Plus Men's Feb-Mar

E SU IS ’S EN M Feb–Mar 2016

A LOOK AT THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF

Leap year with 29 quotes WITH ROGER SIM

Swims for gold!

Phsss, here are our

RIZAN LATIF PLUS+ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

THE MAN BEHIND BEACH BUNCH

EDITION

with Mohammad Husaini, ToonSiew IzziAdi, Muhammad Azizan and Awangku Mohammed Muiz

USD $3.99 GBP £3.49 BND $5.00 BRUNEI

Insider Scoop on Borneo Surf Festival Catching the Waves

Coming Soon

www.signyture.com

+Content +Health 6 The Beauty of Circulating Love

by Giving Blood

+Fitness 12 5 Fitness Model Secrets for Ripped Six Pack Abs 16 Buying Shoes For Your Workout the Right Way: What’s Right For You?

+Event 20 Borneo Surf Festival

+Life Inspired

Feb–Mar 2016

A RUNNER, A FATHER AND HIS LOVE FOR THE BEACH

26

22 Riding the waves of Borneo 26 A runner, a father and his love for the beach 32 Swim, Christian, Swim!

40 Under the Sea with the Jolly Roger

+Lifestyle 48 Take the "Big leap" This leap year 2016!

+Movie 54 Long, Long Time Ago

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22 32

+Publisher Info

I

Dear readers,

n the blink of an eye, four years has passed and a leap year is once again upon us. Learn from past mistakes and maybe finally take that leap this year with our article containing advice from 29 inspiring people on exactly how to do that.

We also have the lowdown on what happened during the RipCurl presents Borneo Surf Festival and chat with our surfers from Brunei on how they did and felt in what was their very first international competition.

In our fitness section, find out what to look for in the perfect shoe for your workout and the top fitness model secrets to help you achieve those perfect abs that fitness models all sport nowadays.

Here at Plus, we believe in health and community and what better way to give back than donating blood?

Besides the obvious feel-good factor of knowing that you’re helping people in need, discover the benefits of this valiant act for yourself.

This month, we talk to three impressive and passionate men. On +Publisher Nexploit Services +Editor-At-Large Plus Team +Talent Editor Elizabeth Sim +Proof Reader Monica Lim +Marketing and Digital Content Nursadiqin Misir +Graphic Designer Anna Thien Oleh Melnyk John M. Rey

our cover is Rizan Latif, the founder of The Beach Bunch. His two passions are beaches and leading a healthy lifestyle, mainly by running. Read about his commendable efforts in organizing events to bring people to the beaches of Brunei to help the environment and how he maintains his healthy lifestyle.

We also feature an interview with Christian Nazario Nickles, the very first Bruneian to be awarded a scholarship from The International Swimming Federation (FINA), a real talent and true accomplishment of his hard work.

Last but not least, we chat with Roger Sim aka “Jolly Roger” about what diving means to him and the everincreasing popularity of this sport in Brunei. His obvious passion and expertise might have you reaching out and trying something new to sample a taste of his world.

Don’t forget you can follow us for the latest updates @PlusBrunei on Facebook and Instagram, where we post behind the scenes pics and sneak peeks of upcoming features.

Many thanks and happy reading, Simon Keller & the Plus Team +Photographer Jerome Wong Adam Hanif William Tan Kassim

Ministry of Health (Brunei Darussalam) Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (Brunei Darussalam) Health Promotion Centre (Brunei Darussalam) Fitness Zone Royal Brunei Airlines Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd

+Publisher information Nexploit Services Lot 4169, Kg Serambangun, Tutong TA 2541 Brunei Darussalam

+Have a story to share?

Email it to  plusbrunei@gmail.com

+For business inquiries and distribution Email it to  plusbrunei@gmail.com

+Get interactive with Plus Magazine

+Featuring Rizan Latif; Roger Sim; Christian Nazario Nickles Nadiah Baharuddin; Mohammad Husaini bin Ibrahim; ToonSiew; IzziAdi; Muhammad Azizan Bin Haji Zainal Ariffin; Awangku Mohammed Muiz bin Pengiran Haji Morni.

All rights reserved.

Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of Nexploit Services. Where option is expressed it is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the editorial views of the publisher or Plus.

All information in Plus is checked and verified to the best of the publisher’s ability, however the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.

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+Health

THE BEAUTY OF CIRCULATING W

LOVE

hile it’s true that every or any extended hand towards charity makes a difference, be it in terms of clothing, money, or simply giving time (and EVERY contribution really does count), nothing is quite comparable to the donation of human blood. There could be tons of remarkable achievements in medical science at present and innovation is really on the grind but there is no vending machine in existence that can manufacture blood (well, none that I know of ). It is only through us human beings, that human blood is made and circulated. For those who require blood to save their lives, sharing from other fellows is the only means. Hence, voluntary donation is the ONLY WAY of accumulating blood at safe storage to meet emergency requirements for assisting in saving and changing other people’s lives.

Adding to that, there are minimal chances that a “spider bite” could transform you into a superhero, (I love you, Spidey!) but a small prick of a sterile needle and a little amount of your time sure can! Yes, by donating blood you’ll be saving up to three human lives each time! And here is an incredible fact, not only is donating blood extremely beneficial to those on the receiving end but it also has proven health and personal benefits to the person donating blood. We gathered thorough reliable sources and facts about the wonders of circulating the love by giving blood! (Plus, you also get the

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perks of free juice and delicious cookies! Yum!)

BY GIVING BLOOD

1

SMOOTH AND BETTER BLOOD CIRCULATION Have you any idea what having a sedentary lifestyle, vices such as drinking alcohol and smoking, anxiety and emotional stress, toxins, electromagnetic forces, high cholesterol, and other bad sound-alike words can cause to your blood? They can make your blood hypercoagulable or in layman’s terms, they turn your blood thick and make it move more slowly. This increases the

Health+ risk of blood clot, and worse, stroke! According to Phillip DeChristopher, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Loyola University Health System Blood Bank in Illinois, USA in his TIME Magazine interview: “Hypercoagulable blood contributes to inflammation, because when your blood does not flow well, oxygen can’t properly get distributed to your tissues. One of which can be considered as a good example is early (and some current) birth control pills were notorious for causing heart attacks in women. One of the mechanisms that had cause this increased risk is that synthetic estrogens and progesterones increase blood viscosity.”

The body is indeed a complicated machine, consisting of weird systems and confusing names for confusing parts. So in general, aside from good eating habits and regular exercise, repeated and or regular blood donations may help your blood circulation, possibly helping to limit the damage to the lining of your blood vessels, which should result in fewer arterial blockages. The Circulatory System is REALLY vital for us humans and having smooth and better blood circulation is essential for the process! So, when you regularly donate, you are doing your heart a favour!

are derived from them are screened thoroughly for certain infection occurrences. It is an option for you to be informed if the medical personnel find any abnormalities within the screening tests. Frequent blood donations are great free health check-ups that will help you stay healthy and happy!

3

DEPRECIATES RISKS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND MALIGNANCY SUCH AS CANCER Regular blood donations assist in keeping the levels of iron in the body in check, especially in males.

Some accurate

2

THE PERKS OF HAVING FREE HEALTH CHECK UPS During the first time I donated blood, I learnt how to calm myself well in intimidating situations (blood drives certainly fall in that category), and that it can also free you from any doubts of whether you’re in good health. You can share blood only if you are fit enough to do so. Therefore, before proceeding in the process of any blood donation, a series of health check-ups must be performed on the donor. The great thing is that these check-ups are totally free of charge! A good example, you will find out if you have any blood pressure abnormalities. They say that, “what you don’t know cannot hurt you”. HOWEVER, when it involves your health, the reverse is usually true. Being armed with information will assist you to diagnose some of the indolent diseases at their early, curable stage before they progress and involve multiple systems. What more? After the blood is donated, the blood and products that Feb–Mar 2016

PLUS 7

+Health

studies abroad have shown that donation of blood can reduce risks of heart diseases. Though we learned from our younger years that according to Bill Nye the Science Guy, iron is an essential element for the proper functioning of the body, we now know that during our adulthood, excessive iron (keep in mind that anything that in excess is bad for you!) build up can result in rapid increase of oxidative damage.

