Borneo

Brunei River Cruise

Posted June 28, 2026 by Jan

Brunei

Borneo

Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei Darussalam (pop 460,000)

16 June 2026

Hello,

After my arrival in the capital BSB I wandered from my hotel to the nearby Brunei River. For the next day I booked a river cruise.

Brunei is a small country of only 5,765 square kilometers, (2,226 square miles). Brunei is located on the northern edge of Borneo – an enormous Indonesian Island. Sarawak and Saba, two states of Malaysia are also located on the northern edge of the island They are neighbors of Brunei.

Despite the cities on the coasts and settlements and villages scattered around the interior of the island, Borneo is mostly jungle.

The banks of the Brunei River are lined with trees and more trees and an occasional monkey and certainly unseen crocodiles.

Several small settlements and the edge of the world’s largest Floating Village “Kampong Ayer” on stilts also appear. Finally, the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge (RIPAS Bridge).

The South China Sea beckons. Come along with me. Maybe we’ll spot a monkey or two. Crocodiles, probably not.

Cheers,

Jan

Brunei, Special Sights in Bandar Seri Begawan

Posted June 30, 2026 by Jan

Brunei

Borneo

Brunei Darussalam

Bandar Seri Begawan

19 June, 2026

Salam Alaicum,

The Special Sights I visited in Brunei:

Located in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan, the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is the largest and most opulent mosque in Brunei. It features 29 magnificent golden domes that represent the current Sultan of Brunei, the 29th ruler.

Completed in 1994, the mosque was built to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sultan's reign. The building features grand marble staircases and intricate marble fountains.

A massive, magnificent gold chandelier hangs directly from the center of the dome, serving as a primary focal point that illuminates the wide prayer space. The mosque is capable of accommodating up to 5,000 worshippers.

The site is popular with visitors who can enjoy free entry, but are required to dress modestly. Robes available for use.

The Ash-Shaliheen Mosque is also located in Bandar Seri Begawan. This mosque is the opposite of opulent. I much prefer its simple lines and humble color. I am remined of the architecture I had seen in North Africa and Central Asia. It features unique Moroccan-inspired architecture,characterized by sand-colored walls and distinct blue-green domes.

The mosque is situated near the Prime Minister's Office and is a popular place of worship for locals and visitors alike.

At midday today, a Friday in BSB, I take a long walk from my hotel to destinations unknown!

Eventually the sidewalk/roadway begins to rise. I keep walking. What will I find below and beyond the rise?

Situated along the Kedayan River, I find the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Silver Jubilee Park. The park was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary (Silver Jubilee) of the ascension to the throne of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

The main structure features five Islamic-style arched entrances representing the Five Pillars of Islam, twenty-five spiral columns signifying the Sultan's 25-year reign, and a large terraced water fountain representing the Sultan.

The facilities of the Park include a circular 12-point star mound at the entrance, parking places, jogging tracks, exercise equipment, and children's play areas.

I examine the flora. I spy one fascinating "leaning" tree and three "golden"potted plants. (See the captions on the photos.)

I am alone here. I assume the children and their families are at home today on Friday, the Muslim Sabbath.

Peace,

Jan

PS Do we agree that "Gold" is a significant feature in Brunei? From the Massive Gold domes to the Opulent Gold chadeliers to the Petite "golden trumpet."

Brunei, Out and About

Posted July 1, 2026 by Jan

Brunei

Borneo

Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei

23 June 2026

Hello,

A word about Brunei:

Brunei is an Absolute Hereditary Monarchy. The Sultan is the Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Head of State.

Brunei enjoys massive oil and natural gas reserves.

The citizens receive housing subsidies, automobile subsidies, free education and free health care. Everyone is neat and well-dressed.

I do not see a motor bike or motorcycle or any public transportation vehicle.

Late model cars and SUVs speed along multi-lane roads and streets. All the roads are modern and immaculate.

The citizens I meet are civil and generous. At the airport the Currency Exchange Agent cheerfully exchanges US Dollars and Thai Baht to Brunei Dollars. The Telephone Company Agent patiently inserts a Brunei SIM card. He then calls DART, the local ride app, and books a taxi for me from the airport to the hotel.

The hotel staff are exceptionally helpful.

My English-speaking guide/driver is knowledgeable and patient with his slow-moving passenger. In fact, all the customer-contact people including shop-keepers and restaurant staff, perhaps everyone speaks English.

The crosswalks along the main streets have “zebras” at many locations. As I walk along a sidewalk and approach a crosswalk, traffic in both directions comes to a stop as the drivers anticipate that I may turn and try to cross the road.

On my long walk from the hotel to the Twenty-fifth Anniversary Monument, a driver stops, comes out of his car and asks if I need help or want a ride somewhere. He asks several times.

The only complaint I have is the limited selection of mostly bland menu items. (I’m spoiled, I admit. I do live in Thailand.)

I made two decisions regarding this final Photo Gallery from Brunei.

Normally I post a photo gallery with a specific location or subject. For example, Mosque or Temple, Special Scenery, or Flora or Fauna.

This time the photos I selected are in chronological order: From my first Buffet Breakfast that coincided with the Muslim New Year Celebration to the final night shots and the illuminated bridges.

I also edied the photographs or left them in their original configuration to try to match the theme of the title of the gallery: “Out and About in BSB.”

Finally, my recent chore has been to identify each image to the best of my ability. Google Lens!

So please, come out and about with me as I visit the capital city of this unusual little country.

Cheers,

Jan

Sarawak, Niah National Park - The Caves

Posted January 25, 2013 by Jan

Malaysia: Sarawak

Borneo

Nian National Park

Sarawak

Malaysia

January 25, 2013

Part 2 - The Caves

Dear Friends and Spelunkers everywhere,

The caves are the highlight of the hike in the Niah National Park.

Traders Cave is an open air dwelling of birds and bats. At the appropriate season, local men climb the scaffolds and gather the birds’ nests and trade them for money and goods.

Sarawak, Niah National Park - The Trail

Posted January 24, 2013 by Jan

Malaysia: Sarawak

Borneo

Niah National Park

Sarawak

Malaysia

January 24, 2013

Part 1. The Trail

With mere words, can I describe a jungle? It’s green of course. And this particular jungle boasts an extraordinary variety of species and unimagined shapes and sizes of trees, plants and ferns. So many shades of green.

The “karst forest” is a surprise. Along the well maintained and comfortable boardwalk of Niah National Park, I “discover” a collection of tall “rocks” that are slowly being surrounded, choked, and obliterated by the jungle growth. “Is this a formation of an abandoned fort?” I wondered. “Or maybe an ancient temple? A miniature Angkor Wat?”

Bintulu: Similajau National Park

Posted January 23, 2013 by Jan

Malaysia: Sarawak

Borneo

Bintulu

Sarawak

Malaysia

January 23, 2013

First, the obligatory stroll along the Kemana River. Then, my patented visit to the Night Market. The highlight in Bintulu (pop 120,000), the Similajau National Park.

The trek through the mangrove jungle foliage begins at the warning sign for crocodiles and, following the red dots, continues up and down hills of various steep grades along root-encrusted paths, across streams spanned by nothing more than a wooden plank or two.

Borneo

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