MUHIBAH January|February 2018

roya l b ru n e i a ir l in e s | J an uar y - F ebruar y 20 18

BY ROYA L B R U N E I A I R L I N E S | J anua ry - F eb ruar y 2 0 18

A Refreshed Journey AT BR UN EI I N T ER N ATIONA L A IR PORT

Royal Skies Blue Members

BND 40 Adult I BND 32 Child REDEMPTION*

4,500 miles Adult I 3,600 miles Child *Redemption request must be submitted 3 working days prior to departure.

Not a member yet? Join now at http://www.flyroyalbrunei.com/royalskies Contact your nearest Royal Brunei Offices, Brunei Customer Service Centre at (673) 221 2222 or email royalskies@rba.com.bn

Wu Chun Royal Brunei Airlines’ International Brand Ambassador

WWW.FLYROYALBRUNEI.COM/ROYALSKIES

IN THIS ISSUE

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60 COVER RB – your passport to travel and adventure in 2018.

FEATURES 08 Wet A Line!

Australia’s diverse fishing experiences.

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A Curatorial Statement Louvre Abu Dhabi opens.

20 48 Hours In Inverness & Loch Ness

Going beyond Nessie.

28 Experiential Journeys Across Japan An intimate tour of Japan.

AWARD FOR BEST MAGAZINE Indian International Journalism Festival 2011

Editorial Board Advisor Royal Brunei Airlines Head, Corporate Communications Azhani Abu Daniel Editorial Muaz Roslan, Mahyuddin Zulkipli Editorial & Production General Manager Jacqueline WM Wong Editor Anis Ramli Editorial Assistant Kimberly MY Low Studio Director Lau Weng Leong Creative Director Michele Tee Digital Media Designer Tang Sze Yik Imaging Colourist June Lim Senior Account Executive Chu Pung Ping Coordinator Sa’adiah Hj Abas

Print Production Brunei Press Sdn. Bhd., Brunei Darussalam Imagery & PrePress DI Expressions Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia Publishing & AdSales Digital Impressions Lot 20010, Taman Alam Jalan Telanai, Beribi BE1118 Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei Darussalam T: +673 2654 851 F: +673 2650 276 E: muhibah@digital-impressions.org

40 An Allegory Of Wellness

The Spa Village evolution.

MUHIBAH is published by Digital Impressions. All rights reserved.

Copyright by Royal Brunei Airlines. Unsolicited materials will be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed envelope and sufficient return postage. While every reasonable care is taken by the editor, no responsibility is assumed for the return of unsolicited material. The contents of this magazine are entirely the personal views of the author(s) and/or contributors and do not in any way reflect the views or opinions of the publisher.

The publisher disclaims all and any liability to any person arising from the printing, sale or use of the materials in this magazine.

The Editorial team reserves the right to edit and/or rewrite all materials according to the needs of the publication upon usage.

MUHIBAH is complimentary for passengers on Royal Brunei Airlines. It is also available on subscription at BND7 per copy, excluding postage.

Alternatively, log on www.muhibah.com.bn for e-MUHIBAH.

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David Kirkland/Brunei Tourism

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46 Best of Brunei Urban Boarders of Brunei.

50 Keistimewaan Brunei Pendayung Papan Senam Brunei.

LIFESTYLE

WELCOME ABOARD 05 CEO’s Message 06 Inside RB 64 Selamat Datang 66 Brunei International Airport

54 Motoring Mitsubishi Motors

67 Traveller’s Guide

56 In Person Jean-Michel Gathy

68 Route Map & Destinations

58 The Buzz What’s New

70 Abode of Peace

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60 Take 5 Palawan 62 Travel Diary

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Introducing Royal Brunei Online Holidays Flights, hotels, tours and transfers all on one site Book your way at www.flyroyalbrunei.com

BOOK

BED

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WELCOME ONBOARD CEO’S MESSAGE

RB’s refreshed Sky Lounge at Brunei International Airport (more photos in Inside RB).

Dear Guests, Welcome aboard Royal Brunei Airlines!

With this first edition of Muhibah for the year, I extend my best wishes to all of our guests for a very healthy, prosperous and peaceful New Year. For our Chinese guests, we would like to also wish you an advanced happy Chinese New Year.

Also not forgetting our fellow Brunieans who will be celebrating their 34th National Day on 23 February, 2018 – our congratulations!

2017 ended with a great milestone for RB as we launched our new upgraded Sky Lounge and brand new flagship Business Class Lounge at Brunei International Airport.

You can read more about it in Inside RB. For the first time in Brunei, guests will be able to purchase an entry pass to the lounge and we greatly encourage guests to take advantage of this option.

The opening of the lounges marks the last RB major infrastructure in embracing its new brand elements as part of its rebranding journey that began in 2012.

We are very proud of the rebranding exercise, the innovations, the high service standards, and the many awards and accolades that we have received since. To cap a wonderful year, RB was recognised for its service and bestowed the bronze award for Best Eastbound Long Haul Airline at the prestigious British Travel Awards in December 2017. Getting recognised by our guests and the industry globally has a very special meaning to Team RB and these achievements would not be possible without the strong and unwavering support of the Brunei Government, our Board and our guests for which we are most grateful.

Check out eMuhibah at www.flyroyalbrunei.com Be a fan on

2018 will be an exciting time at RB as we begin the year with the launch of our flights to Nanning and increased capacity to Hangzhou. Furthermore we plan to commence direct flights to Beijing in the second quarter, subject to the regulatory approvals and the grant of airport landing slots.

We also look forward to welcome the arrival of our first brand new Airbus A320 NEO aircraft that is scheduled to arrive in April 2018 with cabin interiors designed specifically for guests’ comfort.

All of this is part of RB’s commitment to deliver the best to our guests. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our cabin crew, ground staff and many hundreds of customer service staff around the world for their hard work, loyalty and dedication in looking after our guests.

Lastly, we wish you a very pleasant trip with RB. Rest assure that our team both on the ground and in the air will do their utmost to make sure you have a comfortable and enjoyable journey.

Thank you for choosing to fly with us.

Betterfly Royal Brunei.

Warmest regards, Karam Chand Chief Executive Officer

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WELCOME ONBOARD INSIGHTS

INSIDE RB Roundup of Royal Brunei Airlines happenings.

INAUGURAL SCHEDULE FLIGHT TO SEOUL RB marked the inaugural schedule flight to Seoul at Brunei International Airport on 26 November, 2017 in a simple ceremony attended by the South Korean ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Cho Won-Myung, together with travel agents and other invited guests.

RB flights depart Brunei at 1525hrs and arrive Incheon International Airport at 2145hrs. The flight from Incheon departs at 2235hrs on the same day and arrive Brunei International Airport at 0310hrs the next day.

In Seoul, RB celebrated the new schedule route on 28 November, 2017 at Lotte Hotel, Myeondong. Present at the reception were His Excellency Dato Paduka Awang Haji Rosli bin Haji Sabtu, Brunei Darussalam’s ambassador to South Korea and spouse. RB also warmly welcomed its country manager for South Korea, Mr Hanwook Lim.

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THE NEW SKY LOUNGE AND BUSINESS CLASS LOUNGE A refreshed Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) Sky Lounge and Business Class Lounge debuted at Brunei International Airport recently and are ready to welcome guests with upgraded facilities, including an All Day Buffet Dining, a musolla (Muslims prayer room), a Movie Room, a Games Arcade, a Kids Zone and shower rooms. Exclusively for RB’s Royal Skies Elite Members and Business Class

guests, the new Business Class Lounge offers a fine dining experience, a Private Lounge and massage chairs. Walk-in rates are also available for Royal Skies Blue Members and other airlines guests. For more information, visit www.flyroyalbrunei. com or call RB customer service centre +673 221 2222.

2ND PLACEMENT IN REGATTA 2017 At the Regatta 2017 held on 26 November, 2017, Team RB made the airline proud coming in 2nd place in the corporate sectors category.

The event was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee Celebration.

Congratulations to the team!

MAULIDUR RASUL 2017

MYANMAR AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL IS LATEST CODESHARE PARTNER Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) welcomes its latest codeshare partner, Myanmar Airways International, with an official announcement on 21 December, 2017. With this latest agreement RB guests can now purchase flights to Yangon, Myanmar via Singapore or Bangkok.

Team RB participated in the nation wide celebration at Taman Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien in Bandar Seri Begawan held on the 2 December, 2017.

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FEATURES

02 01 Go fishing in parts of Australia where few other anglers have ever stood.

02 Experience Tasmanian fly fishing adventure with RiverFly 1864.

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Wet a Line!

The diversity of Australia’s fishing experiences is as vast as the country itself.

Todd Moen/Catch Magazine

Words EMMA RAMSAY Images TOURISM AUSTRALIA

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www.helifish.com.au

FEATURES

Any way you look at it, Australia is an angler’s paradise. A massive island with a sparse population, the coastline stretches nearly 60,000 kilometres and is surrounded by warm, clean, lightly-fished seas. Not surprisingly, the richness and diversity of Australia’s fish life is nothing short of mind-boggling: nearly 4,000 marine species (and counting!) with many of these fish not found anywhere else on earth.

Included in Australia’s fishing riches are such glittering prizes as chrome-silver barramundi, massive Murray cod, the world’s greatest seasonal concentration of the huge black marlin, record-breaking giant trevally, succulent snapper and whiting, and some of the finest trout fishing to be found anywhere south of the equator.

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Abundance, variety and diversity are the core characteristics of Australian fishing. Casting a line here is a giant lucky dip, and some of its tropical destinations have been known to yield well in excess of 50 species per angler in less than a week of fishing. Not that you need to travel to the more remote and far-flung corners of Australia to experience fishing bliss: there are day-trip opportunities right on the doorsteps of its major cities. These allow anglers to mix the pleasures of fine dining, entertainment and cultural immersion with offshore pelagic fishing or river angling.

04 For the ultimate in blue water luxury sport fishing on the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, Far North Sports Fishing (thetailor.com.au) offers a bespoke charter departing from and returning to Port Douglas, Queensland. Enjoy fivestar accommodation aboard either ‘Blue Martini’ or the luxurious 105-foot Motor Yacht ‘Flying Fish’. Non-fishing partners can look to enjoying a snorkel or scuba at world renowned dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef.

03 Australia’s coast is surrounded by some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world.

04 Helicopter-based fishing lets anglers view and photograph unique parts of Australia from the air.

05 Be whisked by helicopter to secret fishing hot spots you never know.

Helispirit

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Alternatively, consider a heli-fishing trip.

There are great spots in where fishing enthusiasts can experience some incredibly diverse locations. HeliSpirit (helispirit.com.au) curates a threeday fishing adventure, ranging from saline coastal flats, floodplain systems, billabongs and spectacular gorges. Each day is different with excellent choices of

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location. The company can also arrange a boat fishing experience amongst some of the Top End’s biggest estuarine crocodiles in the lower Ord River. Their experienced fishing guides will assist all the way, even filleting the catch that you can bring back to cook on the poolside BBQ at Freshwater Apartments.

For the best of fly fishing adventure, there is no other place to be than Tasmania.

RiverFly 1864 (riverfly.com.au) offers a diverse range of options for beginners to advanced anglers, bringing guests on river-based day tours to multiday wilderness campout trips in the renowned Western Lakes, in the World Heritage listed area of Tasmania. The angling vacation is paired with a stay at RiverFly Wilderness Huts in the wild and picturesque region known as Skullbone Plains, within the famed Western Lakes.

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Todd Moen/Catch Magazine

Todd Moen/Catch Magazine

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06 Ride a chopper and catch a fish!

They are the only privately-owned huts located in this sight-fishing area, giving anglers exclusive fishing to these remote waters. Guests contribute to the conservation of this area with a portion of every trip fee going to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy.

07 Wild trout fishing in Tasmania.

08 Personalised safaris for fishing enthusiasts are aplenty.

09 Tasmania’s lakes and rivers provide the perfect setting for fly fishing.

www.dhipirribarra.com.au

Anglers who come to Australia agree that there is so much more to building lasting fishing memories than simply catching fish – even big ones! In the end, it is as much about context and experience, and many have found those ingredients in healthy servings.

Eye-popping scenery, exotic wildlife and colourful, down-to-earth local characters are all integral parts of the bigger picture. So come on down and wet a line!

Royal Brunei Airlines flies Melbourne daily for connections to all major Australian cities.

Discover things to do in Australia in www.muhibah.com.bn

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FEATURES

A Curatorial Statement Louvre Abu Dhabi is a universal museum in the era of globalisation.

Words MUHAMMAD OON

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01 Louvre Abu Dhabi against the Abu Dhabi skyline.

