June 1, 2020

Brunei - The Heart of Borneo

Situated at the heart of Borneo, the Kingdom of Brunei is one of the richest nations in Asia and in the world. It was all so quiet and it may be a tiny country but still, it is not one that's over crowded and traffic is not a very big issue unless it's rush hour.

Last September 2018, me and my high school best friends went to explore this quiet but golden country with only half a million citizens. It was scorching hot to be honest but the air was clean, probably because of the neighboring rainforests that supplies so much oxygen and clean air to this tiny nation.

Here are some snaps from our trip to it's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. (Warning: You'll get to see me and my crazy friends striking some funny poses)

The Royal Regalla Museum

Beautiful canals by the Marketplace

Prayers at the Teng Yun Temple

Took this photo of my friends at Teng Yun Temple

Inside the Empire Hotel at Bandar Seri Begawan

Judy, Myrcel, Dianne, Angelica, Lara, Stevenson, Marvin, and Faith

More poses inside the Marble Hotel

Beautiful gardens outside the Hotel

Under the sunny seaside of Bandar

Good Girls at Brunei

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

You are a whole new world, Brunei!

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This post is part of my friend Jesh's All Seasons, Our World Tuesday, and Betty's My Corner of the World

49 comments:

  1. ..what a beautiful place, I have heard of Brunei, but I don't know anything about it. I must say that you surround yourself with pretty young ladies!

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    1. Hello Tom! I am glad you like it and I showed your comment to my friends and they were all happy with your complement haha they are all my friends since kindergarten to high school :)

      Brunei is amazing! Everybody there is rich I must say haha and with the population on very minimum, they all get to enjoy what their oil-rich country has for everybody.

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  2. Dearest Stevenson,
    Missed the dreamy palace on the water picture... Hope you got to visit that location!
    A great trip, no doubt and my youngest brother with his wife have spent time there during a stop en route back from Indonesia to The Netherlands.
    Great photos.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Dear Mariette! I am so happy to read your comment! You are very right, I was able to go to that Palace/Mosque, the one you are saying I think that seems to be avove water but I failed to have a photo on it :( I am so happy you and your brother has been to this tiny but beautiful country :) Have a greta new month of June dear Mariette!

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    2. No, not me but my youngest brother with his wife...!

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  3. We never hear anything about Brunei (or Borneo either for that matter) so it was great to see your photos. It looks like a peaceful pleasant place to live or visit.

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    1. You get that right Margaret! Its an amazing place to visit and actually to live at because they have a nice government led by their Sultan. Glad you like the photos from our trip :)

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  4. Oh, dear Stevenson, these pics made me smile very big! :-)
    Wonderful views, who does not love to see people who enjoy life and each other?
    Thank you for sharing, this was fun!
    Oh, and sorry, lille Corinna will not bring any Lindt, that sure would be a mess! ;-)

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    1. You are very much right on that one Iris that is why I usually surround myself with these friends because they all have positive energies just like you! When we are all together it is a riot, but don;t worry we are not the screaming kind of kids in public HAHAHA I am so happy you like our photos!

      Oh my I imagine how messy that would be for sure especially when my brother's boxes have been held at customs omg the balls went flat and some even splattered on the box! Iris even if lille Corinna is empty, my heart will still be filled with so much joy because of your gesture! You are the sweetest!

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  5. To me that's the farthest place in the world. I can't imagine going there. So your photos are wonderful to see, as there is rarely any news from such a distant location that's almost never in the news (which is probably lucky for them).

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you so much Mae! I am so happy that even through this blog I was able to take you to such a remote and quiet country :)

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  6. I have not been to Brunei and as usual, I always think that Brunei is close, that's why I keep procrastinating my trip to visit Brunei.

    Btw the mosque last name, Omar Ali Saifuddien, resembles my first name (Saifuddin). I guess this mosque is a must visit if I have a chance to visit Brunei

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    1. Oh Cipu I get what you mean! I was like that too because I thought it's just an hour flight away until it gets further down my list until I finally thought of going there finally and I am glad I did! You surely would love Brunei as well :) And it is very cool that you share the name of the Mosque :)

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  7. The photo of the mosque is impressive. Were you allowed to go inside? It look so clean there, no trash lying around.

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    1. Hello dear Kayni! Oh yes! We were very fortunate to be able to see the inside of it. We would have to dress up on their traditional robes, and the ladies had to wear their hijabs and it was a very beautiful experience. The head of the church even saw us and welcomed us to their place of worship :) Now I have to write a blog about it so I can share with you all how beautiful the interiors are :)

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  8. I've heard of Brunei but don't think I've ever seen any pictures from there. Where does their wealth come from? You are such a well traveled person. - Margy

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    1. Thank you very much Margy and I am happy to have shared you the images of this beautiful country. O they get them from Oil. Lots and lots of Oil have blessed their small nation.

