Little Devil's Imprint

A 'bisai hantap' time in Lawas for all

2010-09-15T00:21:00.000-07:00

As appeared in Features
The Brunei Times -- Aug 25, 2007

SARAWAK'S northernmost town of Lawas usually suffers alienation due to its location, lack of size and infrastructure and from being just a spit of land between Brunei's Temburong and Sipitang in Sabah.

Travellers taking the road between Sabah and Brunei and further to the main body of Sarawak, have no real cause to stop in Lawas. Just two hours from the Sabah border and they're already in Temburong; another hour and they can stop in the bigger town of Limbang.

Last weekend, however, it was the place to be, as the biannual Lawas Fest turned the sleepy town into a hotbed of entertainment, competition and, ironically, camaraderie between neighbours who usually eye each other over the border hedge holding pitchforks. Figuratively speaking, of course.

The first sign of this link between the districts, separated for more than 100 years after the ceding of territories, is the theme of the Lawas Fest: "Maitah ke Lawas: Bisai Hantap, Ma Taga"

Some of you are nodding in understanding. But for those not in the know, it's an amalgamation of the three main dialects spoken in the area: Brunei Malay, Kedayan and Murut (otherwise known as Lun Bawang). Maitah Ke Lawas in Brunei Malay means "Come to Lawas" while Bisai Hantap is Kedayan and Ma Taga is Murut for "It's very interesting".

Pretty diverse for a small area with only 40,000 people, but that's Lawas, the last Brunei territory to be ceded to the Brooke administration in 1905.

The cleaving of the territories has since created great rivalries, especially in the sporting arena, which fits very well, of course, into the excitement of such a festival. Otherwise, there would be no hollering of encouragement and insults, no aching bodies, no sweat exerted for pride as teams from the territories of Limbang, Lawas, Beaufort, Sipitang, Papar and Brunei Darussalam battled it out in the regatta, top-spinning and the always popular tug-of-war.

And certainly no ringing of event venues with thousands of bodies, a sight which was impressive as the regatta went on -- hundreds of metres of river bank, on both sides of Batang Lawas, 10-deep with screaming spectators.

The excitement of the competition was even more, at times, than the entertainment offered at the three-day festival. Traditional dances, a police brass band, VIPs being pulled into dancing the "poco-poco" and a clown with balloons kept the visitors occupied on the first day in between events and trips to the food stalls, while the second day featured a concert and a fireworks display.

An event that was both entertaining and competitive was, of course, the bull race, a wholly local pursuit which was a crowd puller.

Laughingly called the Formula One (and Formula Two) bull race, the running of the beasts, with riders sometimes struggling not to slide off, was fun to watch not for the outcome, but for the handling of the ornery creatures.

Bulls are not racers by nature, and there is no one method which works in making the lumbering beasts head quick-time for the finish line, especially if you've created a track with corners. Some of the "cowboys" managed to get the bulls to go by pulling on their nose rings and tails at the same time, but that doesn't allow a free hand to steer. Some of the bulls only wanted to go in a straight line, and at the corner, the riders had to get down to change their bulls' direction by tugging on the rope attached to their nose rings.

Not too easy with some of the contestants, either, as they could see beyond the rope barriers a shady spot under a tree to munch grass, and headed for it with typical bull-headedness, pulling handlers off their feet in the process.

It was also a lesson in bull race engineering: the biggest bulls don't always win. They got to that size by sitting around eating, after all; those streamlined, aerodynamic models can go ahead and run and I'll just stand here looking very alpha-male, thank you very much.

The climax of the competition was, as usual, the tug-of-war, known here as tarik kalat.

A straight fight based on strength and determination, the men (and women, except in Brunei's case) competitors were heaving for pride and for glory, with supporters and spectators going for broke with their screaming probably heard all the way in the next district.

And in the final showdown for the title, with Brunei's eight brawny heroes taking on Limbang's men, the "neutral" spectators, those without their own teams to root for, were wholly behind the two teams.

It was a form of respect, in truth, for those who had gone far in the fight, and this encapsulated all that was good and great about the Lawas Fest a fostering of neighbourly ties.

The biannual fest is also part of Sarawak's plans to develop Lawas, the furthest town from capital Kuching -- all of 1,200km away -- bringing more attention to the area as the gateway to the northern part of the state. From there the highlands of Bario and Ba'kalalan are a mere six to nine hours by road, and more infrastructure is sure to improve Lawas's chances in the tourism industry.

A recent RM800 million ($364 million) budget from the Federal and State governments will go a long way to achieving that aim, which can only be strengthened by the organising of such events like the Lawas Fest.

Who is this woman you call Mother?

2010-09-14T23:24:00.000-07:00

As appeared in MyTake
The Brunei Times -- May 13, 2007

SHE'S the one who mops your brow when you're feverish, prepares your meals everyday, shuttles you to school like Michael Schumacher on caffeine, and sometimes sets down the law like a policewoman. But what do you really know of the woman you call Mum as a person?

Does she have a wicked sense of humour? Is she the life of a party, is she financially generous with family and friends, loaning money out to any and everyone in need? Is she remembered fondly by everyone she has ever met or do people cross to other side of the street when they see her coming?

It's often funny for children to grow up thinking that Mum is a set of things only to find out later that she's more than the woman who is at home all day catering to the family's needs or one who rushes around getting things done and disappears for hours at work.

And sometimes children don't even discover the woman who's Mum -- I didn't for years, since she passed away when I was a teenager, and did only because circumstances took me into her circle of friends from work.

My mum died in 1989. She was the woman I knew who worked odd hours as part of the Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, had three kids, drove her own car, had a bit of a temper, suffered cats because the children liked them and was close to her siblings. Not much at all, really.

Then I grew up away from the family, in boarding school and abroad, and only had glimpses of her life from my holidays spent with aunts and uncles, where they would sometimes speak of their lives in younger days. I learned how she got into the newspaper business, working first for the Malay broadsheet Utusan Malaysia, where they swear she coined the word andartu to refer to the unmarried older woman, and then moving to Bernama.

Having finished with my formal education, I booted around career ideas and decided to try my hand at journalism too, joining a newspaper for about three years before landing at Bernama.

They were still there, some of my mum's oldest friends, and though they didn't recognise me at first, soon came to know my connection to the woman they had missed all those years. I even found someone who's related to my father in a distant way.

And yes, my mother had a wicked sense of humour indeed. Once on a whim, she filed a story "from the field" about a man eaten by a crocodile, and included quotes from the reptile itself about what had happened. And it almost went out on the wires except for the fact that someone noticed the talking crocodile and realised it was a joke.

She was friendly with everyone, bosses or runaround boys alike, and was generous to a fault with everyone, doling out loans and advice to those in need of assistance. Once she even gave a lift to a heavily pregnant woman and her husband who were trying to get to hospital and had been refused by taxis fearing she'd soil the seats.

I admit it was a bit unnerving to be accosted by people wanting to share their memories, as I could not help being compared with this saint of a woman who could do no wrong.

