Three Days in the Land of Dreams: Brunei Darussalam

Malaysian Airlines MH 730 flight destination Malaysia - Brunei Darussalam finally landed smoothly at Brunei International Airport. Afternoon trip for an hour and a half this is so fleeting. Brunei Darussalam International Airport is not so great, but think we can already feel comfortable when out of the plane. These pretty clean and service the goods so quickly. Moreover immigration also straightforward. Before I spend out of the airport for the exchange the U.S. dollar to dollar BND Brunei. 1 U.S. dollar BND 1.2 ranges or approximately Rp. 7,000.

Fandi a college friend who had not met for 12 years picked us up at the airport. Welcome to Brunei, he said. Let's go to the parking lot he said. View my eyes immediately drawn in the parking lot when he saw the luxury cars in front of me. Here luxury cars is common, says Fandi who seems to know read my mind. Society likes to large and luxury cars. Car prices here are relatively cheap for Brunei because they do not have to pay taxes. Tomorrow morning you must go to the market. They go to the luxury car market was using.

It is not surprising that a country with a population of about 400,000 people this is one of the richest countries in the world.
Once we were all ready, we finally went to the office Fandi. Fandi working in an advertising company. Do not think that in his office there are about 5 people from Indonesia. I recruit all my friends from Indonesia, said Fandi. Make no mistake that in Brunei many experts from Indonesia. Indonesian people known to be very diligent and adaptable here. Therefore, many companies prefer to hire people who Brunei Indonesia. After seeing our office finally introduced to Mr Gilani Hj Othman Hj, or used to be called Mr Hj a televison producer of Radio Brunei, who was at the event make Fandi office. Finally he who became our friend and guide during in Brunei.

Let's go to the hotel he said. The goods can be transferred to my car, a white Lexus's latest is before me. This is the first time I ride Lexus abroad. It is common here said Mr. Hj. During this time I more often use public transport or on foot during travel abroad. Here you can use public transport to go anywhere. Nevertheless it is advisable to hire a car or take a taxi because it is more practical and do not wait too long.
Roughly takes about 20 minutes by car to get to Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam. The streets are so big and very nice. Shade trees in between the road. Therefore, the summer temperatures are not so we feel as shade trees around us. Before heading to our hotel, we invite Hj to The Empire Hotel and Country Club. This place is one of the landmarks in Brunei Darussalam. Best hotel with a magnificent golf course overlooking the South China Sea. Many people who have lived here such as the late Michael Jackson and former U.S. president Bill Clinton.

Our luxurious feel is felt when entering the hotel. In front of the hotel there is a BMW showroom, in the lobby of the hotel is decorated with gold ornaments on the walls and on the roof of the hotel. Hj explain that every weekend this hotel was always full. In addition to foreign guests, many people Bunei spend time with his family here. They usually swim, eat, or play golf. Special activities like a world-class music concerts are often held here. After touring the hotel we finally had to go to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Finally we also arrive at the hotel. We stayed at the Hotel Brunei. A hotel located in the city center. Hotel Brunei is long but in the renovation back. Hotel rates in Brunei varied but usually above USD 100 per night. If you want to stay at a cheaper hotel to stay in budget with a rate of about USD 50-70. After the bath, we invite Hj for night tours in Brunei. Brunei town so quiet at night. There was no means busy port city of Bandar Seri Begawan. However, the lights that illuminate the city of gold-domed mosque in particular makes the atmosphere so different. There is a sense of peace in our hearts.

In addition, along the way there are many banners that read Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik Kekal Qarar Memerintah Negara Brunei Darussalam. Hj said that July 15 is the anniversary of the King of Brunei to 65. You should come on that date because it will be a lot of events from his kingdom. It's incredible how people respect leaders Brunei. After touring the city we finally headed restaurant in town. We chose the restaurant that sells seafood. Great lobster and tea C, such as teh tarik in Malaysia to our menu this evening. After that we also returned to the hotel.

The next day, I was up and wanted to go to the traditional market located in front of our hotel. This market is already crowded starting at 6 am. The interesting thing is the market is so clean and odorless. I spend to buy some snacks and fruit to this day. I observed a lot of people ahead of the market fell from a luxury car and was told that the people of Brunei Fandi climbed into the luxury car market.

After lunch, we drove to the park Hj ventilation Tasik Lama. The park is very well known in Brunei Darussalam. This year during a visit to Brunei President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had visited this park and plant trees as a symbol of friendship with Brunei Darussalam. This park is so beautiful with a variety of trees and waterfalls in it. Many mothers who exercise poco-poco but many parents who do Tai Chi. The same as in Indonesia that currently they are more aware of healthier living.

After that we were taken to the village water. The water village is a major tourist destination in Brunei. There are approximately 30,000 people living in this village. They are usually the ones who have been living in Brunei. Difficult for them to move to the mainland. Every day they boarded a boat to work on the mainland. Talking about water facility in the village is very good. In addition to a nice house in Kampung Air is also a school and a hospital clinic. We toured the village's water by boat. In addition to looking at life in Kampung Air we can see the king's palace and also the gold domed mosques. Incredible scenery in the distance. Once satisfied we finally get back to Bandar Seri Begawan and menghabisakan time to see souvenirs being sold around the hotel.

I spend the next day for a visit to the University of Brunei Darussalam, the largest university in Brunei. The university is very beautiful and surrounded by green leaves. I have met some many international students who are conducting a summer program here. After we finished visiting the university to take pictures at Masjid Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien. This mosque is the biggest icon of the country Brunei. Arstikek see the mosque with a very beautiful, I feel how high artistic value contained within the building.

After that, we set out to enjoy the sunset at The Empire Hotel and Country Club. Turned out to have a lot of tourists and locals who were there. Around six in the evening the place was so full of people who want to capture the sunset. It is wonderful once that afternoon, the sky begins to change color from red to dark. Slowly the sun began to set on the horizon.

Time to go back to Indonesia. After he had enjoyed the sunset we also headed to the airport. We had dinner at a time to the airport and thanked Hj and Fandi who accompanied us during the trip in Brunei. The plane was so full and airport officials gave us a bonus for class upgrade to business class. IB plane 795 Royal Brunei Airlines took us to Surabaya. Experience three days in Brunei is a very interesting experience and not forgotten in the course of my summer in several countries in Southeast Asia.

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