02 Maternity through the ages at the Grand Vestibule, the museum’s first gallery.

Like the stars that guide the nomad in the desert, Jean Nouvel’s dome invites guests to look up and contemplate the world as soon as they step into Louvre Abu Dhabi. The vast edifice, 180 metres in diameter, covers the majority of the museum city and is visible from the sea, the surrounding areas and Abu Dhabi city centre.

The dome certainly will be a conversational piece. Constructed

by Waagner Biro (specialists in steel structures), it consists of eight different layers: four outer layers clad in stainless steel and four inner layers clad in aluminium, separated by a steel frame five metres high. Each ray of light penetrates the eight layers’ highly studied geometric design before appearing or disappearing. The result is a cinematic ‘Rain of Light’ effect as the sun’s path progresses throughout the day. At night, it forms 7,850 stars visible from both inside and out.

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Pritzker-prize winning architect Nouvel sought inspiration for the concept of Louvre Abu Dhabi in traditional Arabic architectural culture. The dome pays homage to the vital importance of shade in Arabia, and at the same time filters the light to create a kind of cosmic calligraphy of imaginary forms. Elsewhere the museum’s contrasting series of white buildings take inspiration from the medina and low-lying Arab settlements.

Louvre Abu Dhabi’s complex engineering concept has made it one of the most innovative and challenging museum projects built in recent times. Opened in November 2017 to much fanfare, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is celebrated as a museum whose design is a collaboration between traditional design and modern construction techniques. The construction of the museum took place from 2013 to 2017. The first of the Saadiyat Cultural District trifecta museums, Louvre Abu Dhabi will soon be joined

by Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi that will turn this corner of the island into a cultural hub.

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03 The Plaza reflects architect Jean Nouvel’s inspiration of the island positioned ‘between sand and sea, shade and light’.

04 A silver-toned dome with perforated arabesque patterns appears to float over the white galleries.

In total, 55 individual but connected buildings, including 26 galleries, make up this museum city. The façades of the buildings are made up of 3,900 panels of ultra-high performance fibre concrete (UHPC). The interior exhibition spaces, comprising museum galleries, temporary exhibition spaces and Children’s Museum, make up 8,600 square metres, with permanent galleries covering approximately 6,400 square metres. The two-storey Children’s Museum lays out around 200 square metres for Louvre Abu Dhabi’s youngest visitors.

In every gallery, Nouvel designed the floors, walls and ceiling surfaces to reinforce the palatial dimensions of Louvre Abu Dhabi. The floor paving is made of stone modules framed in bronze, and throughout the galleries, the choice of stone responds to the period of the artworks on show.

Through a unique intergovernmental agreement between the United Arab Emirates and France, signed in 2007, Louvre Abu Dhabi will be allowed the use of musée du Louvre’s name for 30 years and six months, and have invaluable access to expertise and training from 17 French partner institutions, as well as loans from 13 leading French museums for 10 years.

Additionally, these institutions will support with programming special exhibitions at Louvre Abu Dhabi for 15 years.

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The museum’s growing collection of exceptional treasures includes more than 620 important artworks and artefacts spanning the entirety of human history around the world.

It also includes ancient archaeological finds, decorative arts, neoclassical sculptures, paintings by modern masters and contemporary installations. At opening, 235 works from Louvre Abu Dhabi’s own collection are displayed in the galleries.

To meet stringent environmental control requirements within the museum galleries, the design team developed a system which cannot deviate by more than one degree from 21°C or 5 percent humidity range. This guarantees exceptionally stable environmental conditions for artworks and visitors. Fire detection and suppression systems within the galleries require special measures in order to avoid damage to the artwork.

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05 The dome truly is a feat of engineering.

06 Membership programme offers exclusive access including exhibit previews as well as entry to partner museums around the world.

07 The white buildings are inspired by medinas and low-lying Arab settlements.

Additionally, Louvre Abu Dhabi will present four special exhibitions each year, curated and organised in collaboration with French partner institutions and Agence FranceMuséums. This rich and diverse programme complements the permanent collection and enhances the museum’s universal narrative. Special exhibitions in the first year will explore the history of Paris’ musée du Louvre, the representation of the world through spheres, early photography, and the decorative paintings of the Nabis group. In addition to these exhibitions, Co-Lab: Contemporary Art and Savoirfaire will also be on display during the opening year.

Royal Brunei Airlines flies Dubai daily for a seamless UAE experience. Discover things to do in Abu Dhabi in www.muhibah.com.bn

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48 HOURS IN...

INVERNESS & LOCH NESS Going beyond Nessie.

Words and images VISIT BRITAIN

Known as the capital of the Scottish Highlands, the historic town of Inverness is an excellent base for exploring the lochs, glens and firths of the north of Scotland. Its name comes from the Gaelic ‘Inbhir Nis’ meaning ‘Mouth of the Ness’ – Inverness is where the River Ness flows into the sea from Loch Ness. A 20-minute drive to the south of the city, this famous loch is the legendary home of the Loch Ness Monster, otherwise known as Nessie.

Although hiring a car could be advantageous, many attractions are accessible from Inverness by coach or public bus. Energetic visitors may prefer to hire a bicycle and enjoy scenic cycling routes including the South Loch Ness Trail and the Great Glen Way. The region has other excellent sports facilities, including golf, canoeing and kayaking. The Highlands are also a bountiful natural larder, making this a great place to taste many typical Scottish fare.

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01 Urquhart Castle reflecting on Loch Ness.

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TIME TO CHECK IN: A Highland hideaway, Eagle Brae is home to seven luxurious, eco-friendly log cabins set amidst breathtaking scenery.

Each cabin was hand-built in 2013 by master craftsmen using Western Red Cedar.

The rustic-chic interiors feature Scottish motifs, hand-carved mezzanine balconies and wood-burners. The property is also a sustainable highland retreat, using a micro-hydro scheme to provide electricity and hot water. Additionally, each cabin comes with its own bio-mass boiler.

Guests can offset their carbon footprint journeying here by planting a tree. Each cabin is unique and offers a cosy retreat though guests wanting to stay active can opt for the many activities offered on-site, including fly fishing lessons, sled-dog rides and a walk in Strathfarrar’s pinewood forest.

If you’re looking for a traditional coaching inn, nothing beats The Loch Ness Inn. Located in the village of Drumnadrochit close to Loch Ness and Urquart Castle, this traditional Scottish inn was built in 1838, has just 12 cosy minuscule but comfortable rooms fitted with homely details like tweed throws and local artwork.

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02 The cabins at Eagle Brae are made from sustainablysourced Western Red Cedar logs.

03 Urquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland.

04 On the Jacobite Cruise, guests will hear intriguing tales surrounding Loch Ness and more.

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Seek out a famous Scottish monster The second largest and second deepest Scottish loch, Loch Ness, contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined, but this vast stretch of water is best known for other reasons.

Said to lurk beneath its dark surface is the world famous Loch Ness Monster, fondly known as Nessie. With sightings dating back to the 6th century AD, and a reported appearance on an Apple Maps satellite image in 2014, this elusive beast is synonymous with Scottish legend and folklore – as well as the subject of numerous hoaxes.

For an opportunity to make history by spotting the creature nicknamed ‘Nessie’, take a boat out onto the loch. Departing from Dochgarroch Lock to the south of Inverness, Jacobite operates four boats, including their flagship Jacobite Queen, a regal vessel built in 1949. Departing from Fort Augustus, Cruise Loch Ness offers leisurely scenic cruises as well as thrilling high-speed RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) trips.

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Learn more about Nessie

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Many combine a Loch Ness cruise with a visit to Urquhart Castle, the impressive ruins of a 13th century fortress on the loch’s shores. For those who’d rather discover more about Nessie, the nearby village of Drumnadrochit has two Nessierelated visitor attractions. Opened by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition probes the many myths and legends associated with the Loch Ness Monster. This award-winning attraction includes multi-media displays, historic research equipment, authentic underwater films, and details of hoaxes as well as the reliable eyewitness accounts of over 1,000 sightings. There’s also the family-oriented Nessieland.

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05 Inverness Castle features in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth.

06 Folklore mixes with hi-tech at Loch Ness Centre.

07 The Mackintosh memorial stone is situated at Culloden Battlefield, near Inverness..

08 A dramatic sunset over Culloden Battlefield, near Inverness.

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Enjoy Highland fare with local provenance Drumnadrochit is also home to the aforementioned Loch Ness Inn, a hospitable Victorian inn with guestrooms. Focusing on food with local provenance, menu highlights include fish landed at Mallaig on Scotland’s west coast, prawns delivered fresh from Applecross Bay, and beef and lamb from the Black Isle. Overlooking the village green, Fiddler’s is another recommended Highland restaurant with rooms.

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Enjoy the view from a new castle attraction Standing high above Inverness and the River Ness is Inverness Castle. The striking red brick castle dates from 1836, although a castle has occupied this high strategic site since the 11th century. A new viewing platform opened in 2017, transforming the North Tower, a former prison block, into a place where visitors can discover the castle’s history and enjoy far-reaching views.

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Jump into a ceilidh – and don’t forget some haggis Immerse yourself in Gaelic culture at a ceilidh, a traditionally Scottish social gathering involving folk music and dancing. Awardwinning Hootananny’s lays claim to the longest running ceilidh in Scotland. Located in the heart of Inverness, it also welcomes Scottish and international bands playing rock, soul, blues and funk. Its popular restaurant serves classic Scottish fare, with hearty plates such as Aberdeen Angus sirloin steak, North Sea haddock and chips, and haggis, neeps and tatties.

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Visit Scotland

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Visit Scotland

Set foot on Britain’s last battlefield To the east of Inverness is Culloden Moor, location of the last hand-to-hand battle ever fought on British soil. Son of the deposed King James II, Bonnie Prince Charlie is known as ‘the young pretender’ to the British throne. Being a Roman Catholic, he was disqualified from inheriting the throne under the 1701 Act of Settlement. In 1745 his supporters attempted and failed to overthrow protestant King George II, cumulating with the bloody Battle of Culloden. Part of the National Trust of Scotland, Culloden Battlefield remains very much as it would have been on that fateful day. A new visitor centre and interactive exhibition tells the story of why this battle lasted only one hour, yet impacted not only the Highlands, but also all of Britain.

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FEATURES

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Visit a mighty fortress Following the defeat at Culloden of Bonnie Prince Charlie, King George II created the ultimate deterrent against future unrest: the mighty artillery fortifications of Fort George. One of Europe’s most outstanding fortifications, it has served Britain’s army for almost 250 years since, and still houses a British Army Infantry Battalion. Its ramparts, historic barrack rooms, garrison chapel, and dog cemetery where regimental mascots were buried, are maintained by Historic Scotland and offer a fascinating insight into 18th century military life. The fort is also home to the Highlanders Museum, Scotland’s largest regimental museum outside of Edinburgh.

Or, a less militaristic attraction is Cawdor Castle, a late 14th century castle with literary connections to William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Steeped in history, the castle and its spectacular landscaped grounds are open to the public throughout the summer.

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Tuck into a fine Highland lunch Back in Inverness, enjoy a gourmet lunch at Rocpool Restaurant. Located within a swish boutique hotel, its menu focuses on fine local flavours such as hand-dived west coast king scallops, fresh Isle of Skye crab, and butternut squash risotto with melting Highland brie.

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See dolphins cavort in the Moray Firth An inlet on the North Sea that stretches north from Inverness, the Moray Firth is considered one of the best places in Britain to observe dolphins. Sailing from Inverness Marina up to four times per day, Dolphin Spirit offers 90-minute wildlife cruises that enable the viewing of bottlenose dolphins as well as other marine life including whales, seals and otters.

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Visit Scotland

09 The suspension bridge across the River Ness.

10 Cawdor Castle is a stunning ‘fairytale castle’ with a magnificent estate.

11 Rocpool is known for its vibrant ambience and fresh, tasty food.

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12 Don’t miss the chance to view the dolphins at Moray Firth.

Royal Brunei Airlines flies London daily via Dubai for connections to Inverness. Discover things to do in Inverness in www.muhibah.com.bn

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Visit Scotland

HOW TO GET HERE: Inverness is in the Scottish Highlands, 3 hours and 30 minutes north of Edinburgh and Glasgow by train. Inverness Airport has flights from British cities including London, Birmingham, Belfast and Manchester, as well as European cities including Amsterdam and Geneva.

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EXPERIENTIAL

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ong o via Hong K y k o T to t h ig are fl daily codesh s i’ e n ru B l a y Ro is an excellent excuse for taking a walking tour of Japan and cultures.

Words GRACE OOI Images WALK JAPAN to explore its community Think you have seen all there is to see in Japan? Not unless you have had an excursion with Walk Japan. National Geographic has described the company as “one of the 200 Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”. And there is good reason for it.