But then, it was an eye-opener as I realised you could never really know a woman just from the persona she puts on at home -- as a stay-at-home mum she's probably not the same woman who hangs out with her girlfriends, as a tyrannical disciplinarian at home she could be mellow and cool among her workmates.

You can hardly find out about these things by asking Dad, either, as cultural norms dictate that there are many taboo subjects within families, asking personal details about your parents being one of them.

So basically it's down to guesswork and observation, and really, you should take the chance to know your mother, especially on this opportune Mother's Day. Take her out, engage her in a conversation, treat her like a cherished friend — today is a good day as any to begin another level of relationship with her, your mother, especially before it's too late.

Plucking up interest in learning the guitar

2010-09-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

As appeared in Hobbies
The Brunei Times - May 4, 2007

GUITARS are the stuff of romance. So it seems, from movies with guys serenading their love interests with their trustee classical guitars to books featuring women swooning at the plucking of strings that also pluck at their hearts. No, really.

I suppose that's why in a survey by Men's Health magazine, two in three men said they had taken music lessons once in their lives and the instrument they typically "abused" was the guitar.

And that's why wandering along the streets of Amsterdam, I gravitated to a group of youths with guitars music transcends languages, especially if you don't know the words.

Guitars are also the basic instrument in almost any kind of music, and solos, especially those riffs on a fabulous Fender Strat in the arms of a rock band member, can raise your heartbeat and drive groupies to distraction.

The guitar also has the appeal of being quite an easy instrument to learn to play. You can even learn by going through books or surfing sites on the Internet, says Pat Nicodmus Goh, a draughtsman who has been playing the guitar since a young age.

"I started out just plucking at the strings and later picked up some pointers from books," he says. When easy access to the Internet came around, he made use of the world wide web to troll for free lessons.

And they are aplenty. A look at about.com will give you a link to "hobbies and games" and a section dedicated to guitars, with articles from "guitar buying 101" and "guitar lessons by email" to "beginner guitar lessons" by resident expert Dan Cross.

Recent 'A' Level graduate Viviana Metussin, who has been utilising her spare time learning the guitar at www.ultimate-guitar.com, says such sites offer simple and clear instructions with the added bonus of popular songs with their accompanying chords, making learning an instantly gratifying process.

"The drawback, though," Viviana says, "is that you may lose interest." She adds that taking up classes in the basic stages may speed up progress as an expert is on hand to track your performance and correct mistakes.

However, businessman Del Goh thinks otherwise, saying it could be better for beginners to learn from the Net if they are unsure whether they are really serious about the hobby.

And cost is certainly a factor. Contessa Music Centre in Gadong offers guitar lessons, from beginner to advanced levels, including the "rocker" mode, at $60 a month for a 30-minute class once a week. Onnie Perez of Contessa says the centre has had about 30 students of all ages in the past six months, though he admits not all came back for lessons after a while.

The dropout rate may not just be about expenses, though, as Viviana explains, "I would love to go for classes if I had the time for them."

But cost is still a factor, and not just regarding lessons. A good guitar can set you back a few hundred dollars and a hand-crafted one can be in the thousands, though you can purchase a starter for $80 at Contessa. Perez says he often advises beginners to start with an inexpensive model and work their way up to the better ones if they really love the hobby.

And as we speak in the shop, which has a number of classical, folk, acoustic and electric guitars, a businessman comes in to buy one for his daughter. A quick discussion and he pays for an inexpensive acoustic guitar, which he says is a requirement since his daughter's school started offering guitar lessons.

"It's not too bad," he says of having to buy an instrument that his daughter may or may not like, especially when she is already learning to play the piano. "It keeps them from being too wrapped up in computer games."

Suzuki offers a friend in your corner

2010-09-14T03:58:00.000-07:00

As appeared in Motoring
The Brunei Times - May 2, 2007

OK, SO I like motorbikes. And I like big bikes even better. Especially ones that look like they're going fast when they're standing still. Like the new Suzuki GSX-R1000.

It's big, though not as bulky as its 1,300cc compatriot also known as the Hayabusa, and it goes fast. Not that fast is a good thing, of course, so I'm not going to mention that the GSX-R1000 can go 300kph and has proven in tests to be the fastest production sports bike in the world, taking the title from Yamaha's R1.

So if we're not talking about speed, let's talk about all the new technology that has gone into the GSX-R1000, starting with the one most important to riders who love corners.

Face it, which road in the world doesn't have corners? You're bound to come across a few, unless you're only riding on straight highways and trust me, that's not something you want to do if you don't want your $300 to $400 tyres wearing out only in the middle.

Having ridden a few (smallish) motorbikes myself, I can appreciate the equation of powerful bike + tight corner + not so perfect conditions = slide. The GSX-R1000 deals with this by offering an adjustable engine setting controlled by a switch on the right handlebar.

This system, says Jeffery Yong of Suzuki distributor Shariff Auto Services, allows the rider to choose a lower horsepower setting for difficult situations like corners. "The GSX-R1000 is a powerful bike," Yong says, "and in a situation where the rider feels that tweaking the throttle will give the bike too much power and cause a slide, he can choose a setting with less horsepower."

Less horsepower, explains Yong, gives the bike more traction, not unlike traction control found in good cars. The ABC setting, he says, corresponds to the horsepower of a 1,000cc engine, a 750cc engine and a 600cc engine, respectively.

Another advancement for curve-lovers -- understandable, really, since Suzuki's catchphrase is "Own the Racetrack" -- is the electronically controlled steering damper system. As Yong explains, motorbikes going at faster speeds tend to wobble, thus needing a "hard" setting for steering. This setting, however, makes it difficult for the bikes to turn at lower speeds.

The steering damper system allows the bike to automatically create more damping force at higher speeds and lower damping force for lighter steering at slower speeds.

The bike's heavier body, standing at 172kg, compared to the 2006's 168kg, also makes for better handling, says Yong, especially as the model carries more horsepower than its predecessor.

The GSX-R1000 also has a dual exhaust with titanium tips and vertically-stacked headlights with a more compact projector high-beam.

The 2007 GSX-R1000 is the best that Suzuki currently offers, says Yong, as its 750cc counterpart has only made a superficial colour change for its 2007 line-up (Suzuki makes engine changes only every two years, he explains, and this is the year for the 1,000cc), while the 2007 Hayabusa is actually the limited edition model from 2004.

Shariff Auto has one more model of the GSX-R1000, the other, in a cool electric blue, being already booked. It is priced at $24,800 OTR. There is also one each of the Hayabusa, priced at $24,600 OTR, and the GSX-R750 ($20,800 OTR), just waiting for a rider.

The spa-graduate 'yummy mummy'

2010-09-14T03:49:00.000-07:00

As appeared in Style
The Brunei Times - May 11, 2007

THEY are stylish, well-coiffed and usually sport not just a Birkin bag but a baby as an accessory. They are not models but their model-like attributes -- every curl in place and make-up as smooth as the second they put it on -- mark them out as the enviable "yummy mummies" who juggle getting back into shape with their breastfeeding schedules.

