It’s official! I’m going to see BLUR this July @ Hyde Park (2nd & 3rd) – It’s like a dream come true and I don’t say that to be cliche – I really did dream about it!

Get this – a day or two before Blur officially announced they were re-uniting with Graham Coxon I dreamt I was at the concert. When I actually received word of their announcement a few days later I impulsively bought tickets for the first announced July 3rd Hyde Park concert. Tickets sold out in 2 minutes when they were officially on sale but I was lucky and had presale codes. Obviously at the time I didn’t really think much about how I was actually getting to London. Around the same time AirAsia launched their long haul flights to London for cheap but I had already booked tix to London for my October trip enroute to the US for Rosie’s wedding. Long story short – even though one of my favourite things about travelling are the airports and the frills you get on the flight like free wine and postcards – it’s a wonderful thing to know that getting to London has become more realistic for many people (sans frills) – myself included and here I am, a little under 2 months away to actually see Blur in the flesh – albeit them (and me) being older, heavier and more cynical

My tickets are all booked and I have at least 2 projects revolved around this trip. Leaving July 1st and guess what??? I bought 2 tickets for their July 3rd show and with that extra ticket I’ve traded for their July 2nd show too. Why yes, yes I can.

Not the most exciting of photos but some photos nonetheless of my eventful business trip to Brunei. Here’s a collage consisting of horsies, a scenic view of the seaside from the Empire hotel, panoramic view of the Empire, one of the many mosques, a 1/2 eaten ‘Nasi Penyet’ meal i had, an Unagi sushi roll that was ordered (and eaten) as an excuse to use the loo and… well that’s about it really (click photo below to enlarge)

At the airport now waiting to board my flight back to KL. My check-in bag lost weight while I on the other hand probably gained a lot! Seminars are just another excuse to drink lots of coffee and tea and eat lots of snacks. In between, you also have breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea, dinner and supper!

I did get to see a bit of Brunei which was nice. It’s a very small quiet place.

Some Observations and Factoids I picked up:

• A traffic jam here is comparable to a good driving day in KL.
• From the airport, you’re about an hour – hour 1/2 away from Sarawak (Miri & Limbang) – 6 hours away from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
• It’s a good place for a recovering alcoholic because alcohol is completely probibited here. Even the big hotels don’t serve alcohol but there are stories of secret drinking holes – few, probably 1.
• A few years ago, “THE” only McDonalds in the country ran into some problems with the beef. Apparently it wasn’t considered ‘Halal’ and therefore probably the only McDonalds in Southeast Asia to not have BigMacs.
• The happening and indulgent hotel to be at is the Empire hotel. It’s beautiful and surprisingly for a posh hotel like that, the staff is really nice to you – even though they know you’re only there to admire the scenery.
• The Sultan of Brunei apparently has a special stable for his horse(s) – equipped with airconditioning per stable!

My laptop is about to lose juice so I will write more later! With pictures! Looking forward to be back home though!

I’m waiting in the LCCT Airport now waiting to board my plane to Brunei. I’ve never been to Brunei and it’s not treally a ‘travel option’ either but I’m going there for work. I can be a shallow traveller and say “Yay more stamps on my passport!”

The last time I was at the LCCT was a couple months ago and to my (pleasant) surprise, it’s changed! No more contruction and more options for you to eat from like Marry Brown and this (text too small) Chocolate Lounge. Cozy with big plush seats but the service was kind of slow. Does it really take more than 5 minutes get me a flat white? Other than that, good job on the renovation! I’ve had this memory of LCCT for many years now with construction banging away and small tight places with aunties and uncles waiting to make their way to check-in. Seems more organized now! Despite the hustle and bustle and lots of stressed souls, I still love airports.

I’m jumping on the bandwagon soon to blog about FOOD. Well not about food but just a category based on food. I realize, I don’t cook/eat much at home how and somehow I manage to keep my svelt round figure – aha! It’s cause I eat out a lot and occasionaonally will stumble upon  a food gem of a place. Not-so-mystery solved.

Aside from food, there’s the usual “life” category which I will add to if there’s anything remotely interesting in my day-to-day life to share with you. There’s also ‘movies‘, ‘music‘, ‘television‘, ‘musings‘ and a category this post will probably fall under: ‘misc‘.  I also have a subcategory to add under MAI TRAVELS: I’m going to see BLUR live in concert for their *sold out* July 3rd Hyde Park date and it’s going to be awwwwwwwwwwesome.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHdJR6iUBFM]

Laaahvely innit? Flash mobs like this always make me tear up. Life is about sharing!