Luagan Lalak, Labi, Belait

Some 25 kilometers beyond Sungai Liang Forest Recreation Park on the road to Labi, the Luagan Lalak Recreation Park covers some 270 hectares within the Labi Hills Forest Reserve.

Luagan Lalak Recreation Park is important as the location of a rare alluvial freshwater swamp, or empran. During rainy periods, the entrapped water level rises rapidly, filling the area like a lake. In drier spells, the water recede quickly, and the valley flourishes with sledge which are predominantly the Lepironia species. Apart from shelters and footpaths for exploration, a 200 meters wooden walkway meanders along the lake area.

OGDC, Seria

OGDC is set up to convey the story of the oil and gas industry in Brunei and to create an interesting environment for visitors to explore the changing science themes in the Exhibition Hall.

New exhibits are introduced on a 3 monthly cycle to encourage return visitations from the small surrounding population base. We run a range of activities for different age groups including activity days, technology workshops, computer workshops, robotic workshops, Young Scientist field trips and camps etc. Little Explorer activities for 5-8 year olds and Explorer activities for 9-12 year olds are run on a once a month basis with camps for the older age group occurring twice a year. We run motivation workshops and camps for teenager 6 times a year as well as a monthly Discovery Programme. Our technology and robotic workshops operate in such a way as to take children through a programme developing their electronic skills which then leads them into our robotics workshops. These workshops operate fortnightly over a period of 6 months and cater for 2 age groups, teenagers and 9-12 year olds.

Our education facilities cater for school groups visiting OGDC with structured lessons that can be booked for our classroom, science demonstrations as well as providing pathway activity sheets for students to use in the Exhibition Hall. We run a monthly Outreach Programme where we take a range of exciting activities out to some of the more isolated schools away from the main centres where the children are less likely to have the opportunity to visit OGDC. We have a  theatre which is used to show both 3D and normal movies. It is also used by a number of groups for seminars, special events and film evenings.

We have had many interesting events including Batik painting, Ikebana, cartoon drawing, art exhibitions, health programmes, road safety campaigns, car display, go-cart racing etc. We are very community orientated so encourage many different organisations to use our facilities for displays, bizarres or a range of other interesting events that encourages community involvement at OGDC.

Tamu Tutong

This big Tamu, or open market, offers a great variety of produce, especially local foods, fruits, vegetables and handicrafts. Most of the vendors of these items are from the inland forest areas, who come here to sell their produce and also to buy for their own needs. The Tamu is open Thursday from 7am to 12pm, and is located about 1 km from the centre of town.

Seri Kenangan Beach, Tutong

Pantai Seri Kenangan - literally the unforgettable beach, is a popular recreation area at Kuala Tutong. The beauty of the beach is enhanced by a narrow spit of land that has the South China Sea on one side and the Tutong River on the other.

Further along the road passes through Kampong Kuala Tutong, amidst a forest of coconut palms, to reach the old jetty. This was the site of ferry crossings over the Tutong River before the present bridge was built in 1959. The beach is a 5 minute drive from town of Tutong, and a lovely spot for picnics, fishing and swimming

Tasek Merimbun,Tutong

Those who enjoy nature will delight in a day trip to Tasek Merimbun, Brunei's largest lake. The lake naturally forms an unusual S-shape.

There is a small island in the centre, which is accessible by way of a timber walkway. The island has pavillion facilities made from tree trunks for picnicking, and is a restful and quiet spot. There are chalet facilities available for researchers only. For those interested in botany or birdwatching, there is also a trail through the jungle. Tasek Merimbun is about 1 hr 15 min drive from the city.

Ulu Temburong National Park

It is the first national park in Brunei that is protected since 1991. There many adventures you can do in the area including the most exciting activity on the Canopy Walkway where you can see the green forest from over 60 meters above the ridge of the mountain.

This walkway, built with steel towers supporting the cable way.

Jerudong Park

It was located at Kampung Jerudong and it was amusement park and main playground in South – East Asia. After its closure since September last year (2013), the park now emerges with a new look with several latest and more exciting rides as well as more socially beautiful environment conducive to bring family and friends closer together.

Every visitor must purchase a ticket before entering the attraction. The tickets are in the form of wristbands containing barcodes. These will be scanned with a machine at the main entrance and at the entrance to each play area. With the tickets, visitors can enjoy all the rides in the park without further charge. At the same time, they are reminded to take reasonable care of the rides and facilities provided in the playground.