The litany of famous names is endless -- Victoria Beckham, Courtney Cox-Arquette of Friends fame, Catherine Zeta-Jones. Of course, their fame means they have at their disposal nannies, masseurs, stylists and personal trainers to make them look that good. And we mere mortals don't.

But with Mother's Day just around the corner, let The Brunei Times offer you a quick guide to looking and feeling like an amazing yummy mummy, affordably.

You've heard all the cliches about inner beauty, I'm sure, but there's a kernel of truth to all those urban myths. A "blah" day will affect your mood no matter what price the Chanel suit you've got on.

The first step to becoming a yummy mummy is getting some pampering in, as a bit of self-love never goes astray. A pick-me-up you can do at home includes having a luxurious soak in a steaming-hot, scented bath, packing on a facial mask followed by slathering on creams and skin moisturisers and having a good night's sleep.

But for a full pampering experience, one where you merely have to lie down without lifting a finger, a trip to a spa is just the ticket. And there are so many spas to choose from here in Brunei, offering a variety of treatments to make you feel like a princess.

The Shiatzen Spa in Kiulap, for one, offers what spa manager Elaine Chin refers to as a top-to-toe package to harmonise the body, mind and spirit. Everyone, Chin says, should have a spa experience once in a while to rejuvenate the body. And mothers, who often face 24-hour demands on their time and attention, are no exception.

With a tagline of "awaken the senses, soothe the spirit and relax the mind", the treatments at Shiatzen Spa can possibly fit any taste and budget. Chin says the foot spa package, which includes reflexology and polishing, costs as little as $25, and can give a much-needed boost for tired feet. "They definitely need pampering too," she says, "as we're on our feet all the time."

The spa also offers massages from $30 while for Mother's Day, there are several packages to choose from to maximise the benefits of your day of indulgence.

Other centres like SpaZone at The Mall also offer massages, manicures and pedicures, waxing and other services that can leave you feeling like a million dollars, even when you don't have to pay that much for them.

Another way to get that glow is by sweating out those toxins, and if you're not the sort to laze around in a sauna, exercise classes are the way to go.

Places like Fitness Zone offer not just the irons to pump or the treadmills to get bored on -- they also have classes to suit your interest. Kickboxing, taichi, aerobics or yoga, you can find a class that is just you in the plethora of fitness centres mushrooming in the sultanate to cater for the rising number of health- and figure-conscious Bruneians.

And the added benefit of exercise? A toned body and weight loss what a way to start your yummy mummy quest.

And now that you're glowing from within, let's talk about the outer you, as confidence stems from having self-esteem, and an undeniable part of this is your appearance. The biggest concern women and now men, too have about their appearance is their skin.

And our biggest transgression is often having products at our disposal and not using them properly -- does sleeping with your makeup on or not cleansing your face after a dusty day out sound familiar?

It's the basic things that count, and start by ensuring you cleanse, tone and moisturise religiously. If you have problem skin, visit a dermatologist for professional advice and keep in mind that nothing ever works miracles overnight, not even that ridiculously expensive "wonder cream" everyone raves about.

Another way to instantly create a fabulous look is to learn how to apply make-up that suits not just your colour scheme for the day but also your face. And let go of 80s trend of loud green eye shadow and bright red spots on your cheeks -- a barely-there blush over almost non-existent foundation gives you a flawless look every time.

Get tips from make-up counters, learn from a friend with good taste or visit a specialist like Shahdon's Style studio in Kiulap -- armed with makeup know-how, you're just a brush-flick away from a gorgeous mom experience.

And of course, those yummy mummy celebs can't do without their glittering accessories. However, you don't need to be weighed down with a 20kg diamond tiara to look fabulous -- they're just magnets for those grabby little hands anyway -- subtle but classy is the way to go.

Twinkles Jewellery in Kiulap, for one, offers affordable, unique pieces suitable for every budget, ranging from rings and bracelets with semi-precious stones to drop-dead gorgeous earrings with high-quality diamonds, starting from as little as $50.

You can also get information on being glamour mums on the Internet, for example at the Yummy Mummy Club created by former Canadian TV personality Erica Ehm, or through books like The Yummy Mummy's Survival Guide by Liz Fraser.

So go on and grab your chance for a Mother's Day break, you know you deserve to be called a fabulous mum, on all fronts.

Cultivating reading habit one book at a time

2010-09-14T03:42:00.000-07:00

As appeared in Features
The Brunei Times -- Feb 27, 2008

SHE has been collecting books all her life. Her abode is a trove of literary treasures, something to come home to from a hard day's work, something that lifts her spirits when she's down.

But for Datin Paduka Fatimah Husain, the books called out not merely to be read by her and her immediate family but by the populace of Brunei Darussalam. It was such a loud call that she took the only logical step in that pursuit, which was to open her own bookstore.

"I started out with religious and motivational books," Datin Paduka Fatimah says of her shop in Berakas opened in 2002 under the name of Asfar Enterprise, which also published a local women's lifestyle magazine called Seri.

The bookshop grew but the magazine didn't. The last publication was in 2005. Datin Paduka Fatimah cites distribution among other problems for its demise and she split her operations into two, renaming her shop Booklane in 2006.

Despite expanding to include other genres of books, it's a small operation, with limited shelf space -- something Datin Paduka Fatimah sees as a kind of challenge in itself to stock. "I can't compete with the other, bigger bookshops, so I try to bring in books which they don't have.

"I want to concentrate on books that appeal to the academia, to women, to readers with special interests," she says, pointing out biographies, literary discourses and even books on journalism on the shelves.

Why not sell novels instead of taking the risk of stocking books people might not buy?

"It's important to have options, so I try to bring in books based on sellability, convenience, knowledge and also affordability," she says, pointing out that some of her decisions have borne fruit.

Of course, it takes a reader to appreciate what other people might like to read. "Yes," she says with a smile. "I have to read all the books first, not only to see whether they are good but also to vet for unsuitable content."

One example of unsuitable content she found in a book for teens, which she promptly pulled from the shelves.

But doesn't that put a crimp in her bottom line? "I can't think purely as a businesswoman," says the mother of two daughters and grandmother of three. "As a society, we have to work together with parents to ensure the minds of Brunei's young people are not corrupted by unsuitable material."

This is especially so as Datin Paduka Fatimah is focusing on supplying books to schools, relying on special orders to shore up the rather sad state of sales in the current business climate. "The reading culture here, as it is in other parts of the region like Malaysia, is not at a satisfactory level.

"The book business is not at all encouraging now. But from the response of my customers, I have the motivation to go ahead, and in the near future I plan to increase my staff and move to bigger premises.

"There are times when I feel half-hearted about the business, so I go back to my books, open them up, and get motivated all over again."

Describing as "love-hate" her relationship with books and the selling of them, Datin Paduka Fatimah, who opted for early retirement in 1998, doesn't however have plans to quit the business, although she says she dreams of putting her feet up in two years' time, when she reaches "a certain age".