“Oxidative damage” is the major culprit implicated in accelerated ageing, heart attacks, strokes and illnesses that definitely harm one’s body.

Interested in learning more? You could always check by visiting your friendly physician regularly for more helpful details about this!

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BUSTING CALORIES!

*University of California San Diego notes that whenever you donate blood, you burn an average of about 650 calories in the process (Woohoo, no sweating required!).

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But before you abandon your workout plan in favor of blood donation, keep in mind that you need to wait a minimum of 56 days since your last donation before you’re eligible to donate again. So aside from regularly hitting the gym and practicing healthy eating habits, this can aid you in your body weight control measures. Please note that, blood can be donated safely once every two or three months and not more frequently than that. Be mindful because this will definitely depend on your current health status and your blood haemoglobin and iron levels.

5

THE PERSONAL JOY IN SAVING LIVES

We all know that donating blood is a social and community responsibility of a citizen. It’s a phenomenal and selfless choice. Isn’t it such a wonderful feeling just thinking about being able to assist the doctors save human lives? It’s like your presence is

in the operating room without actually being in the operating room.

Sounds awesome, right? There are no perfect substitutes for human blood.

The blood you donate is divided into various components according to the needs of patients and each component can be used by different recipients for various purposes! For newborn babies that undergo various health issues, they only benefit from a single blood donor, as the amount of blood required is smaller.

As mentioned previously, every single time you donate blood, you can help up to 3 or 4 individual recipients! Donating blood is a selfless, altruistic and valiant act that will give you a sense of fulfillment.

Growing up, you’ve probably heard one of the most used expressions, “Sharing is Caring” which is a really powerful statement and when put in action, will make you feel grateful. Realize that giving will definitely make you feel more blessed.

Don’t just live through others — let others live through you! LIVE FIT, LOVE LIFE!

Available at BSM authorised outlets and retail stations Tel: + 672 224 4739 Website: www.bsm.com.bn

5

+Fitness

T

hese days, most guys aspire to have that ripped “fitness model” look as opposed to the muscle-bound bodybuilder look. The key to having a fitness model physique is your core.

A six-pack is at the top of every guys list — yet so few can achieve this look. This article is going to give you 5 fitness model secrets for shredded six-pack abs.

Discover the quickest path to ripped six pack abs so you can stroll along the beach this summer looking ripped. These 5 fitness model secrets not only stimulate abdominal fat loss but also build the actual abdominal muscles, giving you those awesome looking 3D abs that pop out.

Let’s dive into the good stuff and unveil the 5 fitness model secrets for ripped six pack abs.

1

TRAIN YOUR ABS WITH RESISTANCE

The single biggest reason most guys don’t have impressive looking abs is that they don’t train their abs with resistance. You wouldn’t expect to get a great looking chest without ever bench pressing or big biceps without doing dumbbell curls, would you?

Your abs are a muscle group just like your chest, biceps and quadriceps. This means that if you want to have noticeable abs, you need to train them with resistance instead of doing all bodyweight exercises.

Doing bodyweight exercises are fine, but your abdominal workout

12 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

routine also needs to include exercises that place overload on the lower, middle and upper abdominals.

Some of the best weight abdominal exercises are the weighted Russian twist, Db Decline Sit up, and weighted planks!

2

LONG PERIODS OF LOW INSULIN Keeping your insulin levels low for long periods of time is the best thing you can do to stimulate fat burning.

Low insulin results in a quick fat loss and high insulin results in fat storage.

The only time of the day you should be spiking your insulin with simple carbohydrates is immediately after a workout. If you are craving sugar or any kind of sweets, do your six pack abs a favor and consume them directly after a workout so they can be utilized to build muscle and not be stored as fat.

FOR RIPPED SIX PACK ABS

If your main goal is to have shredded six-pack abs, you want to keep your insulin levels low for long periods of time. This means that you are mostly consuming lean proteins and healthy fats. Slow-digesting carbohydrates can be consumed for breakfast and before a workout but should be avoided at all other times of the day.

Some of the best foods that will keep your insulin levels low are the following: High-Quality Proteins: Boneless skinless chicken, lean grass-fed beef, turkey, egg whites, salmon, whole eggs, wild cod, tuna, tofu, tilapia, and spirulina.

Healthy Fats: Avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, flax seeds, fish oil, cashews, almonds, peanuts, Brazil nuts, no-sugar-added nut butter.

If your meals consist mostly of foods from the high-quality protein and healthy fats list, you will become a fat burning machine due to the periods of low insulin and high-quality amino acids.

IFE L G ESS N I NG FITN A CH UGH O R H T

+Fitness

3 INTERMITTENT FASTING

When it comes to creating an efficient fat loss strategy, it really comes down to one simple thing: burning more calories than you are consuming.

One of the easiest fat burning routines you can get into is a diet concept known as intermittent fasting. This makes it really easy to stay in a calorie deficit and has also been shown to increase your testosterone and energy levels.

Intermittent fasting is practiced by many fitness models and is really easy to follow once you get into the swing of things.

Intermittent fasting is simply a strategy where you have “eating windows” and “fasting times” each day. The general rule of thumb during IF is that you want to have at least 16 hours of fasting and no more than an 8-hour feeding window.

For the most effective intermittent fasting results, I recommend that you go at least 18 hours without eating and keep your food window open for no more than 6 hours.

Sound difficult? It’s actually quite simple when you factor in the fact that you are already fasting for about 8 hours every day when you are sleeping.

An easy way to set up your fasting is to stop eating at 8 pm the night before and have your first meal the following day at around 2 pm.

A popular fat loss strategy is to work out on an empty stomach during your fasting session and consume your first meal of the day after your workout.

This diet strategy favors those who enjoy eating large meals but still want to reap fat loss benefits.

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Since you are only allowed to eat all your food within a small eating window, you can eat a lot of food in a short period of time and still be in a calorie deficit for the day. This becomes nearly impossible if you are eating regularly and snacking throughout the day.

5

HIIT = RIPPED

Unless you have been living under a rock the last few years, chances are you have heard about High Intensity Interval Training, also known as HIIT.

If six pack abs are your main fitness goal and you find that you are constantly overeating try this popular diet strategy to speed up your results.

Most fitness enthusiasts unfortunately don’t know how effective HIIT is for fat loss as many are still doing standard forms of moderate-paced cardio to lose body fat.

4

If you want to lose body fat and get ripped six pack abs, you need to change up your cardio routine to HIIT.

SMART SNACKING

The thing that prevents most people from having six pack abs is how they snack throughout the day.

Many people will eat somewhat healthy meals and then ruin it all by snacking on pure junk throughout the day.

If you want to have ripped six pack abs you need to make sure you are snacking on high-quality protein and healthy fats that will keep your energy levels high and your insulin levels low.

Instead of snacking on empty, loaded calories, you need to snack on six-pack abs fuel.

Here are 3 great snack ideas that will keep your energy levels high and your insulin levels low!

SIX PACK ABS SNACK NUMBER 1: 2 Tbsp Raw Almond Butter on top of Celery

SIX PACK ABS SNACK NUMBER 2: 4 Ounces Lean Grass Fed Beef topped with sliced Avocado

SIX PACK ABS SNACK NUMBER 3: Casein Protein Shake with a handful of Unsalted Cashews

High Intensity Interval Training is the most effective form of cardio for fat loss because it manipulates your body’s most important fat burning hormones and numerous research studies have proven that following a HIIT cardio session, your metabolism is increased for up to 24 hours.

