Happy Canada Day from Brunei!
Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians. It's sort of an odd place to celebrate Canada Day. Ｉhaven't met any Canadians as of yet. At all the sign in registers at the museums today, I'd scan to see if any other Canadians had visited lately, but nope... no Canadians. When I was having brekkie though, a picture of Stephen Harper was on the TV, but I had no idea what it was about.
I got in late last night into Brunei. My flight was delayed 3.5 hours from KL, up from the 2 hour delay the day before into KL on Air Asia. Air Asia, if you don't know is a dirt cheap discount airline based out of Malaysia. But it's true - you get what you pay for. When I was looking at the computer screen, close to 50% of the Air Asia flights were delayed. Good grief... it's otherwise a decent airline, friendly service. What's also interesting is that there's no assigned seating so it's a crazy mad dash at boarding time. And then as soon as the plane stops, everyone jumps out into the aisle. You'd think there was a prize for the first person off the plane.
So on Friday, I flew from Kota Bahru to KL. Not much to see in Kota Bahru. It's predominantly Malay and Muslim on the east coast of Malaysia. I looked around a bit. The locals were SUPER friendly there and helpful. I was helped so many times by so many people. Not too many foreigners are seen in KB though b/c I was getting stared at lots. Funny story though - at the resort on the Perhentian Island, I got mistaken as a worker at the guesthouse by a few guests. I am rather tanned now...
I had a nice night in KL. In anticipation of a quiet and dry night in Brunei, I went out once I got to KL. I had to check out the club scene. And I went to a club called Zouk. The alcohol after Happy Hour was SO expensive that I only had two drinks - we're talking Canadian/Aussie prices for beer. Zouk was awesome though. A handful of foreigners but otherwise all locals, which was cool. The music was awesome. Trance, electronica, house and anthems. There were some guest DJs there that night but I had no idea who they were. I had a great time dancing the night away.
Brunei is an interesting place. THe country has about 400,000 people. There is no alcohol sold in the country but foreigners and non-Muslims are allowed to bring in a few cans of beer or two bottles of liquor I think. I was curious as to what there was to do on a Saturday night in Brunei. Near where I was staying was a shopping mall opened until 10pm and a night market. I saw l0ts of young people at the movie theatres. I didn't realise that Transformers was out in the theatre... So yeah, I guess that's what you do if you live in Brunei. You wander the markets and malls late into the night. I can't imagine living in a country without bars and clubs, etc. Wow.....
The city itself is pretty plain. The buildings are short. The tallest structures are the minarets of the mosques. Not a lot of people around. I just went to the Royal Regalia museum. I saw all the gifts that various rulers/leaders have given the Sultan of Brunei. There was a stone carving of a walrus from Jean Chretien at least.
Anyway, I"m leaving tonight to fly into Malaysian Borneo. One day in Brunei is probably just enough. I met a poor Aussie who didn't realise that Brunei was that bland... she's here for 4 days.... the travel agent tried to warn her...
Gotta go eat again... (how many times have I signed off with that, eh?)
I got in late last night into Brunei. My flight was delayed 3.5 hours from KL, up from the 2 hour delay the day before into KL on Air Asia. Air Asia, if you don't know is a dirt cheap discount airline based out of Malaysia. But it's true - you get what you pay for. When I was looking at the computer screen, close to 50% of the Air Asia flights were delayed. Good grief... it's otherwise a decent airline, friendly service. What's also interesting is that there's no assigned seating so it's a crazy mad dash at boarding time. And then as soon as the plane stops, everyone jumps out into the aisle. You'd think there was a prize for the first person off the plane.
So on Friday, I flew from Kota Bahru to KL. Not much to see in Kota Bahru. It's predominantly Malay and Muslim on the east coast of Malaysia. I looked around a bit. The locals were SUPER friendly there and helpful. I was helped so many times by so many people. Not too many foreigners are seen in KB though b/c I was getting stared at lots. Funny story though - at the resort on the Perhentian Island, I got mistaken as a worker at the guesthouse by a few guests. I am rather tanned now...
I had a nice night in KL. In anticipation of a quiet and dry night in Brunei, I went out once I got to KL. I had to check out the club scene. And I went to a club called Zouk. The alcohol after Happy Hour was SO expensive that I only had two drinks - we're talking Canadian/Aussie prices for beer. Zouk was awesome though. A handful of foreigners but otherwise all locals, which was cool. The music was awesome. Trance, electronica, house and anthems. There were some guest DJs there that night but I had no idea who they were. I had a great time dancing the night away.
Brunei is an interesting place. THe country has about 400,000 people. There is no alcohol sold in the country but foreigners and non-Muslims are allowed to bring in a few cans of beer or two bottles of liquor I think. I was curious as to what there was to do on a Saturday night in Brunei. Near where I was staying was a shopping mall opened until 10pm and a night market. I saw l0ts of young people at the movie theatres. I didn't realise that Transformers was out in the theatre... So yeah, I guess that's what you do if you live in Brunei. You wander the markets and malls late into the night. I can't imagine living in a country without bars and clubs, etc. Wow.....
The city itself is pretty plain. The buildings are short. The tallest structures are the minarets of the mosques. Not a lot of people around. I just went to the Royal Regalia museum. I saw all the gifts that various rulers/leaders have given the Sultan of Brunei. There was a stone carving of a walrus from Jean Chretien at least.
Anyway, I"m leaving tonight to fly into Malaysian Borneo. One day in Brunei is probably just enough. I met a poor Aussie who didn't realise that Brunei was that bland... she's here for 4 days.... the travel agent tried to warn her...
Gotta go eat again... (how many times have I signed off with that, eh?)
posted by John A @ 9:07 PM
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