"But I can't really sit still," she says with a laugh.

This explains why after years in civil service, from being a presenter on RTB to a Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka officer to the foreign service, Datin Paduka Fatimah is going all out to present her books and sourcing services at the Book Fair which opens at the International Convention Centre in Berakas today.

From ensuring that the books are arranged in a certain way to advising her staff against sitting down and looking lazy -- she wants them to generate interest among the public in her two booths -- and preparing forms for special orders, Datin Paduka Fatimah is not ready to give in to the "hate" part of the relationship.

"I want to share the habit of reading with the Brunei people," she says simply of her motives.

And that is a good enough reason as any.

Rolling with the biking mood

2010-09-14T03:36:00.000-07:00

As appeared in Motoring
The Brunei Times - Sept 5, 2007

FOR those of you who remember Brunei roads as the exclusive playground of four-wheelers, you have got to rethink safety and driving methods. And soon.

The number of motorcycles on Brunei roads is increasing, thanks to more affluence and the demand for hobby riding, and they are here to stay.

Though motorcycles are not as prevalent here as in Malaysia or Thailand, where they are used as the primary means of transport, good weather on the weekends will usually mean convoys of bikes on pleasure rides across the sultanate.

Yes, there are dangers to riding these two-wheeled contraptions, chief among them the idiotic need for speed, but more often than not, accidents occur due to the intolerence and bad judgment of other road users.

A study released in Britain proved that most accidents involving motorbikes are caused by car drivers, specifically in exiting junctions despite an oncoming machine and changing lanes without warning.

And so too is it here, according to Ahmad Sharifuddin Taib of the Darussalam Motorcycle Association, who says some drivers cannot estimate a motorcycle's speed and exit junctions at will. This forces the motorcyclist to swerve or hit the brakes -- perilous things to do without training wheels or seat belts.

"It's not who is wrong, but the fact that motorcyclists also have a right to be on the road, and motorists should respect this," Ahmad Sharifuddin says.

Another gripe is cars swerving suddenly between lanes -- bad enough when you're in the safety of your own car watching that bulk of metal coming by, but it could be deadly for bikers.

Aside from being alert about motorcycles in general, motorists should also be aware of situations involving motorcycle convoys.

Having been in one over the weekend, on a ride from Bandar to the Anduki Recreational Park in Belait, I found the riders overall very conscientious about safety, especially with hand signals to alert those in the rear to obstacles ahead.

Pg Redzuan Pg Ahmad, road captain of the Harley Owner's Group (Brunei Chapter), is a stickler for convoy regulations and gives me the lowdown on safe riding in a group.

These include keeping a good distance between machines (10 bike lengths at speed), travelling in zigzag formation (each bike diagonally from the other), having a leader out front and a sweeper in rear, and adhering to the law.

Understanding that safety is the main concern can also help rein in the impatience when a convoy of 20 to 30 bikes can stretch up to half a kilometre -- not a pretty sight if you're in a following car, on a single lane road, and chafing at the bit.

I personally would not advise cars to try to overtake a convoy unless you can see a 2km stretch of road clear of oncoming traffic -- as a last-minute request to break a convoy means motorcycles in the rear have to brake suddenly.

All in all, sensitivity to the needs of other road users is the most important aspect of keeping Brunei roads safe, from the motorcyclists' side as well as those travelling on four wheels.

Triggering the art, skill of photography

2010-09-14T03:32:00.000-07:00

As appeared in Hobbies
The Brunei Times - March 14, 2008

A PICTURE may be worth a thousand words, but the members of the Brunei Photographic Society do not keep their words to themselves when they get together.

They trade silly jokes similar to the knock-knock variety, insult one another endlessly, and most importantly, they ask questions and exchange tips on how to take better photographs.

And their mentors are not merely those who have just picked up a camera, either. Shutterbugs of the greatest degree, the society is helmed by president Hj Mohd Yusof Mohd Yassin and advisor Hj Jumat Hj Taha, renown as two of Brunei's best photographers with international fellowships and awards to their names.

Hj Mohd Yusof said sharing information and tips was the best way to polish skills as a photographer, and that's why the society held frequent outings and activities, supplemented with monthly competitions and themed photo sharing events.

At one photo sharing event at the house of society member Muhammad Amir Yap Abdullah in Mentiri late last month, Hj Mohd Yusof and Hj Jumat sifted through a few hundred shots of the National Day celebration and the society's own family day event.

Explaining parts of what they were looking for the feeling of pride and of being there for the National Day photos and an activity oriented theme for the family day shots the two men gave this writer a quick lesson on pictures that merit a second glance.

Then that information was shared with the members who had sent in their work for consideration.

One of them, Mohd Noriman Mohd Ali, 30, said such get-togethers were beneficial as the members could receive immediate feedback on their photos, thus allowing them to learn where they had gone wrong in composing or metering their shots.

Mohd Noriman, who had one of his National Day shots picked in the top three, said such input was important as learning from books or the Internet was not as good as picking the brain of an experienced photographer.

A lensman who knows the ins and outs of one kind of photography could also benefit from this information sharing, said Azlyn Wisma, 40, who joined the society last month.

The wedding photographer whose interest in photography was sparked in 1995 said he might know a lot about taking pictures of brides and the wedding ceremony, but the other members' knowledge about other types of photography was invaluable to a person who is not shy to continue his education.

"I know some things, and they know some other things, so by sharing our knowledge, we can only become better photographers," he said.

And you don't really need a photograph to tell you this.

Answering the call of Borneo's open roads

2009-03-06T09:53:00.000-08:00

As appeared in Hobbies
The Brunei Times - May 25, 2007

LONG straights, tight corners, the joy and freedom of the open road -- it's the dream of any rider on two wheels, and Brunei's hobbyist bikers are no exception. When the chance for a long, rip-roaring ride comes, the weekend motorcyclists get all geared up to go, and there's no bigger highlight for their year than the journey to Pontianak on the northwestern tip of Indonesia's Kalimantan.

The trip, which will in all cover 10 days and some 3,500km, takes them along the island's highways and byways to the Borneo Island International Big Bike Festival (BIIBBF).

As members of the Darussalam Motorcycle Association (Pemoda) gathered in Jerudong on Tuesday for the flagoff, there was a mixture of excitement and concern, a meld of impatience to push off on their adventure and calm checks to make sure everything was in place for a safe journey.

Pemoda Treasurer Ahmad Shariffudin Taib said it most succinctly when he emphasised that safety was the group's biggest worry. "This is our paramount concern, as we want to ensure a good trip not only in terms of sights and sounds but all the members getting there and back safely," he said.

The 27-year-old banker, who rides a Honda GoldWing touring bike, said preparations for the trip were made months in advance, including arranging for an escort vehicle complete with the required flashing lights and several back-up vehicles. "The back-up vehicles carry our luggage, emergency fuel and spare riders," he said, adding that the fuel was in case bikes, which had much smaller tanks compared to cars, found themselves stranded dry in between petrol stops.

