| Aziz Idris |
AN ASSORTMENT of events and activities has been lined up for the Brunei December Festival (BDF) 2018 to boost domestic tourism and attract foreign visitors during the month-long school vacation.
In view of this, two press conferences were held yesterday at the Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, to convey more details on events happening this weekend.
The press conference began with a summary of the 2nd Brunei E-Sports Tournament (BEST), by founder of GameOn Amar Agus Din.
The tournament will take place on December 8-9 at Royal Brunei Recreation Club, starting from noon to 9pm. Five tournament games will be held as well as six free-to- play games for members of the public.
To date, 300 gamers have already registered for the tournament.
“In this edition of BEST, we don’t just cater to the hard-core gamers, we also cater to the public,” said Amar.
“Besides that, BEST will also feature retro gaming console sellers, cosplayers and food.”
He said that BEST is a platform where gamers can showcase their skills and meet others with a common interest. Admission is free.
Meanwhile, Eco Ponies Garden, represented by Ryon Ukoi and Mohd Ali Asmaie bin Haji Nasir, will host the Cultural and Contemporary Performance from 9am to 4.30pm, on December 9, at the rural farmstay in Mukim Lamunin, Tutong.
The event will feature traditional dances by the ethnic Dusun, Kedayan, Tutong, Malay and Chinese people, as well as culinary dishes that are indigenous to their communities.
Visitors can also expect a unique ‘farm-to-table’ dinner spread, a handicrafts workshop, a cooking demonstration and some traditional music.
“Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Tutong forest, Eco Ponies can cater over 100 guests for the activities during the event,” said Mohd Ali Asmaie.
Ryon Ukoi, the co-founder of Eco Ponies, said that she started the farmstay in 2015, as a way of promoting community tourism and sustainable agriculture.
“[The local ethnic communities] have a lot of knowledge about the type of herbs to be used for cooking and traditional medicine,” she said. “This knowledge is not commonly passed down these days.
“By participating in the Brunei December Festival, guests can see our way of life, and perhaps will want to volunteer here or work with us. It’s a way of keeping our culture alive,” she added.