Brunei Darussalam

Welcome to Brunei Darussalam

This is one small rich country in South East Asia,

specifically in the island of Borneo.

As a Filipino, we are allowed to travel here for 14 days.

We were in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to watch F1- Petronas Grand Prix

when we decided to fly to Kota Kinabalu.

There are airlines who fly directly from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu.

We flew through Air Asia.

From Kota Kinabalu we bought tickets for an 8:30 am fast craft departure
connecting to Labuan Island and to Bandar Seri Begawan port.  

We had our exit stamp in Labuan Federal State of Malaysia.
Paid the terminal fee.

Our fast craft ticket is connecting to another fast craft 

going to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Other option:

There are overnight buses that departs  KK passing two states of Malaysia 

and, into Bengar, Brunei.
Travel takes 4-5 hours.

Bengar is where the National Park of Brunei is located.

Then, from Bengar take the ferry to Bendar Seri Begawan.
This will take 1 hour.

The easiest and fastest option is to take a flight,
either from Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu to Bandar Seri Begawan.

After entry stamp in Bandar Seri Begawan port,

we ride the local bus going to the town.

Travel takes 45 minutes to1 hour depending on the usual stops.

There is no traffic for some reason.
Elegant houses can be seen a long the way.

Drug trafficking is death penalty and other crimes.

You can smoke and drink liquor.. but you cannot buy it in any store.
There is none available.
You may bring supplies for personal consumption.

Most people live in Kampong Ayer.. the water village.

It is an interesting way of living for me.

You may check Wikipedia for complete information:

Water Village

This mosque is Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin. 

Considered one of the most beautiful mosque in Asia. 

The mosque serves an Islamic faith in Brunei.

Built with artificial lagoon, 
the mosque has a courtyard surrounded by trees.

The main dome is covered with pure gold. 

Current Sultan is Hassanal Bolkiah.

We stayed inside the mosque for some time,

amazed with its design and, also to observed how they worship.

Before someone noticed us.

And, asked us politely not to stay there as it was their holy night,

and, foreigners are not allowed to loiter inside the mosque.

We stayed in the local hotel/dormitory.

We stayed here overnight.

Next day, we took the speed boat to Bengar. 

It was a nice travel with its lush green and clean river route.

Travel time takes 45 minutes.

The kind of ride in an early morning ♥

I'll try to find my tickets and receipts,

so as I can share the prices that we spent in this travel.

I'll update this blog when I have the chance to find it.

Too bad the National Park is out of our budget.

It would cost $100. each.

This travel to Brunei is not within our plan.

We hired a private car, instead

And, climb this mountain.

It should only take us about 45 minutes,

but I was so slow that it took us around an hour and a half.

It was a reserved rain forest

and, there are a lot weird animal sounds along the way.

I read some information that it is the home 

of some kind of monkeys.

But, thumbs up to this great experienced!

After climbing this mountain, 

we return to the village 

and, waited for the last bus going out of Bengar, Brunei

to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. 

As we have a soccer game to watch. 

We passed 2 Immigration of Malaysia,

and got 4 stamps in a row!

I cannot find my tickets, and I cannot remember fares.