BI0421 Royal Brunei Airlines - Departing Bandar Seri Begawan 10.40am - Arriving Singapore Terminal 2 12.45pm.

Brunei Day II

Was great to wake up with no more headache! Had to scrurry to pack up my stuff, which I couldn't manage to do the night before. Then went down to have our breakfast.

The cafe was pretty empty. Only 2 other tables were full. We surveyed the menu and settled on the waffles with honey.

Was a change not to have breakfast from a buffet spread. But it took forever to come! Was worth the wait though.

The waffles were wonderfully presented and absolutely fantastic. Bad news was we couldn't have another serving. (Was tempted to order again, but I left my wallet upstairs :/)



We went back up to take our cameras, then went across to the riverside. It sure was a sunny sunny day. Took some pics then went back up when we realised too many curious eyes on us.




Last-minute check all around, then proceeded to wait for the driver at the lobby. He sure is a sullen character!

MD and I chatted away at the lobby, until he told us to wait in the van for the other passengeres. Oops, were we making too much noise?

Our travelling companion turns out to be our breakfast companion at the other table with two gorgeous kids! The older boy especially, was so energetic and inquisitive!

Felt a pang. Miss sis loads and so can't wait to see deNephew!

Check-in was smooth. But the airport was pretty deserted. Ours must be among teh first flights out.

Felt guilty when we spotted MM's parents, who said they've been waiting since around 7+! We were still at the hotel having breakfast thens! MM apparently was still asleep, thus the no-response to MD's SMS that we were only leaving the hotel at 8.30am!

MM's parents so kindly got us even more souvenirs! So much for our plans to travel trim. A couple more pictures before we went in while they went off to work.

We left our packages at one of the seats (a no-no should we have been in Singapore. hehe) and explored some of the shops that just opened.

Wanted to have some drinks, but the cafe operator told us she was just starting the water to boil, so walked around some more shops. Bought some other souvenirs.

As we headed for the cafe again, spotted some familiar characters in maroon polo-Ts. It's the YTSS kids again, on their way back to Singapore too!

I only wanted some juice to quench my thirst, but took me so long to get served taht our flight got called in the process. Felt a bit stressed that it was the last call and I was still desperately trying to get a drink. LOL.

Persevered and got served. Gulped down by drink before we set off to the gate.



There was quite a lot of families with small kids on the flight back. The couple beside us had twins! So adorable. The couple with the cute kids apparently was also on the same flight.




The cute steward we met on the last flight wasn't flying today. But the steward serving us was a nice guy anyways, who kept his cool even when a pompous passenger insisted he backed right up the aisle so that she can pass to go to the washroom. Wanna bet that she's Singaporean? :@

Soon enough, we touched down back in Singapore. RM was waiting for us, grinning, right outside the gate. Could feel MD's flood of relief seeing him. LOL.

Was waiting anxiously for my luggage to make its appearance, then almost ran all the way to the cab stand. Well, I was running in my mind, anyways.

Dear DeNephew... Finally I'm on my way to you...........

Kota Kinabalu-Brunei Day I

We had to have an early breakfast to be in time for our airport pick-up. Was lucky to get a empty table as we walked in though.

The breakfast spread was uninspiring. Ate quickly and went back up to our room.

Did a last minute check all-around, some photo-taking, then proceeded to the lobby to wait for our airport transfer.







The gentleman at the door who've came to recognise our faces chatted with us. Asking what we have been up to for our stay there. We took some momento photos with him, just as our driver came along.

Check in at the KK Airport was rather confusing. It was a common check-in for all flights, but the area was so open, we didn't realise we had somehoe missed the security clearance. Hah! Defeats the purpose then, rights?

Anyways, lost our place in the queue to go to get our bags tagged. But getting our boarding passes was quick enough.

Went to the souvenir shop to get a T-shirt for Bro. LOL. His T-shirt collection starting to bear testament of places I've been to.

Also got a pair of cute little monkeys for my nephew, who had yet to made his appearance into the world. Partly wish he'd wait til I'm back. But that would be cruel on Sis.







We got seats on one of the last few rows again. Flight was pretty uneventful. Soon enough, we reached Bandar Seri Begawan again.

My bag didn't take too long to appear this time around, but customs was a bit slow. MD was puzzled how I was laughing away when the guy checking my bag seemed so serious. LOL. Well, he has those dry sense of humour with the ability to keep a perfectly straight face while teasing me!

We couldn't find the driver for the hotel transfer, so waited around. Managed to spot a fella hurrying in and he did turn out to be our driver. He however asked us to wait as there were still some passengers who have yet to around.

We passed the time taking pictures yet again.