"As for the spare riders, we have at least two in case our bikers fall ill or get too tired. If the riders tire, we would rather they stop than push on trying to meet a deadline and get careless." Such dedication to safety is nothing to be sneezed at, as according to Ahmad Shariffudin, Pemoda had a good record, with only minor incidents, on its past trips.

Rider fitness is another facet of safety and the participants had trained up in the past months by taking long rides around the sultanate. "Our golden principle is that you control your bike, don't let the bike control you.

"So the riders need to be aware of their own physical and mental limitations, how much speed and power their bodies can take," he said, adding that the trip to Pontianak, which meant some 10 hours on the road at times, took riders out of their comfort zones.

Pg Ariffin Pg Said, 47, agreed with the assessment, saying that he had been riding every weekend in the past three months to get himself fit as well as to familiarise himself with the Yamaha V-Star Classic touring bike he bought last November. "I took a ride to Bintulu once, and joined a three-day trip to Sibu in February," the TelBru staff said. "But for this trip, I knew I had to be fit, so I went on three-hour rides for practice."

Aside from keeping the bikes in good condition, breaking in a new machine is a must for a long ride, one which an owner of a sports bike did in the two weeks between buying the bike and setting off. Idzam Norhaidi Mashud said he rode his new 1,000cc Kawasaki ZX10-R hard to make it on the trip, which he would not have missed for the world.

One of the founders of Pemoda, the 30-year-old civil servant has been to six of the past seven Borneo bike festivals and is considered by the other riders as the daigo (old hand) of long distance rides. On what makes such a hard ride so pleasurable, Idzam said the bike fest was "a gathering of old friends, a reunion for the motorcycle brotherhood that feels more like a family".

The undeniable appeal for most, though, is the almost endless length of tarmac in front of their wheels. Teacher Mazran Mohd Jamin, 29, who rides a Suzuki GSX-R1000, said he had only been to Kota Kinabalu and Miri previously and was looking forward to hitting the roads."Of course I'm looking forward to the corners, as any sports biker would, but most of all, I want to experience Borneo. "I want to know the road conditions, the people, culture and way of life," Mazran said.

Pg Ariffin added that travelling on bike was completely different from a car journey. "I've been to Pontianak by car, and this will be different," he said of the straights and the meandering curves which tourers love. "On a bike, you can see more things and it will be really nice to take in the largely unspoilt environment and pass the many longhouses and villages along the Interior roads. "When we pass the villages, we get greeted by children, who wave and cheer us on, and that just lifts our spirits."

As the open road beckoned, Idzam added that one day, he hoped he could take a ride around the whole of Borneo island. "Currently we can only go as far as Pontianak, as there is no paved road from there to Banjarmasin.

"I'd love to go on further, all the way to Balikpapan, that would be a great trip," he concluded as the riders suited up, donning their leathers and helmets for the ride of their dreams.

And as the bikers roared past my photo vantage point just beyond Jerudong, I couldn't help wishing I was going along for the ride.

It takes 12 to tango across north Sabah

2009-03-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

As appeared in Focus
The Brunei Times - April 3, 2008

DIPPING and swaying, though to no discernible tune, 12 four-wheel-drive Toyotas are inching their way across a particularly rough section of road. "Road" is a generous word to describe this bit of track in Sabah once paved with asphalt but recently ravaged by a landslide. Falling mud had probably taken the top layer of tarmac, and the constant traffic, including timber- and produce-laden lorries, have worn deep grooves in the gravel-covered soil. The result is a wild, bucking ride in the mountains between Keningau and Ranau, something no one really expected as they set out from Tutong, Brunei, that morning.

The expedition -- organised by the Gemilang Association and sponsored by NBT -- is a test of endurance of driver and car, I am told. OK, I think to myself, that means it's a long but generally uninteresting journey, punctuated by endless waiting at each border crossing from Brunei to Sarawak, back into Brunei, again into Sarawak and finally into Sabah. Not to mention the two ferry crossings, plus the fact that it is the school holidays. I'm not driving anyway, nor navigating; so I'll just sit in the back of this Toyota Hilux next to the mound of luggage that can't be placed in the pickup bed in case of rain.

We are car T3, third in the convoy of 12, my pilot a military man and his second-in-command the official expedition photographer. As soon as we hit the Sabah hinterlands, though, my quiet reveries are taken over by trying to anticipate the dip and roll of the car and hanging on to the grab handle for dear life.

Tango Partners
The four-day trip beginning on March 21 started out pretty well, really, being flagged off by the acting Tutong district officer at 8am and picking up a Limau Manis police escort to Kuala Lurah for group passport stamping.

The joint aim of fulfilling Gemilang Association's three core interests of 4x4 driving, amateur radio and photography began immediately -- we were rolling along, snapping pictures and trading banter on the radio.

I learnt that the cars were labelled T1 to T12 for Toyota, and T in radio lingo is Tango. We were Tango Three, then, one of four Toyota Hilux pickup trucks accompanying six Land Cruisers, a Prado and a Fortuner, our Tango partners.

The papers were dealt with reasonably quickly at each of the border posts, thanks to our "Immigration officer" who went ahead to clear the documentation needs. And the wait for the ferries weren't as long as we had feared. We made it in good time to Limbang, crossing into Sabah at about 1.30pm with delays only due to some road works.

Hills and Valleys
Onwards we went, led by Gemilang 4x4 chairman Abd Ashunah DLR Hj Md Jair in Tango One, taking the turn just before the town of Sipitang towards the mountains, and the former logging trails that connect the small towns serving the once-thriving industry, towards Sandakan, our destination for the first day.

These roads were paved to provide access to residents now needing a livelihood other than logging, as the jungles are cleared beyond sustainability, but there's no holding back mother nature when she's mad. There were too many instances to count where half the road had fallen into the gully, warning cones and yellow tape the only things keeping more than pebbles from following it over the edge.

It was rough and slow going, and we made it into Keningau, a former logging town quietly going to ruin, by about 4pm.

Fallen Comrade
The Tangos were doing well, aside from a broken radiator hose of Tango 11, the oldest car in the convoy, which had been dealt with before we left Limbang. We were on a roll, so we thought. Then between Keningau and Ranau, which reached an elevation of some 1,000m, the roads spilled up more of its guts, and as the sun quickly set beyond the mountains, we were at times reduced to a crawl hills on one side, ravines on the other, and darkness broken only by headlights.

Then the huge ruts in the road. And Tango 11 broke, first running out of clutch oil, then suffering broken absorbers. We had lost a Tango partner as T11's owner, Ya'akub Hj Kifli, decided the car could not venture further and would stop in Ranau for repairs.

The remaining Toyotas were a bit subdued as we left Ranau for Sandakan, wondering if one of the selling point of Toyotas -- easily available parts -- would prove the magic bullet that would bring Tango 11 back into the fold. We reached Sandakan at 1.30am after 17 hours on the road. We had proven our endurance so far, marking up some 1,000 kilometres, but we had three days to go, and Kudat and Kota Kinabalu to reach.

