HARI RAYA @ SULTAN PALACE

Every 3rd Day of the festive Hari Raya or Eid, scouts from all over the country visit the Royal Family at the Sultans' Palace. Scout members rise early and queue for hours just to get places in one of the largest palaces in the world. This is a chance to see and shake the hands of their beloved king. The Sultan is also the Royal Patron of Brunei Scouts Association. 

It was also a time where we meet other scout members we have not seen for a long time. Hari Raya is about visiting and meeting fellow Muslims and for us its other scouts. It was magical to meet long time friends and meet new ones and have great food in the Sultans' Palace. Our troop wishes and scouts and Muslims around the world, Eid Mubarak!.

1st JULY SCOUT DAY & TROOP IFTAR @ BURGER KING

The Brunei Scout Association was first formed on the 1st July 1933. That is why every year there is an event to mark the occasion. This year 1st July is in the Holy month of Ramadhan. This year the troop decided to commemorate by doing something cool for a change, which was Iftar in Burger King. It was also to celebrate one of the members birthday which falls on the 2nd. July. All these and the special offers Burger King was offering. Its all the more reason to celebrate! 

"Selamat Hari Pengakap dan Selamat Menyambut Bulan Syawal yang menjelang".

CELEBRATING 55 YEARS of RBAF

Every 31st May marks the anniversary of Royal Brunei Arm Forces. This year they are celebrating it 55 year of defense and nation building. Like the years before SOAS College Air Scout Troop takes this opportunity to visit aircraft and talk to pilots and RBAF personnel. In the past a few troop members have become pilots and aircraft technicians. 

Young air scouts should be talking about actually being an aircraft, learning why it is shaped like that, learning controls and asking about instrumentation. Because the country needs young generation to replace the existing pilots and engineers.

Another fun stuff is to see actual helicopter landings and how they maneuver in the air

A great surprise was meeting with two legends of the Air Force. Col. (R) Hamid Nayan and Col. (R) Rashid.  They were the ones who actually flew the Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter (seen behind) since 1976. It was used as a trainer aircraft and still in use today. Col. (R) Hamid was also one of the first Sikorsky Blackhawk pilots and both became Deputy Commanders of the Air Force before retirement.

It was truly a great honor to meet such legends who paved the way for our modern Royal Brunei Air Force

BEACH ACTIVTIES - SWIMMING AND LEARNING SAFETY

The beach is great place to learn jungle and water elements. The scouts learn how to make a campfire properly, pitch own tent, making gadgets and have fun. Most members now can survive buy making their own rice and canned foods. They can also make boiling water that can be rationed for longer stay in the jungle. 

Best of all its the swimming. Identifying danger areas and rip curls. The use of life jacket and life savers. They also learn to do knots on water which was new to most. This month is all about outdoors before next month will be filled with indoor and religious activities.

VISIT TO KAMPUNG AYER MUSEUM AND THE HEAD VILLAGER

Its starts with an exciting boat ride on the Brunei River. Its fast and only took us a few minutes across. Its also cheap! 50 cents per person. The museum is open on Sundays and open to public. Anyone can come. No pictures were allowed inside so we do not have any pictorial record. 

Anyway the visit was about knowing How Brunei was made back in the early centuries. Alot was done on the Brunei River actually. The first settlements, the government, the trading with ancient civilizations and up to the modern day Brunei we see today. Would love to story but its best to visit.

The bonus of the visit is to see the Head Villager. He was about to leave for a wedding but happy to give us 10 minutes to show us around his home stay. Anyway it was great to meet him. Off to the next weekend for more activities.

MEETING OLD FRIENDS, MAKING NEW ONES

Cubborree 2016 was where Skipper Zack meets old friends from Singapore and Malaysia and also making new ones. Here are some pictures

NEW BOYS JOINS FLAG RISING CEREMONY

In conjunction with the 32nd National Day celebrations, the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association (PPNBD) held a national flag hoisting ceremony at its headquarters in Gadong.

Two hundred members including scout commissioners, scout officers, scout leaders, assistant scout leaders, cub scouts, junior scouts, venture scouts, sea scouts, air scouts and rover scouts took part in the patriotic event.

SOAS College Air Scout troop were also present along with fresh new members, to instill patriotism through the scouting spirit.

Present were PPNBD Chief Commissioner Haji Badar bin Haji Ali and Deputy Chief Commissioner of PPNBD Haji Ismail bin Pehin Orang Kaya Ratna Setia Dato Setia Haji A Hapidz.