Day 172 Brunei (Emilys Birthday)

Out golfing today (twice) with Ian and Nikki. More boiled eggs and salt at the half way house.

We also went to see the school assembly where Emilys birthday was congratulated and we watched a video on not dropping litter.

In the evening there was a birthday party for Emily at the house and we were treated to a hip hop dance display. "Hip Hop' in Brunei I hear you ask? It turns out the school hosts hip hop classes with some dance star teachers from Asia.! Ian ordered pakora and samosas which went well with a cold beer in the heat.

Day 171 Brunei (Bander and Temburong National Park)

Ian had kindly organised some time off work for the remaining days of my visit and today we went to Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. First stop the Vietnam embassy to arrange my visa to visit their country. Five working days we were told but the express same day service costs a pound more. ...phew.

Then onto see (from a distance) the Sultan's palace. The Sultan opens it to the public about three times a year usually after he has mowed the lawn and tidied the shed.

Then a pop into the Brunei Royal Regalia museum to check out the Sultan's chariots. Yes this man has chariots and 60 plus robed men to power it! We also looked at the gifts the Sultan has received from other countries. Very lavish including a big green bowl from the Queen and a mosquito coil from New Zealand!
A visit to see the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque but it was closed today in preparation for Friday which is public prayer day. This is what it looks like at night....

Next stop a terrific boat ride to Temburong through curving narrow jungle waterways at high speed (is that a log or a crocodile?)

Lonely Planet describes Temburong as a sleepy place acting as a gateway to the National Park. Seems the girls in the sewing shop agree.

As do the tourist information centre.

We did stop for some good food in Temburoong and then back on the boat to Bander to see Kampung Ayer which comprises 28 water villages with 30,000 people.

Recent government improvements have included new freshwater supplies and a fire station pictured above.

There are many schools in the water villages.
Our water taxi driver almost forgetting to duck for the bridge (it was high tide).

Then onto the British Commissioners House now a museum to the bygone clolonial days.
On the way back we stopped at Jerudong Amusement Park which was empty as nobody uses it anymore. No dogems for us then but Ian did take me into see the Empire hotel (Bruneis finest) where Ian organises the yearly expats St Andrews night. A packed day (it helps having a local guide to see things quicker - cheers Ian).

Day 170 Brunei (Golf and Football Coaching)

Out golfing with Nikki (The Bandit) this morning at Panaga golf club.

In the evening I attended the school kids footbal coaching where "Coach Bruce" roped me in. I put in a few hard tackles and broken legs early on which slowed the pace a bit in the searing sunshine. Pictured above Ian, Andrew and Emily ...answers on a postcard as to which country they represent.

Nikki knows just the meal to cook after a hard game of football. Here we see Andrew proudly pose in front of his mince and tatties with Scotland shirt on.

Day 169 Brunei (Cycling, Scorpions and Golfing)

This morning Nikki was taking a swimming class and I headed off for another cycle run with the girls. At one point a famiy of monkeys crossed in front of us and a big lizard. Harmless enough I thought until I returned to the house and Mila the maid appeared with a machete. I immediately tried to think what I'd done ...was it leaving my flip flops indoors, maybe. Why no...Mila shouted "Ewen, come see the scorpion".

It was huge and as I walked away I admired the quiet moment Mila had with the scorpion. It went along the lines " Sorry Mr Scorpion you are a danger to the kids, I must kill you now, sorry, very sorry"...Thwack. (Gwyneth...I take your point..whats more alarming..scorpions in the back garden or the maid owning a machete!)

In the afternoon Ian (Mr golf maestro) took me to Panaga golf club. Hot work, bring a towel, but they serve boiled eggs and salt at the half way house so I survived.

Then we went for a stroll on the beach with a cold refreshment before another lovey meal back at the house. I do fear my return to backpacking next week.

As Ian is taking me to Temburong National Park on Thursday Nikki suggested we watch "The Sleeping Dictionary" with Bob Hoskins on their big projector screen. The movie is filmed in Sarawak. It recounts the British Empire days where a colonialist is sent into the local community to educate and reform and in turn one of the tribes daughters lives and "sleeps" with them to teach each others languages. I think you get the picture!

Day 168 Brunei (Cycling)

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride" said John F Kennedy. Not sure if John tried it in the morning heat of Brunei though.
Nikki took me out with her pals for my first venture on a road bike (I prefer to stay on the hills away from cars). I'm converted the road bikes are fast fast fast. (most of the time when I barely kept up with the girls)

In the evening I was treated to a delicious meal at the local Panaga boat club where Ian will take us out on the clubs speedboat later in the week once he does a refresher course on reversing and going forward. I'm not inspired with confidence to hear this.

The Mackays "fed and watered"

Before we head home we enjoyed watching the sun go to bed.

Day 167 Brunei (Visit to Ians Workplace)

Today we were scheduled to visit Ian's workplace at the nearby Shell aviation facility. Ian is responsible for the aircraft and the teams of engineers that look after the helicopters which in turn take the oilrig workers out to the platforms.




The Mackays ...Ian, Nikki, Andrew and Emily.




Ewen, Andrew and Emily in the pilots seats. Who is the biggest kid amongst them?








The luxury of having my own aircon bedroom and outwith the noisy environment of a hostel dorm saw me unusually sleep in till mid day long after Nikki had got the kids to school and Ian away to his work. None of this of course mattered to their dog "Lucky" who insisted we go for his afternoon walk on the beach.

In the evening I marvelled at the sunset from the Mackay's garden and Nikki cooked us an amazing pasta dish. Mmmm extra parmesan anyone...careful to keep an eye out for the monkeys in the nearby trees somewhere.

Day 166 Brunei via Miri (The Mackays)

Flew from Kota Kinabalu over Brunei and landed in Miri today. Seems a strange thing to do when I was trying to get to Brunei but the Miri border is close to where my cousin and his family live in Brunei. Suiably confused everyone...so am I.

Ian's lovely wife Nikki and kids Andrew and Emily were there to meet me at Miri airport and drive across no mans land into Brunei. Lots of paperwork and stamps. My passport pages are runnng out. We stocked up with refreshments in Miri as Brunei is a dry state but an oily one.

First things first a swim in the Mackays pool with said refreshment to hand and in the evening a get together of Ian and Nikki's pals took place on the verandah where the table football was put to the test. To this day there still apperas to be confusion as to who won. Off to bed in the early hours in an aircon room with no need for the usual hostel dorm earplugs...luxury!!