In contrast to the usual whirlwind coach tours of the region, Walk Japan lets guests interested in experiencing Japan on a deeper level get close to the local community while exploring little-visited regions of the nation. The immersive itinerary profoundly journeys into Japanese society and culture, providing great insights into the nation and its people. Being committed to and supportive of the communities in which they operate and ensuring that their tours have a positive impact in these areas also mean guests will often come in contact with familyrun and heritage enterprises.

For instance, the Tohoku Hot Spring Snow has been thoughtfully curated to let guests walk in the footsteps of Matsuo Basho, one of Japan’s greatest literary figures. The guided snowshoe tour explores Tohoku’s remote valleys and closeknit communities, charming hamlets and quintessential hot spring villages.

Here the locals warmly welcome tour participants with a hospitality that has been honed over many generations by the need for communal resilience in the region’s harsh winter. Highlights include a descent through the incredible juhyo snow monsters and a visit to Sakata, a historic and elegant old port town on the Sea of Japan coast, where evening meals draw on the wide range of fresh produce from the seas, fields, rivers and mountains of Tohoku.

Another, the Tokaido Trail is an exploration of the Tokaido’s ‘Eastern Sea Road’ and the greatest of Japan’s ancient highways, through Japan’s heartland and three of its greatest cities: Tokyo, Nagoya and Kyoto. It tells the story of Japan’s historic and cultural legacy including journeys by great emperors and powerful shoguns, and also of the everyday folk who lived along its route and those others who were occasionally allowed to travel its length.

Walk Japan itineraries often bring new appreciation to the rich history that envelops this Land of the Rising Sun. The highlight of each journey is the intimate look of each area’s past, present and future. Guests will arrive as tourists but leave as travellers with a whole new perspective of the places they have been.

Royal Brunei Airlines flies Hong Kong daily for connections to Tokyo.

Discover things to do in Tokyo in www.muhibah.com.bn

01 The juhyo snow monsters t Spring Tour.

Ho ku on the Toho

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02 The neatly tended tea fields sula. in Kunisaki Penin

03 Japan’s lush, so ul-satisfying tea fields at Kumano.

04 A Chado tea ceremony experience.

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05 A quiet fishing hamlet sula. on the Izu Penin Early morning

tuna aucti06 on at Kii Katsuura Tuna Market.

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07 The Honzaka Pass in the ring Tour.

Sp t Ho do kai To Viewing the ma jes

08 tic Mt. Fuji on the Izu Geo Trail.

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09 Okazaki Castle on the Tokaido Trail.

10 Cycling on the Kei Bicycle Bridge on the Oita Hot Spring Tour.

11 Beach cliffs are among the landforms found many dramatic on the Izu Geo Trail.

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12 A class on making soba noodles.

13 The Tokaido Tra il brings guests to Okazaki for crafts. a look at local 14 A sample of Arimatsu-shibori tie dyeing craft.

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FEATURES

AN ALLEGORY OF

WELLNESS Spa Village has the last word in honouring healing cultures.

Words ANIS RAMLI Images SPA VILLAGE

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02 Last December, Starhill Spa Village opened at JW Mariott, representing a rare opportunity for those truly on the go to buy a slice of solitude in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Even the menu alludes to a schedule that champions smart time-management. Pared down and practical, guests navigate through a simple menu checklist; a check box each for massage style (four options), preferred oil (10 choices), and add-ons (herbal compress, warmed stones, or heated herbal pack). It takes five minutes to complete, and you’re on your way to bliss. Because at this Spa Village, they understand that when pressed for time, no one really wants a 30-minute breakdown on what goes into say, a gong Bath Experience.

Smart or too stripped down?

Those familiar with the Spa Village brand know that each spa is an extension of the people and community they reside. Months, sometimes years, before a spa menu is crafted, spa personnel on the ground work with the local commune, researching its unique traditional wellness practices and long-practiced beauty rituals. At the spa, these home-spun remedies are transformed into sophisticated treatments, reflecting the history and significance of the area, allowing guests to connect more deeply with local culture as they experience the veritable repertoire of nature’s medicine chest and local healing culture.

Essentially, a Spa Village reflects the history and significance of the area while remaining modern and indulgent for guests. And there in lies the success of the brand, filling a niche for a return to the past to enhance today’s natural healing and relaxation merges with the need for pampering and relaxation.

01 Spa Pavilion, Spa Village Pangkor Laut.

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02 Starhill Spa Village.

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04

The concept of the Spa Village began with the opening of the first YTL resort, Pangkor Laut. Built on a leased private island that today remains 80 percent green, YTL Hotels and Resorts Executive Director, Dato’ Mark Yeoh Seok Kah, admitted to being a tad reluctant to give in to calls for a spa then. That was in the early 90s. He recalled, “Growing up, we didn’t have spas. But what we did have was a culture that had its own way of keeping people healthy. For me, the best part of Chinese healing was that a lot of it was through the food we eat. So when I decided to do a spa, I told my people, ‘Ok, we don’t want to copy Western spas. We’re going to show the world how we do it in Malaysia.’” And so, Spa Village, was born.

It was, in several respects, a game changer.

At Pangkor Laut Resort, Yeoh would pioneer a spa concept that merges the three main cultures in Malaysia – Chinese, Indian and Malay – honouring its healing and wellness traditions, and taking inspiration from Malaysia’s local villages. While Chinese and Indian healing cultures were well documented, the Malay healing concept would proved then to be the most challenging to nurture, as it retains a tradition of secrecy, with ancestral knowledge strictly passed on from elder to apprentice. Malay healing was not known for its culture of inclusivity.

“I think we learnt earlier on that inculcating relationships was very important in doing the kind of spa we want to have,” Chik Lai Ping, Vice President for the Spa Division of YTL Hotels, explains. “For us, it wasn’t just about acquiring the knowledge, but we wanted to do it with integrity.” Spa Village would soon establish itself as a magnet for those seeking an approach to health and wellbeing connected to native roots and the indigenous people. Since the very first spa opened, Spa Village has received global recognition, not only becoming top in guest services, but the brand has also helped raise hospitality standards throughout the local hotel industry.

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05 For Lai Ping, Spa Village is a success story on preserving local healing and care that has permeated mainstream spa. The philosophy of keeping the experience authentic means 90 percent of its spa ingredients are prepared freshly just prior to application. Signature treatments employ local botanicals, herbs and plants.

At Spa Village Tembok Resort Bali, cold pressed coconut oils are sourced from a family at a neighbouring village.

For the award-winning Tadau Kaamatan treatment at Spa Village Gaya Island Resort that honours the community’s harvest festival, Sabah’s hill-grown red rice is used.

Likewise, locally-grown herbs, such as turmeric and galangal, are employed in the make-from-scratch body scrub at Pangkor Laut Resort’s Spa Village where the accompanying fragrant milk bath is scented with freshly picked jasmines and tropical magnolias from the resort’s vast lawn. And in Bath, even with UNESCO World Heritage waters on tap, Spa Village manages to shine, working the ancient therapeutic waters into a contemporary treatment called Freedom, where guests are cradled in a warm pool as they relax joint by joint. Suffice to say, each treatment is an essay in complete indulgence, with expert healing hands at work, taken in spa villas or huts that pay tribute to the resort surroundings and locales.

Naturally, Spa Village would find itself needed in an urban setting. Because of the brand’s philosophy, it transitions seamlessly from resort to city, blurring the distinction between the two and enhancing the senses for carefree luxury. Which brings us back to the stripped down affair at Starhill Spa Village. “We were clear from the beginning that the Starhill Spa Village would cater to those in a hurry but still looking to de-stress,” says Lai Ping.

“The minimalist menu helps cut down decision making time. But while all else is pared down, the spa remains very much aligned to the Spa Village ethos.”

03 Massage in a Bale, Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali.

04 Tuam Pasir Treatment, Spa Village Tanjong Jara.

05 Tadau Kaamatan, Spa Village Gaya Island.

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Fifteen years since the first Spa Village was opened, the brand now has spas throughout Malaysia, in Bali and more recently, in the newly opened, Spa Village Koh Samui, Thailand. “Our presence has been growing in the UK with our award-winning Spa Village Gainsborough Bath Spa,” says Yeoh. Monkey Island will open in 2018, and others are in planning stages in the UK and Europe.

“Spa Village is the most successful brand of YTL Hotels. We ended the year on a high with the Majestic Spa named Urban Spa of the Year 2017 at the AsiaSpa Awards in Hong Kong. As we move forward my directive to the spa team is to continue to lead and innovate as a global brand while maintaining our unique virtues and values. We love and respect traditions, but embrace the exciting elements of the future,” Yeoh concludes.

Royal Brunei Airlines flies Kuala Lumpur 2x daily. Discover things to do in Kuala Lumpur in www.muhibah.com.bn

06 Reception, Spa Village Koh Samui.

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07 Aquatic Body Therapy, The Gainsborough Bath Spa.

Cardiology • Dentistry • Dermatology • Diagnostic Imaging Services • Diabetes and Endocrinology • Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) • Endocrinology • Endoscopy • Endovascular • Gastroenterology • General Practice • General Surgery • Hepatology • Implantology • Laboratory Services • Nephrology • Neurology • Obstetrics and Gynaecology • Occupational Health Services • Ophthalmology • Oral and Maxillofacial • Orthopaedics • Paediatrics • Pharmacy • Plastic and Reconstructive & Hand Surgery • Psychology • Reproductive Medicine Unit • Thoracic and Vascular • Urology

FEATURES BEST OF BRUNEI

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URBAN BOARDERS

of Brunei Discover urban nature with a paddle, a board, and a group of enthusiastic weekenders.

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FEATURES BEST OF BRUNEI

On most Saturday mornings, a group of excited – some apprehensive – Bruneians follow Stephen Officer as he hops on a board at Lugu Lake as if he were the Pied Piper. They are not out to catch a wave, but catching a workout by standing on a paddle board. For the next 80 minutes, they will learn to balance, discover what a core muscle is, and more importantly, get the best total body workout in the outdoors.

This urban fitness trend, called stand up paddle boarding, is gaining popularity among city dwellers for its workout on water, though no one really gets wet. Officer, who describes himself as a watersports enthusiast, chanced upon the activity while on vacation in Australia. And he was immediately hooked. “You don’t have to be an all-around athlete to do it. Nor do you need to have much experience, either,” he says. “Anyone, it seems, can learn to paddle board and before you know it, you’ll be covering a kilometre with very little effort.”

The languid pace of paddle boarding will endear it to those looking to have an outdoor physical activity without the burden of a competitive sport. Back at Lugu Lake, Officer has an admirable kind of humility and patience that comes from finding passion in what he does and eager to have others discover it. He is the first certified Stand Up Paddling Instructor trained by the Academy of Surfing Instructors in water rescue and river, lake and sea instruction. On this balmy Saturday morning, Officer guides today’s group of beginners as they first practice paddling on their knees before slowly rising to their feet and learning how to balance standing on the board and paddling. “Everyone does it at their own pace,” he says. What makes stand-up paddling explode the last couple of years is because the activity can be done anywhere where there’s a body of water. Form lakes to inlets and beaches, paddle boarding really is accessible, especially when you live in the city.

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The present form of stand up paddling, commonly referred to as SUP, was thought to have originated with the Waikiki beach boys in Honolulu who used to stand upright on long paddle boards as they guided tourists on surfing lessons. But, earlier forms of SUP and its recurrence have been documented in various civilisations, spanning from Asia to South America and the Western regions. For Officer, bringing SUP to Brunei has allowed him to discover the lesser known areas of the country and share it with others. “Because everyone’s at their own pace, it allows them to take in the surroundings. The sheltered areas along Brunei’s coastlines, such as Tungku Beach, are beautiful and calm. We occasionally see wildlife such as large sea turtles and dolphins. We also conduct lessons in beautiful fresh water lakes surrounded by the forest and though we can’t cue it, it is possible to sight the native hornbills.”

As the trend grows, stand up paddle boarding has proven to be a fun social activity. Some enthusiasts have taken the concept even further to incorporate fitness and low-impact core strengthening, making this a great total body workout for body, mind and soul. While the possibilities are endless, at SUP-Surfari, the company run by Officer, he still remains committed to introduce the sport to those wishing to discover their wonderful backyard they never knew they had in a relaxed and leisurely pace.

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FEATURES BEST OF BRUNEI

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PENDAYUNG PAPAN Senam Brunei Nikmatilah elemen alam semulajadi senam urban dengan dayung dan papan dayung, bersama sekumpulan pengunjung hari mingguan.

