Miri/Brunei

Singapore – Miri – Brunei
Drama alert!! Been away four days and have lost my purse with all my credit cards! WTF.

This time it was fore-finger electronic prints at immiration then straight to bag pick-up and out to where Keri was waiting for us. Off we went to a balmy beach side bar for a beer and some Ikan billis (small dried and fried fish). Next to a Japanese bar for a Lychee cocktail…

and then to our hotel.

Lots of time wasted on the phone re credit cards but to make a long story short, the purse was found under the seat in the plane. Took a couple of days to get back, but lesson learnt. Out to dinner at a favourite restaurant of K&E where we had an absolute feast. The vegies particularly nice, ocra and other greens one like fern fronds. Wandered along the road for a couple of beers and ciders before retiring for the night.

Next morning I went for a massage as I had a sore back. As expected it was half an  hour of torture as her boney fingers dug in to my tight muscles, but it did the trick. Llkasa for brunch and on to the Miri Crocodile Farm/Zoo. Troy fed a tiny fish, to a massive fish (Pitarucu) and then whole frozen chickens to the big Crocs. I had a quick count and came up with 70, so would imagine there were around 100 in the one enclosure.

Got the obligatory snake pic with a golden python. Fed the monkeys some peanuts and looked at the Sun Bears, native birds, bats and other various zoo type animals.

It took just over an hour to drive to our destination in Brunei via the Malay booze shop and border crossing. Brunei Darussalam is a dry state, which is not a problem when you are lucky enough to be staying with friends who have a very impressive drinks fridge.

While we have one drilling platform in Taranaki, off Brunei there are around a hundred so you see lots of lights out to sea. We rode bikes down to the Shell Club, had sneaky drinks on the beach front, dinner on the terrace at the Italian Restaurant and then a wobbly bike ride home.

The next day Keri took us in to the capital – Bandar Seri Begawan. On Fridays everything closes at 12noon so the Bruneians can go to the mosque. We made an early start and called in to the lavish Empire Hotel and Country Club developed by the Sultan’s brother. Chandeliers, marble, impressive views, pools and plush decor –  how nice it would be to stay here! The Sultan and Sultanas portraits are on show which is common throughout the country.

Down in the city centre we parked up and took a river cruise around the water villages (Kampong Ayer) a mix of new and old which have been inhabited for several centuries. Nick-named the Venice of the East, everything  from schools, police, fire service to homes are built high on stilts. Further up in the mangroves we were able to see Proboscis monkeys swinging and jumping through the canopy of trees. The croc in the river was not pleasant even though it wasn’t that close. Because where there is one… and the sides of the boat are low.

The Mosque with royal barge in front was very beautiful and as we drove towards the Sultans palace we had to pull over for motorbike cavalcade with sirens blaring to make way for the Sultan. Juvenile I know but every time I think of his wife the Sultana, I have a chuckle.
Back in ‘The Camp’ as the Shell accomodation area is known, the monkeys had arrived and later the Hornbills.

Erik was keen for a kite board so we walked down to the local beach to watch him and enjoy the sunset.

Keri cooked us an impressive French themed dinner (we were so spoilt). Flynn and his friend James were back from boarding school for the weekend and were good company with their stories and youthful outlook on life.

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Next morning Troy and Erik went off to the market with a shopping list and to have breakfast. Keri and I did a down and back trip to the airport to retrieve my lost purse. We had Thai for lunch then got some meat from the butchers and supermarket for dinner. Troy had been down to the beach and had a kite board lesson which he enjoyed. Photos look like he has mastered it, but really he had only mastered flying the kite.

Hopefully he can have another go during our travels. Rugby to be watched, BBQ dinner on the deck, wonderful hosts.

Sunday morning we were sad to leave as Keri drove us to the airport. More goodbyes and another Air Asia flight. Siem Reap via Kuala Lumpur. I thought I had booked no extras or meals for the short fight to KL but strangely we received two meals each – it’s a mystery…