The tickets are offered at BND$15.00 for an adult and BND$8.00 for each child. Or if you like, there's also a family package costing BND$40.00 for two adults and two children. Each ticket holder is entitled to every ride provided. This park is closed every Monday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, on Tuesdays, the park will begin operation from 5pm until 10pm; on Thursday, it starts from 4.30pm until 10.30pm; on Friday, it is opened from 3pm until 10.30 pm, while on Saturdays and Sundays, this park will be open much earlier from 10am until 11pm.

According to the General Manager, the Jerudong Park is reopened with the aim of enlivening the playground's atmosphere so that visitors will return to the park and that it has now adopted the family-oriented concept, with the hope of making it the largest recreation centre in the country.

Junior Coaster, a car-ride which moves slowly at first and suddenly jolts into full speed, can provide an enjoyable and thrilling experience at the same time. The cars can take twenty passengers at one time for a ride which lasts only one minute. The Ferris Wheel offers a different kind of enjoyment. In three rounds, visitors on the ride have the chance to enjoy the panoramic view of the Jerudong Park Playground and its surroundings.

Family groups can also try the Jumper rides which can carry participants weighing between fifteen and ninety kilograms. New games and rides which are also becoming increasingly popular among visitors are the Mini Water Park, the Laser Maze and Mini-Golf Playground. The Mini Golf playground is equipped with twenty one holes designed specially by a World Mini Golf Designer from Australia.

Meanwhile, classic rides and games from the heyday that have been revived or given a facelift are the Double Decker Carousel, Bumper Cars, Paddle Boat and Kids Playground.

Apart from the rides, other facilities are also provided on the playground such as shops selling fast-food and souvenirs on the playground. Historically, Jerudong Park Playground’s was built in 1994 in conjunction with the 48th Birthday of His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and the Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Last Sunday, the first day it was opened to the public after renovation, the park received an overwhelming response from the public, recording over three thousand visitors. Renowned for its enchanting rides, this playground is designed to become a very popular tourist attraction while giving the opportunity to those who grew up playing at Jerudong Park to once again experience or even relive the memories from days gone by.

Bukit Shahbandar

This Park covers an area of 70 hectares, located about 15km from Bandar Seri Begawan via the Muara-Tutong Higway and about 30 km from Tutong town.

It has a number of beautiful spots worth visiting. Complementing the natural kerangas forest are rows of Caribbean pine and Acacia mangium trees planted decades ago.

Aside from facilities including shelters, fish ponds, forest trails, a multi-purpose open arena(which can be used for top spinning, remote control car racing, outdoor games etc.), and picnic grounds, an observation tower at the summit of the hill provides a panoramic view of the South China Sea and the coastline to the north, Bandar Seri Begawan and to the southeast, the Istana Nurul Izzah and Jerudong Park to the west and wide tracks of green land ( kerangas forests, belukar forests, farmland ) elsewhere.

Serasa Beach

Serasa Beach is a heaven for water sports lover and beach-goers. Peranginan Pantai Serasa or Serasa Recreational Beach is located at Jalan Serasa, which is about 10-minute drive from Pekan Muara.

This beach is well-facilitated with huts for picnic and bbq, resting huts that could offer shade, toilets, street stalls selling fresh foods, fresh fruit & fish, handicrafts, pets, etc.  All these can be found along the beach.  These facilities can be used by anyone at no charge.

Pasar Gadong

The famous Pasar Gadong, also known as the Night Market is located right next to The Mall at Gadong. It opens daily from around 4 pm till late. A great place to try out the local food if you’ve not done so.

 There’s a wide variety that you can choose from – roti beef/mutton/chicken, satay, chicken wings, barbecued/grilled fish, fried kuey teow, lamb chops, beef steaks, ayam penyet, traditional kueh melayu (sweet pancakes with peanuts, raisins or sugar fillings) and more. Food is usually cook only when there’s an order, so it’s piping hot when served. The best part is, each dish usually cost only $1 – $3. So you can have as many orders as your belly can take.

 There are also stalls selling drinks, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and even clothes and accessories. One can easily spend 2-3 hrs hopping from stall to stall. Only thing to note – place can get real warm and smoky from all the frying and cooking under the tentage so be sure you are dress for the occasion. But the good thing is the place is not crowded with plenty of room to move about.

Since all the stalls are setup under tentages, it’s naturally not a popular place to visit on rainy days. So watch out for the weather. Anyway, the carpark is just next to the market. Should the weather turn bad out of a sudden, i’m sure there will still be amply time for you to get to your car

Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation Complex

This is the latest imposing addition to the skyline and waterfront of Bandar Seri Begawan.

 It is a commercial and shopping complex, designed to generate revenue for a foundation dedicated to the welfare of the people and  is a personal initiative of His Majesty, the Sultan of Brunei. 