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Pada setiap pagi hari Sabtu di Tasik Lugu, sekumpulan anak-anak warga Brunei yang teruja mengikuti Stephen Officer sambil beliau mengarahkan mereka meloncat ke atas papan dayung. Ada juga yang nampak kegelisahan.

Mereka tidak bertujuan menangkap gelombang, tetapi untuk bersenam dengan berdiri di atas papan dayung. Dalam 80 minit yang seterusnya, mereka akan belajar cara mengimbangkan diri, menyedari apa maksudnya otot teras, dan memperolehi latihan lengkap keseluruhan badan.

Tren senam urban yang dikenali sebagai papan dayung berdiri atau stand up paddle board, semakin popular di kalangan penduduk bandar kerana ia suatu senaman yang dilakukan di air, walaupun sebenarnya, mereka tidak akan basah kuyup. Officer, yang menggambarkan dirinya sebagai peminat sukan air, berkebetulan terdedah kepada aktiviti ini ketika beliau bercuti di Australia. Dari saat itu, Officer bersemangat untuk mempelajarinya. “Awda tidak perlu menjadi atlet serba boleh untuk melakukannya. Awda juga tidak memerlukan apa-apa pengalaman,� kata beliau. “Sesiapa pun boleh belajar untuk mendayung papan dan tanpa awda menyedarinya, senang saja untuk mendayung satu kilometer.�

Mereka yang ingin melakukan aktiviti fizikal luar tanpa beban sukan kompetitif akan mendapati betapa mudahnya bersukan papan dayung.

Kembali semula ke Tasik Lugu melihat Officer dan anak-anak jagaan beliau, jelas kelihatan Officer seorang yang rendah hati dan penyabar. Watak ini hanya didapati apabila seseorang itu bersemangat dalam apa yang dilakukan dan berkeinginan

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untuk menolong orang lain dengan ikhlas. Officer merupakan jurulatih Stand Up Paddling pertama di Brunei yang diiktirafkan oleh Academy of Surfing Instructors dalam latihan penyelamatan air dan juga latihan sungai, tasik dan laut. Pada Sabtu pagi yang nyaman ini, Officer sedang membimbing sekumpulan pemula mempelajari latihan pertama: bermula dengan mendayung papan sambil berlutut, kemudian berdiri atas papan sambil mengimbangi diri, dan akhirnya berdiri di atas papan sambil mendayung. “Semua individu melakukannya pada tahap diri masing-masing,� kata Officer. Apa yang membuatkan aktiviti ini menjadi semakin popular semenjak kebelakangan ini adalah kerana aktiviti ini boleh dilakukan di mana saja terdapatnya badan air. Dari tasik ke serokan dan pantai, aktiviti papan dayung sememangnya senang untuk diakses, terutamanya jika awda tinggal di bandar.

Gaya papan dayung berdiri (stand up paddling) yang disingkatkan ke SUP dikatakan berasal dari pemuda pantai Waikiki di Honolulu yang berdiri tegak atas papan dayung panjang ketika mengajar para pelancong cara untuk bermain luncur air. Tetapi, gaya awal SUP dan pengulangannya didokumentasikan dalam pelbagai tamadun awal Asia, Barat dan Amerika Selatan. Bagi Officer, memperkenalkan aktiviti SUP ke Brunei telah membolehkan beliau menerokai kawasan baru yang kurang diketahui umum dan memperkenalkan aktiviti ini kepada orang ramai. “Kerana masing-masing belajar mengikuti tahap tersendiri, ini memberi kesempatan bagi pendayung untuk menikmati kawasan persekitaran mereka. Kawasan terlindung di sepanjang pantai Brunei, seperti Pantai Tungku misalnya, mempunyai suasana yang indah dan tenang. Kadang-kala, kami dapat melihat hidupan liar seperti penyu laut dan ikan lumba-lumba. Kami juga mengajar di tasik air tawar yang dikelilingi oleh hutan asli, dan walaupun kami tidak dapat menjangka ketibaannya, awda mungkin dapat melihat burung enggang jika berkesempatan.�

Seiring dengan tren yang sedang mengembang, aktiviti papan dayung berdiri terbukti suatu aktiviti sosial yang menyeronokkan. Sesetengah peminat telah mengambil konsep ini lebih jauh dan menggabungkan kecergasan dan pengukuhan teras berimpak rendah untuk menjadikannya suatu latihan keseluruhan badan, minda dan jiwa. Jelas sukan ini tiada batasan. Namun di SUP-Surfari, sebuah syarikat yang dikendalikan oleh Officer, beliau gembira dapat memperkenalkan sukan ini kepada mereka yang ingin berpengalaman menerokai negara sendiri dalam suasana yang santai dan tenang.

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LIFESTYLE MOTORING

YEARS OF

WOW

Mitsubishi Motors’ road to becoming the SUV and Electric vehicle experts didn’t happen overnight.

In 1917, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company, Ltd. produced their first car. The Model A saw an initial run of 22 cars made for government officials coddling them with luxury that set standards for Japanese automobiles.

The history of Mitsubishi automobile began with the 22-car production of Japan’s very first series-produced vehicle. Then from the end of the World War II to the early 1970s, Mitsubishi automobiles ranging from commercial vehicles to unique passenger cars were launched which paved the way for the establishment of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation which has spawned from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

From 1970s up to the end of the 20th century, Mitsubishi automobiles provided solutions to the needs for conserving energy and resources. At the same time Mitsubishi automobiles have enhanced driving pleasure of the drivers with high performance vehicles like class-leading sport utility vehicles. Today, Mitsubishi automobiles are as prepared as ever to take on the new challenges and demands of owners worldwide.

Enthusiasts will never forget the legacy of the Lancer Evolution as it pushed the sport compact onto hew heights of performance with its many championship triumphs. The Mirage and G4 brings in new customers looking for affordable transportation to get to work and enjoy life. The popular Outlander Sport offers affordable fun to get anywhere all year round. Coming soon will be the new Outlander PHEV, advancing Mitsubishi’s expertise in electrified vehicles towards better efficiency in a SUV. 54

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See how 100 years of innovation has shaped Mitsubishi’s journey and what is in store for the future.

>1917

>1971

• Mitsubishi

sells its first car in America, and re-badged it as the Dodge Colt.

• The Colt F2000 wins Mitsubishi Motors’ 6th Grand Prix title.

>1973 • T he Mitsubishi Model-A was designed to be a luxury vehicle for government officials. It became the first massproduction car in Japanese history.

>1962

• T he company won its first entry into the Macau Grand Prix. Mitsubishi set a track record with the 500 Super Deluxe.

This car was also the first vehicle to be aerodynamically tested in a wind tunnel in Japan.

>1970

• T his was the debut year for the Lancer 1600GSR. This vehicle won the Australian Southern Cross Rally and obtained Mitsubishi’s 4th rally title overall.

>1976

• S ilent Shaft Technology is invented and Mitsubishi licensed the patents to Porsche, Saab, and Fiat.

>1980

• M itsubishi engineered the world’s first energy saving Turbo Diesel engine, with Silent Shaft Technology.

• Mitsubishi

begins research and development on electric vehicle technology. This set the stage for Mitsubishi Motors to be the first automaker to mass market an electric vehicle.

• The new Galant GTO launches in Japan, eventually leading to the Lancer Evolution.

>1982

• M itsubishi makes its debut in America. This year they launched the Tredia, Cordia, and Starion models.

>1983

• T he Montero makes history by winning the triple crown in its first appearance at the Paris-Dakar Rally. Did you know that this is considered to be the world’s toughest race?

>1987

• T he Galant VR-4 is the first vehicle to feature an Active Electronically Controlled Suspension, and it received Mitsubishi’s first Car of the Year award in Japan!

>1989

>1998

• T ommi Makinen wins a record consecutive WRC Driver’s Championships (1996 – 1999).

Mitsubishi claims the WRC Manufacturer’s Championship in 1998, all with multiple generations of the Lancer Evolution.

• Mitsubishi’s banner year in racing includes the Montero’s domination of the Dakar Rally with a top 4 sweep, a FIA World Class Cup Cross Country Rally win and the Lancer Evolution’s victory in the WRC.

>1999

• T he FTO-EV prototype earns a Guinness World Record by being the first electric car to travel 2,000 kilometers in 24 hours.

The previous record was only 300km!

>2003

• T he Galant VR-4 is named Motor Trend Magazine’s Import Car of the Year.

>1990

• T he Lancer Evolution, equipped with all-wheel-control arrives in the US, and Automobile Magazine awards it the 2003 Automobile of the Year.

• M itsubishi designed the world’s first electronically-controlled Traction Control System this year! This later became legally required safety feature in many countries.

• The 3000GT is launched with groundbreaking technology, including high-performance full-time AWD suspension and active aerodynamics.

Motor Trend names it the Import Car of the Year for 1991.

>2005

>1991

>2007

• T he Eclipse makes its debut in America and makes Car and Driver’s 10 Best List from 1989-1992!

>1992

• M itsubishi is awarded the Technology of the Year award for its INVEC System, which adapts to a person’s driving habits.

• The Lancer Evolution is launched.

• MIVEC Technology is introduced, maximizing fuel efficiency while maintaining engine performance.

>1996

• M itsubishi launched the world’s first Gasoline Direct Injection engine.

Look out for the Mitsubishi ECLIPSE Cross SUV launch in February 2018.

For more information and to view, call +673-2423423.

• T he 4th generation Eclipse, is awarded the 2005 Industry Design Excellence Award.

• The Outlander is launched and it marks the world’s first compact SUV to offer an environmentally friendly PZEV V6 engine.

• A nother record is set for Mitsubishi! The company has 7 straight Dakar Rally wins, and they now have 12 championships overall.

• The Lancer Evolution X is launched with Super All Wheel Control. This is considered to be one of the most advanced AWD systems in the entire world! It wins Car of the Year in Japan.

>2008

• M itsubishi announces Drive@Earth, which is their pledge to create vehicles that can exist in harmony with people, society, and the environment. This effort encompasses EV, PHEV, and other emission-reducing technologies with corporate initiatives designed to preserve and sustain the global environment.

>2009

• T he production version of the 2010 Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle is launched to multiple markets worldwide after more than 40 years of development and awards.

>2010

• T he PX-MiEV concept car is revealed.

It’s powered by Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid system. It employs serial and parallel hybrid technologies to maximize on-road performance and minimize emissions and fuel consumption.

>2012

• T he launch of the i-MiEV marked the launch of EV technology in the US. It ranks #1 on the EPA’s list of Fuel Economy Leaders, and was named the Greenest Vehicle of 2012 by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

• Mitsubishi celebrates 30 years of business in the US.

>2013

• M itsubishi released the Outlander PHEV, which was the world’s first Plug-in Hybrid SUV. It won the RJC Technology of the Year Award and Car of the Year’s Innovation Award in Japan.

>2014

• T he MiEV Evolution 3 won 1st and 2nd place in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb’s EV prototype division. This beat the previous record by more than 30 seconds.

>2015

• M itsubishi tests its EV and Twin Motor 4WD technologies in the Baja Portalegre 500. This set the fastest time in 3 out of 5 segments, all using the Outlander PHEV.

>2018

• M itsubishi built its first 4x4 back in 1936. Now the Eclipse Cross SUV makes it full circle, with a 4 cylinder 2.0L MIVEC engine. The small SUV, which sits above the ASX and below the Outlander in Mitsubishi’s portfolio, has better media unit functionality and improved interior comfort.

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LIFESTYLE IN PERSON

MAKING ANOTHER

MARK ‘Starchitect’ Jean-Michel Gathy speaks on his latest endeavour: Bukit Pandawa Resort & Golf that seizes on its location in the most artful of ways.

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How did the opportunity to masterplan Bukit Pandawa Resort & Golf come about?

A few years ago, a gentleman by the name of Tjian An (President/Director of Bukit Pandawa Resort & Golf’s ownership group, PT Bali Ragawisata) came to me and said: “We have 150 gorgeous hectares on the south coast of Bali and we would like for you to come and see it.” So I did, and I adored it. We’re talking two kilometres of seafront, with land sloping perfectly down toward a 70-metre highcliff overlooking a beach and the ocean.

I thought the topography was hospitable for development as every square foot was usable, which is extremely unusual. Also, I could see there would be no major inconvenience, with the rolling hills set between the coastal road and the ocean. No interruptions, and only glorious views.

What are the key components?

There will ultimately be four hotels, including the first Mandarin Oriental hotel in Bali, which our company, Denniston, designed. There will also be a Waldorf Astoria, a Swissôtel and another world-class hotel we cannot divulge the name of yet. They will all be ‘linked’ by a championship-calibre golf course that is already open. And on the highest part of the property, you’ll have 91 of the most amazing villas – The Residences at Mandarin Oriental Bali.

