when average isn't just ordinary...

Since I recently commented on the food scene in our lovely country of Brunei Darussalam, I only see it fit that I do some "research" on the current competition first before I "venture" into the restaurant industry.

So one Friday, I went to I Lotus for dinner with my family. We had this $50 voucher and it was expiring soon, so we had to use it as soon as possible.

The restaurant is housed in well... a house >.>


But don't let this fool you. The restaurant exudes a welcoming atmosphere the moment you get out of your car. Although it was raining that evening, no downpour could have dampened my spirits from looking forward to a hopefully good meal.

We've heard from One Republic...

We've also heard from Timberlake himself...


Who's next???

Well here at www.chengjie16.blogspot.com you will be the first to find out!


Now, if you were in the same class or perhaps in the same school as Shaneel, during those times after school or at times during school hours o.o ...you would probably hear Shaneel playing on the piano one amazing song that many know of.

Go on, try to figure it out...


Here's a clue, he's not only limited to English songs only...

Oh yes, my friends, think again...

It is with great pleasure and honour to present to you,

Now here in Brunei, the food scene isn't as good as it can be.

Sure we have big fast food chains like McDonald's...

And local delicacies at our very own Pasar Malam...


But perhaps the one thing that I find lacking in Brunei is that...


We don't have a decent Murtabak restaurant. People just don't seem to see the profit potential that this kind of restaurant possesses. Now for those of you who've been living in a shell all this while and don't know what's a murtabak click here.

Aware of this great opportunity, a friend and I decided venture into it and decided to put our heads, time and money together for the partnership of the century!

Together with advanced equipment...

...high grade hand crafted props and costumes...




...and a highly trained cast and crew...


...we put together this advertisement to showcase the official opening of our shop.

It's the 23rd of February. And we all know what that means... it's Brunei's National Day.

Well actually, Brunei got it's independence on the 1st of January 1984, but well we can't have 2 major celebrations on the same day. And since we can't postpone the celebration of the New Year, Brunei celebrates it's independence on the 23rd of February.


Now, to most of us students, national day has always been associated with flag waving line-ups...

Remember the times when soda was the biggest thing ever? And when it used to come out of the production line in glass bottles?


Well... I sure don't. When I was born, almost all soda was sold in aluminium cans.

But from what I heard from my aunts, uncles and parents, back then getting the chance to drink soda was like a gift from the heavens and it was always very much looked forward to. Not like us now, when we could get it anytime we want. (Yet another example to show just how much we take things for granted.)

And also back then, all soda was produced in glass bottles.

Nowadays, especially in this country for one, you don't get to see soda bottled up. I can bet that some of us have probably never even seen bottled soda in person before, what more drink from one.

For me, well at least I can say that I have.

Back in Kuching during Chinese New Year this year, my uncle discovered this one company that still deals with bottled soda.

This to some of you, may not seem particularly interesting. But heck, this is like a gem stone in the urban city of today.


The soda comes in various flavours of which some are grape, orange and ice cream soda. Also, the soda in it isn't as carbonated as the regular soda you find in aluminium cans so it is actually less fizzy.


The company however, has one special condition when you buy their soda. You have to pay a deposit upon purchase which will be returned only when you return the bottles in good condition.

So yes, I drank from a bottle that probably some other stranger drank from, from which another stranger probably spat in, from which another stranger probably did only who know's what to it. o.o


But of course all the bottles are cleaned and probably sterilized too, before the company refills it with soda once more... or at least that's what I'm told.

Hence, by employing this "return bottles to get your money back" tactic, the company saves money by not having to manufacture more and more bottles.

It was certainly interesting to have come over this discovery. Now the only thing left that I would like to experience from the soda world is...

Drinking from this.

Recently www.chengjie16.blogspot.com had the privilege and honour to host a new artist's work that is Shaneel.

If you haven't had the chance to listen to Shaneel's version of Apologize by One Republic, don't worry. His first song is still hosted on this site so you can give it a listen anytime.

Now here's some information regarding his first song.

The music that you hear, the ensemble of violins, piano and drums were all created and played by the artist himself. The backup singers? Well its more like backup singer. All the vocals you hear in it were sung by Shaneel himself.

If you think that he's going to would stop there, well you could not be any more wrong.

Late last night, the budding artist just sent me his latest recording. Although my Internet connection wasn't at it's best that night, I waited to download the entire, 7 MINUTES of it. Yes, 7 minutes. After listening to the song, we proceeded to discuss and deliberate the different aspects of it. After countless rounds of coffee and ending up looking like this...

...we then decided that it was time that the world receives yet another stellar piece of music.

So I now present to you Shaneel's version of What Goes Around Comes Around by Justin Timberlake.


Although it may be a longer than any average song, without a doubt the hard work and effort put into it is not wasted. His creativity in arranging this song definitely sets it apart from Mr. Timberlake's version. This song showcases the range of skills that this artist possesses. With him striking out notes from an electric guitar, great music arrangement and record editing skills and with 4 voices being sung simultaneously at some parts of the song, it shows the range of possibilities that this promising artist is able to offer.

This was a fun project that Shaneel really enjoyed recording, and I'm sure that you will enjoy this song just as much as he did in creating it for your listening pleasure.

So readers, you know the drill, the song will be hosted in this blog's side bar and can be listened to at anytime. If you have any comments on the song or constructive criticisms on it that can help Shaneel improve his work, do leave them in the comment section at the bottom of this post or in the tag box in the side bar.


So with that readers, sit back, relax, brew yourself a cup of coffee (do go easy on it though) and enjoy the amazing voice of Shaneel Ruthran Nair...