It was quite some time before the driver said we could go. Apaprently our fellow passengers were some Thais who probably stayed overseas, judging from their accents. They had a cute little boy who kept looking over curiously.

Our hotel seems right in the town area, and beside a river. Very cosy and homely. We went up, shed our bags, and laid around a while.

MD was just wondering when her friend would pick us up since he didn not reply to her SMS when we received a knock on the door.

We fiddled around with the door's peephole for a while, unsuccessfully, then finally just open the door. It was MD's childhood friend, MM.

She told him to give us a few minutes and we'd meet him downstairs. Then wondered how he could have found out our room. Pointed out to her a sign that says we were supposed to inform Reception if we did not want anyone calling on us. Aha!

MM brought a couple of his friends along, LZ and FZ. Went to have lunch at a fast food restaurant before depositing us gals at a shopping centre while he did his Friday prayers.

LZ and FZ brought us around Yayasan, one of the bigger malls around. It looks pretty much like any Singaporean mall, with much similar shops. MD and I got smitten with some bags, but felt too lazy to add on purchases that would add bulk to our luggage. Hehee.

After going around for a couple of hours, we retired to KFC for some drinks, where MM met us. Told us some corny jokes before we set off again.

We went around Brunei's famed Kampung Ayer, where MD reminisced about almost falling out of a boat before on her way to a wedding reception with her family.



Then went around the two major and absolutely stunning mosques. The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque looked so majestic, especially againts the backdrop of such wonderfully clear skies.



It was much more difficult to get a good shot of the newer Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, which was more enclosed. The grandeur stretched from the gold-arched gates to the beautiful landscaping around with its water fountains.




MM pointed how there was a special foyer only to be used by the royal family. WOW is all I can say.

Next stop: The Mall, which was still in the Gadong area. The biggest mall in Brunei and apparently the most "happening". MM told us that it would be more crowded in the evening, when it'll open til about 10pm.

More walking around. All the travelling around were taking a toll on me and MD actually. MM is a bit disppointed that we are not in a shopping frenzy, I think. We stopped by the foodcourt for more munching and drinking.

Since MD and I weren't inspired to do any more shopping, MM decided to do some driving around. He took us to the sole university in Brunei. Fantastic architecture! I'm envious that we don't have such beautiful campus in Singapore.

MM dropped by the faculty of ... to show off his department. MD and I exchanged a look. It's difficult to imagine MM in an official capacity working at the religious department when he's currently dressed like a hip-hopster!

Next to Hutan Simpanan Berakas. Roads leading to the beach were so steep and winding! But the view at the beach was fantastic. Loved looking at the clear blue skies.

LZ & FZ went done to fool around by the sea. We older folks just stayed and lepak. LOL.




We subsequently visited Pantai Muara and Pantai Serasa. More walks along memory lane for MD. Another stop at a stall for snacks and drinks. These Bruneian youths sure do a lot of this!






What was funny was at one point, MM spotted LZ family, causing LZ and FZ to suddenly scuttle down the seats. LOL. Apparently they weren't supposed to be out with him.

MM dropped by the town's soccer "port" to look up some friends, before we dropped off the gals at LZ's home. Then proceeded to MM's current residence, where MD and family used to stay.

Driving in, we saw 3 other vehicles! MM pointed out his car, as well as his siblings' vehicles. Heads started popping up from the windows, before MM's mum greeted us at the door.

The conversation was stilted at the start, us trying to udnerstand each other's lingo and trying to make ourselves understood.

MD started not too feel so well again, and her coughs prompted Mm to be off to the shops to get some cough syrup for her. MM's parents and granddad grilled MM on her family as we were served with light refreshments.

We were comfortably cocooned in the family's living room, separated from the rest of the house by a glass screen. I kept seeing more and more people passing by the screen, occasionally popping in to say hi.

It was only when we were ushered in for dinner that we realised they were a LOT of people around! MM had told us all his siblings, even those married live in the same house, but surely this are not just his siblings??

Dinner was delish! But MD and I were pretty tired out taht we told MM we'd skip visiting Jerudong Park, though taht was supposed to be the highlight of my trip here.

A mad scramble for group photo-taking ensued. MM's nephew was warming up to us, and really enjoyed taking pics! ;)

MM drove us back with his cuzz ND and youngest bro, but the ride was pretty silent. My head was threatening to explode actually, can't wait to lie down in bed!

MM drove pretty fast along the almost deserted roads, but the hotel was still almost an hour away. Felt bad that we were ending the night when they seemed hyped to show us more of Brunei.

But was such a relief to be able to lie down. Even Bro's call that my nephew has finally arrived did not manage to garner enough excitement.

Kota kinabalu Day III

Decided to take things easy and sleep in and have breakfast later, since I observed that when we left the hotel at 9am the day before, the cafe was pretty empty.