The reason this happens is because when you perform a maximum intensity anaerobic activity, you are working your body’s fast-twitch muscle fibers which take much longer to recover than your slow-twitch muscle fibers which you work out during standard cardio.

High Intensity Interval Training has also been shown to increase crucial muscle building and fat burning hormones such as testosterone and HGH. Making the switch from standard cardio sessions to HIIT will have a huge impact on your fat burning capabilities.

To perform an easy HIIT workout, simply sprint at maximum speed for 10–15 seconds and rest for 45 seconds between sprints. Repeat this for 8–12 intervals and repeat this workout a few times a week to become a fat burning machine!

Fitness+

Feb–Mar 2016

PLUS 15

+Fitness

BUYING SHOES

FOR YOUR WORKOUT THE RIGHT WAY: WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU?

16 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

+Fitness

W

orking out is great in theory but not the easiest to keep up in real life.

You might be tempted to give it a go when you observe the apparent ease at which some other fitness enthusiasts work out. However, one thing that you will come to realize is that they normally put in a lot of effort towards making sure that they are able to work out the way they do and without doing the same for yourself, it is unlikely that you will reach your optimum workout potential.

One of the most important things that anyone has to make sure that they have right is appropriate footwear. This is a very important factor as far as excellent workout sessions are concerned, and you can rest assured that without a good pair of shoes, you might not be in a good position to go far.

It goes without saying that one of the best things you can do for yourself is to start working out. It will help you get into the best shape of your life, not to mention the plethora of health, mental and social benefits working out can bring about.

There are so many things that you can enjoy when you start working out, and you can do this through so many ways including cycling, boxing, running and this explains why it is one of those things that you have to get right. It is not just about working

18 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

hard, but it should also being in a fun-filled activity to get in shape.

For you to get the best out of your experience, you have to make sure that you have the right gear, particularly the shoes. There are training shoes that are specifically designed for different exercise routines to ensure that you will be in a good position to get nothing but the best out of your workout experience. Most of the shoes are specially designed to deliver nothing but a good grip for you. Professional and amateurs have, for a long time invested in the best workout shoes and for good reason too. Here are some reasons why you need to make sure that you have the best shoes for you.

Good shoes should be lightweight.

This is important and if you are keen you will note that these are normally three times lighter than the normal sporting footwear. This makes it easier for you to control your steps when you are in the gym. Apart from that, when you have lighter shoes you put less strain on your calf muscles. To get this right, you can consider working out in normal sporting shoes and then doing the same later on with special workout shoes and you will be able to note the difference.

These shoes will normally have a special carbon fibre sole. There is a reason why this type of sole is most recommended for this type of shoe.

First of all, when you have a firm

sole, it will be a lot easier to transfer power from your legs to get a good grip on the floor. When you compare this type of sole with the ones available on normal shoes, the normal shoes are unable to deliver this kind of precision, especially those made out of plastic. As a matter of fact, when using normal shoes, you might even experience slight skidding on the floor when you are in the gym.

The special soles for workout shoes make sure that you exert the best and most efficient amount of energy, providing you with the perfect balance you need when working out.

Needless to say, the perfect shoes for you should also be a good fit when you are in the gym. A good pair of shoes should fit you well to make sure that you do not have any problems when you are working out.

Today there is a lot of innovation that has been delivered towards this end, making sure that users can get the perfect fit and really comfortable shoes to that end. From the uniqueness of the buckles to the straps, you will get the perfect shoes that will make it possible for you to not only work out as much as best you can but eliminate any worry about slipping or having a freak accident in the gym as a result of your shoes not fitting properly. Therefore, when you are looking for workout shoes, it is important that you ensure you only purchase the best in the market for the best results.

+Event

BORNEO SURF FESTIVAL

THE STARS OF THE SURFING WORLD CAME OUT TO TEST THE WAVES AT THE RIP CURL PRESENTS BORNEO SURF FESTIVAL, HELD LAST DECEMBER AT KOTA KINABALU. THE TWO-DAY FESTIVAL ENDED ON THE 20TH OF DECEMBER AND SAW AN ESTIMATED 1,500 FESTIVAL GOERS.

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Event+

oth the Men’s and Women’s categories were won by some of the biggest names in world surfing, as Billabong surfer Muhammad Didaqt Bin Musaddiq emerged from the crystal blue waters as a champion of the Men’s Open Category, and Nur Hawani Binti Norrizan from Selangor conquered the Women’s Open Category.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Didaqt though, as the Pahang native traded high scoring waves with Dermian Amar from Bali, Azmi Awang from Terengganu and fellow Pahang surfer Mohd Nazrin Nasrudin, right down to the final waves.

Meanwhile, in the Under 16 Category, 11-yearold Samuel Marque of France surfed his way to the top prize against local Kudat Boys Hakimi Rizal, Azlee Patrick and Chris Jericho B. Lisad in the finals.

Among the championship calibre surfers at the festival, five-year-old Daniel Sidi stood out after begging his father to join the competition and claimed his waves with his fist held high to the cheer of the crowd.

The winners walked away with Rip Curl Exclusive Trophies and Merchandise, Frogskin Sunglasses sponsored by Oakley, Happy Plug Earphones from Atlas Sound and Vision, Single Clothing Caps and vouchers from Yuzu Japanese Restaurant.

“There is a lot of real potential amongst the local surfers from Sabah and Brunei, especially with the female and young surfers” commented Bryan Ng, Head Judge from Kuala Lumpur.

THE CORPORATE LOGO USAGE

The event also saw Rip Curl Bali Pro Surfers Pepen Hendrik and Wayan “Tonjo” Dharma Putra, who were flown in by Rip Curl for a fan meet and provided a surf demonstration.

You must not change the colours of the Rip Crul Corporate logo.

I n m a r k e t i n g y o u c a n u s e t h e c o r p o r a t e l o g o i n t w o d i ff e r e n t w a y s : 1. Company Full colour red wave, black or white word type.

2. Advertising and promotions : Full colour or single colour (Black or White) logo. * Can be use in all advertising/lifestyle photos materials * Except for womans & wetsuits ads/lifestyle photos.

The latest edition of the festival also included a bazaar encompassing locally made arts and crafts representing Sabah as well as the Borneo Surf Music Festival, that had a line up of top Sabahan musicians such as Busska Busker, Saudagarist, Hanging Hygiene, Soul Refugees, Aized Emir, Old Navy, The Since, Kookies, Shaneil Devaser, Matt, Appy Tots and Jonathan Tse. Article By: Redzwan Kamarudin

Feb–Mar 2016

PLUS 21

RIP CURL LOGO CORPORATE COLOUR

+Life Inspired

Husaini Ibrahim

E H T G N I RID VES OF WA RNEO BO 22 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

Life Inspired+ ToonSiew

IZZI Adi

Feb–Mar 2016

PLUS 23

+Life Inspired

orneo Surf Festival, organized

by Sabah Surfing Association was held at the Nexus Resort Karambunai in Tuaran outside Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from the 18th to the 20th of December 2015.

The festival included a surfing competition where 56 contestants took part in 3 categories: Men’s Open, Women’s Open and Under 16 Open, where there were hopes of seeing the best surfers from West Malaysia, Labuan, Sarawak and Brunei compete with each other. Five surfers led by 38 year old Toon Siew represented Brunei at the competition.

PLUS caught up with the surfer boys for a quick update.

©© ©© ©© ©© ©©

“It was my very first experience competing and competing outside of Brunei. For me, the toughest part of the competition was how we had to pick the best waves. Surfing, to me, depends a lot on luck and good waves! I was really happy that I was able to make it to the semi-finals!

I’ve been surfing for 3 years and this was my first competition so far. I also won “Best Upcoming International

24 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

Surfer” and I look forward to more competitions.

depends on how prepared we are.

