A DAY AROUND BRUNEI

To make up on our previous day no-stroll moment, we geared early to wander around Brunei.  At 9am, we’re off to Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB), Brunei’s capital, for a day tour.  From the bus station, we crossed the market by the river called Tamu Kianggeh but we found no take home loots as most of the products sold are for household, kitchen and garden use like vegetables, dried fish, plants, etc.  Locals from Kampung Ayer and other water villages use river taxi to get to BSB and the sight of it as it skid and break the water was already an attraction.

From the market, we walked towards the Royal Wharf fronting Kampung Ayer Village but with the looming sight of the rain, we decided to forego the visit to Kampung Ayer.  With that, we proceeded to Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Coundation Complex (Yayasan Complex) for a coffee break.  The mall was built (in July 1996) to generate revenue for a foundation dedicated to Brunei’s people.

After coffee, we continued our meander around BSB proper.  We did building-hopping from mosque to temple to museum.  First stop was the The Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.

  

Then, the Chinese Temple.

Then Royal Regalia Museum.  From Brunei Tourism: Located at the heart of the capital this museum was constructed in 1992 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of His Majesty of Brunei.  It contains a vast and fascinating collection of items of Brunei royal dynasty and a large number of articles related to the sultan and the royal family. The museum displays the royal chariot, the jeweled crowns of the sultans that are used during the ceremony of coronation, a replica of the sultan's throne, the armory in gold and silver etc. 

 
Other noticeable places or structures in BSB includes the Makam Raja Ayang, Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien, Brunei History Center, Royal Ceremonial Hall, Syariah Court, and Jabatan Hal Ewal Syariah.

With ample of time left before our flight back to Manila, we continued our Brunei wander.  It was already 2:30pm when we left BSB for Jerudong Park.  

From Wikipedia: Jerudong Park is an amusement park in Brunei that is said to be the largest and most expensive amusement park in South East Asia that built and funded by the Bruneian government for $1 billion.

After Jerudong, we returned to Jeruton hotel for our dinner and for the ride to the airport.  As taxis are expensive in Brunei, we availed of the hotel transpo services for BNB25.  Until next time Brunei!

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Travel Date: April 2013