Why is having something that links the hotels together important?

With any sprawling property like this, you must have what I call “a vector”. And the vector here is the 18-hole, executive golf course, which you’ll be able to see from the front or back of the hotels. The ownership group hired an American golf course designer, Bob Moore (of JMP Golf in California), who did a magnificent job in fine tuning our routing concept into an extraordinary, all-par-3 golf design that you are able to play within two hours instead of the four or five hours a standard golf course requires. I think for many people, that’s a very nice amenity.

What other features will Bukit Pandawa possess?

There will also be a free-standing small village near the Swissôtel Bali, which is designed to be more interactive and lively and young and fun. The Waldorf Astoria will be located proudly along the cliff’s edge and relatively close to the Swissôtel. The village will have absolutely no influence on any of the hotels, though. We’ll have higher density in one corner, but still low density compared to most projects in the world, and lower density as you move away from the village and especially at the other end of the property where a 43-room boutique hotel is to be located.

What will make the Mandarin Oriental, Bali, and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bali, unique?

The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bali, will occupy a dream-like spot on the property, behind the Mandarin Oriental, Bali. Because of the topography, The Residences will have the most magnificent, unobstructed sea views during the day. Then, when night falls and the ocean goes dark, you’ll experience the full effect of a lighting system that is simply remarkable. The developers hired a world-class lighting consultant, Flaming Beacon from Australia, to implement a lighting scheme that will serve both the hotel closer to the cliff and create an extraordinary foreground decor for The Residences. You will not have a high-rise building impeding the view for The Residences. You will have interplay between the 88, one-level room pavilions and nine hectares of tropical landscape.

How have you incorporated Balinese style into this project?

This is the thing. There are so many hotels in Bali, and so many have the same sorts of design elements such as the thatched roof, because obviously it is so Balinese.

But when you do too much of something … well, let me just explain it like this: I like chocolate. But when I have my coffee, I have just one piece of chocolate, not 10 pieces. If you make me eat the box, I would vomit. It’s just too much!

So what, then, is the right amount of ‘Bali’?

We have reached a time in Bali where we have to start distilling Balinese architecture a little better. So what we’ve done is kept and respected all the values of Balinese culture – the ceremony of the bath, the respect for the head of the village, the sequences of entry in the courtyard, the type of double doors, etc. But we’ve used them in a contemporary fashion.

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LIFESTYLE THE BUZZ

BEWITCHING HOUR Ipa-Nima continues to bring the best of Vietnamese handcrafted designs and updates them into modern handbags. The new Midnight Blue series with nocturnal florals is great for both day and night. Comes in three styles: tote, satchel and wallet. ipa-nima.com

ROCK STAR As meteorite watches continue to grow in popularity, De Bethune releases its own unique take with the DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon Meteorite. Made from a rare type of ferrous meteorite taken from a space rock originally unearthed in Argentina, the watch is powered by De Bethune’s DB2019v3 30-second tourbillon caliber, which when fully wound is good for a power reserve of five days. debethune.ch

WHAT’S

NEW Trends and gadgets from around the globe.

URBAN DESTRESS City living presents its own challenges to skin. From smoke to pollution and smog, the skin crumbles under new environmental stressors. Algadetox by L’erbolario addresses these and more using precious extracts of Laminaria Algae and Sea Lavender, known for their anti-radical and protective virtues, to calm skin and nurse it back to health. erbolario.com/en facebook.com/lerbolariomalaysia

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BODY LUXURY The Edible Beauty & Velvet Coffee Body Butter looks good enough to eat, but hold on to your horses! Feed your body instead. Its natural ingredients of caffeine, horsetail and grapefruit will help boost circulation while nourishing and firming up the body. Helps smooth the appearance of cellulite, too! ediblebeautyaustralia.com

PERFECT PICK Tennis shoes, laptop, spare toothbrush – no matter where you’re headed (or coming from), the Weekender by Paravel won’t give you away.

Spacious enough for a long weekend or for days spent dreaming of one. Crafted in their signature worry-proof canvas with Italian leather accents with a removable shoulder strap. tourparavel.com

SECRET UNVEILED WHEEL LOVE A crowdfunded success story, the G-RO is the luggage that will put others to shame. While the big wheels (glides on curb and cobblestones easily) draw attention, it’s the carry-on’s lots-of-design-smarts that will amaze you. The luggage charges smartphones, is Bluetoothready to track lost luggage, and ultra spacious. g-ro.com

The product of innovative biotechnological procedures and five years of intensive research, La Crème 128 from Sothys contains three powerful ingredients that boosts its anti-ageing abilities: stem cells from the Sothys rose, porcelain flower oil and peach leaf extract. Each delivers regenerative powers to ensure youthfullooking skin with minimised fine lines. sothys.com

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LIFESTYLE TAKE 5

SHEER

PERFECTION

Palawan Island is the Philippines’ hidden piece of paradise.

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SEE The island is accessible by boat or plane. Coming by air, it gives you your first look at just how beautiful Palawan is. From above, Palawan’s stunning blue and emerald waters will hypnotise, as will the forest-covered mountains that seem to rise from the ocean. By boat, the small fishing villages dotting the island and limestone caves will greet you upon arrival.

DO Seasonal turtle watching, caving, kayaking, bird watching, snorkelling, diving – these are some of the things you must absolutely do to take advantage of Palawan’s archipelago.

It is also home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the underground Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a two-hour drive from the capital.

SHOP Guests can’t get enough of local handmade jewellery, shell craft, wood carvings and woven products from Binuatan weavers. There are also great local markets to explore local fruits and food. If you really need the mall, there are two on the main island of Palawan.

STAY Pangulasian Island Resort (elnidoresorts.com/pangulasian-island) fronts a 750-metre white powder beach overlooking the bay, with 42 villas all with a private balcony that overlooks the beach or garden. The resort also has a secluded cove perfect for kayaking, and a marine sanctuary right at its doorstep.

Snorkel, dive then go island hopping which the resort can arrange for guests.

For more information, go to: experiencephilippines.org Royal Brunei flies Manila daily for connections to Palawan.

Discover things to do in Palawan in www.muhibah.com.bn

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LIFESTYLE TRAVEL DIARY

MALAYSIA

MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY FAIR – SPRING EDITION

WHAT’S

ON

For the latest trends in gems and finely crafted pieces, head over to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre this month. The fair opens with a jewel-themed fashion show before bringing attendees to witness the great line-up of diamonds and exquisite design jewellery from all over the world.

A world of adventure and new experiences await you when you fly with Royal Brunei Airlines. Make your trip even more memorable with free flights, seat upgrades and other privileges with Royal Skies, our frequent flyer programme. Not yet a member?

mijf.com.my/mijf_spring

Register on: www.flyroyalbrunei.com/royalskies

12-15 Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

Jan

1

Now til

Apr

PRUDENTIAL MARINA BAY CARNIVAL Head over to Marina Bay for some good ol’ traditional fairground fare. Over 40 rides and games to keep both young and old happy and entertained. Thrill seekers can get their adrenaline rush on The Booster Maxx, while those on terra firma can aim for prizes pitting their skills at the many carnival games. www.marinabaycarnival.sg

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HONG KONG

17-31

Jan

VOLVO OCEAN RACE The Volvo Ocean Race is one of the toughest sport competitions in the world. An eight-month aroundthe-world race, sailors endure harsh weather conditions as they compete against each other to reach each ‘leg’ or city throughout the course.

With the boats expected to arrive Hong Kong on 20 January, there will be lots of activities happening at Kai Tak Runway Park to celebrate this event. www.volvooceanracehk.com

24-28

Jan

20TH CONSUMER FAIR A decade since its inception, the most highly anticipated and popular consumer fair is back and celebrating its 20th edition at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas. Exhibitors and visitors alike can expect a wide variety of local and international products and services at the fair, as well as plenty of exciting activities to look forward to.

WHITE NIGHT MELBOURNE The biggest all-night event in Melbourne’s cultural calendar, White Night returns with exciting exhibitions, street performances, illuminations, installations, film screenings and other interactive events. Lots of cafes and restaurants will extend their hours. It’s the best time to stay up and stay out.

www.bruneiconsumerfair.com

www.whitenight.com.au

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

17

Feb

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

23

Infofoto

AUSTRALIA

Feb

34TH NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS Join in the festivities in Bandar Seri Begawan as the nation celebrates its 34th National Day. With a grand parade and field performances performed by participants from all layers of the community, the celebrations will be a colourful sight indeed. www.bruneitourism.travel

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

EUGENE ONEGIN Performed by The Polish National Opera at Dubai Opera, Eugene Onegin tells an intense, passionate story about love, friendship and rejection. Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the story follows the highs and lows of a sophisticated yet selfish man who lives to regret his nonchalant rejection of a young woman’s love and his careless incitement of a devastating duel with his best friend. Performed in Russian, English subtitles are available for viewers. www.dubaiopera.com

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Feb 63

WELCOME ONBOARD

SELAMAT DATANG Selamat Datang means ‘Welcome’ in Malay, and your seamless journey begins here.

with the Eco 9-Inch personal touch screen monitors filled with great entertainment content. Each seat also comes with a USB port as well as shared power supply.

Business Class

RB Impian Inflight Entertainment

The Royal Brunei Airlines 787 Dreamliner Business Class cabin features “Contour” seats that reclines to a 180 degree flat bed, along with a plush duvet and larger pillow, offer a peaceful rest. Each seat is equiped with a 15.4 touchscreen LCD Monitor with Panasonic eX2 in-flight entertainment system; as well as in seat power connecter. The Business Class cabin lavatories are also equipped with bidets for passengers convenience.

Economy Class Comfort

Royal Brunei Airlines 787 Dreamliner Economy cabin offers comfortable seats with semiarticulating recline and adjustable headrest, and with very spacious leg-rooms for passengers comfort. Each seat is intergrated

RB Impian Inflight Entertainment system gives passengers a number of entertainment options throughout their flight. A library of hit movies, classic Hollywood films and TV and audio programmes for all ages are available onboard. Refer to the Impian entertainment guide located in the seat pocket in front of you for the list of movies, TV and audio programmes. For Business Class seats; the sockets for earphones and channel/ volume remote control are located in your seat armrest. Seatback-mounted personal screens are only available on our Boeing 787s.

Elsewhere, passengers can avail our service, sit back and relax with our overhead movie screens. For more information, please contact your nearest Royal Brunei Airlines office.

JOURNEY THROUGH THE DECADES As Brunei Darussalam’s national carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines serves not only as the coming of age of this tiny Sultanate, but today cements itself as a serious competitor in the region.

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Cuisine

Everything we serve has been carefully chosen for freshness and flavour. In fact, there’s nothing you can’t enjoy even when dining at 35,000 feet. Our award winning menu has been meticulously created by our Royal Brunei Catering chefs, combining both Western and Oriental flavours using the best seasonal and fresh produce available.

For our Business Class passengers on long-haul flights, you can now select your desired meal times. Our ‘Dine upon Request’ service is available throughout the flight up until 90 minutes before landing. Passengers on all classes also enjoy our ‘Food Fit to Fly by’ service menu that features healthier and lighter meal options, complemented by our award-winning cabin service from our crew.

Special Meals

Royal Brunei offers a variety of tasty culinary solutions to suit our passengers’ special dietary requirements. Special meals can be

1970s

1980s

> The maiden Royal Brunei Airlines flight to Singapore left Bandar Seri Begawan on a Boeing 737-200 on 14 May, 1975.

> RB added a Boeing 737, the quick change convertible aircraft, to its fleet. This aircraft allowed for either an all-passenger or an all-cargo configuration, or a combination of both.

> Two Boeing 737 aircraft were put into service flying five times a week to Singapore, two times to Hong Kong, and seven times to Kota Kinabalu. > Services to Bangkok and Manila were added.

> RB accepted the delivery of its Boeing 757 aircraft that featured a redesigned livery combining Brunei’s traditional royal colours on 16 May, 1986.

ordered when you make your reservation; please confirm your request at least 24 hours before boarding your flight.

Alcohol-free Environment Policy Royal Brunei Airlines operates alcoholfree flights to all destinations.

Hand Luggage

For your safety and comfort, you may store your hand luggage in the overhead lockers or under the seat in front of you. Please do not hesitate to ask our cabin crew for help in stowing your luggage properly. Be careful when opening the overhead luggage compartments, as items dislodged by aircraft movement may fall on you or fellow passengers.

Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAG)

Various countries have implemented restrictions on the carriage of liquids, aerosols and gels in compliance with new guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Passengers transiting through airports and carrying any liquids, pastes and gels in containers over 100ml may be asked to dispose of the items at security checkpoints.

