The Jame ASR Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
This is my first time to visit Brunei Darussalam, just a side trip when I climbed Mount Kinabalu. Just for a reference, Brunei is a tiny nation on the island of Borneo with a total area of 5,765 square kilometers or 2,226 square miles, where the island of Samar of the Philippines is even bigger with a total land area of 6,048.03 square kilometers. It has 2 distinct sections surrounded by Malaysia and the South China Sea. The capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan, the only city of the country, the home to the opulent Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque and its 29 golden domes. The capital's massive Istana Nurul Iman palace is the residence of Brunei's ruling sultan.
Day 1 - Evening Stroll
Lunch stopover in the town of Pekan Sipitang of Sabah, Malaysia
Our tour package afforded us to have a van transport from the city of Kota Kinabalu, also a part of Sabah, Malaysia. After 2 hours and 50 minutes of land travel from Kota Kinabalu, we had a stopover for lunch in the town of Pekan Sipitang, also a part of Sabah.
Arriving Brunei after 6 hours of land travel from Kota Kinabalu
It actually took us four passport stamps for our land travel from Kota Kinabalu to Brunei, because there is a need to cross both Sarawak/Sabah and Brunei/Malaysia borders. You will get stamped out of Sabah, into/out of Sarawak/Limbang, and into/out of Brunei's exclave (Temburong) before reaching mainland Brunei. This this is the detailed road travel key checkpoints:
Checkpoint 1: Exit Sabah, Malaysia (Sindumin)
Checkpoint 2: Enter Sarawak, Malaysia (Merapok)
Checkpoint 3: Exit Sarawak (Limbang/Pandaruan)
Checkpoint 4: Enter Brunei (Temburong District)
Dinner treat at Borneo Kopitiam Restaurant with my cousin
As soon as we arrived in Brunei, my travel buddies had check-in to their accommodation which is just within the city center while I my cousin, Jovito Bracero, who works in Brunei, met me and treated me for dinner at Borneo Kopitiam and drove me to my accommodation at Poni Homestay just near his accommodation. It was our first meeting after so many years, so he gave me 50 Brunei Dollars with peso equivalent of P2,350 and a Philippine peso of P1,700. I only exchanged P6,000 at the nearby foreign exchange which was converted to 130.43 Brunei Dollars.
The Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge
After dinner, Jovito tour me around Brunei. The first destination that we visited was the entrance of the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge. This is the very bridge that we passed thru earlier in going to Brunei from Kota Kinabalu. This is also called Temburong Bridge, a 30-kilometer and US$1.7B structure connecting Brunei's Temburong District to the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. It is considered as the Southeast Asia's longest bridge which includes 14km of marine viaducts, 12km of swamp viaducts, two cable-stayed spans, and advanced RGBW LED lighting, cutting travel time to under 30 minutes.
With the backdrop of Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge
Jovito served to be my photographer and videographer. He drove me from point to point of destination where he showed to me. Luckily, the evening weather was perfect. The weather is just the same with that of the Philippines.
With the backdrop of Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
This area which Jovito brought me is a part of Brunei Darussalam Heritage Trail where we entered the Perpuspaan Main Gate 1968, this is a historic monument in Bandar Seri Begawan of Brunei, built to commemorate the coronation of the current Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, in August 1968. This was originally located at a water village entrance, it was moved to its current site near the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in 1993.
The dancing light fountain
Another angle shot of the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
A wider angle shot of the Perpuspaan Main Gate 1968
The giant picture frame
The following are random shots while I was boarding my cousin's car heading to my accommodation where I stayed for 3 days and 2 nights.
After the quick evening tour, my cousin dropped me to my accommodation to check-in at 10:21 P.M. It was so close to his accommodation where he works.
Poni Homestay: My accommodation
Poni Homestay is a 3-star accommodation in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei located about 18.9 kilometers from the city center which sits in Muara at Lot 3480, Simpang 170, Jalan Serasa. It has free parking on site and free wifi set with airconditioned rooms with a garden view. It is so close to snorkeling area. In fact, most of the guests are scuba divers.
Day 2 - Day Tour
My cousin drove me to the city center to meet my travel buddies that availed this Brunei travel package. It was such a refreshing day blessed with a perfect weather.
The Gadong Centerpoint
I was the only joiner who checked in outside the city center, thus, my cousin has to drive me to meet all my travel buddies at the city center early in the morning.
A Jollibee fastfood in Brunei city center
There is a Jollibee fastfood in Brunei, the topmost favorite fastfood of Filipinos, unfortunately, I had already a breakfast in my cousin's flat.
The Mall
This is just next block to Gadong Centerpoint. Since, I arrived at 6:14 A.M. so early for the day tour, I explored alone at the nearby establishments establishments. They were still sleeping in their rooms.
First Destination: Royal Regalia Museum
The Royal Regalia Museum
For the entrance at the museum, I paid 6 Brunei Dollars or an equivalent of P261. By the way, ours was not really a tour package. It was only organized for us, and we have to pay on the spot for every location we are in with no add on at all. Just a bonus for us by our Mount Kinabalu climb service provider in the person of
Dr. Eric Ranchez and wife
Jonah Chavez Ranchez. This is also the arrangement for our Kota Kinabalu city tour.
To get inside the museum, one has to remove his/her footwear and leave it at the entrance. The following pictures are taken inside the museum:
The Royal Regalia Museum is originally built as a monument in 1965, the museum had a makeover and expansion in 1992 that combined constructivist and Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) architectural elements. It later underwent a transition into a museum. The building, which still has some of its original features intact, currently houses historical antiques and royal regalia from Brunei, signifying the country's rich cultural legacy and royal customs.