I’m proud of Dee Dee for getting the award and we all definitely had fun!

The waves and the competitors were definitely challenging. The waves were different and the other competitors were more exposed to competitions. I thought that I had a good chance for a place because I am younger than most surfers out there but like I said, I thought I had a chance, haha. This experience taught me the importance of not rushing or panicking because that’s exactly what happened to me. I also noticed how the surfers from KL were ripping the waves better than others, maybe because of their technique. I learnt a lot about technique just by watching others and just by being there. I am definitely proud of myself for even entering the competition and happy to have the support of my peers. I now plan to keep on surfing and working on my skills and hopefully enter more competitions.

Labeled as “The father “of the group as I am the oldest, my job was to look out for the boys in the team aside from also competing. I was not fully aware that this was an international event and thought it only involved Malaysia and Brunei. It only hit me when I found out there were competitors from Bali in the heat. I wasn’t worried for the boys in the group because I believed they would gain experience by competing with other experienced surfers. I also advised the boys that it’s important to just do their best and take on as many good waves as they can within the 15 minutes given. I came in 2nd place in my heat and got through to the quarter-finals.

It was scary, to be honest! It was our first time competing in a real event and it was real big event. There was a typhoon passing by during the competition, which meant the waves were quite big. And because the swells in Brunei are not that big, we focused on our fitness during our training here by jogging and skating. I thought I was prepared enough for the event but I was not! I enjoyed meeting the pros from different countries and being in the water with them. I’m looking forward to another competition soon but that

This was the first surfing competition for me. I had the opportunity to compete against pro surfers from Malaysia (Terengganu), but the waves were not easy to adapt to. In other words, I have to improve myself in terms of my style and technique in riding the waves. It was a different experience for me in comparison to surfing in Bali. Even though I did not get through to the next round, I know I’ll be back again to fight for a better place next time.

It also means I have to continue working hard and training hard at home with my friends.

Article by: Elizabeth Sim

Life Inspired+

MILESTONES 2009

January

Episode I

2010

January

Formally registered under Registrar of Society.

2010

April

Beach wastes collected passed 1-tonnes mark.

2010

July

2010

October

1st formal international collaboration for the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) with Ocean Conservancy.

2011

January

Beach wastes collected passed the 2-tonnes mark.

2011

April

Record of 359 volunteers, record of 1445.3 kg of beach waste collected and passes the 3-tonnes mark.

2011

June

1st Annual Event and highest profile with Minister of Development and British High Commissioner presents.

2011

Sept 1

Beach Bunch Bun sold by Mr Baker’s Bakeshop.

2011

Oct 18

Launching of Beach Bunch website

2012

April 22

Record of 742 volunteers for Earth Day’s cleanup at Jerudong Beach.

2013

June 30

Record of 900 volunteers for World Environment Day’s cleanup at Tungku beach.

2013

The bid of the Blue Flag Project starts.

September 22 Record of most beach cleanups simultaneously for International Coastal Cleanup on 3 district of Brunei. Six

2013

October 13

1st River cleanup at Bengkurong River.

2013

December 7

1st International Roundtable from USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore

2014

September 21 1st Island Cleanup at Keingaran Island

2015

June 8

2015

August 23

1st Sea Turtle Night Watch begins 1st 21km Trail Challenge

Feb–Mar 2016

PLUS 25

+Life Inspired

26 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

Life Inspired+

A RUNNER, A FATHER AND HIS LOVE FOR THE BEACH e all know him as the man behind The Beach Bunch, but Plus gets 38 year old Rizan Latif to tell us about his addiction to running and how important family support is to what he does for the community and his hope for his daughter.

What is it like to manage, run and organize Beach events?

I’ve been holding this boat down since 2010 and it is still awesome.

I like it despite the occasional ups and downs and the hardships but at the end of the day, it’s always about the satisfaction of volunteers doing something good for the community by cleaning the environment.

Why should people be a part of Beach Bunch?

I would not say that people should be a part of Beach Bunch but there’s a saying in Bahasa Melayu of “bergotong royong” which, loosely translated in English, means working together for a specific purpose or for the greater

good of the community. It has a very strong place in our Bruneian community as if there is someone in need who is suffering or in need of help; the Brunei community is always there to help. However, this angle is different because the one that needs help is the environment, or more specifically, the beach. So, from our calling through The Beach Bunch, we provide a platform for people who have the heart to not only help people, but also the environment, to fulfill that specific goal.

Can you share some examples of the obstacles you’ve faced in the last 6 years?

Anything that is different is always a challenge, for sure. Especially when it comes to changing any form of manmade habits. We’ve had to deal with many pessimistic people and there will always be people challenging you from different angles about why you do what you do.

What has been the organization’s biggest achievement thus far?

I believe that we are in the forefront of green advocacy in Brunei.

Through our hard work and dedication to the environment, we have been able to witness the mushrooming of other green organizations in Brunei. When I say green, I’m referring to the generic sense of the word so it could be organizations involved with issues like conservation, science or community. We are not the first NGO but we are one of the more active, exposed and recognized NGOs within the community and amongst the Green community.

What’s your current mission?

Trying to find creative ways to bring people to the beach. Our traditional ways have always been the cleanups where we invite the community to get together for a “green” purpose like the cleanups as an example. Now we are focusing on a “healthy lifestyle” angles so we are organizing activities like running on the beach. The other angle is more towards the conservation side so that includes activities like sea turtle conservation.

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+Life Inspired We know that you yourself are quite addicted to running and training for these runs, is that what inspired you to spice up your mission for Beach Bunch this year?

I personally wanted to combine the idea of a “healthy lifestyle” and “the beach” for a while now and have literally been running ideas through my mind a lot. I thought, why couldn’t I combine my two passions together; i.e. running and the beach? So I did.

Which of the runs was the most challenging for you so far?

It would have to be the most recent one, the run on Mount KK. It was the most beautiful thing as it was night run on a 50 km trail that had an elevation of about 3000 m. These sorts of runs challenge a person mentally and physically.

I’ve done 4 full marathons and 2 ultra marathons before but this recent run is one that can make or break a person.

Can you describe how you train for a run?

I’m going to use my upcoming event this May to be more specific about my training regime.

It’s called Ultra Trail Australia and I’ll be doing the 100km trail held in the Blue Mountains National Park, Katoomba, New South Wales. I’ve been training for a month now for this event and it involves running 6 times a week. I am doing short, medium and long runs in preparation for this event, where short is 8–10 km, medium is 21 km and long is anything that is above 25 km.

So I do 4 short runs, 1 medium run and 1 long run on a weekly basis until midway. I obtain information on training mostly from books and sometimes the Internet.

Did you have to alter the way you manage nutrition when prepping for these runs?

I carb-load prior to runs and one of my biggest challenges

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Life Inspired+

is to manage what I eat during the run. This means experimenting through trial and error to find out what works and does not hurt my tummy and disrupt my bowel movements during my run.

What really works for me so far are gummy bears and jelly beans, not power gels. I cannot handle fizzy drinks because it makes me feel gassy and uncomfortable.

Time is also against you so you need to be quite efficient with how you feed yourself within a short span of time.

What doesn’t work for you?

Coffee, unfortunately! Some people munch on chocolate, pisang goreng (banana fritters) and other interesting munchies. It’s not wrong but whatever it is, it has to work for the individual because at the end of the day it’s about overcoming the mental challenge more than anything else when it comes to long distance runs or any trail runs. I read somewhere that ultra running is 10% physical and 90% mental. I strongly believe this because I have experienced

it myself. So no matter how much physical training you’ve done, if you don’t have that mental strength, especially during halfway or three quarters of the run, anyone can break down.

Do you have a particular application or accessory that you love using during your training?

I use a Garmin Sport GPS watch.