 The complex is designed with an amalgamation of both traditional Malay and modern architecture . Opened in July 1996, and contains the biggest selection of shopping facilities in Brunei. 

Various branded goods are sold here. With the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation Complex, Bandar Seri Begawan aims to create a complete new image in the city centre, thus making it a major tourist attraction! 

Museum Technology Brunei

The Malay Technology Museum (Muzium Teknologi Melayu) is located at Kota Batu, in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. It is situated next to the Brunei Museum. The building was donated by the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of companies, in conjunction with the Sultanate's independence in 1984.

 The museum was officially opened by His Majesty the Sultan on 29 February 1988. Featuring how things were done in ancient times, there are displays in boatmaking, fishing, metalworking and goldsmithing. The museum has 3 exhibition halls:

• Water Village Traditional House Gallery: This gallery shows architectural structure of houses in the water village - Kampong Ayer in the late 19th up to the mid 20th century.

• Water Village Traditional Technology Gallery: This gallery depicts various types of handicrafts and cottage industries found in the water village. The display includes boat construction, roof-making, gold smiting, silver smiting, brass casting and cloth weaving.

• Inland Traditional Technology Gallery: This gallery contains exhibits of indigenous technologies of the in land people. It shows models of Kedayan, Dusun and Murut houses and a Punan hut. Techniques of production of Sago, brown sugar and handicrafts are also displayed.

Waterfront Brunei and 60th Monument

The waterfront promenade, officially the Royal Wharf Bandar Seri Begawan, was only opened as recently as 2011 by the Crown Prince to boost nightlife in Brunei’s capital. The main draw of the promenade is of course the panoramic view of the (Kampong Ayer) across the water. Aside from that, the promenade also features an art gallery, a few restaurants, and cafes. A great place to rest and enjoying the view, smelling the sea with the sound of 'water taxis' or 'bot penambang' passing by...

While the fountain/monument was near with the waterfront(just left side of waterfront anyway). It was given to the Sultan of Brunei on his 60th Birthday memorial. It looks good in the night when it is all lit up.

Tamu Kianggeh

This place was very interesting place that you should visit. The traditional way of sale. Tamu Kianggeh is a vibrant market in Brunei and has been around since 1960s. It is located on the banks of Kianggeh River where residents of Kampong Ayer travel to and fro the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. That is why even till now, you will still see customers and peddlers travelling to the market via sampan and some stopping along the riverbank to make their sales for the day.

There are hundreds of stalls setup at Tamu Kianggeh, consisting of mostly Bruneian Malays and some Chinese. Selling a wide variety such as various local vegetables – edible ferns like pakis, lamiding, pucuk piai and langkubok, bamboo shoots and even medicinal plants and herbs from the forest. Other common herbs, spices and plants are musk-limes and chillies, used in many Bruneian culinary.

Fresh catch like fish, crabs, prawns, squid and shellfish also sell at the market

 Lots of dried goods such as dried anchovies, dried shrimps, salted fish, and belacan (a paste made from fermented ground shrimp) can be seen at many stalls.

Local traditional handicrafts like tudung dulang (a decorative food cover), parang (a knife similar to a machete), hand-woven baskets and trays, pots and vases can also be found at Tamu.

It’s definitely a worthwhile place to visit when you’re here in Brunei, especially if you like to have a feel of how and what some of the locals are busy with daily. Best to catch the crowd at Tamu Kianggeh early morning. Most of the stalls are closed by 2-3pm in the afternoon. It’s really easy to locate the market, as it right next to the bus terminal.

Istana Nurul Iman

view from the taman damuan

Its is the residence of our beloved Sultan Brunei, which is verified by Gunniess Book of World Records as the world largest palace. Its is located on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River, a few kilometers south of Bandar Seri Begawan.

The name "Istana Nurul Iman" is taken from Persian Astane and Arabic Nur-ol Imaan and means Palace of the Light of Faith.

It was designed by the Filipino architect Leandro V. Locsin, who utilized the architectural motif of golden domes and vaulted roofs to echo Brunei's Islamic and Malay influences.

The palace contains 1,788 rooms, which includes 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall that can be expanded to accommodate up to 5,000 guests, a mosque accommodating 1,500 people and also  a 110-car garage, an air conditioned stable for the Sultan's 200 polo ponies, and 5 swimming pools. Because the palace is a massive huge, the sultan takes his official audiences at the palace. The palace is also used for all the State functions of the government of Brunei.

While the palace is open to the public during  the annual Islamic celebration of Hari Raya Aidilfitri (the festival at the end of the Muslim fasting month) when the palace receives about 110,000 visitors over a three-day period where the guests receive gifts of food as well as green packets containing money for young children. The palace is also open to Muslims during 10 days of the Ramadhan period for the Bertedarus prayer gathering.