I was right, the crowd seems to ease off as the morning progressed. The cafe was barely half full.

We asked reception their recommendation for a place to get local handicrafts. Tey gave us a map. Discovered to our surprise that Sinsuran Complex, was pretty near Centrepoint, where we were at the night before.

Planned and plotted and finally decided to take the shuttle to Centrepoint again and walk to the Filipina handicrafts market and Sinsuran Complex.

The shopping centres have not fully opened yet when we were dropped off. Made one round circling Centrepoint and still could not see a Sinsuran Complex. Decided to just cross over to where a more major building stood.

Nopes. Not Sinsuran. Asked a passerby and she pointed us back across. So went back across. Asked a security guard for confirmation. He pointed up ahead.

So up we went. No complexes about. But rediscovered the crafts market that we'd wanted to visit our first night here. Went round and round and saw no Sinsuran Complex although it was so clearly marked on the map.

Ended up at KK Plaza instead. Got a badly needed drink of cool water. Walked around and ended up with some clothes for ourselves.

Went back to the handicrafts market and finally made purchases for those back home. There were some interesting stuff but not "portable" enough considering I need to get quite a few stuff for colleagues. SIGH.

Asked one of the salegirl regarding Sinsuran Complex. She gestured to the shophouses across. SIGH. I KNOW the area is Sinsuran, but where the heck is the Complex?? Had read in a magazine that they have a specialty handicraft store which seemed interesting.

We debated on whether we should walk straight to Wisma, but instead went back to Centrepoint to wait for the hotel shuttle. Got ourselves another drink then walked around the departmental store near the exit. We did not miss the hotel shuttle this time round.

Driver brought us to Wisma. It's smaller that Centrepoint, but tehre's quite a number of shops packed together. We decided to go way up then wrok our way dow.

There were a lot of beauty shops around, but none which offers a manicure for us to relax a while. After more walking, though, discovered a shop which offered nail-art. Cool. Only at RM$20.



The girl doing our nails was pretty chatty. Made us clarify why we can't pray if we use nail polish. Then made us explain why we are doing our nails then. LOL.

Further conversation revealed how though Islam is not really dominant in Borneo, those professing it there can be more "strict". I think it's more a matter of close-mindedness such that some were picky even of those they interact with.

YV, apparently had stayed in Singapore for quite a while doing her Ns and Os. She disclosed she had quite enjoyed herself there, living pretty near the town area, though she was periodically homesick. She had since given up her PR, having found someone to settle down with at KK.

MD and I did some more walking around, before settling down at CoffeeBean to have our lunch. Was a treat to be able to eat absoloutely anything and everything from CoffeeBean.





MD remarked how much I seemed to love Italian food judging from my choice of lasagna, and spaghetti the night before. LOL.

Hung around for quite a long time. Then gave ourselves an hour for last-minute shopping before the hotel shuttle pick us up. Finally grabbed some stuff I could give my colleagues.

Was smitten with a tunic-dress, but didn't have enough cash left and the shop didn't accept cards. Made so many rounds but couldn't find a Cirrus ATM. Finally "bumped" into a Maybank Cirrus ATM while trying to find a moneychanger! Duh!

MD also got tempted into getting a handbag for herself. Haha. Also remembered at the last minute that although she had remembered to get wrapping paper for the gifts for our Bruneian hosts, she did not have any scotch-tape to put it together! Hehe.

We went out the designated exit and found to our disappointment that the drizzle was turning into a heavy downpour. We had wanted to take pictures at near the seaside just across the road from Wisma.



Fooled around taking pictures of ourselves until the hotel shuttle finally arrived. Was trying to figure out what to do for the rest of the evening. Decided to walk over to Kalamunsing Palaza from the hotel if it was no longer raining after we shower down and if we still felt like it. Hehe.

After the shower was feeling pretty lazy though. Sorted out our purchases and began packing. Then decided to just order in room service for dinner.

Dinner took so so so long though. Was cold when it finally arrived!



MD didn't feel too well after dinner. Tried to get reception to get us a doctor, but can't even get through to reception. When I finally could, the doctor took like forever to come.

Was feeling helpless what to do meanwhile to make MD feel better. Still felt helpless when the doctor came, coz he seems so bumbling! Couldn't even get his bag opened, then proceeded to spill its contents all over!

Made sure I got his full contact details as I showed him out. Just in the case we needed to clarify whatever he did.

MD was feeling a bit better after the jab, but was still having trouble trying to get to sleep.

I was having some trouble myself, getting calls with some sad news with regards to a friend's dad, and subsequently news from Bro that Sis was being admitted to the hospital.

Wished I was back home, or at least on my way there.