These restrictions may affect your ability to carry duty-free purchases onboard the aircraft.

Customers are advised to check with duty free personnel before making their purchases. All liquids, aerosols and gels must be carried in containers of no greater than 100ml/3.3oz capacity (approximately 100gm in weight) and placed in a transparent, resealable plastic bag. The plastic bag must be removed from carry on baggage and presented to security

personnel at the checkpoint for inspection and separate x-ray screening.

Exceptions to the new regulations are medicines and dietary supplements needed during a flight, including baby food. Proof of need may be required.

Use of Electronic Equipment Electronic devices such as Citizen’s band (CB) radio, remote-controlled devices (such as radio controlled toys), and transmitting devices that emit radio frequencies are not to be used at any time during the flight. These devices may interfere with the aircraft’s electronic equipment, compromising aircraft safety and endangering the lives of passengers and crew.

The following devices may be used on board, except during take-off, initial climb, approach and landing; mobile phones (which must be

1990s

2000s

2010s

> RB took delivery of the first of three leased Boeing 767-200ER aircraft in June 1990 and set a long distance world record for twin-engine commercial airlines.

> RB took delivery of two new Airbus A319 aircraft in August and September 2003.

> In October 2012, RB launched a rebranding journey with a new logo and livery.

> Two more Airbus A320s were delivered in December 2003 and January 2004. > In January 2010, RB introduced Royal Brunei Holidays, a revamp of its Golden Touch Holidays, which offers passengers value-for-money holiday packages available locally and abroad.

> RB launched “A betterfly”, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and commenced its first commercial flight from Bandar Seri Begawan to Singapore on 18 October, 2013, followed by flights to Dubai and London on 1 December, 2013 and to Melbourne on 2 April, 2014.

> Direct services to Shanghai were re-launched in March 2010.

> RB unveiled its new heritage-inspired uniforms on 21 February, 2014.

> RB’s newly-leased Boeing 777-200ER aircraft took off on its first commercial flight from Bandar Seri Begawan to London via Dubai in June 2010.

> The first of RB’s two A320 CEO aircraft arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan on 26 September, 2015.

> The delivery of Boeing 767-200ER aircraft enabled RB’s route to extend to London Gatwick in November 1990. > Twice-weekly flights to London Heathrow began in May 1991. The route became a daily service on 1 December, 1996. > RB employed the use of a Fokker 50 aircraft to service Miri and Labuan in Malaysia, two destinations that were significant to the growth of Brunei’s oil and gas industry. > The opportunity to expand regional connections saw RB establishing a service to Surabaya in 1997.

> RB commenced four-times weekly flights to Melbourne in March 2011.

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WELCOME ONBOARD

switched to flight mode), personal computers, FM receivers, calculators, electronic shavers, audio and video recorders, hand-held computer games, and playback devices..

Lithium Batteries

The abundant stored energy that makes lithium batteries practical also makes them dangerous when they are not packed and carried properly. Royal Brunei takes the initiatives to increase the safety onboard with the carriage limitations (from industry initiatives, ICAO and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations guidance) to mitigate against the risks of the hazards.

Low and medium powered rechargeable batteries in equipment and limited quantity of spares are recommended as carry on baggage. All spare units must be in the original packaging or packed to insulate the terminals. Medium and large nonrechargeable must be carried as cargo/ freight in accordance with current Dangerous

Goods Regulations. High-Powered batteries are not permitted onboard passenger aircraft.

Information of safe carriage of lithium batteries on-board RB flights are also available at the RB websites www.bruneiair.com.

Non-smoking Policy

Royal Brunei Airlines operates non-smoking flights to all destinations.

Reconfirmation

Reconfirmation is not required except for passengers travelling to and from the Middle East. Please reconfirm your departure flight at least 72 hours in advance with the local Royal Brunei Airlines office or your travel agent. Failure to do so could result in the cancellation of your reservations.

Online Booking

Fly through the airport. You can now book online at www.flyroyalbrunei.com, check in online and print your own electronic ticket

(e-ticket). Online check in is available 24 hours before flight departure and closes 60 minutes before departure time.

Check In

Check in counters at the Brunei International Airport are open three hours before flight departure. Passengers are advised to check in at least two hours before departure to allow for security and baggage checks.

Check in counters will be closed 45 minutes before departure, after which no boarding passes will be issued. Royal Brunei Airlines also advises its passengers to reach the boarding gate 20 minutes before the flight departs to avoid missing their flights.

Passenger Comments

Your comments and suggestions will help us enhance our services. Please e-mail us at: feedback@rba.com.bn.

BRUNEI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Brunei International Airport’s computerised passenger and cargo handling facilities can handle 3 million passengers and 50,000 tonnes of cargo a year. Among the facilities offered at the airport are the Airport Prayer Hall (Surau Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Brunei Darussalam), telephones and Free Wi-Fi services, restaurants and shower facilities for passengers who want to rest or freshen up before their flight.

For customer comfort and convenience, RB Service Centre is located on the Departure Hall area. Passengers can make reservations, ticket purchase, book tour packages and redeem Royal Skies miles. The Customer Service Centre at the Brunei International Airport operates 7 days a week, from 8am to

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9pm Mondays to Saturdays, and 8am to 5pm on Sundays; except for Friday midday break from 12noon to 2pm.

prior to their flights. Complimentary massage chairs, shower rooms, ablution areas and High Definition TV are available.

Our Business Class and Royal Skies Elite passengers can now enjoy the service of our RB porters at departure curb-side for baggage assistance and trolley service to the check-in counters. The premium checkin lounge offers our Business Class and Royal Skies Elite passengers with a relaxed check-in experience.

Duty-free shops offer consumer goods at competitive prices. There are several outlets, including a money changer located at the departure/transit hall. On sale are portable electrical goods with international warranties, designer goods, perfumes and confectionery. Brunei International Airport is a smoke-free airport.

RB Economy class passengers and groups booking may proceed to RB check-in counter Row B.

A mobile application app has been developed by the Department of Civil Aviation to help passengers/visitors experience the newly refurbished Brunei International Airport seamlessly through the ‘iFLYBRUNEI’ app on the smartphone.

Business Class and Royal Skies Elite passengers are able to access the SkyLounge

STAYING FIT shoulder trunk flexroll

At Royal Brunei Airlines, your health, safety and comfort is of prime importance to us. For your upperlift neck back roll flexroll neck rollrotation shoulder roll shoulder ankle rotation roll ankle trunk flex ankle rotation trunk flex foot flex knee lift flex foot flex knee upper back neckupper roll back flex shoulder ankle upper trunk back flex flex knee neck roll liftrotation general well-being onboard our flights, we would recommend the basic inflight exercises.

Ankle circles While seated, raise one foot and draw a circle with your toes. Rotate clockwise for 15 seconds and repeat the same counterclockwise. Repeat with the other foot. You can do one foot at a time or both simultaneously.

Knee lifts Lift and hug your knee to your chest as close as you can. Hold for 15 seconds. Alternate knee. Repeat 10-15 times for each knee.

Shoulder roll Relax shoulders then hunch them forward.

Rotate gently 10-15 times.

Neck roll With shoulders relaxed, drop ear to shoulder and gently roll neck forward and back, holding each position about five seconds. Repeat five times.

Upper back flex Stretch hands forward, then pull back slowly as far as possible. Repeat 10-15 times.

Trunk flex With both feet on the floor and stomach held in, slowly bend forward and walk your hands down the front of your legs toward your ankles. Hold stretch for 15 seconds and slowly sit back up.

TRAVELLER’S GUIDE Brunei Visitor Information Visas* Austrian, German, Malaysian, Singaporean, British nationals with the right of abode in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands and New Zealand nationals are exempted from the requirement to obtain a visa for visits not exceeding 30 days. American passport holders can enter Brunei Darussalam for three months without visas. For nationals of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Republic of Maldives, Norway, Oman, The Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and The Principality of Liechtenstein — visas are waived for 14day visits. Nationals of Australia are issued visas on arrival at the Brunei International Airport for visits not exceeding 30 days.

All other visitors entering Brunei Darussalam must have visas obtainable from any Brunei Darussalam diplomatic mission abroad. These visas are normally issued for a two-week stay but can be renewed in Brunei. Visitors must hold onward tickets and sufficient funds to support themselves while in the country.

N.B. For more details, please contact your nearest Brunei Embassy or diplomatic representative.

Currency Bearer Negotiation Instrument Declaration Passengers entering or leaving Brunei who carry physical currency or bearer negotiable instruments valued at BND15,000 or more are required to complete a declaration form and submit it to a customs officer (if arriving in Brunei) or an immigration officer (if departing Brunei).

Duty-free Allowance* The import of the following products is subject to restrictions imposed by Brunei’s Customs and Excise Department.

Clothing Light clothing is advisable as the climate is generally warm and humid.

Women are requested to dress modestly in keeping with local customs.

Cigarettes: Effective 1 April, 2017, passengers will be charged duty on cigarettes at the following rates: per stick $0.50 for each 20 sticks pack $10 for each carton of 10 packs $100 .

Health Doctors provide private medical services for a nominal charge. There are a number of state health clinics and hospitals.

Please refer the new charges imposed by Royal Customs and Excise Department..

Tipping Optional. Some hotels add a 10 per cent service charge to their room rates.

Alcohol: Non-Muslim passengers may bring in two bottles of liquor plus 12 cans of beer for personal consumption only; and a reasonable quantity of perfumes.

Telephones Overseas calls can be made from hotel rooms through the operator, or via international direct dialling (IDD).

There are also coin and phonecard operated public telephones.

Transportation Brunei International Airport is about 11km from the capital, Car rental, public buses and registered taxis are available at the arrivals. The Land transport department strongly advise visitors to only use regulated and insured taxis. For more info on registered taxis you may visit – www.mincom.gov.bn/ brunitaxifare or contact +6737181643.

Currency The Brunei dollar is on a par with the Singapore dollar, which is also accepted in Brunei. Banks, hotels and many department stores will cash traveller’s cheques.

Language Malay is the official language but English is widely used. Other languages include Chinese and its dialect variants and other indigenous dialects. Although the official religion is Islam, other faiths including Christianity and Buddhism are practised.

* The visa and duty-free allowances are provided as a guideline and may change without notice.

Credit Cards Hotels, department stores and other major establishments generally accept all internationally known credit cards.

Utilities Power supply is 220 - 240v, 50 cycles. The PAL and NTSC systems are used by local television. Tap water is generally safe to drink although some take the precaution of boiling it.

Media Radio Television Brunei has nightly news bulletins and a range of popular entertainment in both English and Malay.

Cable network and Malaysian television programmes can also be received. There are two local daily newspapers namely: Borneo Bulletin (English) and Media Permata (Malay). Other regional and international publications are also available at newstands.

Food For the adventurous, the food stalls offer Malay favourites, such as satay (barbecued meat on a skewer) and local dishes prepared with curry or coconut milk.

Chinese, European and Indian cuisines are also available. All F&B businesses, including

hotel restaurants, close for Friday prayer 12pm to 2pm. For hotel guests, room service dining operates as usual.

Hotels Accommodation in the capital ranges from international standard to middle range hotels. Service apartments are also available at reasonable rates.

Shopping Department stores and shops offer goods ranging from cosmetics and stereos to local handicrafts such as the keris (an ornamental dagger), miniature brass cannons, and kain tenunan, a cloth woven with gold or silver threads.

Festivals and Celebrations National Day, 23 February, Hari Raya, the end of the Muslim fasting month, and His Majesty The Sultan’s birthday, 15 July. Other public holidays include Chinese Lunar New Year and Christmas.

Customs and Courtesy • In mosques, visitors should remove their shoes and should not pass in front of people at prayer. A woman should ensure that her head, knees and arms are covered before entering mosques. Robes are provided at the entrance to the mosque.

• A Bruneian shakes hands lightly and brings his hands to his chest. Members of the opposite sex do not shake hands.

• It is impolite to point with the index finger (use the right thumb instead) or to beckon someone with fingers and palm facing upwards. Instead the whole hand should be waved with palm facing downwards. The right fist should never be smacked into the left palm.

• Gifts, particularly food, are passed with the right hand.