Brunei Museum

The Brunei Museum is located on the bank of the Brunei River, about 6.5 Km from the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, stretches then elongated of the Brunei Museum. Brunei Museum was first established in 1965.

Its collection includes Borneo Ethnography and Natural History display as well as Islamic Art documenting the origins of much of Brunei’s cultures from their softly lit niches, illuminated intricate renderings of the Holy Quran and centuries of glassware, ceramic, jewellery, tapestries and military artifacts. Bear silent witness to the artisan’s skill and devotion. Other displays include offshore oil pipeline survey and an oil and gallery.

While the museum is open for public and the time visiting the museum is on monday to sunday from 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-11.30am and be continue at 2.30pm - 5pm

Kampung Ayer

Kampung Ayer is a village built on the water in Brunei, or dubbed as VENICE OF THE EAST by  Antonio Pigafetta.

39,000 people live in the Water Village. This represents roughly ten percent of the nation's total population! The Water Village is really made up of small villages linked together by more than 29,140 meters of foot-bridges, consisting of over 4200 structures including homes, mosques, restaurants, shops, schools, and a hospital. 36 kilometers of boardwalks connect the buildings.

Actually another way of going to one of these water villages by Water Taxis or Speedboats, the local speedboats charge you 10-15BNR for taking a cruise around the water village for 2 hr. Its the tradition way how exploring the village. 

If you feel your trip to water village not satisfying, well the water taxi bring you out to interesting place around the rivers, you might find out some unique things. :) 

Royal Regalia

When its come to Royal Regalia, there is a exhibition of the royal chariot, gold and silver ceremonial armoury, the jewel encrusted crowns used during the coronation and a replica of the throne, which is used by the Sultan on state occasions and a fully documents the history of the constitution of Brunei. 

 Royal Regalia is located in Bandar Seri Begawan, which is near with the RTB, Tamu Selera and Lapau dan Dewan Majlis.

The building is open to the public every day of the week (on Friday the opening hours are shorter than the rest of the week)

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque

Well guys, SOAS mosque is the most interesting you should come to visit Brunei. If you're not, your trip to Brunei is considered incomplete trip without visiting this historical icon.

The mosque is located just across Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, a shopping complex, and Taman Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, a public park. This is why Brunei rocks: all sorts of buildings (tourists attractions, malls, food outlets) are located side-by-side, so you don’t waste much time in getting to your destination. This saves the country millions of dollars by not having to spend it on building an efficient transportation system.

Masjid SOAS in the way of bruneian called it is a royal islamic mosque and considered as one of the most beautiful mosque in the Asia Pacific and also it is a major landmark and tourist attraction of Brunei.

Here's some article picked up from the Brunei Times ; 

“POSITIONED majestically on an artificial lagoon near the banks of the Brunei River, the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) Mosque stands as among the most magnificent mosques ever built in the world.

With its golden dome and soaring white minarets, the mosque is often pictured as an oasis of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown Bandar Seri Begawan. The celebration of its golden anniversary heralds the mosque’s unique long-standing status as the heart of the capital and the symbol of Brunei’s deeply-rooted Islamic faith.

The mosque also incorporates Italian and Renaissance architectural styles, but with craftsmanship that reflects classical Islamic architecture. This makes the mosque as one of the most unique Islamic places of worship across the world. The mosque took four years to complete, from 4 February 1954 until 26 September 1958. His Highness Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien is remembered as the “Architect of Modern Brunei”. During his reign from 1950 until his abdication in 1967, the Sultan steered Brunei safely through the turbulent years following WWII, establishing the foundation for the nation’s independence and sovereignty. Through his determination and dedication, he had implemented the foundation to build the infrastructure, society and economy of modern Brunei and also ensuring the preservation of an independent Malay Muslim Monarchy in the modern world.”

And lastly the opening hours of the mosque (meaning entry into the building, not compound) are from Sunday to Wednesday at 8am – 12pm, 1.30-3pm and 4.30 – 5.30pm, Friday at 4.30-5.30pm, while being closed to non Muslims on Thursdays.

Its begin....

Welcome to my blog!!!, Since this is my first post on blog, showing off and appreciating my hometown is my priority...
So today i am going  to share with you some  "Must-Visit" places in Brunei Darussalam where you can pack these places to your desire time as you wish. These Brunei Must-Visit places cover sightseeing, shopping, enjoy nightlife, learn the culture and history of Brunei and try different kinds of delectable dishes and drinks. Make out of this information and plan a short trip to Brunei