This watch does not just tell time, it tells you how far you’ve run, your pace and elevation. It also tells your heart rate. I also need music

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+Life Inspired to keep me going. I listen to all kinds of genres including Pop, RnB and Hip Hop. I can’t do dance, techno or trance because it makes you run fast and you don’t want that when training for ultra. You need something with a slower, relaxed pace to help maintain your running rhythm. You need to be comfortable while running because we are not talking about a 4–5 hour run, we are talking about running for 10 hours minimum, especially at night.

With all that you do with The Beach Bunch and your training, how supportive is your family, especially your wife?

I would say she is my best supporter! She fully understands me, and what I do but she does call me insane sometimes. I think it’s because I can’t get enough of challenges and am always looking for more challenges, be it in Beach Bunch or in running.

But through it all, she is the one that’s been there for me through my ups and downs.

Whenever I’m feeling down, especially during a race, I call her and she motivates me with a joke or two, or sometimes until I get to the finish line. I’m very grateful for how she lets me train, without complaint, during weekends where family time is sacrificed for an upcoming run.

And what about your daughter who is turning 2 years old this May, what are your hopes for her with what you’re doing with Beach Bunch and running?

Any parent would love for their kids to follow in their footsteps. So far, my daughter is doing just that. Maya is an outdoorsy and active little girl. I also hope that what I do will inspire her to be a free-spirited little girl who will do whatever she wants to do because as a parent, I will support her in any way that I can.

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FEATURING: Rizan Latif ARTICLE BY: Elizabeth Sim PHOTOGRAPHER: Adam Hanif

+Life Inspired

, M I SW IAN, T S I R H C !

M I W S 32 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

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P

lus chats with Christian Nazario Nickles, the first Bruneian to secure a scholarship from The International Swimming Federation (FINA). Since 2011, FINA has decided to award only a limited number of scholarships to potential swimmers who have a high chance to qualify for the Olympics, and out of the 40 seats, one belongs to Christian.

He’s been swimming since the age of 4 and has competed in World Championships representing Brunei in numerous countries around the world. This is just the beginning of his many milestones as he shares his story with us so far.

Congratulations on securing the scholarship! Can you tell us a little bit about how one qualifies for such a scholarship?

Thank you! Well, it’s my understanding that FINA will first look at your performances, your past records and how you’ve improved meet after meet. They will also look at how your best time so far compares to the qualifying time for the Olympics.

This scholarship also acts as an added push to help the potential swimmers reach their goal in qualifying for the Olympics.

Let’s go back a little bit -how did you get into swimming?

I started in kindergarten in International School Brunei (ISB).

It’s compulsory for everyone in primary school to swim once a week and I didn’t take proper swimming lessons till I was 7 years old because I had asthma but I don’t have it anymore. I started mainly because it was part of the school’s curriculum.

I continued swimming even after school was over because I realized I kept improving during my sessions with Coach Victor Tan. I train with him once a week. He even encouraged me to compete if I felt ready and of course I did. I won a bronze medal at my very first competition and this gave me the

boost to keep on swimming and training.

Is there an ultimate goal for you in swimming?

When did it occur to you that swimming was something you could be doing for a long time?

I would like to be the best in what I do and win medals for Brunei in the SEA Games. I know that the Head Coach for Brunei, Eric Landa has a goal to produce medals during the 2019 SEA Games for swimming. I would definitely also like to make it to the Olympics.

When I was 11 and I won best boy at an inter-club competition.

That was when I said to myself, “Yeah, swimming, me. Pretty good! Haha”. The following year I started training a lot harder and then I did my first overseas competition, which was the SEA age group swimming competition in the Philippines, and won a bronze for the 50m freestyle.

What was the best thing about competing against other countries for the first time?

The swimming event was the last event on the last day of the whole competition and there was a lot of pressure building up as other people watched the whole competition and observed how I was good enough to win medals. I didn’t expect to win, so it was really awesome when I realized I came in 3rd place and saw my coach going crazy, haha.

Swimming competitions: 2011 — World Championships Men’s 50m freestyle &100m freestyle (heat) 2012 — World Short Course Championships Men’s 50m, 100m freestyle (heat) & 4x 50m freestyle 2013 — World Championships Men’s 50m &100m freestyle (heat) 2014 — World Short Course Championships Men’s 50m,100m freestyle and 50m butterfly (heat) 2015 — Men’s 50m freestyle (heat) &100m freestyle (qualification) Do your folks travel with you all the time for your competitions?

They did at the beginning but as the frequency of travels increased over the years, they knew I was reliable enough to take care of myself.

How difficult are the training sessions?

We train all year round and have few days off. We train 10 times a week at five in the morning and three in the afternoon. We focus on different aspects of our race. Every week there’s always a specific area I’d like to work on as well. It could be anything; breathing, turns, strokes or body positions. I basically focus on one goal per week.

We do a lot of stamina and speed work, strength and conditioning. We get more rest 2–3 weeks before the race.

Who decides what discipline to compete in?

I’m discovering that you tend to gravitate toward an event in your swimming career. When you’re 12, you swim all these events and find out what you’re good at and learn to specialize in them as you get older. For me, that was freestyle and butterfly and the decision to bring up butterfly was mine, supported by my coach.

3 things you would tell someone totally new to swimming from your experience thus far?

Swimming is fun, don’t take anything in life too seriously.

Enjoy what you do. That’s really important. If you stop enjoying it, just quit.

How does your family play a part in what you do?

They’re really supportive. I can’t thank my mum enough for sending me to practice in the mornings at 5am.They have to get up even earlier than me. They are truly part of what I’ve done and

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+Life Inspired achieved thus far. My mum loves keeping all my medals and my dad likes getting involved. He was a part of the Brunei Amateur Swimming Association and he helps out a lot during competitions as well.

More importantly, they impart great lessons about morals and values to me i.e. how to be disciplined and resilient, especially when it comes to failing or when I think I have not done my best. I’m forever grateful to them for those lessons.

Besides swimming, what else occupies your time?

I’m currently in my final year of A-levels in Millfield UK. I’m planning to do a business degree there as well so I’m studying a lot. I love video games and I play a lot of online and PC games.

I’m playing “Fallout 4” at the moment. I also hang out with my friends who are mostly from the swimming squad. We spend a lot of time together; we swim and have breakfast, lunch and dinner together.

So would you agree that having good balance and time management in what you do right now as a swimmer, student and a friend is important to sustain your current lifestyle and priorities?

Definitely. It’s exhausting really. When Sunday finally arrives, that’s when I sleep the whole day and not move at all, haha. I eat and sleep.

Balance is so important, you spend 20–24 hours a week training and then you have many hours of school, you have assignments and friends on top of that so it’s crazy.

How do you think you can contribute to Brunei’s swimming community in the near future?

I would like to learn how to teach or coach others how to

34 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

Life Inspired+

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+Life Inspired swim the right way because swimming has been part of my life since I was 4 and I would like to give back one way or other.

Just out of curiosity, do professional swimmers have to retire at a specific age?

Not really. I have a friend in the UK whose mum used to be an Olympic swimmer and she’s now doing her Masters in Swimming, which I don’t know much about but I have trained with Master swimmers and they all vary in age from their 30s to 50s. They still swim, train and compete.

Let’s talk about food! How much do you eat?

I eat anything and everything!

Haha. Well, according to what I’ve learnt in a training camp for swimmers in Majorca, Spain, the recommended calorie count is 2000 calories per day and mine is about 6000 calories so I eat a lot! It was funny because there were about 40–50 swimmers at the camp and we all destroyed the buffet. It was insane! There was nothing left!

What does a healthy diet mean to you as an 18 year old?

As long as you’re getting a balanced meal of rice, meat and vegetables so everything in moderation, that’s healthy. To be honest, I eat anything because I definitely need the energy.

Who are your idols?

