Organic Hong Kong Reservoir Islamic Pau Cafe Fire Station Park Garden Buhari Cafe Sri Shan Top Hill Kitchen Choon Hui Cafe Kopi O Corner Batavia Cafe Lodge 121 Hotel Grand Aroma Cafe Telecom RJ Ayam Continental Malaysia Penyet Kopitiam St. Theresa’s Hindu Temple Chung Hua School SCR Express Pasar Tamu No.1 School St. Joseph’s SCR School St. Joseph

A

S ri D

Jubilee Recreation Ground

Jalan B

Police

Kuching South City Council (MBKS)

Dewan Masyarakat

Frydays Chicken

Mian Ann Zest

Kampung Panglima Seman Lama

I

Hockey Stadium

MBKS Swimming Pool

Goodrich

rooke

Kampung Semarang

360 Urban Resort Hotel

J

Dorset Boutique Hotel

Crown Square

Lee 360 Hock Centre Hotel

oo C how 2

Tan

Foo

lan Ja

re Jalan G

en

Jala nF

Ja l an

lan Ja 1 ow Ch

Kuching

n Ta

e yl d mf Ba

Borneo.Insider’s.Guide

65

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

biG screen

Movies to look out for this quarter The Nice Guys Starring Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe

may

Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe get to stretch their comedic chops in this crime drama set in 1970s Los Angeles about a private eye and a hired leg-breaker who work together to solve the case of a missing girl and the death of a porn star.

may

may

Captain America: Civil War

Starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan Two Marvel titans go shield to helmet in this third installment about the hero of all Marvel heroes, Captain America, who is now leading the newly formed team of Avengers. A decision has divided the team of heroes into two camps: one on the side of Steve Rogers and one on the side of Tony Stark in his surprising decision to go against the titular hero.

APR

Demolition Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Naomi Watts When Davis pens a complaint letter to a vending machine company it sets off a series of a letters that begin to reveal personal truths as he struggles to recover from the tragic death of his wife, in this comedy about a man rebuilding his life – starting with the demolition of the life he once knew.

apr

may

Alice Through The Looking Glass Starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter The Mad Hatter has lost his Muchness and it’s up to Alice to save him. Mirana sends the titular heroine on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere, a globe that powers all time, which takes her on a perilous race to the past – encountering friends and enemies - to save the Hatter before time runs out.

APR jun

The Boss Starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage Business mogul Michelle Darnell emerges from prison after being convicted of insider trading, ready to re-enter the corporate world - but not everyone is willing to forgive her for swindling them!

The Huntsman: Winter’s War Starring Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain

After killing Ravenna in Snow White and the Huntsman, the brooding Huntsman is forced to don the hero cape once more as he sets out to face Ravenna’s sister – an evil Snow Queen who seeks to avenge the death of her sister.

The Secret Life of Pets Featuring the voices of Kevin Hart, Albert Brooks, Ellie Kemper Max’s cushy life as the favourite pet turns upside down when his owner brings home a mongrel named Duke, but that’s not the only problem on his plate. The two pets are forced to put their differences aside when they find out that an army of abandoned pets led by a white bunny named Snowball is out to seek revenge on all pets and their owners.

X-Men: Apocalypse Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac It is good against bad once again in this latest installment of X-Men. Professor X and Raven lead a team of young mutants against an ancient power, Apocalypse - the first and most powerful mutant since the dawn of civilization - who recruits Magneto and a band of powerful mutants to cleanse mankind and create a new world order.

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