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WELCOME ONBOARD

ROUTE MAP & DESTINATIONS

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AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE (MEL)

TULLAMARINE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 22 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus AUD16 • Taxi AUD85 Airport Tax AUD38 Currency Australian Dollar (AUD) Language E nglish GMT +10 RB OFFICE Level 10, 45 William Street Melbourne, VIC 3000 T: (61) 3 8651 1000 T: Toll Free Aust wide 1300 721271 E: melrba@rba.com.bn MCH AVIATION HOLDING AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Suite 6, 7-9 Mallet Road, Tullamarine Vic 3043 T: (61) 3 8318 5100 / 5109 M: (61) 4 3046 3324

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (BWN)

BRUNEI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 8 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus BND1 • Taxi BND25 Airport Tax ASEAN: BND12, Others: BND20 Currency Brunei Dollar (BND) Language Malay, Mandarin, Hokkien, English GMT +8 RB OFFICE RBA Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS 8811 T: (673) 2 212 222 / 2 240 500 F: (673) 2 244 737 WORLDWIDE GSA (B) PTE. LTD Unit 6, Ground Floor,Madang Complex, Berakas BC3715, Negara Brunei Darussalam T: (673) 234 1158 / 9 F: (673) 234 1162 E: bicargo.operations@ worldwidegsa.com

CHINA HONG KONG (HKG)

CHEK LAP KOK AIRPORT Airport-City 32 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Taxi Kowloon HKD300, Hong Kong HKD400 Airport Tax HKD120 Currency Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) Language Cantonese, Mandarin, English GMT +8 GENERAL SALES AGENT DEKS AIR (HONG KONG) LTD Room 1804-5, Jubilee Centre, 18 Fenwick Street, Wanchai T: (852) 2529 3883 F: (852) 2527 7300 E: hkgres@rba.com.bn AIR LOGISTICS LIMITED 1205A, 12th Floor, Tower II, Cheung Sha Wan Plaza , 833 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong T: (852) 2328 0278 F: (852) 2328 0221 M: (852) 9161 1747 / 9181 9146

GUANGZHOU (CAN)

BAIYUN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 28 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus CNY19 • Taxi CNY2.6 Airport Tax CNY90 Currency Chinese Yuan (CNY) Language Cantonese, Mandarin GMT +8

GENERAL SALES AGENT DEKS AIR (CHINA) LTD. Room 1218, Tower A, Landmark Canton Hotel, 8 Qiao Guang Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China T: (8620) 8332 3120 / 8332 1575 F: (8620) 8332 6369

SHANGHAI (PVG)

PUDONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 35 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus CNY50 • Taxi CNY160 Airport Tax CNY90 Currency Chinese Yuan (CNY) Language Chinese (dialects include Mandarin, Shanghainese) GMT +8 PASSENGER SALES AGENT BEIJING LONGWAY INTERNATIONAL Room 0, 22nd Floor, Zhiyuan Building, No.768 Xietu Road, Luwan District, Shanghai, China Post code: 200023 T: (86) 21 5302 7288 F: (86) 21 6304 7686 E: shasales@rba.com.bn AIR LOGISTICS GROUP Room 1631, No. 333, North Chengdu Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China 200040 T: (86) 21 2215 7645 M: (852) 9161 1747

INDONESIA BALI (DPS)

NGURAH RAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City approximately 16 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus IDR25,000 • Taxi IDR70,000 - 90,000 Airport Tax IDR150,000 Currency Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) Language Bahasa Indonesia, English GMT +8 GENERAL SALES AGENT PT DEKS AVIATION INTERNUSA Suite #3, Lobby Level, Kuta Paradiso Hotel, Jl Kartika Plaza, Kuta, Tuban Bali (ID) T: (62) 361 757355 F: (62) 361 757785 E: dpsrba@rba.com.bn AIR LOGISTICS GROUP Wisthi Sabha Builing, 2nd FI, Room 19, Ngurah Rai International Airport, Tuban 80361, Bali, Indonesia T: (62) 361 936 3345 F: (62) 361 936 0284

JAKARTA (JKT)

SOEKARNO-HATTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 50 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus IDR7,000 • Taxi IDR150,000 Airport Tax IDR150,000 Currency Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) Language Bahasa Indonesia, English GMT +7 GENERAL SALES AGENT PT DEKS AVIATION INTERNUSA Wisma Tamara, 6th Floor #668, Jalan Jend Sudirman Kav 24, Jakarta 1290, Indonesia T: (62) 21 520 6338 F: (62) 21 527 9990 E: jktrba@rba.com.bn

AIR LOGISTICS GROUP Suite 3K, 3rd Floor, Wisma Soewarna, Soewarna Business Park, Block E, Lot 1 & 2, Soekarno Hata International Airport, Jakarta 19110, Indonesia T: (62) 21 5591 1311 F: (62) 21 5591 1662 M: (62) 81 2165 799 22

SURABAYA (SUB)

JUANDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 17 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Taxi IDR29,500 Airport Tax IDR150,000 Currency Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) Language Bahasa Indonesia, English, Madurese GMT +7 GENERAL SALES AGENT PT DEKS AVIATION INTERNUSA Wisma BII, 6th Floor #606, Jalan Pemuda No: 60-70, Surabaya 60271, Indonesia T: (62) 31 535 6377 F: (62) 31 535 6166 E: subrba@rba.com.bn AIR LOGISTICS GROUP Suite 3K, 3rd Floor Wisma Soewarna, Soewarna Business Park, Block E, Lot 1 & 2, Soekarno Hata International Airport, Jakarta 19110, Indonesia T: (62) 21 5591 2839 F: (62) 21 5591 1662 M: (62) 81 653 6501

MALAYSIA KUALA LUMPUR (KUL)

KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 80 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus Luxury RM25 • Taxi Budget MYR70-80, Limo MYR100-120 Airport Tax MYR51 Currency Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) Language Malay, English, Cantonese, Tamil, Mandarin GMT +8 RB OFFICE Lot 25, 1st Floor, UBN Tower (Shangri-la Shopping Arcade), P.O. Box 99, Jln P. Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur T: (60) 3 2070 7166 / 2070 6628 F: (60) 3 2070 6899 E: kulrba@rba.com.bn ORIENT PACIFIC AIR SERVICES SDN BHD Lot GFM 027A, MAS Advance Cargo Centre, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 64000 Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia T: (60) 3 8787 1868 / 1611 / 1622 F: (60) 3 8787 4028

KOTA KINABALU (BKI)

KOTA KINABALU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 8.5 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Taxi MYR13.50 Airport Tax MYR26 To/ Transit via Brunei: MYR20 Currency Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) Language Malay, Mandarin, English GMT +8 RB OFFICE Lot BG - 3B Ground Floor, Block B, Komplex KWSP, Jalan Karamunsing, 8000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah T: (60) 88 242 193 / 6 E: sskkoff@rba.com.bn

RB MIRI OFFICE Lot 1378 (Sub Lot 7) and Lot 1345, Block 10, Miri Concession. Land District, Kubu Road, Centre Point Commercial Centre, Miri Sarawak, Malaysia T: (60) 85 426 322 / 426 334 F: (60) 85 426 355

PHILIPPINES MANILA (MNL)

NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 9 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus PhP13 • Taxi PhP120 Airport Tax PhP750 Currency Philippine Peso (PhP) Language Tagalog, English GMT +8 GENERAL SALES AGENT AVIA-RH INC 4/F Le Rose Building, 832 A. Arnaiz Avenue, San Lorenzo Village, Makati City, Philippines.

T: (63) 632 886 7513 F: (63) 632 886 7494 E: mnlres@rba.com.bn AIR CARGO PARTNERS CORPORATION True North GSA Inc., Unit 26 Cargo Village Complex, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Paranaque City Metro Manila, Philippines 1700 T: (63) 2 500 9114 F: (63) 2 854 0244

SAUDI ARABIA JEDDAH (JED)

KING ABDUL AZIZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 25 kms (from North Terminal); 15 kms (from South Terminal) Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Taxi SAR50 Airport Tax SAR50 except Haj & Umrah pax, diplomats and escorts for human remains Currency Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR) Language Arabic, English, French GMT +3 GENERAL SALES AGENT ELAF AVIATION Al Nakheel Center, Madina Road, P.O. Box 13541, Jeddah 21451 T: (96612) 665 7143 / 661 2679 / 665 7908 F: (96612) 283 1349 E: jedrba@rba.com.bn LEISURE CARGO FZCO Saudi Airline Cargo Terminal Building, Jeddah, K.S.A (SITA DXBFBAB) T: (966) 56 512 5101 M: (966) 56 512 5101

SINGAPORE SINGAPORE (SIN)

CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 20 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus SGD1.40 • Taxi SGD18 Airport Tax SGD21 Currency Singapore Dollar (SGD) Language Malay, English, Mandarin, Tamil GMT +8 RB OFFICE 81 Clemenceau Avenue, #03-13, UE Square Shopping Mall, Singapore 239917 T: (65) 6235 4672 E: sinrba@rba.com.bn

WORLDWIDE GSA (ORIENT AIR PTE LTD) Unit 05-24, Cargo Agent Building D, 9 Airline Road, Changi Airfreight Centre, Singapore 819827 T: (65) 6214 2187 F: (65) 6214 2199 E: bicargo.sin@worldwidegsa.com

THAILAND BANGKOK (BKK)

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT Airport-City 25 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus BHT150 • Taxi BHT200-250 Airport Tax BHT700 Currency Baht (BHT) Language Thai, English GMT +7 GENERAL SALES AGENT DEKS AIR THAILAND 4th Floor, C.P. Tower, 313 Silom Road,Bangrak 10500, Thailand T: (66) 02 638 3050 F: (66) 02 638 2969 ABDA CARGO INTERNATIONAL 999 Moo 7, B-FZ Cargo Terminal, Room 302, 3rd Fl, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangphli. Samutprakarn 10540 Bangkok, Thailand T: (66) 2134 2305 / 6 F: (66) 2134 2307 M: (66) 86 392 1132

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DUBAI (DXB)

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Airport-City 4 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Taxi AED20 + 50 fils for every 500m Airport Tax AED30 Currency Dirham (AED) Language Arabic, English GMT +4 RB OFFICE Centurian Star, Shop Number 3, (new RB office), Opp. Deira City Centre, Deira, Dubai, UAE T: (971) 4334 4884 (Reservation) / 4686 (Sales) F: (971) 4334 4585 E: dxbres@rba.com.bn, dxbrba@rba.com.bn Tower 400 (UNB Building), Shop 7-10, Al Soor Area, Sharjah, UAE (SHJBI0301) T: (971) 6005 24444 / 6575 8575 Oman Road, Nakheel, Shaikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasmi Street, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (RAKBI0301) T: (971) 7227 2847 / 7228 9987 Al-Ain Tower, East 4th Road, Almouror, Electra Street, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, UAE (AUHBI0301) T: (971) 2815 3444 / 2815 3450 M-201, Paris Gift Palace Building, Zayed Bin Sulthan Street, Al-Ain, UAE (AUHBI0301) T: (971) 3764 1410 / 1990 LEISURE CARGO Office No 3069, Air Cargo Terminal Building, Dubai Cargo Village, P.O. Box 293051 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (SITA DXBFBLT) T: (971) 4 286 9666 F: (971) 4 286 9995 M: (971) 55 954 6066 Office No. M25 Freight Gate-4, Dubai Airport Free Zone, P.O. Box 54385, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (SITA DXBFBLT) T: (971) 4 299 7924 F: (971) 4 299 7989 M: (971) 55 221 6289

UNITED KINGDOM LONDON (LHR)

HEATHROW AIRPORT Airport-City 35 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus GBP7 • Taxi GBP40 Airport Tax F & J Class Pax: GBP80; Y Class Pax: GBP40; PSC: GBP9 Currency Pound Sterling (GBP) Language English GMT +0 RB OFFICE 49 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2ED, England, United Kingdom T: (44) 207 584 6660 E: lonrba@rba.com.bn AIR LOGISTICS LIMITED Cargo Terminal 4, East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2SA (SITA LONALXH) T: (44) 0 1332 850021 / 7885 875184 F: (44) 0 1332 811961 E: airlogistics@airlogistics. co.uk / operations@ airlogistics.co.uk / sales@airlogistics.co.uk 2nd Floor, Building 558, Shoreham Road West, Heathrow Airport Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 3RN T: (44) 0 208 759 8686 F: (44) 0 208 990 9005 M: (44) 7713 506614 E: sales@airlogistics.co.uk

VIETNAM HO CHI MINH CITY (SGN)

TAN SON NHAT AIRPORT Airport-City 7 kms Approx. Fare from Airport to City • Bus VND8,000 • Taxi VND160,000 Airport Tax USD20 Currency Vietnam Dong (VND) Language Vietnamese, Mandarin, English, French GMT +7 GENERAL SALES AGENT DEKS AIR VIETNAM SERVICE Ground Floor, Citilight Tower, 45 Vo Thi Sau St., Dakao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam T: (84) 8 3820 7327 F: (84) 8 3820 7329 E: SGNRBA@rba.com.bn 7th Floor, 163 Ba Trieu St. Ba Trieu St., Le Dai Hanh Ward, Hai Ba Trung Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam T: (84) 4 3820 2828 F: (84) 4 3974 3595 AIR CARGO LOGISTICS VIETNAM CO. LTD Air Logistics Limited, Room 06, 2nd Floor, New TCS Building, 46-48 Hau Giang Str., Ward 4, Ho Chi Minh City T: (84) 8 3848 8567 M: (84) 9 0380 7939 Air Cargo Logistics Vietnam - HCM City, Unit 206 - New TCS Building, 46 Hau Giang Street, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam T: (84) 8 7305 0988 Ext 8400 F: (84) 8 3547 0004 Room 1308A, 13rd Floor, Dao Duy Anh Tower, No. 9 Dao Duy Anh Street, Phuong Mai Ward Dong Da District, Hanoi City T: (84) 4 3577 2454 / 3577 0942 F: (84) 4 3577 2146 M: (852) 6892 4588 / (84) 9 0380 7939 E: hansales@airlogisticsgroup.com

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2018

69

WELCOME ONBOARD

ABODE OF PEACE

CAPITAL ATTRACTIONS Small in size but big in attractions, Brunei’s capital has lots to offer.

