MY 2-DAY TRIP IN THE MAJESTIC COUNTRY OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

  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

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

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:

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.

MACAU: TOURING AROUND THE "LAS VEGAS" OF ASIA

The Parisian Mall in Cotai, Macau

Macau (or Macao) is a bustling, densely populated Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, which means that this is not a country but a part of China.  It is famous for its brand as the Asia's "Las Vegas" for its massive casinos and tourism, but it also boasts a rich Portuguese colonial history reflected in its unique culture, cuisine (like egg tarts), and architecture.  Once a Portuguese territory until 1999, it operates under "One Country, Two Systems", enjoying high autonomy, and blends Chinese heritage with European influences, offering attractions from historic sites like St. Paul's Ruins to modern resorts on the Cotai Strip.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) Port Terminal

This is a part of my February 1-6, 2025 Hong Kong-Jeju Island (South Korea) -Hong Kong-Macau Trip which included three climbs: Tai Mo Shan (Hongkong), Seongsan Ilchulbong (Jeju Island, South Korea) and Suicide Cliff of Kowloon Peak (Hongkong).

February 5, 2025

Arrival at Macau Immigration Checkpoint

This trip started when my Hongkong trip ended at 7:32 P.M. of February 5, 2025 boarding a bus from Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Bus Terminal.  We arrived at Macau Immigration Checkpoint at 8:38 P.M.  Despite being tired for various activities we had for the whole day, excitement besieged me as this was my first time in Macau.

Sofitel Hotel of Macau

From the Immigration checkpoint, we took a very long line waiting for the bus.   There are designated bus number of each destination.  I did not actually exchange for Macau currency which is Macanese Pataca since Hongkong Dollars are accepted in Macau.  Fort he bus fare going near our hotel accommodation, I paid HKD6 or P58.65.  I learned that the minimum fare is actually HKD6.  For each   HKD1, it is equivalent to 1.03 Macanese Pataca.

Passing thru this impressive building

At 9:35 P.M., we were still looking for our hotel location which was at central spot near Senado Square, offering heritage charm and easy access to historic sites.  In short, it is located in the old city of Macau.  Buildings and roads are of century-old design.   Yes, the roads are made up of narrow cobblestone or designed calcada portuguesa with Portuguese colonial building on both sides.

Walking along the cobblestone street heading to St. Paul's Ruins

I actually did not take picture of our hotel, but its name was Hou Kong Hotel located at Travessa das Virtudes No. 1, Sao Lourenco, Macau City Center, Macau, China.  The place looks clean and orderly anyway with traces of an old building.  We have been given an orientation by the hotel staff.

The iconic St. Paul's Ruins

It was already 10:33 P.M. when we reached the historical ruins by walking and all shops and establishments has been closed already.  We were already hungry.  So, we found the only bakery opened and I was excited to buy a bread which looks like "foding" in the Philippines which costs HKD5.5 or P53.76.  However, I was disappointed for it was not as tasty as the "foding", it was far from what I have expected and so swallowed it in big chunks just have my stomach filled with something and drink water which I took from the hotel.  Let me explain to you what "foding" is, these are unsold bread of different varieties and being mixed up and cooked again to form another form of bread which is "foding".  It is a term used in Manila but in Waray, it is called "tikoy".

Largo da Companhia de Jesus (Jesuit Companions Square

This square is a historic spot dedicated to the Jesuits who built the original church, now filled with souvenir shops and snacks as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.  During day time this square is crowded with tourists.

The landscape fronting St. Paul's ruins

This vantage point from St. Paul's Ruins

Our group picture before leaving the ruins

Let me show you some pictures on how beautiful the old buildings are and sights are when we had a walk going back to our hotel.

The concrete stairs of St. Paul's Ruins down to Jesuit Companions Square

Taking a walk going back to the hotel

Passing thru this point

The cobblestone roads here are glazy

Santa Casa da Misericordia

The indicator of a Chinese New Year

The Instituto para os Assuntos Municipais

Let's translate this to English:  It means "Institute of Municipal Affairs".  The square fronting this building is the Senado Square (Largo deo Senado).  It is located at 163 Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, was previously known as the "Leal Senado" Building and was the seat of the city council for centuries. the square was named after the council building, and is a major historial and urban center of Macau.

Look at this mural

Just two blocks away from our hotel accommodation

We were at the hotel at 12:20 midnight.  As usual, it was my Beshie Chris Palacio who was my roommate.  Tired of the whole day's activity from Hongkong and to Macau, we slept soundly in our respective beds.

February 6, 2025

While at Parque de Seac Pai Van (Seac Pai Van Park)

This is Macau's largest natural park, located in Coloane, known for its Giant Panda Pavilion and as a large green space with wildlife exhibits like red pandas, primates, and birds,  plus botanical gardens, museums, playgrounds, and walking trails, offering a family-friendly escape with free general admission and a small fee for pandas.

Still at Seac Pai Van Park

Group picture at the Panda Pavilion of Seac Pai Van Park

The spacious Seac Pai Van Park with the modern buildings at the backdrop

The following are random shots of the city while boarding a bus

Studio City is a hotel casino resort which is a Hollywood studio-themed leisure resort and is the first in Asia to integrate television and film production facilities, retail, gaming and hotels.

Heading to Parisian Resort Hotel and Mall

The Parisian Macau is an integrated hotel resort inspired by the wonder of Paris.  It features a half-scale recreation of the Eiffel Tower, including approximately 2,500 guestrooms and suites, convention and meeting space, international restaurants, kid's club, health club, spa, pool deck with themed water park and 1,200 seat theatre.  The Shoppes at Parisian mall offers the latest fashion in a setting reminiscent of the streets of Paris, mimes and buskers adding to the authentic experience.

The pictures below were taken from Venetian Macau where it is a luxury 39-storey hotel and casino resort in Macau owned by the American Las Vegas Sands company at 10,500,000 square feet (980,000 square meters).  It is modeled on its sister casino resort the Venetian Las Vegas.

Better angle

Food court at Venetian Mall

My lunch meal

I will you the breakdown of my lunch meal in Macanese Pataca (MOP) currency:

         Deep friend Port Cutlet set   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MOP  138

         Extra rice  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -              16

         Bottled water   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -                8

                                                                    Total                     MOP  162   or P1,198.92 or US$20.21   

                                                                                                 ======

Other expenses in Macau: (for the second day)

         Food delicacies (pasalubong) - - - - - - - - - MOP 100.00

         Ref magnets  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -             65.00

         Snacks   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -              32.40

         Bus fares (4 routes at minimum fare of 6)-             24.00

                                                         Total             MOP 221.40 or P1,638.52 or US$27.62

                                                                              =========

I left Macau International Airport at 10:25 P.M. boarding Cebu Pacific Flight No. 5J 363 and arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 at 12:40 dawn of February 7, 2025.

THANKS FOR READING!