Another new journey...

After Project in Bangalore, I was looking forward to "what's next?". This time round, I will be staying put in Brunei. This means... more catch-up with my buddies and more divings in Brunei (I can't wait for my next dive!). Hee hee...

On Thursday, my CEO Puan Haslina Taib and one of our Director J.V. signed the HRMS contract with the Government of Brunei represented by Tuan Sabali, Director General of Public Services and Tuan Jaini, the Deputy Director General. YM Dato Seri Paduka Eusoff Agaki was present as our guest of honor. My colleagues and I were proud to be there to witness this special event that marks another milestone in BAG Networks.

It was a great day with good show up of Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Perm Secs, Directors and Senior Officers from all Ministries.
I am looking forward for this journey...

Licence to Grill...

"W e . . . a r e . . . B - A - C - K . . . . !"


Yes, the BAGs of FUN returns this time with a theme... "The name is BAG, BAGs-of-FUN". Sounds familiar? Yeah.. 007 Licence to Kill is now... Licence to GRILL... Hee hee...


Hitting the road down to Angel's Beach, we started off with lots of food... Hal's famous mee kari, fried mee hoon, sandwiches, sausages, crab sticks and with the "Licence to Grill" theme, it is only right that we have BBQ chicken wings, lambs and more...! The food... was fabulous!

What's more? We had Alim's counterparts spinning for us, 'lighting' the place up with wonderful musics!

On top of that, we have the coolest bosses; Puan Haslina our CEO and the very sporting Advisor - Dave. We kicked start our games with Limbo Rock with the female vs male team. Then, a few rounds of musical chair and I won myself Jacob's cracker with a free bowl..! Haha..


What's more? We had some team building games where the winnner won themselves a packet of "Assam Jawa" each. *bila lanja ikan masak assam?" hee hee...

Can't have enough, we continue with our next game. Battle of the Chefs...! CEO vs Advisor - who can make the best Sambar?

I think it is a draw; both tasted equally good! *trying to be diplomatic here* Later kena deduct bonus wahhhh...! :P hee hee....



Here are more pictures...

Harris and Maya - Puan's little precioussssss...


Sue's Little Putri....! Future Brunei's Top Model! :)


We had so much fun... and I just can't wait for the next one to come.... stay tune for the next BAGs of FUN theme.... ;)

ps: Thank you, Rano for dropping by... ;)

Rano "Gerrard" in da house...!

Madam Sophia Kuan

Last Wednesday, BAG Networks the company that I work for celebrate International Women's Day. We had Dr Irene Cheong from UBD who gave us a presentation on Brunei Women and Environment; how we can play our role to save the environment.

Within BAG Networks, we had an internal survey / mini contest for fellow BAG citizens to vote for the 'most outstanding woman' in our lives. Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Princess Diana are some of the names that popped out from the survey.

I voted for Madam Sophia Kuan. And, below was my reason behind my vote.

"She comes from an average family, living life getting what she wants like most kids these days. That was some 40 years ago. Until her father fell ill, she and her mother sold off almost everything that they have got; including the bicycle shop that have been bringing income to the family. Losing income and her father, she has to turn herself as helper in her relative house, giving in to porridge and soy sauce as an everyday meal. Considering the family's current situation, she married early through an almost arranged marriage to a businessman, hoping for a better life, for her and her mother. Unable to complete her secondary education, she was trained by her mother in law to clean, cook for a big family and for business. Looking at her hands, although both hands are dry, wrinkled with scars and protruding veins, they are the most beautiful hands in the world to me. They are the hands that has gone through so much to bring herself up after every fall, to support her family, to support her husband, to support her in-laws, to bring up her 4 children including filling forms, enrolling them to university (eventhough she can't read / write in english, she bought herself a chinese-english dictionary). Today, she hasn't rest her hands, she is still doing all the duty as a wife, as a mother and most important of all, as the most outstanding woman in the family and among her friends. These hands belong to my mother, the most important woman in my life."

With that, I got myself a gift from BAG.

2 movie tickets and $20 body shop vouchers

Time to say goodbye

The day has finally arrived for me to bid Bangalore “Goodbye”. It has been 76 days in Incredible India.

I arrived in November 17^th 2007, as a service provider to Accenture Bangalore IDC. Today… tonight… I am taking back beautiful memories of times spent with my new found friends – Shikha, Madhuri, Shambhavi, Parul, Nava, Siddarth, Amaresh, Manish, JP, Naveen, the two Saurabhs and all in Project Quoin; lovely time spent with my neighbours – Satya, Gayathri and Balu – who had been looking after me and given me lots of home-cooked meals; times spent with my bummie who came to visit me for Xmas and NY, challenging work experiences and many more.