James Guy, a fellow teammate who’s a World Champion. He just turned 20, I think and I admire what he’s been able to achieve at such a young age. He represented Great Britain in the FINA World championships and European championships, and also England in the Commonwealth Games.

Who would you like to thank for supporting you throughout your journey?

My parents first and foremost and ISB for supporting

36 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

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+Life Inspired

38 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

Life Inspired+

me through their programs for kids and helping me overcome my fear of the water. National Head Coach Eric Landa, Coach Victor Tan who spotted my talent, nurtured it and made me who I am today. My insanely competitive brother, as training with him, made me a better swimmer. Muhd Isa Ahmad, a childhood friend of mine who trains with

me in the UK and who is also a National record holder in breaststroke. It’s great to have my best friend training with me, it takes your mind off how tired you are and allows you to just have fun.

Congratulations, Christian in your achievements so far and making Brunei proud. PLUS wishes you the best of luck in your swimming future!

ARTICLE BY: Elizabeth Sim PHOTOGRAPHER: Adam Hanif

Feb–Mar 2016

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+Life Inspired

r e Und a e S the

wit

r e g o R y l l o J h the

40 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

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ith a big smile on his face, the Jolly Roger shares with us how one can find peace and serenity under the sea and maybe even learn to appreciate the beautiful world that’s beneath us and take you away from the hustle and bustle of life above water.

My name is Roger Sim, I’m 43 years old and I love diving. I’m a dive instructor on the weekends and I work during the day supplying rescue tools to the police, fire & rescue department and the military.

Why diving?

I work a busy week as I work with international companies and that means I get phone calls and emails

coming in at odd hours of the day/ night. Fortunately, the world has not invented any underwater services so when I go diving, I can’t bring my phone with me. I can think. I have peace and quiet time to myself. Basically it’s like a period of solitary meditation where the only distraction you might encounter is the occasional appearance of sea snakes or whale sharks swimming by, giving you a scare.

When did you start diving?

I started in 1992. I was in my 20s when I learnt it in Melbourne Australia. When you start diving, you start off with open water, advanced and then rescue, in that order. You can then continue recreationally and focus on becoming a dive master or an instructor or you

can go commercial where you get paid big money. The reason you get paid large amounts is because the risks involved as a commercial diver are extremely high.

Which one did you choose?

I was doing commercial dives for a short while because when you’re young, the money is good. I was diving in Singapore at the time and I did it on and off for about 9 months.

Why did you stop?

I went abroad to Australia to further my studies. I earned my money by working as a commercial diver and that helped me to finance my studies in Australia.

I studied in RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

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+Life Inspired What did you do after you graduated?

I studied in Singapore for a few years and one day I landed myself in Brunei. 16 years ago, to be exact.

How’s the diving scene in Brunei from your experience thus far?

It’s growing. I’ve been diving actively for the past 4 years and since then; we’ve pretty much tripled in size. I’m really happy to say that we are getting more interest from the locals to dive. Previously there were more expats or dive tourists who come to Brunei just to dive.

The marine life here is quite intact and untapped.

You’ve mentioned that it takes you away from the hustle and bustle — can you elaborate more on how diving has an impact on you and your life?

It’s a way to de-stress. I started recreationally for about 9 months to a year and after that I became a dive master. I enjoyed myself as a dive master, bringing people out and taking care of them as a dive master. You can teach, do refresher courses or help assist in courses; which I enjoy and from there I realized I should become an instructor myself so I did my course 2.5 years ago and I have not looked back since. You get to enjoy your dives when you’re not teaching and when you’re teaching you get to impart knowledge. I’ve been diving for quite some time now and books can only teach you so much.

So I’m able to share my experiences or give tips or hints that are not available from any books. There’s nothing wrong with the books of course. It’s just that diving in different countries; you experience different conditions, currents and circumstances.

Diving in Asia is quite warm but of course, diving in warm conditions carries different types of risks.

Can you describe any challenges you’ve faced as either an instructor or a diver in Brunei?

As a diver, the most challenging part is the fact that Brunei has a lot of unchartered wrecks so you need to be able to control yourself. As experienced divers we tend to penetrate ourselves into wrecks and as a normal snorkeler you only see a shipwreck on the surface. But when us divers see an opportunity to venture into wrecks, we will.

There’s a wreck called the Australian wreck where inside lies the skeletal remains and souls of 339 people from World War 2. For me, diving brings you closer to a bit of history and reminds us of the past, as well as adding on to my experience as a diver. But don’t worry, that’s not the frightening part, the most frightening part is when an eel comes out or when you come face to face with a shark hahaha!

Tell us a bit more about interesting things you’ve seen underwater besides wrecks.

I have seen whale sharks and big spotted marble rays but having said that, the diving scene

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Life Inspired+ also challenges you to spot macro organisms in the water.

Because it’s quite untapped here, we have one of the best locations for macro organisms. They are like little baby creatures as small as a grain of rice and the challenge is to be able to spot them. We have attracted photographers from Singapore and England to photograph and do research for magazines, and they are well known in their field. For example, world-renowned underwater photographer William Tan and a few others I can’t recall at this time.

Basically this makes us a good tourist stop for divers and macro photographers in general, correct?

It’s a great place to dive overall but it is not that easy to dive in Brunei because we are unprotected in the ocean here. You can go down today and have perfect visibility in 20 meters and zero current but you can go back tomorrow and it’ll be the opposite. It’s unpredictable and challenging, so when we teach diving in Brunei it’s a good, tough learning ground for our basic open water students because they learn the hard way but they come out with experience. Basically if you dive in Brunei, you’ll find it less difficult when you dive elsewhere. I have had advanced divers from outside of Brunei who panic because they’re not used to the current or visibility here.

Why do you think there’s an increase of locals who are interested in diving today?

Well, I think in the recent years Bruneians are more health and fitness conscious and diving may sound like something easy or a not too energetic kind of workout. Therefore, people who are not interested in tackling hills or mountains but would still like to venture outdoors and want some form of exercise may choose to learn how to dive. The government

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+Life Inspired has helped a lot by promoting Brunei as a diving spot within Southeast Asia and there’s been increased exposure through media as well from the government. I also think that many have realized that there are more opportunities for one to learn diving here in Brunei without having to travel.

What would you do to or for people who have a fear of drowning?

The first thing I’d tell them is to take it easy. Diving is a recreational pastime, it’s something to enjoy so you shouldn’t torture nor punish yourself to prove that you can dive. As an instructor, I’m happy to spend more time with my students so they can gradually overcome the different fears that they may have in relation to diving.

I’ve taught students who have had a fear of water.

Have you ever wondered why people want to learn how to dive despite having a fear of water?

Sometimes people choose diving as a way to actually overcome their fear of water because all these fears are mental. I’ve done a course called “Discover Scuba” where this allows people to literally test the water with an instructor at all times.

I have taught someone with a military background who has seen more than his fair share of gore in his life but panics as soon as he has his head under water. I normally take half an hour per student in “Discover Scuba” but this chap took me 6 hours. At the end of the day we both celebrated how he was able to swim a full-length pool with me. He came out to the open sea with me within a week and did a simple shallow depth dive. So from panicking to being able to do a simple shallow dive in the open sea, I would say this is one of the many success stories that I’m proud to share as an instructor.

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+Life Inspired

I enjoy vast open spaces so I prefer to travel to the countryside. If I’m bored in Brunei, I’ll drive to Sungai Liang or Labi for the weekend to unwind. Do you know that there are tree houses near Labi? Hahaha. I’ve always loved

Photo: Roger Sim

What do you do in your spare time when you’re not working or diving?

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I believe that the most important role of an instructor is not limited to the skills of being able to dive but also what you do or say to your students to instill self-confidence. Self-confidence does not only apply under the water but also to life in general. Selfconfidence will take you a long way in life for sure.

What do you think are the hazards of diving in Brunei?

the ocean since a young age so I enjoy windsurfing, sailing etc.