March 22 dawned bright, and as we left Sandakan, with a short stop at the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sepilok, our radio banter resumed the cheer with which we started our journey, interspersed with concern for Tango 11. They needed spare parts from Kota Kinabalu, and would not be taking their place in the convoy to Kudat.

Tip of Borneo
The roads were slightly better along the more civilised areas into Kundasang, aside from the mist and rain as we drove in the shadow of Mount Kinabalu, and on towards Kota Belud and Kudat. Reaching Sabah's northern-most town at about 8pm, we were heartened by the news that Tango 11 had recovered, and was winging its way to rejoin the convoy.

It gave most of the participants cause for joy, more than the delicious seafood which we found by the seafront, and by midnight, the old Land Cruiser with a heart that never wants to give up, had reached the northern shores.

The next morning the group's avid shutterbugs took to the roads before dawn to catch the sunrise at the Tip of Borneo, a breathtaking display of colours as the sun slowly peeked over the horizon. From the inky black night came the dark violet hues, which lightened into purples and blues, brightening into pinks and oranges that you'd never really be able to capture in paints or oils.

It was an amazing moment if you think of the aeons of time that has passed from the dawn of all sunrises, to that moment we stood there, in the glory of a new day, the rays of golden sunlight washing over us.

Some felt that way, but some, like my Tango Three pilot, was itching at the bit to be able to catch the breeze under his glider, a paramotor at his back, lifting off into the blue of the sky to fly around the Tip of Borneo. He will, he kept saying, as the call of the land at the tip of this island he calls home is too strong to ignore. That was for another day, but it was a promise.

Later that morning the whole convoy, Tango 11 included, drove to the Tip for a photo op of course, it was too good to miss before setting off for the final leg of the journey to Kota Kinabalu, the state capital.

Too Soon it Ends
All was well in the third day's journey, reaching Kota Kinabalu before 3pm, time enough for rest before dinner at a seafood restaurant with a VIP guest, Tengku Datuk Zainal Adlin, the chairman of Sabah Tourism.

The fourth day, however, was almost heartbreaking, as the participants dropped by a shelter for children who are abandoned or under protective custody, for a visit and to offer a donation, before dancing their last steps of the expedition.

It's too soon to end, some kept saying. I wish we were not going back just yet, others opined. But it was the last tango, all 12 cars making it safely back across the final border into Brunei just before the cut-off time of 10pm.

Though most had said their goodbyes in messages relayed by radio, the 12 cars made a final stop just before we went our separate ways. The expedition leaders, Abd Ashunah as well as second commander Hj Ayub Hj Suhaili in Tango Seven, who had kept an eye on the string of six cars in the rear of the convoy, were given a big round of applause for ensuring the success of the event.
Minor gripes were forgiven and forgotten, the final jokes were traded, contact numbers exchanged between initial strangers who had now become friends. We had endured, the participants said, the rough going and the long hours, pushing sleepiness and exhaustion aside thanks to the never-ending prattle of the amateur radio enthusiasts whose silken voices had kept us amused.

Our cars had endured too, they proudly proclaimed, the almost 2,000km of roads that threw up many surprises.

And as we parted, we cherished the experience that we had been through, and saying farewell to our partners, wondered if we would ever meet to tango again.

Part 2 in a series following a 4x4 adventure from Brunei to Sabah and back again. The Little Devil found it "Gemilang" indeed.

Grounded knowledge for better 4x4 ride

2009-03-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

As appeared in Motoring
The Brunei Times – April 2, 2008

A TWENTY per cent increase when it comes to a paycheck would be welcomed by anyone. But why do people ignore a 20% increase in performance when it comes to a four-wheel-drive vehicle?

Many Bruneian drivers who buy 4x4 vehicles, specifically those with offroad capabilities, do not know how to extract that extra percentage of usefulness, says NBT General Sales Manager Hj Shahrum Hj Kadir. Especially when, he says, such 4x4 knowledge is essential not only in offroad situations but also when facing rough conditions on your everyday drive.

"Even if you think you'll never experience rough terrain, knowledge about how to utilise your vehicle in challenging circumstances means you'll be better off than people in other cars," Hj Shahrum says. And does challenging circumstances mean only those things you hear about -- deep in the jungle rivers to ford, rutted tracks on which only bullocks feel comfortable and mud holes deep enough to sink a battleship?

On the contrary, road conditions which seem mildly "interesting" to normal cars, such as puddles, uneven surfaces and slick stretches, present a greater risk to 4x4 vehicles because of their weight, higher centre of gravity and reduced manoeuvrability. And lack of knowledge about how to use the 4x4 features to overcome these weaknesses may contribute to accidents involving these big offroaders.

"That's why NBT offers Toyota customers the chance to take a free course in 4x4 driving, which we hold twice a year," Hj Shahrum says. The course, managed by the Tutong-based Gemilang Association, teaches drivers the basic applications of their 4x4 offroaders.

Why bother? I took my driving test, I know how to change gears and go up hills. It's not that simple, explains Gemilang 4x4 chairman Abd Ahsunah DLR Hj Md Jair. Look at the gear element of a modern manual 4x4 vehicle and you'll see, aside from the five gears, the option of H2, H4 and L4 settings. That gives you a total of 15 gear ratios to play with.

Um, and why do I need all these gears? Abd Ahsunah says the settings are geared to different road conditions, the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and the number of wheels under the driver's control. The H setting is for high speeds, with 2- or 4-wheel options while the L setting is for low speeds and all four wheels under power.

The Muara-Tutong Highway, eastbound between Tutong and Jerudong, is one example of normal roads that are treacherous when wet, Abd Ahsunah says. "The guardrails on the left are dented where cars skid off because of puddles," he says of rear-wheel-drive vehicles, especially. "When the car hits standing water on the left, the front left tyre aquaplanes while the car is still being propelled forward, and the vehicles veers to the left. To avoid this, you engage the H4, thus giving traction to all four wheels."

And the lower gear ratio, L4, is good for descending hills to reduce wear and tear on brakes, which face greater pressure because of the weight of offroad vehicles. "You will often see, or smell, burnt brakes in vehicles descending steep gradients because they apply their brakes all the time. Putting the car in a low gear setting with four wheels maintaining traction is the best bet to avoid accidents going downhill."

Knowing which gears to set to ascend hills is also beneficial when you're driving a manual as opposed to an automatic car. "An automatic car maintains traction at all times," Abd Ahsunah says, even when you don't realise it.

"In manual cars, there is that instant -- a long one for those without experience -- when you press the clutch to change gears, that everything is disengaged. No traction, no torque, and your car may start sliding out of control. Knowing which gear to use for certain gradients means a smooth uphill drive."

The course also includes conducting pre-departure checks, vehicle recovery, travelling in convoy, making minor repairs and changing tyres, the last sounding easy peasy but may be a concern as a tyre on an offroader is huge and heavy. "There is a method to changing a 4x4 tyre that makes it easy. Even a petite woman can change a tyre on an offroader this way," Abd Ahsunah says.