Mannequins dressed in honor guard and traditional uniforms
Mannequin dressed in traditional uniform
Mannequin dressed in traditional uniform
Other highlights in the museum is a large, silver royal chariot used for the Sultan's Silver Jubilee parade in 1992, coronation crowns, ceremonial weapons, and lavish gifts from international dignitaries. It also features exhibits on the Silver and Golden Jubilees and ornate state gifts from various heads of state and world leaders.
Second Destination: The Big Wall
The Big Wall
This attraction is a massive 15-story high mural located on Jalan Roberts in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, which was created by local artists to beautify the area where it features vibrant paintings of Kampong Ayer, the national Bunga Simpur flower, and Jawi calligraphy, makit it a popular cultural landmark and photo spot.
Third Destination: The Colored Buildings
The Colored Buildings
These colored buildings near the prominent wall in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, refer to the vibrant, multi-story shophouses located along Jalan Roberts and Jalan Sultan. Situated opposite the massive stone retention wall that borders the Yayasan area, these colorful, historic structures blend traditional Chinese and Malay architecture.
Fourth Destination: The Frame Brunei Darussalam
The Frame Brunei Darussalam
This landmark is a 9.3-meter-high, modern, picture-frame-shaped landmark located in Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas (TMJE), Bandar Seri Begawan. It is situated along the waterfront, which is a popular photo spot offers scenic, framed views of Kampong Ayer and the nearby Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. This is conveniently located near food center, cafes, a souviner shop, and ATMs, making it easy to visit during a walk along the waterfront. It is open for public which means, it does not have an entrance fee.
Fifth Destination: The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque taken from The Frame Brunei Darussalam
Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is one of the two state mosques (masjid negara), the other being Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque. It is one of the biggest and most striking mosques in the Far East, where it was completed in 1958 at a cost of US$5 million, built by the eponymous Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei.
The main entrance to Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
It takes around 2 minutes walk or a distance of 350 meters from The Frame Brunei Darussalam landmark to Omar Ali Saifuddient Mosque.
With the backdrop of Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque wearing thobe or jubba
The thobe or jubba is adopted as a modest, comfortable and "Sunnah" (Prophetic) way of dressing, often seen on Fridays at the mosque. It serves as a symbol of religious devotion rather than being solely traditional attire to Brunei.
Felt deeply the grandeur of the mosque
We were lucky that there was a mosque administrator who assisted us and provided us with thobe and toured us around the mosque. He also volunteered to be our photographer and videographer.
Inside the mosque with my travel buddies
Had it been a prayer hour, then we won't be allowed to get inside the mosque. Thanks the mosque administrator who accommodated us.
I was with the mosque administrator
Touring around the peripherals of the mosque
Still a part of the mosque outside the main building
Still at the peripherals of the mosque
Sixth Destination: Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
The Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
This highly impressive and holy landmark is approximately 5 to 6 kilometers from Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and it will take 10 to 15 minutes for a drive. It is located in Kampong Kiarong near the Brunei River, northwest of the city center.
Getting closer to the holy mosque
Another captured angle of the mosque
A souvenir picture despite the searing heat of the sun
Seventh Destination: Souvenir Buying
Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanil Bolkiah Complex
It is actually a good sized mall with some shops, a market, a couple of food courts as well as outdoor street food vendors in the evenings. Like most malls, prices here is higher than the street food a the night markets. The one good benefit of the mall is the air conditioning to provide some relief from the heat and humidity. Brunei is really that humid. One needs to bring more than enough drinking water.
Eighth Destination: Kampong Ayer Water Village Boat Tours and Temburong River Tours
The Bandar Seri Begawan waterfront
For us to take a water taxi jetty for Kampong Ayer boat tours, we proceed to Bandar Seri Begawan Waterfront just beside the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge.
Capturing the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge
Boarding a water taxi jetty
What is Kampong Ayer?
Kampong Ayer is the world's largest stilt village in Brunei known as the "Venice of the East," a historic 1,000-year old settlement consists of over 40 interconnected villages, 38 kilometers of wooden walkways, homes, schools, mosques, and police station all built on water. Other captured pictures of Kampong Ayer.
The Temburong River Tours
Back to Bandar Seri Begawan Waterfront
Searching for sunset but to no avail
Heading for a sumptuous seafoods dinner
Day 3 - Wash Day and Departure for Manila
My cousin's accommodation
My third day stay in Brunei was purely a rest day since my flight was at the evening. Thus, I stayed with my cousin and washed and dry my clothes there.
Almond chocolate from Brunei for 8.90 Brunei Dollars
Arriving at Brunei International Airport at 6:43 P.M.
As early as 3:30 P.M., my cousin drove me around Brunei, but I decided to just stay in his car and we only had a sightseeing, except that we went to The Mall to buy some souvenirs and pasalubong. Just to give you an idea, the cheapest refrigerator magnet costs 2.90 Brunei Dollars or P136.72. An almond chocolate bar costs 8.90 Brunei Dollars or P420. A small cup of halo-halo with ice cream in the mall is 2.50 Brunei Dollars or P118. Then, finally, he treated me with a dinner in the nearby Jollibee fastfood chain drove me to the airport.
While at Brunei International Airport
The airport's check-in area
A mosque inside the airport area
Finally, at the boarding gate for my Manila flight
Thank you Brunei Darussalam for a worthwhile and unforgettable experience. I really value this cultural experience.