The main hazards we get are manmade hazards. Ghost nets are nets dropped by fishing boats, which often get stuck on the corals. These ghost nets are bad for the environment because any fish or sea creatures that get caught in them will eventually die. These ghost nets can suffocate fish and sea creatures so can you imagine what they could do to us divers? So what we’ve done as a dive community is perform regular clean ups under the water and we hope to get more support and assistance from others in the near future to maintain the beauty of the underwater ecosystem we have here in Brunei So what are your personal goals?

I would say that I have already achieved them. I get to go underwater and see a different world.

I get to meet people from different parts of the world and share what I know. I guess it’s also the smile on the students’ faces that says they’ve learnt something new from me.

Photo: William Tan

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To find out more about diving with Roger, please visit his Facebook page; “Diving with the Jolly Roger”.

46 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

FEATURING: Roger Sim ARTICLE BY: Elizabeth Sim PHOTOGRAPHER: Roger Sim, William Tan and Kassim

Win complimentary StarbuckS beverage voucherS Weekly!

15th January - 31st March 2016 To parTicipaTe: 1 Snap a photo of plus+ Magazine with any Starbucks beverage 2 Upload it on instagram/Facebook and hashtag #plusinStarbucks 3 Tag @plusBrunei and @StarbucksBrunei on the photo *account has to be public to participate

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+Lifestyle

tAkE thE

LEAP

“BIG thIS LEAP YEAR 2016!

48 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

”

Lifestyle+

29 Life Lessons from 29 amazing and wonderful people in Brunei (and beyond!) to inspire us while we take IT to the next level!

Y

ou have probably checked your calendar for 2016 and noticed that additional day for month of February. Haven't yet? Then you should go check it out. There are numerous credible explanations as to why this only happens every four years. The most common explanation thatbooks have offered is mainlythat leap years are needed to maintain the modern day Gregorian calendar in alignment with our planet Earth’s revolutions around the sun. *It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days – or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds – to circle once around the Sun. Not relative to the aforementioned topic, no matter what we’re currently doing in life, you would probably reach that point in time where you are going to want to take things up a notch.

One example would be your career (evenif,things are panning out and going well right now).Ultimately you’d wish to get a promotion, take on more responsibility, get yourself out of a rut or take your game to the next level (this includes professional development, physical fitness, etc).

Hence, before setting your sights forward and taking "The Big Leap", would you agree that in order to take your journey further and keep moving forward, it is vital to not only take one step at a time, but to look back occasionally and evaluate your past, take with you the good things you have learned and have made you a wiser, better person? Only then will you be able to guide your path towards your best self. Looking back lets you know whether or not you are headed in the right direction.

While there is ample advice we can get from well-known idealists and remarkable characters like Socrates, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs or Jon Snow from Game of Thrones (though they say, he knows nothing), to guide us in optimizing ourselves and remind us not to bypass our capabilities & talents, why don't we start within the awesome people around us?

Here are 29 Majestic things learned from year 2015, enthusiastically shared by 29 amazing and inspirational people.They have come from different walks of life and overcome different experiences in The Land of Unexpected Treasures, Brunei!

Some are local to us, and some hail from other amazing countries.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica

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+Lifestyle 1. "Each year that passes, I keep on polishing what I already know and I am a true believer that there is always room for learning. In 2015, Ilearnt how important it is to appreciate the small things, complain less and do something about it, and just focus on one thing: AWESOMENESS!" Wu Chun, International Superstar, Businessman, Managing Director, Fitness Zone Brunei 2. "A tumultuous year has gone, and reflecting from 2015, I learned that things do happen for a reason. Whatever you are currently going through right now, that, too, will pass!"

Dr. Sylviana, Dentist & Acting Chief Executive Officer, Department of Dental Services, RIPAS Hospital 3. "Last year, I have learned to not take opportunities lightly. Because you would not know when you get another chance and you are left with no time."

Adib Noor, 26, Longboard enthusiast and journalist at The Brunei Times 4. "Chasing your dreams will require hard work and perseverance. You will shed sweat and tears and HAVE to make some sacrifices but, in the end, it will all be worth it! This sums up the most essential lesson I have learned from 2015!"

Nadzri Harif, CrossFit Trainer, Radio Host, Kristal FM 5. "You never know the value of time until you realize how little time there actually is. For 2015, I learned to cherish the ones around you while you still have the opportunity."

Joshua Jayasuriya, 21, Systems and Control Undergraduate, University of Sheffield, England United Kingdom 6. "Hello to my fellow readers, I very much hold true to the phrase "Live to fight another day". I've learned from there that what matters is not the outcome but to be able to keep trying and working towards the best in your #life #relationship #passion".

Jenson Wong, 24, Founder Muscle Factory Enterprise, Brunei 7. "2015 has taught me to be brave. Failure is not in my book anymore unless I stop and give up! Do whatever gives you genuine happiness and learn to forgive, even if you think some people do not deserve it."

Nana, Local Artist, Tv Producer/Director 8. "Last year has taught me to try and embrace new challenges. It is the only way to overcome your limits and discover your new strengths."

Aji Puteh, Proud to be fit in his 50's, Head of Corporate Services, Royal Brunei Airlines 9. "I learned to share with my friends. It makes them happy. Seeing them happy makes me happy!"

Justine, 9 years old, Justin Bieber fan and really loves her mom

50 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

Lifestyle+ 10. "What I have learned last year was life itself is full of surprises.

Wherever you go, and whatever you do, believing in yourself is the best weapon you have. Have faith and NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!" Fakhrul Razi, International Artist 11. "I have always believed that things happen for a reason but what I have learned from 2015, is that you can't just sit there and wait for things to happen! Execute while you still have the time, and the result will be there! (This year, I am determined in pursuing fitness too!)"

DJ Daffy, Radio Host, Kristal FM 12. "Last year, I have discovered myself more and more. Being in shape is not a measure of size. Every calorie isn’t a war and your body is not a battle ground. Your value as a person isn’t measured by your weight!

Believe me, you are just as beautiful as every person in the room. So, stop comparing yourself to others! You are uniquely beautiful. Just like everybody else!"

Del Mesina Alfaro, Les Mills BodyPump and RPM - AIM 1 Instructor & Unstoppable Girl Boss 13. "The Greatest Thing I have learned from 2015 is to not be afraid in taking chances. You always have to follow your heartand live the life you love!"

Stephanie Liew, Battle Royale 2016 Women's RX category Winner & CrossFit L1 Trainer 14. "Hmm, 2015 made me realize that changes are virtuous. As they say, nothing is permanent in this world except for change. This would include pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Embrace unknown challenges and explore more. Most importantly, you can REALLY accomplish something great by changing for the better!"

Abdul Azim bin Haji Brahim, Freestyle Cycling and Les Mills RPM/Body Attack Certified Instructor, Fitness Zone Brunei 15. "2015 taught me to not limit yourself into one profession. Why do that when you have all the capabilities to do more?"

Kuj, Local Music Producer 16. "Last year, I learned how to have a good fight. In the game of life, there are the positives, and the negatives. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. It's a matter of balance. The important thing is, you HAVE to keepfighting for what you love and what you want."

Lau Moi Chee, Fitness Manager, Les Mills GRIT Series Certified Trainer and Licensed Fitness Instructor, Fitness Zone Brunei 17. "Having capabilities does open doors for you but, it's solely up to you to seek those opportunities and pave your path towards that future.

Took me a good year for those words to actually sink in! Bye, 2015!"

One Who Doesn't Wanna Be Named, Bioengineering Graduate, lemon cake lover and constant Instagram liker of Shelley

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PLUS 51

+Lifestyle 18. "Last year, I learned that life could get tougher and tougher as you turn the pages. But so are you. You get stronger and stronger. Remain strong, patient and you will always get what you deserve."

