After talking about transportation and accommodation, it’s time to discuss what there is to do in Brunei, a place rumored to have nothing much to offer~
1. Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque)
No need to think—right in the city center, the most eye-catching sight is the Ob!
This all-white, gold-domed mosque on the lake is Brunei’s most famous attraction and its most important landmark. It’s also hailed as one of the most spectacular mosques in the Asia-Pacific region!
Even from the nearby dock, you can already feel the grandeur of the Ob from afar!
But…… I’ve discovered a big problem for myself….
After going to Iran, I think all mosques look kind of the same!!!!!!!!
Oh no!! First church numbness, now mosque numbness too!!!!!
Walking along the lakeside road of the mosque leads to a newly built rest park
It’s pretty nice, and you can also get a panoramic view from slightly higher ground nearby. Worth taking a stroll~
The weather stayed overcast all day—it looks like there won’t be a sunset to see
Just as I was leaving, I passed by the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque again…… wait a sec, why does the vibe feel different this time?
A traveler’s intuition told me that something truly powerful was slowly approaching
Suddenly, the sky changed, and light broke through the dark clouds, bathing the entire world in purplish-red hues
And the silence before the storm made the lake surface as smooth as a mirror, instantly blending the real and the surreal into one
Yes, in that purple twilight, two mosques lit up with green and yellow lights appeared… did I just step into Aladdin’s world?.......
Is this a bit too much????
The beauty of this scene is so overwhelming that even I, a photography novice, could snap a perfect photo without any edits. It’s truly a whole new world!!!!!
Later, I checked Google photos, and almost all of them were reflections of the mosque in the water. It seems this kind of scenery isn’t an everyday occurrence. I think you’d have to go at the right moment.
2. Kianggeh Market
Brunei’s famous local market mainly sells local agricultural products, including things like fearsome-looking durians, coconuts, chili peppers, and all kinds of tropical fruits. It’s just a short walk from the main area.
Whether you’re interested or not depends on your personal taste—up to you~
Just a heads-up: most stalls here close around 1 PM, and you can also get there by water taxi
3. Tian Yun Temple (Teng Yun Temple)
The only Chinese-style temple in Brunei, which has a unique appeal for foreigners. Even for Chinese people, it’s quite rare to see
If you want to try your luck at getting a fortune stick prediction abroad to see if it turns out better, you might as well check it out
As for me…… since the Ob is right in front of Kianggeh Market, I just took a couple quick photos and walked around inside for a bit before leaving—it took just over five minutes~
4. The Post Office
It’s not really a major attraction, but it’s a rare chance to send a postcard to a friend while abroad
Don’t you dare tell Ob I only wrote this to get some air conditioning.
By the way, the postcards at the post office are extremely, extremely gross—so gross that even the staff told me to just go buy my own outside.
5. Radisson Hotel Back Hill Park
I read about this in a travel blog—it’s said to be the only hiking trail in Bandar Seri Begawan, offering a panoramic view of the city.
But under this scorching sun that could turn you into crispy BBQ, I had zero interest in grilling myself, so I just took a photo of the path for everyone.
6. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Silver Jubilee Park
This royal park was opened to the public to celebrate the Sultan’s birthday, but it was just too hot—I didn’t even want to walk around, so I just took a picture and left...
…………………………………………….
Hey Ah Fung, are you getting lazier as you write?...
Alright~~~~~ the next spot is definitely something all the ladies will be interested in !
7. Wu Chun Bread Shop Bake Culture
Not that “Wu Chun” like the one from Stephen Chow’s movies—that Wu Chun ! This is the real, super good-looking Wu Chun from Taiwan !
And this shop was opened by Ob, who is a Bruneian of Chinese descent, precisely because of this fame, turning Ob’s ordinary bakery into an insanely popular eatery !
I originally didn’t plan to come, but I guess I’m just too much of a fanboy, plus back in university my nickname was “The PolyU Wu Chun” (though no one actually called me that (https://goo.gl/U9dW3p), so I had to check it out when I walked by ~
This Bake Culture has two floors—the ground floor is the bakery, and the upstairs is a café, similar in concept to A1 Café.
I originally wanted to sit down for some tea and a bun, but the upper floor was already packed with a bunch of loud and obnoxious mainland tourists (you could tell by their accents—Taiwanese Mandarin is very different), so I just bought a bun downstairs and cooled off in the AC.
The buns were surprisingly good—soft texture with a nice wheaty aroma ~
The egg tarts were also pretty decent, though I won’t say they’re the best I’ve ever had.
The prices are about the same as A1 and Panash, which is acceptable ~
If you’re expecting photos or merchandise of the real “Wu Chun,” you’ll probably be disappointed.
Just like when I went to Matsusaka City in Mie Prefecture two years ago, thinking his posters would be everywhere—turns out there was nothing of the sort ! The shop only had handprints of a few other Taiwanese male celebrities.
But don’t be too disheartened ~
With my “PolyU Wu Chun” selfie to boost the mood, it can still give you a cool summer vibe ~~~~
8. Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah (Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque)
The largest and newest mosque in Brunei.
It was commissioned by the current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and completed in 1994—yes, I’m ten years older than Ob, but Ob is clearly much fatter than me. Just the parking lot is as big as Victoria Park. Because every Friday the Sultan prays here, the place gets packed with worshippers.
Just think about it—everyone in Brunei drives, how could there not be a massive parking lot like California Disneyland ?
This mosque… to be honest, it’s pretty nice—new, huge, and spectacular. The roof is even made of 24K gold, so luxurious and extravagant, but I ended up taking very few photos...
First, I took the wrong route, and the weather was too hot to slowly walk around and risk heatstroke, so I cut my visit short.
Second, the mosque has some dress code restrictions, and it’s a bit tricky for non-Muslim visitors.
Third, photography is not allowed inside the mosque.
The fourth and most important point: men must wear this black hooded piece!!!! It's 36 degrees and you’re dressed like Voldemort!!!! I had no energy at all, just wanted to finish the visit as quickly as possible and leave!!!!
But to be fair, those ladies who have to dress in all black every day in the summer actually have it worse… just consider it an insight into Ob’s hardships…
That’s all the attractions I visited in Bandar Seri Begawan~
Just a heads-up, the above spots 1–8 are in order, and they happen to form a convenient route that you can walk through in one go, taking about 4 and a half hours. Since the capital area is roughly the size of Yau Tsim Mong, you can definitely manage everything just by walking.
Other attractions include:
Mangrove forest ----- takes about an hour, the homestay owner Andrew said it’s okay to skip
Katong Night Market ----- just a food market, open at night, and it’s a one-hour walk if you don’t have a vehicle
Royal Palace ----- only opens once a year, otherwise you can only take a water taxi and circle around outside
Brunei Museum ----- heard it’s very luxurious, but I really wasn’t that interested
(Brunei Museum, only walked past the entrance)
As for other tours to the National Park or oil rigs, they’re either too far or not very appealing
In the end, you’ll realize that Brunei is really a place with not much to see, still a destination with tourism potential waiting to be developed. If you’re in a rush, you can actually see everything in one day… truly…
And you won’t even need T? Easy. ? Arrogant? Also provides a reason to come… a place where there’s a bit of sentimentality…
Because of Ob, I felt that this trip to Brunei was truly worthwhile
Wait a sec... didn't I say one post would cover everything???
Because the next post somehow ended up talking about water snake spring T??? I’ll let everyone guess what’s going on… plus that place barely qualifies as the youth segment anyway…
Alright~ anyway, there will be nice photos in the next post~
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