Read this blog: The one where we are able to drink in public again but can’t find the Drunk Monkey Thursday 13th March 2025 We had not been particularly impressed with the value for money offered by the breakfast at The Empire Brunei so we agreed we would try and get something at the airport. Once we had gone through passport control, Ramadan restrictions no longer applied and so we were able to get coffee and some brunch from Starbucks. The staff seemed pleased to have something to do and we spent enough to qualify for a free branded hand held fan. The airport seemed almost deserted and we could not imagine that any of the retail outlets were making a profit. Once again, the flight was not full so we were able to have a window seat each. The flight itself was short and low. So low that we were not above the cloud cover and Robert could see the coastline for the whole flight [see Video of the day]. We ordered a Grab from the airport to The Waterfront Hotel. Our room gave us a fine view across the Sarawak River to the New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly […]
Brunei
Read this blog: The one where we avoid man-eating crocodiles, aggressive monkeys and small snakes Wednesday 12th March 2025 Robert would probably have chosen to spend less than four days in a dry country if he had had the option but the length of time we spent in Brunei was dictated by the timing of our onward connecting flight to Kuching. With a few days to fill, and to pander to Matilda’s love of luxury, he decided to book two nights at The Empire Brunei in Jerudong which is variously described as a five, six or seven star hotel depending on which web-site you look at. When we checked in we were advised to beware of monkeys who might be scavenging for food and this was reinforced by the sign on the door out to our balcony. The hotel has lush lawns and a private beach but we were effectively advised against using the beach or swimming in the sea because of the risk of crocodile attack. We had previously believed that crocodiles were fresh water reptiles and were sceptical about the threat they might pose. However, Robert’s research revealed that saltwater crocodiles are indeed found in the backwaters along […]
Read this blog: The one where our breakfast is kept a secret Tuesday 11th March 2025 On the first morning at the Radisson Blu Hotel we had struggled to find breakfast. We later realised that this was probably because tourists like us who were not observing Ramadan were being kept hidden away so as not to offend those who were fasting. We went for our secret breakfast then straight out to the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. The visiting hours for tourists/non-Muslims during Ramadan were between 08:30 and 11:30. The mosque is named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei, [the father of the current Sultan] who helped to design it as well as providing the US$5 million funding from his personal fortune needed to build it. It was completed in 1958 and with a golden dome which dominates the city skyline it has since become the most photographed and iconic site in the country. The construction of the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque used many of the world’s most expensive and sought-after materials including Italian marble; granite from Shanghai; English stained glass and chandeliers and handmade carpets from Belgium and Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest mosques in the […]
Read this blog: The one where we try Butter Chicken Masala pizza Monday 10th March 2025 Matilda has been struggling to remember the name of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam [the official name of the country] but in various places it is simplified to its initials so we considered adopting this convention. Various facts were revealed during our research and background reading. Brunei is one of the few dry countries in the world. Shockingly, fuel is cheaper here than drinking water. This might account for the quite aggressive driving style since there is no need to worry about accelerating and breaking gently to conserve fuel. We frequently heard the sort of throaty roar of a petrol engine which Jeremy Clarkson might enjoy. Alternatively it is possible that the driving seemed more aggressive to us after the relative gridlock in Manila where the volume of cars on the road meant that it was not possible to accelerate away from junctions or drive anywhere at any speed. Despite its vast oil wealth the country has managed to preserve 70% of its forests and owns a cattle farm in Australia which is larger than the country of Brunei itself. The animals are […]
Read this blog: The one where we watch an International fireworks competition Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th March 2025 Robert wanted to tick off his 53rd Hard Rock Café so we ordered a Grab to take us to the Mall of Asia, a large shopping mall built on reclaimed land. Momo the happy Corgi welcomes visitors to the Mall of Asia. The Grab dropped us at the Conrad Hotel and, while Robert was paying the fare, a charming hotel attendant opened the car door for Matilda and asked her if she had come for the fireworks. He explained that there was a competition going on and that there would be fireworks over the bay that night. A quick google search revealed that the 12th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition [PIPC] was taking place on Seaside Boulevard and that on 8th March our home team the UK, represented by Pyrotex Fireworx, would be up against South Korea’s Faseecom. The restaurants in and around the Mall of Asia were gearing up for the crowds and whilst we did not want to stay and become embroiled with the masses, we felt we might be able to see something from the Sky Bar at our […]