Alhamdulillah. Another ASEAN bucketlists done! Solo trip to Brunei on 14 February – 16 February 2019. Enough with 3 days for backpackers like me. I didn’t book any car rental or tour group. i prefer to go by my own because all busses charge only $1 Brunei Dollar, cheap la! These are my travelogue to Brunei, not so much fun things / activities, relaxing trip for food hunting only.
Day 1: 14 February 2019 – After arrival at KLIA2 about 11.00pm, i decided to chill and relax at Air Asia Lounge (RM79.00 for 3 hours but i add on 1 hour more RM25). Taking a nap at beanie area for 4 hours, then have shower & early breakfast. Walk to boarding room about 5.00am. Flight to Brunei at 6.30am. Sunny day in Brunei, pass over custom declaration even its my 1st time here. Wait at the arrival because i’m using free airport wifi TelBru, updated my family. i didn’t buy any sim card Brunei phone. Then i walk to departures area, there’s a bus waiting area. Only bus no 23,24, 38 will take you to the city. About 10 minutes later bus arrived. i met 2 malaysians & 1 Hong Kong and chatting with them. They told me their 1st visit to Brunei too. We share info where to visit and stay. Me and 2 malaysians walk together to kawasan lapang depan Masjid Omar & bought Nasi Katok Mama (price $1 – nasi, ayam goreng & sambal). Then we go to Royal Regalia Museum, free entrance. We decided to check in hotel since weather too hot & sweat enough. About 5.30pm i went to mall nearby (Plaza Athirah & Plaza Abdul Razak), window shopping and having early dinner + tapau for supper.
Day 2: 15 Feb 2019 – Its Friday morning I decided to go solo visit Kampung Ayer. Weather is too hot! i took boat from jetty nearby (behind musolla) . Boat charge $1 only (orang Brunei kata satu Ringgit ). Its like speed boat from jetty to one another. Melambung-lambung seh.. Tak berani keluarkan phone nak snap pictures. No life jacket beb!
Stroll down Kampung Ayer houses, more than 2km, until I reached Masjid Al-Muhtadee Billah. On my way there, I met few kids playing soccer, some of them playing on wood trail in front of their house. I’m not taking any pictures of them, mana tau mak ayah dia orang marah. Suasana sunyi je, ramai dalam rumah berehat mungkin. Lagi pun cuaca sangat panas, baru jam 9.00pagi kot! Jalan melalui titi kayu kena berhati-hati, salah langkah, masuk sungai . Rest jap kat jeti sebelah Balai polis Kampung Ayer. Bual-bual dengan beberapa pegawai polis & seorang temankn me jalan-jalan sampai ke Masjid. Last pit stop boat to Kianggeh Market.
Pasar Kianggeh, Muara
From Kampung Ayer via boat & enjoying riverview to this market. Boatman bawa me pusing 3 jeti sebab ada penumpang lain, one of it was nearby to Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge.
Pasar Kianggeh is where local Brunei buy their groceries, fruits, vegetables, seafood, chicken, sayur kampung & of course kampung food. Ice creme is a must! Tasty..
I bought fried shrimp, its costs $2 in big package. Nasi telur ikan panggang, sedap.. Tapi agak masin la. Air tebu pure $1 botol 600ml., manis giler!
Dropby again at Nasi Katok Mama (rice + fried chicken + sambal) tapau for lunch which costs $1! i bought mineral water at Convenience Shop store price 50 cent je botol kecil 600ml. Since its Friday, all buses & shops+mall closed at 12.30-2.30pm. Back to hotel about 11.30am. Too hot to walk around. Laid back & relaxed .
Food Hunting @ Pasar Malam Gadong
Met this 2 girls (Ita & Azie) kat airport (Johorean), stay hotel yang sama. We decided to use hotel transfer, caj $10 (return). Ini malam kami ke Pasar Malam Gadong. Makan bihun sup lamb, coconut shake, tauhu sumbat goreng, takoyaki, lamb grill. Fuh! Diet ke laut & berkongsi rezeki makan dengan diaorang. Angin kuat betul, macam tepi pantai.
Then kami berjalan ke The Mall, Gadong. Ada kedai souvenir kat luar (kedai sederet depan mall), harga murah sikit dari dalam mall. Beli shawl & ole2 buat my mom.
On da way balik, bro driver baik hati singgah kat Masjid kubah emas Jame’ Asr Hasanal Bolkiah. Rezeki kami, pintu pagar belum tutup lagi, alhamdulillah. Subhanallah, sangat cantik. Foto sakan la kami. Balik Hotel mengah sebab banyak makan ?. Packing things. Esok tghri check out & terus ke Airport.
Day 3: 16 Februari 2019 – Breakfast tosei telur ($3.00) kat kedai mamak nearby Le Galleria hotel dengan Ita & Azie. Then diaorang pergi Kampung Ayer, me back to hotel final packing. Naik bas ke airport dalam 10-15minit sahaja. Kaunter check in bagitau 7kg sahaja boleh hand carry, terpaksa la last minit check in bag. Tak pasal-pasal kena $60.00 (RM185.00).
Safely landed KLIA2 at 7.00pm & via bus back to Johor Bahru. End of relaxing & cozy trip in Brunei.