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  9. I think it is wonderful that you and your friends have stayed such good friends, and I hope it continues for the rest of your life. This is something special, so hang on to it.

    This is a beautiful, clean space. It looks like everything was freshened up for your visit.

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    1. That is very nice of you Rose to wish for us, that is also a heartfelt wish of mine and I miss them every single day! We may live in different countries now but we get in touch through messenger chats every day :)

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  10. You got some beautiful, crisp photos, Stevenson. I never knew where Brunei was and had no idea how small it was either. It seems so opulent. Did you stay in that hotel and is that a pool you're standing next to by the plexiglass or glass doors? You look like a fun and friendly group. I suppose it would be crazy hot and humid near a rain forest. It's supposed to be 91˚ and very humid tomorrow and will probably feel like a rain forest here. I'll take cold weather any day.

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    1. Jeanna that is so nice of you! Thank you so much! Oh yes, that is a big and long pool which was so beautiful but no, we did not stay there at The Empire Hotel of Brunei because it was very expensive. They pride themselves as a seven star hotel and you really will agree with a lot of 24-karat gold fixtures that it has inside.

      Oh I hate humid and hot weather even if I lived with it all my life! Hope it wont get too hot there Jeanna :)

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  11. This is an interesting nation we hear little about. Every scene of every place looks so spotless and lovely! It’s nice to see you exploring the world with your friends. :)

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    1. You are very right Penelope! Everything is just so clean in Brunei and the locals are very nice to us. It was a very memorable trip for me and my friends!

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  12. I remember reading about the very rich Sultan of Brunei way back in the middle of the last century when I was a little girl... I thought of it like I thought about Cinderella or some other fairy tale ... as an adult all these many years later, I guess I knew it was a real place, but didn’t really know where it is or anything about it! . So I enjoyed this post very much .,. Never too old to learn something new!

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    1. Sallie that is so nice of you! And you are right, the Sultan now is a direct descendant of that Sultan and the one now is already 73 years old but he is still very fit and still looks handsome! He even flew his own aircraft to London a few years back, what an amazing guy who loves his country so much.

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  13. heard of it, but don't know much about it.surely looks worth visiting.

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    1. Really it was Klara and if given a chance, I would love to visit again and see the other side of the country :)

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  14. Hello,
    What a beautiful museum. I love the views of the pool and the sea. Wonderful photos from your trip!
    Have a great day!

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    1. I am happy you like it and yes Eileen, that part of the hotel was grand!!!

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  15. Now that looks like a wonderful place to visit. Great photos of you all :-D

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    1. Thank you so much Ananka! It made me miss my friends to write this one :)

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  16. Thanks for the travelogue. Looking at travel photos make me melancholic.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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    1. Thank you so much Photo Cache :) We are very much the same especially in these times!

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  17. Thank you for inviting me through photos of your wonderful vacation in Brunei, Stevenson.

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    1. All my pleasure Himawan and I am so glad you like it my friend :)

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  18. such a beautiful place; that mosque is gorgeous and I love the blue skies

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    1. That is very true Carol! Especially the interiors! It's very grand! Would love to share you guys on a future post :)

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  19. Beautiful photos as always, Stevenson. I visited Brunei more than 20 years ago!

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    1. So nice of you to say that veronica, thank you so much! And I am happy I share the wonders of a Bruneian visit with you :)

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  20. Wow, you picked a gorgeous place to explore! I love your photos, it looks like you all had a great time!

    Thanks for being a part of 'My Corner of the World' this week!

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    1. Oh thank you so much Betty, we really did! And thank you for hosting and having us :)

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  21. What a stunningly beautiful place. It looks like another world and it's quite a beautiful one. Gorgeous photos and I know the memories were terrific.

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    1. They really were Jeanie, and I am very blessed to have shared this experience with my best friends!

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  22. I have never been there! Such lovely images!

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    1. You should visit Brunei! It's very exotic and probably one of the safest places I have ever been to :)

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  23. Thank you for a beautiful walk around this wonderful city. I don't plan such distant trips, so I was pleased to see your photos. A trip with a friend is a great idea.
    Greetings from Poland.

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    1. Hello to beautiful Poland! I am happy that you enjoyed this photo tour of Brunei that I took you guys with :)

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