My Farewell lunch at Civet, The Bay – Eco Space, Marathalli.

Myself, Santhosh (my Manager) & SriKrishna who is leaving Accenture.(left)
Hiri presented me with a gift! (right)

I would like to express my gratitude to Satya and Gayathri who have been fantastic to me, not just in managing my apartment – but they have evolved to be more of my close friends; making sure I have food, making sure I get what I need and making sure I am safe and happy throughout my stay.

Picture taken during my farewell dinner - Gayathri's home cooked meals.

(Thanks Satya, Gayathri and Balu!)

Selvar who had been my driver for the last one month has been a great help too! I am going to miss those times where I get into backseat of the car, greeted “Morning Madamme” with newspaper handed over to me. Hee hee… Selvar has also brought me sight-seeing around in Bangalore, Kolar Gold Field and also Mysore!

Selvar on the far right. Picture taken in Selvar’s house at Kolar.

Believe it or not, he has enjoyed being my driver and also the time spent with bummie when she was here. Hee hee… He actually framed up our picture taken together in his house.

Selvar… selvar… I gonna miss the time when I have to tell you – “Evening coming, backside Whitefield shopping go!”

Thank you to my company, BAG Networks for this opportunity. Thank you my lovely neighbours, Thank you to my lovely team-mates for working hand-in-hand with me towards the success of the project. Thank you all for making my stay a memorable one! I have to thank those too who has been accompanying me via MSNs, chats, SMS and also phone calls!

Ehhh.. bah.. better stop. It is getting to feel like I won a grammy award! Hohoho…

*Caryn is humming… “I’m leaving… on a jetplane… donno when I’ll be back again…”*

See you soon! And finally…

" N A M A S T E "

Signing off from Bangalore with BangaLOVE!

******************************************************************************
I wrote the above blog early this morning - taking a break after some packings.
Sitting at my apartment's balcony now, I am having mixed feelings. I am happy and excited as I will be meeting my closest friends and family. Yet, I am sad to leave.

This morning Satya and Gayathri came by to see if I needed help with packings and told me to have my last dinner over at their apartment. Selvar's sister called me up to say goodbye and wishing me all the best in my future. I received loads of emails showing appreciation of my effort for the project and thanking me for being a part of the team. Santhosh came over to have a chat with me before I leave. My heart sank when I have to bid farewell to my project mates. I wrote them an email saying that I hate to say goodbye, hence, I've said... "Till we meet again.."
******************************************************************************

BAG Networks Annual Dinner

8th September 2007 marks the very first annual dinner for BAG Networks ever since it was established 6 years ago. We were proudto have the Minister of Finance II as our guest of honor. BAG citizens together with its partners and clients had an absolutely fantastic time celebrating the event together with lots of games and lots of prize presentations such as Bowling Tournament, Badminton Competition, Quizes, Best Dress and not forgetting Long Service Awards for staff who has been serving BAG Networks for 5 years and above.

I was one of the lucky ones who received a badminton racquet and a bag for the Mixed Double Badminton competition held internally. I got to thank my "bardeeeeeee" Boon Hui for that one!

Well, I also received the Long Service Award. Yes, I've been with BAG Networks 'that' long...

I love BAG Networks!

Charity & FUN

Yes! Doing charity and having fun comes together!

Yesterday, BAG Networks, the company I work for had a booth at Pusat Ehsan. As a participant for the Bazaar Amal 2007, we were thinking what should we sell? Brilliant ideas came about to sell balloons and face painting services. As I am very afraid of balloons bursting, that left me with not much choice besides face painting. Volunteered for face painting, I got some of my colleagues to be my guiena pig to test out my "artistic" skill. Heehee...

"What can a diver draw on another diver? Underwater seacreatures of cos! Hehe.. I can't believe the "stressed-out" look I've got while painting!"

Well, obviously I got scared with those demanding customers (mostly kids) asking to paint an "Angel" etc... I have to moved on to selling balloons! And 'business' was really good...!



Clockwise: "Me & Hal - we've got teddy and swan hats!", "I've got pink panther on me!","The Kucing of BAG - Pg Emran", I've got a flower on my wrist and bumble-bee hat".

Last but not least, I love DSLR...! Join the "donate-caryn-a-DSLR-fund"! Heeeheeee....

Photos courtesy of Pg Emran.