JEWELLE TAN

Last night’s anniversary dinner was perhaps the only event for this school covered by the most photographers with lens that meant business.

With the likes of Jan Shim, Husini Bakar, Gavin Goh and Gembo - men known widely for their photos (and interest in photography) - surely no guests were left indifferent to see them walking around, pointing their long lens capable of capturing sharp images of (for example) smudging make-up even from the far side of the big (un-air conditioned) hall.

However, parents of performing kids were delighted to see them. We were thrilled to see those lens focused on the the stage, from all sides of the hall, when our children, dressed in their brightest were doing their routine.

We also ignored smug looks from other parents whose kids behaved like proper little adults when our kids chose to enjoy the rest of the show - with their scarlet cheeks and blue eyelids (by this time, my daughter’s Estee Lauder-ed lips were licked clean of any colour), wild laughter and energy that came from being high on adrenalin - making themselves conspicuous subjects for these photographers (while we parents) hoped that they won’t just look and be amused.

Because we know that, while annoyed glances will be forgotten the next day, beautiful pictures will last a lifetime.

The question now is how to get them to show us those pictures, hopefully stored with online backup, before the albums are forgotten when they start on their next photography outings.

*Picture courtesy of Gavin Goh

Popularity: 8% [?]

Non-car fans might not know (or care) but the annual Singapore Import Night* (SIN) was held recently, a week before the Singapore F1.

Because hotel prices were outrageous during the F1 week, we settled for SIN - which also nicely coincided with the long public holiday.

At the show, I enjoyed walking around the tuned, the stickered-to-death and those modified-beyond-recognition cars. But despite my best effort, I failed to understand or appreciate the beauty of certain tyre rims or the car engines.

However, towards the end I did find a couple of cars which appeal to my sense of aesthetics.

Here were cars with some serious cosmetic work. There were diamante in so many parts of the cars that it was blinding! One version even has a special liquor bottle holder - no ordinary cup holders for the occupant of this car. In fact, it has quite a lot of interesting - because I cannot imagine the whys - objects inside it that I am a little surprised that none of the cars include miniature (just to be a little more imaginative) copper sinks for washing up.

I was so in awed with those cars that I forgot to ask how much it cost to customise a car that way.

* A car event which showcases mostly imported tuned cars (or something like that…)

Popularity: 6% [?]

Just before a party that we attended this week started, the electricity went down, leaving only some emergency lights and the exit signs.

Fortunately, power came back on time because it went on to be one of the most entertaining parties I have ever attended.

Dance performances by talented teens were aplenty. However, I am not too sure about having young girls gyrating suggestively to tunes such as the Pussycat Dolls’ Jai Ho.

Is it double standard to say that while such moves are fine if performed by an adult, it is a little disturbing to see it done by girls who barely passed their puberty? Because what else does such moves connote if not the obvious?

I know that I will have a battle with my daughters in 10 years time over MTV.

Other than this, I found out that we have a thriving community of ballroom dancing fans in the district. It was exciting to see the dance experts spinned and twirled around like they were only as light as feathers. And it was very encouraging to see older couples who upon taking ballroom dance lessons monopolized the dance floor.

But the most interesting was a couple of South American dances, the one in the picture called the Cumbia, performed beautifully by a group of international young kids much to the delight of the South American guests in attendance as well as the rest of us.

Popularity: 4% [?]

For the 9 years that I have lived in Brunei, the national day which fell on the 23rd February meant only one thing. Public holiday!

But this year, my husband and a few of his “patriotic” friends were able to get some passes to attend the parade at the National Stadium. I said patriotic because I could not imagine anyone who would voluntarily wear a formal suit (the required dress code) to sit in an outdoor stadium and worse, under the sun. For several hours!

My mother in law was once told by the wife of a dignitary who happened to reside in the Belait district and was participating in the parade, that they had to leave for Bandar Seri Begawan as early as 4 am!

Although my husband was not participating, he too had to leave before 5 am to ensure good parking spot and seating area. And their relatively early start was worth it as they managed to secure excellent seating locations and was able to capture some great shots.

The most anticipated moment was the arrival His Majesty the Sultan and his wives - as that meant that the parade can now start.

I believe the whole parade was accompanied by live choir singing and of course live music by the Royal Brunei Police Band.

My husband shot some of the instruments used by the band. How many can you name?

Over the past several days, there was radio quiz going on asking among others, the size of a giant Brunei national flag which is 24 by 12 feet.

One of the highlight of the parade was having the future queen, HRH Princess Sarah, the

Popularity: 39% [?]

First news came that Nissan, Suzuki, Porsche, Rolls Royce and Land Rover will skip the 2009 Detroit Motor Show.

Then we read that Ford, GM and Chrysler, the 3 major US automotive companies also dubbed the Detroit 3 decided pull out of the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.

Finally, I learnt from the closest source that the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2009 is cancelled.

Looks like it’s not a good year for motor show fans all over the world.

But at least in Sabah, small scale motor fairs were still held like the recent Motor Bonanza Fair at the Likas Sports Complex earlier this month.

This fair featured new cars, reconditioned and used cars, motor bikes, racing parts, car accessories and car audio systems.

he two ardent car fans in my family visited this fair of course and brought back some pictures.

I didn’t get much stories from them and I’m not sure of these are all the cars that were featured at the fair - but I do know that these are the cars that caught their fancy.

And here’s more.

I’m sure these were the most popular cars at the fair.

And everyone must have drooled over the interior of this car.

I wonder if it is difficult for the drivers of these cars to do their reverse move with their back view all blocked…

Thats it for this fair!

Popularity: 47% [?]