And has the instruction been beneficial? Yes, say 4x4 drivers who participated in last month's 2008 Gemilang Sabah Expedition which took in some hinterland roads that were logging tracks cut into hillsides.

Driver Ahmad Salleh Mohd, who bought a Toyota Hilux two years ago to carry his paramotor equipment, says he used to drive his pickup truck like a normal saloon car. "I didn't dare touch any of the gear settings, I went down hills using brakes all the way, and just splashed through puddles without a thought."

He says going through the 4x4 course in February was an eye-opener. The result, Ahmad Salleh says, is increased confidence on the road, especially since the four-day Sabah expedition to Sandakan, Kudat and Kota Kinabalu threw at the drivers unexpected road surfaces rutted tracks, mud and loose rocks and hills with the added challenge of slippery surfaces, especially around misty and rainy Kundasang.

"We utilised our newly gained knowledge to manage the rough terrain, traverse the mountainous roads with regard for our brakes and travel safely, especially observing the rules of convoy, for example in maintaining a safe distance between cars."

The other advantage of such courses, he says, is that "we are now more aware of dangers on the road, in relation to our cars, specifically, and how to utilise the capability of the car to overcome these obstacles".

This article was in conjunction with Gemilang's 4x4 adventure from Brunei to Sabah, on which they took along the Little Devil.

Sights and sounds of their best pursuits

2009-03-05T07:40:00.000-08:00

As appeared in Hobbies
The Brunei Times – April 4, 2008

THE radio set crackles with static, then a voice says: "To all Tangos, this is Tango One. YL on the left, wearing a pink shirt and white skirt." As the 11 cars which follow in the wake of the lead vehicle passes the spot, everyone looks at the YL; "young lady" in amateur radio speak.

Ostensibly to offer directions and ensure the convoy is going in the right direction – anyone who does not see the YL is bound to be lost – the tone of the chatter among the 12 cars linked by radio is light rather than serious, humorous more than not and a great uplifter for those with flagging spirits.

There have been endless hours on the road in the expedition across north Sabah organised by the Tutong-based Gemilang Association. The participants are exhausted powering their 4x4 Toyota offroaders around corners and up and down hills and keeping eyes trained on the road because of the uneven and at times dangerous terrain.

The radio conversation keeps the drivers entertained, and more importantly, informed. "Broken down lorry on the left taking up half the road. Be aware of oncoming vehicles," reports the lead Land Cruiser, call sign T1 (for Toyota) and pronounced Tango One.

"Landslide on the right, keep to your left." Such information is invaluable as the mountainous roads from Sipitang to Sandakan prove full of pitfalls for the unwary, especially in the dark.

As I sit in the back of Tango Three listening to updates on road conditions and discussions about stopping to answer nature's call, I am reminded of my childhood in Malaysia. Travelling in convoy with aunts and uncles from Kuala Lumpur back to the kampung in Terengganu, the only way we could communicate between cars was to pull over by the roadside and hope to be noticed by the following vehicles. If we got separated, there was no way of knowing where the other cars were, or if anything had happened to them.

Loud and Clear
This is progress, and an extension of the hobby cultivated by Gemilang Radio members, who made up the participants on last month's expedition along with 4x4 enthusiasts and avid photographers. And when they're not on the road looking out for potholes, the amateur radio hobbyists also called "hams" from "ham radio" keep in touch with friends found on the airwaves.

Gemilang Radio member Siti Hasibah Yasmoon Hj Kamaluddin, who has been involved with amateur radio since 2000, says she was attracted to the hobby because it gave her the opportunity to get to know more people. And this came in handy when she travelled, as she had the opportunity to "eyeball" (meet) her contacts.

"When I was in Bangkok, I met several local hams. It was great because they could help me with info about the area where to stay, where to get halal food, where to get bargains," Siti Hasibah says. "It's information you can't really get otherwise."

And during the Sabah expedition, it was not only information that was gleaned from the contacts of Gemilang Radio secretary Hj Ayub Hj Suhaili and committee member Yakub Hj Abdul Rahman. Through their involvement with Sabah hams, some of whom use a repeater on Mount Kinabalu to re-transmit their signals as far as Kuala Belait, they managed to procure assistance when one of the cars in the convoy broke down and had to pit for repairs.

Hj Ayub, whose call sign is V8AQM (pronounced Victor 8 Alpha Quebec Mike), and Yakub (Victor 8 Alpha Yankee November) both have an advanced licence, allowing them to use shortwave bands with worldwide reach. (Victor 8 is the code for Brunei while the last three digits are individual identifiers, with the A signifying an advanced licence. The Tango call signs were temporary identifiers for the trip.)

Gemilang also runs classes for those interested in taking up the hobby, towards the end of passing the examination held by Brunei's Authority for Info-Communication Technology Industry.

Chasing the Dawn
Those who didn't need licences to operate – just a trigger-happy finger – were members of Gemilang Foto, who took every opportunity during the four-day expedition to Sandakan, Kudat and Kota Kinabalu to get everything in their cross-hairs and digitally documented. Hanging out windows and sunroofs, taking random shots of the scenery rushing past, the lensmen were the most active of the lot, jumping out of the cars at every stop to immortalise the journey in print. Though the long hours on the road and scant breaks meant less photo ops, their spirits were never daunted.

Romeo Edung, who was driving Tango Six, a 1985 Land Cruiser, says even though keeping his hands on the wheel meant less time with his two Nikon cameras, the journey afforded him the chance to have a look at Sabah's sights for a future snap-happy trip.

"I found Ranau and Keningau very interesting places with unique things to photograph, like the locals manning their fruit stalls. Now that I know where to go and how to get there, I'm planning a trip focusing on photography," he says.

And during the layover in Kudat, the photographers didn't let a 5am start dampen their enthusiasm for a stab at shooting the sunrise over the Tip of Borneo. Taking the gravelly roads at a quick trot, the participants could not help but look over their shoulders during the 40-minute ride to ensure the sun hadn't crept up on them unawares.

And it didn't. There was time for the setting up of tripods, fiddling with camera controls to pick the best aperture and speed, elbowing away others for the best vantage point. Even those who had woken late managed to arrive before the sun breached the horizon, although the driver of Tango Seven did perform a rally special stage, causing his passenger to exit the car a bit green.
It was worth it, though, as the sunrise was spectacular, and not something you could see everyday.

And so it was throughout the Gemilang expedition. Something new, something interesting, and something for every one of the amateur radio, 4x4 and photography hobbyists who took four days out of their lives for that something special.

Part 3 in a series on a 4x4 adventure from Brunei to Sabah. Thanks to Gemilang for inviting the Little Devil, known on the trip as "YL Tango 3", along for the ride.