Brunei Darussalam is a country rich in culture and heritage.

It is a small, peaceful, prosperous kingdom on the northern shore of the ecologically-rich island of Borneo. Come and discover Brunei, a Kingdom of Unexpected Treasures.

Brunei is arguably best known today as an oil producing country. The nation became independent in 1984 and, thanks to its large reserves of oil and gas, now has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Its population of just over 408,000 is made up of two-thirds ethnic Malay, with the remainder being Chinese, Indian and other indigenous groups.

The Sultanate has four districts: Brunei-Muara (which includes the capital Bandar Seri Begawan), Temburong, Tutong and Belait. ‘Darussalam’, the Arabic word for ‘Abode of Peace’ describes Brunei’s Islamic history that dates back some 1,500 years.

Today, Brunei remains the world’s only Malay Islamic Monarchy with an unbroken royal lineage that has ruled the nation for the past 600 years.

www.bruneitourism.travel For more information on Brunei, email: info@bruneitourism.travel Images DAVID KIRKLAND/ BRUNEI TOURISM AND JACQUELINE WONG

1 2 3

Brunei-Muara THE OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIEN MOSQUE

Brunei Darussalam’s iconic landmark, the mosque was completed in 1958 and is named after the 28th Sultan, the late Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, who is referred to as the Architect of Modern Brunei.

ISTANA NURUL IMAN

The official residence of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. Although not open to public, except during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, its golden domes and vaulted roof can be viewed from Kampong Ayer.

LAPAU AND DEWAN MAJLIS

The Royal Ceremonial Hall features an exquisite golden dome and hosts all of the Sultanate’s traditional royal ceremonies.

MUSLIM PRAYER TIMES in Brunei Darussalam January 2018

Rabiulakhir 1439 / Jamadilawal 1439 Date Hijriah

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Tue Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Tue Wed

Day

Mon

Tue Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Imsak

4.55

4.55 4.56 4.56

4.57

4.57

Subuh

5.05

5.05 5.06 5.06

5.07

5.07 5.08 5.08 5.09 5.09

5.10

5.10

5.10

Syuruk

6.28 6.29 6.29 6.30 6.30 6.30

6.31

6.31 6.32 6.32 6.32

6.33

6.33

6.52

6.55

6.55 6.56 6.56 6.56

6.57

6.57

6.57

6.57 6.58 6.58 6.58 6.58 6.58 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59

Doha Zohor Asar

6.53

6.53 6.54 6.54 6.54

Sun Mon 4.58

4.58 4.59 4.59 5.00 5.00 5.00

Sun Mon

Tue Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

5.01

5.01

5.02

5.02

5.02

5.03

5.03

Thu

Fri

Sat

5.03 5.04 5.04 5.04 5.04

5.11

5.11

5.12

5.12

5.12

5.13

6.33

6.33 6.34 6.34 6.34

6.35

Sun Mon

5.05

5.05

5.05

5.05 5.06 5.06

5.13

5.13

5.14

5.14

5.15

5.15

5.15

5.15

6.35

6.35

6.35

6.35 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36

5.14

5.14

Sun Mon

7.00

Tue Wed

5.16

7.00

5.16

7.00

12.25 12.25 12.26 12.26 12.26 12.27 12.27 12.28 12.28 12.29 12.29 12.29 12.30 12.30 12.31 12.31 12.31 12.32 12.32 12.32 12.32 12.33 12.33 12.33 12.34 12.34 12.34 12.34 12.34 12.35 12.35 3.48

3.48

3.49

3.50

3.50

3.50

3.51

3.52

3.52

3.52

3.53

3.53

3.54

3.54

3.56

3.56

3.56

Maghrib 6.19

6.19 6.20 6.20

6.21

6.21 6.22 6.22

6.23

6.23 6.24 6.24

6.25

6.25

6.25 6.26 6.26

6.27

6.27

6.27 6.28 6.28 6.29 6.29 6.29 6.30 6.30 6.30 6.30

6.31

6.31

Isyak

7.34

7.35

7.36

7.37

7.37

7.38

7.39

7.39

7.40

7.40

7.41

7.43

7.43

70

3.46

7.34

3.47

3.47

7.34

MUHIBAH

7.35

3.49

7.36

7.37

3.51

7.38

7.38

3.53

7.40

7.40

3.54

7.41

3.54

7.41

3.55

7.41

3.55

7.42

3.55

7.42

3.55

7.42

3.55

7.42

3.56

7.43

7.43

4

THE ROYAL REGALIA BUILDING

7 8 9 10

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

BRUNEI MUSEUM

Brunei’s national museum spotlights Brunei’s role in Southeast Asia’s history. The Islamic Art Gallery has historical pieces of Islamic art and a commendable Quran collection.

The museum is home to a collection of royal regalia, including the royal chariot, gold and silver ceremonial armoury, the jewel encrusted crowns used during the coronation and a replica of the throne, which is used by the Sultan on state occasions.

5 6

ISTANA DARUSSALAM

Located on Jalan Sumbiling, this wooden palace captures the architectural heritage of old Malay palaces. Visitors may view only from outside.

THE SULTAN HAJI HASSANAL BOLKIAH FOUNDATION COMPLEX

The capital’s most popular shopping venues, it combines both traditional Malay and modern architecture.

Temburong

11 12 13

ULU TEMBURONG NATIONAL PARK

Explore Brunei’s lush virgin forest through lofty canopy walkways, scenic hiking trails and a thrilling river ride to the park on the Temburong River.

BRUNEI ARTS AND HANDICRAFTS CENTRE

Brunei’s ancient and traditional arts and crafts – kain tenunan, silver & brass ware, wood carving and basketry – are showcased in this centre, aimed to preserve its rich legacy.

Tutong TASEK MERIMBUN

Brunei’s largest lake that curves in an ‘S’ has an island in the centre accessible via a wooden walkway and various facilities for picnics and recreation.

TAMU KIANGGEH

The Tamu, or open air market, on the banks of the Kianggeh River is a popular local market for traditional dishes, fruits, vegetables, flowers and handicrafts.

Belait OIL & GAS DISCOVERY CENTRE

An ‘edutainment’ facility, this interactive science centre aims to make science exciting and accessible to all with more than 100 hands-on exhibits in themed areas to explore.

KAMPONG AYER

The world’s largest water village that is home to more than 30,000 people living on unique wooden houses on stilts over the Brunei River.

February 2018

Jamadilawal 1439 / Jamadilakhir 1439 Date

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Day

Thu

Fri

Sat

Tue Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun Mon

Tue Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Tue Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Hijriah

Sun Mon

Sun Mon

Sun Mon

Tue Wed

Imsak

5.06 5.06 5.06 5.06 5.06

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07 5.06 5.06 5.06 5.06 5.06 5.06 5.06

5.05

5.05

5.05

5.05

Subuh

5.16

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.17

5.16

5.16

5.16

5.16

5.15

5.15

5.15

5.15

Syuruk

6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36 6.36

6.35

6.35

6.35

6.35

6.35 6.34 6.34 6.34 6.34

6.33

6.33

6.33

6.33 6.32

6.57 6.56 6.56 6.56

6.55

6.55

Doha Zohor Asar

7.00

5.16

7.00

5.16

7.00

5.16

5.16

7.00 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.59 6.58 6.58 6.58 6.58 6.58

6.57

5.16

6.57

5.16

6.57

5.16

6.55

12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.36 12.36 12.36 12.36 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.35 12.34 12.34 12.34 12.34 3.56

3.56

3.56

3.56

3.56

3.55

3.55

3.55

3.55

3.55

3.54

3.51

3.50

Maghrib 6.31

3.56

6.31 6.32 6.32 6.32 6.32 6.32

6.33

6.33

6.33

6.33

6.33

6.33

6.33

6.33

6.33

6.33 6.34 6.34 6.34 6.34 6.34 6.34 6.34 6.34 6.34 6.34

6.33

Isyak

7.43

7.44

7.44

7.44

7.44

7.44

7.44

7.44

7.44

7.44

7.44

7.43

7.43

3.56

3.56

7.43

3.56

7.43

3.56

7.44

3.56

7.44

7.44

3.54

7.44

3.54

7.44

3.53

7.44

3.53

7.44

3.53

7.44

3.52

7.43

3.52

7.43

3.52

7.43

3.51

7.43

7.43

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2018

71

THE LAST WORD

THE LEGAL LION OF THE COMMONWEALTH: JUDGMENTS VOLS 1 & 2 Akasaa Publishing His Lordship Justice Eusoffe Abdoolcader was lauded by the British press as ‘The Legal Lion of the Commonwealth’.

Eusoffe’s 24 years as one of the world’s most fearsome advocates took him as far as the Privy Council in London.

He was elevated to the Bench in 1974. Hailed as works of literature, Eusoffe’s judgments merge law, Latin and social commentary with legendary wit. Immortalised in this volume is the first-ever collection of Eusoffe’s oral and written judgments plus his dissertation on the American doctrine of police power. Includes tributes, archival images, exclusive interview and previously unreleased findings from a 12-year research on the Abdoolcader family.

BOOKS

TO UNPLUG AND UNWIND. Books featured are available at

and https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/.

Terms & conditions apply.

DINING WITH DRAGONS Abel Arumugam and Carol Selvarajah, Akasaa Publishing A food memoir six years in the making, Dining With Dragons is the fascinating and humourous story of leading Asian food writer and chef, Carol Selva Rajah, and her journey from wartorn Malaysia to culinary success, both in Australia and the globe. The book carries forward the story of a family in transition from the late 19th Century, spanning three generations and their lives as it is lived in Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, the US and finally Australia.

Stories unfold across a mix of cultures, religions and continents, driven by the characters, their food, and the eating and cooking of it.

NEW INDIAN KITCHEN Sapna Anand Indian cuisine owes part of its unique character to the people who dropped by the lush, exotic subcontinent over the centuries, including the Portugese, the British and the Moghuls. Sapna’s New Indian Kitchen features a variety of dishes that are primarily from the Indian regions of Kerala, Goa, and northern India. Each recipe is a milestone in her life’s journey, vividly coloured and flavoured by the dishes, sweets and snacks made by family, friends, and neighbours.

THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW A J Finn

EVERYTHING KRISTANG Melba Nunis

A lonely woman in New York spends her days popping pills, and spying on the neighbours – until something she sees sucks her into a vortex of terror.

This masterful, immersive psychological suspense novel is an ode to Hitchcockian film noir and will recall Rear Window for its readers. Yet, Finn masterfully plots the story in what is now touted as the biggest thriller title of 2018.

Nunis is an authority on the cuisine of her native Malaccan-Portuguese heritage (colloquially known as Kristang).This unique cuisine encompasses a style of cooking that finds its roots in a 500-year-old legacy of early Portuguese and Dutch settlers in 15thcentury Malacca. There are recipes for appetisers, sambals, curries, sweet desserts and many other traditional dishes, written in an accessible manner.

72

MUHIBAH

A Refreshed Journey AT BR UN EI I N T ER N ATIONA L A IR PORT

Royal Skies Blue Members

BND 40 Adult I BND 32 Child REDEMPTION*

4,500 miles Adult I 3,600 miles Child *Redemption request must be submitted 3 working days prior to departure.

Not a member yet? Join now at http://www.flyroyalbrunei.com/royalskies Contact your nearest Royal Brunei Offices, Brunei Customer Service Centre at (673) 221 2222 or email royalskies@rba.com.bn

Wu Chun Royal Brunei Airlines’ International Brand Ambassador

WWW.FLYROYALBRUNEI.COM/ROYALSKIES

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