DAY TRIP TO BRUNEI

I used to frequent Brunei in the 80s on business trips. Last Wednesday, I went on a day trip to attend a meeting. It was my first, after a lapse of 21 years. 

Boarding MASwing ATR 72-500 scheduled to depart at 12:30.

A very smooth take-off with the view of all the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

  Overflying GAYA island, the home of many illegal water villages  

The resorts of Sutera, Tanjung Aru and the Kota kinabalu airport in sight when the aircraft turned southwards to Brunei.

Oxbow mangrove rivers along the coast line.

Landed at Bandar Seri Bangawan International airport on schedule at 13:05.

All passengers were transferred to the terminal by bus as aircraft was parked at the remote bay. 

Bandar Seri Bangawan, the capitol city of Brunei has changed so much from a small town to a new and modern big city. Business areas have been well established with commercial buildings especially shopping malls. Most of the roads in and around the city are dual carriageways and some even with triple lanes.

After the meeting, my friend was kind enough to give me a brief driving tour around the city.

The city area. 

It is a very clean city. I did not see any illegal immigrants roaming the streets like those in Kota Kinabalu. 

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, built in 1958 is a major landmark and tourist attraction.   

Another landmark is the Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque. It is one of the grandest monuments to Islam in the whole region. It was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary the sultan's reign. It is locally known as the Kiarong mosque.

The weather was not in my favour, I could not visit the other places like the water village and the Royal Regalia museum.    

It was raining heavily with lightning, my friend and I took refuge at the Gadong Brunei Shopping mall and ended up having dinner at he food court.

The food court in Gadong Mall. 

 

On the way to the airport, I caught the night view of the Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.

The airport was deserted in the late evening as most of the flights had departed. There was no queue for check-in and CIQ clearance.

The departure hall

Our departure time was changed from 21:50 to 22:50 because of bad weather. I was told that the aircraft was diverted to Labuan.  

Eventually we departed at 23:25 and arrived Kota kinabalu just before midnight. It was a good trip for me. I should have stayed a night in Bandar and take the half day city tour on the next day.