Beauty miracles don't happen overnight

2009-03-05T07:25:00.000-08:00

As appeared in Style
The Brunei Times - March 21, 2008

MAKEUP artists are wont to hear the helpless cry of "I've had a huge breakout" or "Help! My skin had an allergic reaction to my facial" accompanied by the doe-eyed look and pleading words: "Can you make me look beautiful?" This is especially important to a woman who has a special event lined up her wedding, for instance. Or a reunion with schoolmates she's never seen for 20 years but needs to impress (we've all been there).
Hoping for a miracle is a normal human experience but don't set expectations too high, especially if you have not put the work in, says lifestyle consultant Syahira Bahrain. "Miracles don't happen overnight," the 34-year-old former catwalk model and professional dancer says, "yet this is what most women expect."
Stressing that many women don't want to invest in themselves, Syahira says this makes the job of a makeup artist more difficult. "I've had to work with women whose skin are patchy because they haven't been taking care of their faces, and this means the makeup doesn't stay on as well as it would have.
"And having your makeup run and turn splotchy will ruin a girl's big day."
That's why Syahira insists on the importance of a lifestyle and attitude change -- what she terms investing in yourself -- for a woman who wants to look good on a certain occasion. She works with clients three or even six months in advance of that important date, looking at all the angles in what would make the woman the most envied person in the room.
These include weight management, hair and skin care, clothes and the all-important makeup. "On a girl's wedding day, she usually wants to look her best -- a radiant complexion, great hair, beautiful wedding attire and accessories.
"Sometimes this means a little weight loss, so I start with a discussion on exactly what the client wants, and how to go about achieving it."
Syahira says she has no qualms about playing the devil's advocate and telling the client what she should hear instead of what she wants to. If the client wants to lose some pounds, maybe to get to her ideal weight, the discussion will be about diet and exercise combined, not a quick-fix starvation regiment just to fit into that dress.
"We're looking at a whole lifestyle change," says Syahira, who works with an international lifestyle management programme which has proven successful. Saying that she's hands-on with clients to the point of performing exercises with them, Syahira admits that things get tough if a person doesn't have the commitment to change. "After the first few sessions, I keep tabs on my clients to see how they are progressing towards their goals.
"Some revert to bad habits or quit exercising but some stay with the programme. It all depends on willpower," says Syahira, herself trying to manage her weight after putting on the pounds during her two pregnancies. Currently at a comfortable 58kg, Syahira says she was one of those idealists who thought weight would never be an issue since she had always been slim. "I ballooned during my pregnancies, and it was a shock. But at least I know how hard it is work on losing those extra pounds, and I can advise my clients accordingly."
In her wedding package, Syahira says although she doesn't deal with the wedding attire or hairdressing herself, she has a vested interest in the matters as they become a backdrop to the most important part of her work -- a woman's face.
The advocate of colours -- she professes a love of playing with her makeup palette -- says some women don't realise the importance of looking good, especially during events like their wedding, and leave makeup decisions to others or have facials one day before the event, risking breakouts or allergic reactions. "For some people, the size of the wedding is the bigger concern. But you have to remember, the pictures of your wedding will be kept for a long time, maybe even handed down for generations, so it pays to look good."
She says an essential part of the makeup process is the trial, where she will work with the client on the desired look. "Some clients want the "natural look" and don't realise that it's not about just slapping on one layer of powder. Sometimes the natural look -- which is you but just better -- takes longer to achieve."
Clients can also be fixated on a certain look they want to emulate, even though it might not be suitable. "They point to a photograph in a magazine and say they want this and that. But colours look different on different skintones, and I don't want my clients to look like clowns on their important day."
Some people not used to wearing makeup can also be uncomfortable at the time and effort spent on their faces -- until she shows them the results, that is. "I take before and after pictures, so the client can see for themselves the radiance they can achieve for that special day.
"And if they follow the programme and reach their ideal weight, and then continue to manage their lifestyle in a healthier way, the radiance can go on beyond just the wedding day.
"A beautiful life will create a beautiful person, from the inside out, and that lasts longer than just one day."

Loving yourself is no easy feat

2009-01-15T00:17:00.000-08:00

As appeared in the "Ear to the ground" column
The Sun – Feb 6, 2001

Did you watch the episode of Ally McBeal three weeks back? It was the one where Ally had been going out with a new guy when Billy – Ally’s ex, for all you non-couch potatoes out there – told her he still loved her, and then kissed her. That was not all, though, for when they had to see a shrink together, Billy said something that, truthfully, none of us really wants to hear. He said Ally would never be happy with herself and he had left her because love was wasted on her.
I thought that was really sad. Depressing, as well, because it hit very close to home. Have you ever heard of a saying equivalent to "The things you hate in others are actually those you hate in yourself"? I believe this is true, and since I’m so intolerant with the failings of others, I feel it’s only a manifestation of all the angst about myself.
It’s not about physical failings, since I’ve never seriously considered having breast implants or injecting collagen in my lips for a sexy pout (like Ally), though I did suffer the embarrassment of railroad tracks for nearly two years I order to straighten my teeth. I have wished I was taller, preferably a six-foot goddess, voluptuous and classically beautiful, but I have practically resigned myself to being short, petite and flat as a board.
No, this is more a question of personality and character. Basically, I hate myself for not being the person that I think I should be, in terms of religion and culture. That affects everything else, including relationships and work.
Think about it. Who in their right mind would not like a soft-spoken, well-mannered little miss instead of the Malay equivalent of Shakespeare’s shrew, Katerina Stratford? Never mind if I have certain talents or charms (or people say) that might make me likeable. I think if people get down to knowing the real me, they would be appalled at what they find. And that thought just makes me more angry at myself and mean and impatient to others. The vicious cycle goes on.
A friend once asked me if it wasn’t enough that someone cares for me? Would it not be enough to stop me from destroying my life with all my bad habits? Sad as it is, care and love would, indeed, be wasted on me right now because what life and happiness actually boil down to is all this "loving thyself" thing. No one would ever be happy if all he thinks he’s striving for in life are dependent on factors which are beyond his control.
I’ve always put stipulations on my happiness and these may sound familiar to you as well; "I would be happier at work when I get a car/computer/more money"; "I would be fulfilled and happy when I get a boyfriend/husband"; or "If only my family were more supportive, I would not have this 'L' on my forehead."
No, it does not work like that because being happy is dependent on two things: being happy with who you are and having the strength to change whatever you do not like in order to make that happen.
And yes, people have tried to drum that into my thick skull. But learning something – even about yourself – is one thing, putting it into practice is absolutely something else which does not follow automatically. Try as I might to change in the blink of an eye or to do this just by singing along to Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All, it’s not going to be easy.
It took me almost 26 years and a television comedy series to realise insecurities about myself have held me down. Who knows how long it is going to take to change a particular mindset?
In the meantime, though, I’ll be keeping an eye on Ally to see how she copes. Hey, she may just be a made-up character, but the people behind the storyline really know what they are talking about.
At the end of Ally’s – and my own – revelation hour, she vowed that she would someday love herself enough to be happy.
You know what? So did I.

Little Devil's note, March 5, 2009: Eight years on, and she's still learning to cope with life, the universe and everything.