21.04.2010

What I can say about Brunei? It’s a clean and small country. Not many people and cars on the street, with boats as one of the main transportation. People are friendly and passionate, yet not too annoying as in some other countries.

Because of uncertain bus schedule and the location of my accommodation, I decided to try my luck to hitch hiking to the city center, to the place I wish to stay. Fortunately a Chinese lady in her 30s-40s pulled over her car and fetched me to the place. What a grace! On the way there she kept telling me about Brunei. I would not say that Brunei is a good place for hitch hiking, but I would say that there is still some people wouldn’t mind to give you a lift, especially for people of same race. (I’m not a racist, but this is a fact in South East Asia I think, especially for Chinese. Agree?)

I stay in Pusat Belia (Youth Canter) now. It’s actually a place for youth to have some activities, such as swimming, gym, etc. It’s really nice. B$ 10 per night per bed, bathroom outside, is the cheapest accommodation one can get in Bandar Seri Begawan. Although it is cheap, but it’s really clean, even the toilet, one can’t actually smell the smell of pee. Though it’s dormitory style accommodation, but the management here will do their best to arrange a room for each group of travelers. I’m occupying one dormitory room myself. I would say that this place is more than just good.

Brunei has got a nickname, ‘Venice of the East’. I couldn’t more agree with that. River can be seen just outside Pusat Belia itself. As I mentioned already, boats are one of the main transport in BSB. Boats can be seen elsewhere. The boatmen will always ask traveler to take a ride. But if one rejected them, they won’t keep following. That’s one of the good things of Bruneian. Actually at the airport there’s a women promoting her travel agency to me already. But when I rejected her, she’s still nice and told me things about Brunei. The living standard of a country does affect its people, because of the high living standard of Brunei, people won’t chase you to the hell just to earn some dollars from you.

Don’t know why, the dusk of Brunei is really amazing. With the magnificent colour, it really touched me down into the heart. I spent my evening opposite Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. I would say that it is one of the most beautiful scene I had never seen. It’s like God’s artwork hanging on the sky, decorating and enhance the beauty of human creation.

Still have many many stories, just lazy and tired to write it all. Every place has its own charm, even the tiniest commonest place.