I pop over to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam often to visit friends in Tamburong, and some times just to get a way from the busy city life of KK. Brunei is a quiet and friendly place . Not much to do.
However from my last write up about the bus service? This was another adventure.
The ferry arrived on time as always . I spoke to a couple on the ferry from Denmark. Really nice couple who was just going for one night , just to see what it was like.
So I told them of some of the fantastic things you can see,." Get to that in a moment."
I asked if the bus does not arrive if they would like to share a TAXI and that as its the end of the month . The ferry back may be full, so better buy a ticket,
They did, and I reserved, What a surprise. Keeping an eye on the bus stop. No purple bus!
We seemed to be the only ones waiting , this time the ferry was not carrying many passengers. We waited and waited. A Taxi driver asked , Can he take us, No we replied as the cost was to much for the two back packers. I said wait and the price may go down . And so it did. From $30 down to $20 . Still no bus and the taxi driver said only come 3.30 pm.
So unreliable.
The Taxi driver I think must have been private , But Such a nice person. He asked where are we are staying. Again on my last write up. Its difficult to find any place under $80 . £40 a night , so expensive. Well! As it was so Quiet in town that week end, he said “i can take you to 3 places” . He even priced and phoned for resivisions. I said about a place for back packers that was $10 .” Umm ... I know where that it I will phoned, he phoned and booked us in told us it was clean and nice”.
When we arrived it was just round the corner from the Meridian that cost me $80 for a poky little room And missed breakfast as we had to go before 8 am.
The place was the Youth centre. Why is it called that, It was wonderful . A 5 min walk way from the river. and town. Clean . My first time in a place like this. OK if your a couple you cannot share. Boy and girls separate dorms. Clean with air con. And a large swimming pool too.
The couple and I arranged to go to town. I was only saying about the boat trips , As I just said . One boat man asked would we like to go . I ask how much . As you can be ripped off. He said $10 each. Perfect. We got on the boat . It was high tide .
This trip was one of the best I had been on. As this boat man took us through, in , and under the water village . The largest water village in the world I have been told.
He bought us cola and water and then took us to where I had been before , to see the Proboscis Monkeys.
To see the faces on those two people I shared with was fantastic. As I talked them into going , they loved it. Sadly not many Proboscis, As my last visit , They had cut down all the trees on the opposite bank where all the monkeys use to come by to drink . So sad. But we saw a few.
In the end we were out for almost 2.5 hours. The boat man dropped us off at the Mosque at dusk. he asked where we would like to go first. Just in time so I could show the couple the beauty of the masque.
Nice to see they have cleared allot of the rubbish. But still so much floating in the water ways.
Next day. To catch the bus we had to be up 5.30. catch the bus 6 am. next 7am. HA HA what a joke . Like last time. No bus. We asked. Bus arrive 7 am . Well the bus arrived 6.30 am. we got on waited asked what time it leave . The driver replied “leave here 7 PM “ So funny , he sat 10 min and the started off 6.40 am.
Everything after that was fine, my ferry went at 8.15 am they went at 8.45. the 8 am ferry was full.
So we saved money and had fun. So by all means go have fun in Brunei, Just remember to ask others to share. Taxi if there is no bus. And have a good time. Write and stop the cutting, destruction of wild life habitat . On the way back money spare to buy some duty frees. you can get a hair cut shave and a massage all for 5 RM for the ben in Lubwan.
Thank you
