Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July, all you Americans out there! And anybody else who just wants to celebrate anyways ;-P

This post commemorates the Independance Day Party held at the ambassador's residence this Sunday =D
A true American BBQ! Burgers, pasta salad, hotdogs, chicken salad, potato salad, salad salad...

...and BROWNIES!

and tootsie rolls! only THE best candy out there! (along with....) =D

Pool Partay!!!

Where's Nate?

GO RED SOX!!!

Some fellow expat citizens

Chatting!

Chillin' by the pool

Chillin IN the pool

RUN! Gracie's got a WATER GUN!

And thus concludes a typical July 4th Party-minus the fireworks!

Eco Camp - Day 3 (and Final!)

Our final day at camp...

We began with breakfast, followed by performing our dance routines. While one group played, the other danced. And GROUP TWO SOOOOOOO COPIED OUR ROUTINE!!! hehe

Playing the insturments

Mimi power!

Go Azman!

After a few rounds of music and dance we FINALLY got to go on a lake cruise! We all would have prefered for it to be at night, though :(

On the boat...

The OTHER boat!

Our guest lodge

Nicky on the boat

Vanna investigating the contents of a pitcher plant.
Apparently, if the lid of the pitcher plant is still closed, it's safe to drink the liquid inside!

Real or Reflection?

Back at the lodge, waiting for the speeches and certificates to begin.

Jungle Dave was certainly excited about our experience!

Some of what we saw...

Group Photo!

I would highly recommend you go on a trip like this if given the opportunity! Not only is it enjoyable, the certificates are good to have as part of your portfolio. Either do this or join Duke of Edinburough! (you do not know how lucky you are to have such an experience for so cheap!)

Eco Camp - Day 2

Today was probably the hardest day.

After breakfast, our group went to the local Dusun village to learn tradtional music...

...and dance. We would have to show off our "newly learned skills" the next day.
I must say, though, I found our terrible practices at dancing better than our music! I was on the drums, and the man (in the foreground of the above pic) kept grabbing my hand and changing the beat! Goes to show that drums isn't my type of instrument ;-P

After this we returned to our guest house for lunch and another round of washing dishes.

From there, our groups traded activities, and we went to learn how to weave baskets. I'm quite proud of mine, from being a first timer ;-p

*note: Vanna did that to me! ^^^*

After we continued this, we went for a 45 minute trek in the jungle.
Which was, of course, followed by a round in the "showers", which were actually toilet hoses.

Next came dinner, and group two had to wash the dishes *haha nicky!*

We tried again to go on the night safari, but upon arrival at the boat dock, we were shown an impressive display of lightening so were not allowed to continue :(

NOOO not back UP the hill!

Hahah gottcha Vanna!

We were then visited by Jungle Dave, who brought us cakes upon our request =D

This was followed by a fascinating talk by him on various medicinal uses for plants, a few jungle surivival and animal spotting tips, and a brief lecture on snakes.

Nicky and Nicky testing out the *plant which name I cannot remember* which apparently has the ability to make your skin softer!

And the testing of the other *plant which name I cannot remember*, which contains quinines (they repell mosquitos) , has the ability to relieve headaches, and can cure allergies.
The taste of the plant mixed with water is....well, ask Julian for some to test yourself! He took the plant and is growing it somewhere ;-P

A gigantic cricket we found in the house, which Jungle Dave let bite him. Unfortunately, he was not quick enough to remove, so he ended up having a bleeding thumb! To this he proclaimed "you have to be Jungle Dave for that to happen!"

And we were cheated when he told us he brought a friendly spitting cobra with him. It was just a rubber one!!!!!! grrrrr

Vanna strangling Eskimo Nicky!

Vanna punching Eskimo Nicky!

This one's actually the best chapstick shot, Nik ;-p

Of course, more chatting late into the night followed =D

Eco Camp - Day 1

On Wednesday, about 20 of us left to go on a 3-day Eco Camp in Tasek Merimbun, a ASEAN heritage and environmental site in Tutong. Now, most of my pictures are not of what we did as, well....it was hard to take pictures while participating in the activities!

Upon departure that morning...
...and upon arrival later that morning!
The Mohawk Grass! Which is actually reeds...

Tasek Merimbun, the Blackwater Lake and Peat Swamp

We stayed in a purpose-built guest house, which had a kitchen (in which we weren't allowed), a dining table, toilets, and separated boys and girls rooms. However, the sleeping area was only separated from the main area by folding screens, and the boys and girls by a wall. However, the place was clean (despite the ants) and at least there were ceiling fans =D

Eating shortbread during our 2 hour "rest period" while waiting for lunch!
And then we had to wash the dishes after lunch! Which doesn't sound so bad, except we didn't have a sink and had to use an outdoor tap...

How everybody was BEFORE our small hike and afternoon of traditional games.
These included: spinning top (in which time I apparently almost killed a chicken...), waterbuffalo riding (where we raced on dried banana leaves), and arm wrestling.

After the activities, we did some community service on a privately owned island (owned by the local Dusun tribe). Our time there consisted of picking up litter, planting Durian trees (which also included Jeevan and our guide snapping a shovel and a hoe), and dissassembling a shed, only to have to remove all the wood and put it back where we found it! (apparently, where we placed it under a different tree than it was under was blocking a path...)

AFTER the activities ^^^^

And then was dinner

And then the other group had to wash the dishes!
(Yes, I forgot to mention we were divided into two groups)

After dinner we were supposed to go on a night lake safari and spot crocs, but apparently there was thunder so we had to play games instead :( Not that I don't like charades and musical statues... ;-P

Of course, with every overnight trip there's the staying up way past curfew to talk, right ;-P

The Cutting Edge of Art...?

Arranged by the Alliance Francais, the visit of Dirty Dezer, a French "Graffiti Art" Group to Brunei. The exhibit was up at the Sheraton Hotel last week. So, I took my mom's invitation and went to the opening with my dad ;-P. Below are some of the pieces on display. Enjoy!
How do they make those lines so straight with SPRAYPAINT?!

This one's REAL graffiti art!

I like this one ;-P

My dad's favorite

My signature on the guestbook! Which was actually a record =D

Personally, I quite enjoyed the art, but my dad's reaction?
"That wasn't real graffiti art!"

And to be honest, most of it wasn't; we got real graffiti on the walls of the basketball court near our house in Croatia! But oh well, it was a worthwhile exhibit! Especially the food.....=D