Wendy Liew, 48, loving mother of two, Yoga practitioner and Instructor 19." People would say, follow your passion and put your dreams to reality.

Throughout 2015, I’ve learnt well that passion is never enough. It's more about the effort in working hard for things we think we are passionate about then becoming good at it. When we're good at it, real passion only grows stronger.

And that is how we excel!"

Chen Wong, Founder, The Jungle Body Malaysia 20. "2015, like every year after year, passed by so quickly. It was a year of ups and downs for me but that’s life! You have to keep your chin up! I learned that people come and go, some you'll lose, some stay. What matters is, you show genuineness."

Edmund Lim, Life Planner, Les Mills BodyPump, RPM and GRIT Series Instructor, Fitness Zone Brunei 21. Ben: "I believe 2015 was the start of my prime. It wasn't really an easy transition from early adulthood to becoming a wiser individual; I learned to embrace my love for fitness amidst NO EXCUSES! Kai: "I agree. Adding to that, I learned last year to set your sights on your dreams and keep working hard towards them.

Put your passion in action!"

Noven Elejorde, 26, Lifestyle Consultant, Advocate for living an inspiring and meaningful life& Cheng ChieaKhai, 24, Life Insurance Agent, Fitness Enthusiast and always looking for ways to improve himself (*Gym Enthusiasts at Fitness Zone, preferred that their statements be counted as one) 22. "I realized from 2015 that the best prescription for a good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot, and count your blessings!"

Hakim Hayat, Reading and Travelling Enthusiast, (Sticking to his Fitness Resolutions) Journalist at Borneo Bulletin 23. "In 2015, the most valuable lesson I have learned is the true value of love, understanding and family. Especially the loving support from your family, as it outweighs any uncertainty and challenges that lies ahead. Year 2015 offered me numerous difficult decisions to make and some required a blind leap of faith. But my family has been my inspiration even until present. Love your family first!"

Jonathan Bong, Marketing Manager, Bake Culture Brunei 24. "2015 has been an eventful year on my end. Straddling a hectic work schedule and a demanding MBA timetable, I have learnt to more effectively prioritize deliverables and to optimize time" Tan Yan Ting, Snr Business Development Manager, MediaCorpPte Ltd, Singapore 25. "Hhhmm, you sure about me? Haha, well, in 2015, I have learned much about being okay with slowing things down and taking a breath, I guess. To find happiness, your life must have balance. As for me, everyday, I strive to balance law school, work, family, and friends. When I work hard to balanceevery aspect of my life, I am able to appreciate the little things and live in the moment!"

Molly Barrett, 26, University of Oregon Law School

52 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

Lifestyle+ 26. "Year 2015 was an epic battle for me and my family.In an unforeseen environment, many challenges were faced in uncharted waters and most all, meeting a new group of people with welcoming arms. Hence, my thoughts of wisdom are, “No matter how relentless your journey maybe, no matter what challenges you face in your daily life, it is only through the enduring experience aka "leap of faith" that makes you stronger, better and resilient to any changes that may occur along the way. So stay steadfast in your Ibadah (faith) and trust your maker in every step you take, Inshallah.

Assalamualaikum W.B.T." Jaz Taha, A Loving Husband and Father, Silat Practitioner 27. "From the past year, I have learned to just keep on pursuing whatever it is you think is good for you, and always do what makes you happy! It's the only way to be in order, well, to be happy!"

Helen Yeo, Secretary, International Women's Council Brunei (IWCB) 28. "For me 2015 is the year I learnt that unexpected changes and disappointing individuals can dampen your emotions but by focusing on your objectives and spending quality time with the right positive people, you will overcome these challenges and achieve greater things!"

Thanis Lim, Food and Travel Journalist, Social Influencer 29. "2015 has brought me to the point ofrealizing the road ahead may not be the shortest, easiest or the most straightforward, but the obstacles we encounter will help reveal hidden qualities in ourselves. Stay resilient, stay humble and persevere to reach whatever goals, be it short-term or long-term, that you set for yourself."

Emily Wong, Awesome Woman, Les Mills Body Attack and Body Pump Instructor

Personally, I believe that the universe and the people we cross paths with everyday have so much knowledge to offer. These people around us are our teachers, no matter where they are from, who they are, and what they do in life. Every oneof us has an interesting story and an inspirational vision to share. I have learned to share myself and become friends with people who aren’t my age. To connect with people whose first language isn’t the same as mine. To get to know someone in a different social class better. Upon learning this, I am able to see the world in a better view and to look brighter beyond. And I think this is how one could really grow - preparing themselves to take the big leap!

There is so much vibrant energy in this world, if you would only be mindful, so spread it like Nutella! No matter what you're going through right now, keep on falling and learning, pick up the valuable lessons from your past and make peace with them, for that is how life truly is.It will be your best weapon as you expand and grow and take your GREATEST Leap this 2016! LIVE FIT, LOVE LIFE!" Article By: Shelley Busque Photographer: Dewi Marlina

Feb–Mar 2016

PLUS 53

+Movie

, G

G n

o L

n o L tImE AGo

Dir. Jack Neo, 2016

By Dr D. Bruno Starrs, Senior Lecturer in Cinema at Institut Teknologi Brunei.

54 PLUS Feb–Mar 2016

Movie+

lauding his “vast contributions towards maintaining regional peace and stability.”

T

he first and founding Prime Minister of Singapore and former leader of the People's Action Party, Lee Kuan Yew, died of severe pneumonia at the age of 91 on the 23rdof March 2015, triggering nation-wide mourning. Widely regarded as the individual politician most responsible for transforming Singapore from a sleepy crossroads village to a bustling, healthy, 21st century economy now the hub of global commerce, finance and transportation, Lee was very much loved by his constituency. His son, Lee Hsien Loong, the current Prime Minister of Singapore, said: “The first of our founding fathers is no more.

He inspired us, gave us courage, kept us together, and brought us here.

He fought for our independence, built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans.”Meanwhile, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, released a statement describing Lee as a: “... charismatic and exemplary leader”,

Brunei Darussalam, of course, shares a special relationship with Singapore: our national currencies are linked, much of our food and culture is similar and the Lion City remains a popular holiday destination, especially for bargain-hunting shoppers. Thus it is timely to see a dramatized account of Singaporean society during the years of Lee’s leadership premiere at Bruneian cinemas. Directed by Jack Neo, this two hour plus drama opens at The Mall Cineplex in Kiulap on the 18thof February and stars Mark Lee (as Lim Ah Koon), Aileen Tan (as Lim Zhao Di) and Benjamin Tan(as Lim Ah Hee) and covers the period between 1965 and the early 1970s, some of the most decisive years of Lee’s benevolent rule. Their journey from life in their humble kampong to a modern Housing and Development Board flat, parallels the early growth and boom of Lee’s Republic of Singapore.

But on 9thof August 1965, Zhao Di’s husband’s first wife cruelly ejects her from his home, just hours before she gives birth to twins, Su-mei and Shun Fatt. Tragically, Su-mei is born

with two prominent facial moles – a sure sign of impending bad luck for the family. Zhao Di is forced to give Su-mei away for adoption due to parental pressure. But with Zhao Di’s irrepressible spirit and energy, the family nevertheless forges a better life for themselves, and as they grow, so does Singapore.

Indeed, over the years, the family witnesses every step of the nation’s growth, and as Zhao Di’s tenacious attitude provides for her immediate and extended family, it eventually pays off: her success is mirrored by (and celebrated as) critical factors in Singapore’s success.

Overall, this cOmpelling and entertaining semihistOrical accOunt Of singapOre’s rise tO prOsperity is a very uplifting and realistic drama, one which many Bruneians might find familiar due to its setting but one which some in the audience may also find inspirational when considering Brunei’s future.

Feb–Mar 2016

PLUS 55

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