Jottings

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to meet @Alyaap (yes, I just call people by their tweet name from now on!). She is from Brunei and has been a long-time reader of my old blog, Curious Syaf. 

Just in case you only know me as SYAFIQUE SHUIB from syafiqueshuib.com, Curious Syaf followed my life as a “struggling” 2nd-year university student and it started in 2006. It was a collection of daily (yes, DAILY) random rants and full of juicy stories and dramas. I also talk a lot about my dreams and the things that I want to achieve once I graduate. Although the blog wasn’t as famous as other established blogs, I am so proud of it because it managed to create it own niche and has a small but loyal following.

@Alyaap was one of my loyal reader and yes, she knows a lot about me. But then again, social media is a funny tool. One knows a lot about someone else, without having to meet face-to-face. So after years of online conversations, we finally met at my favourite mall, KLCC during her short visit to Kuala Lumpur. Along with her two friends (make it three, because one of her friend has an imaginary friend and she was hoping that I am related to some guy named Yaakob. LOL!), here are 10 Things I Learned About Brunei From @Alyaap and Her Friends:

1. They have one shopping outlet, appropriately named THE MALL. Oh, it’s nothing like KLCC!
2. Brunei has a population of 400,000, which is the same population of my neighborhood (kidding!)
3. They have a GIANT now!
4. Coffee Bean is relatively new and I think it’s the “IN” thing right now
5. Public transporation does not exist in Brunei (except for tourist taxis). It’s like an extinct mode of transportation. So go up to a Bruneian and ask them about public transport and they will be like, “Apa itu?”
6. Ok, I am exaggerating!! Well, let’s just say each household has more than two cars, why would they need public transportation? But I was told that they are planning to have an LRT system soon.
7. Bruneians have to go through Malaysia to get to the other side of their country. How cool is that?
8. Buildings cannot be taller than the mosque’s dome so don’t expect any high condos in Brunei.
9. Elementary school students are expected to know key members of the royal family. They need to know the full name, their royal titles and honorifics. It’s General Knowledge?
10. Newspapers are only sold-out if there are stories on the royal family (for example, the recent divorce), otherwise what can you report on? Crime?

Oh, during my meet-up with @Alyaap, I also met another fab tweeple, @WinBoy13, who came to chit-chat for a short while. Yes, it was like a blind date. We kinda know each other through our daily tweets, but meeting each other in person is a little different. But I know for sure I have great friends on Twitter/Facebook!

I hope to visit Brunei one day and meet @Alyaap and @JohnReyDangilan, another fab social media user based in Brunei.