Kota Kinabalu and Brunei
December 02-06, 2016
Kota Kinabalu - Brunei bonding tour planning started in 2015. We were five: Dr. Norway Vidal, Rhea Corrales, Weng Rubia, Melanie Bernardino and myself. After getting all the clearance required, our bonding date was finally set from December 02, 2016 to December 06, 2016.
I have been to Kota Kinabalu in 2014 for the annual Mt. Kinabalu expedition, however, I have not explored the city so far. It was my first time in Brunei.
Dec 02: TRAVEL TO KOTA KINABALU
We traveled to Kota Kinabalu on the night of December 02. Our ETD in Manila at 2330H and ETA Kota Kinabalu at 0130H. At 0140H, we landed at Kota Kinabalu International airport and then waited for another flight bound for Brunei.
The original plan was to take the bus from Kota KInabalu to Brunei, however, with the very limited time, we all decided to take the plane.
Dec 03: TRAVEL TO BRUNEI
Our ETD to Brunei at 0830H. Since we arrived very early at Kinabalu International airport, we decided to stay at the airport food court while waiting for our Brunei flight. We had nice bonding moments at McDonald's. McDonald's is the only available food store at that time.
At 0700H when the other food stores were opened, we decided to have a breakfast at Royal Brunei food store before taking our flight to Brunei at 0830H. After having breakfast, we checked-in and waited for our Brunei flight. At 0830H, we left Kota Kinabalu onboard Royal Brunei airlines and traveled to Brune Darussalam. We landed at Brunei International Airport at 0925H.
It was all our first time in Brunei. We started our adventure right at the airport. We had time taking photos inside the airport. Just beside the airport is a beautiful Mosque. After a while, we decided to call the shuttle service of Hotel Brunei to pick us up at the airport.
We left the airport onboard the hotel van at 1000H. from the airport, I immediately noticed the calmness of the place and the people. As we traveled towards the city center, I was impressed by the orderliness and cleanliness of the surroundings. I feel I was in Singapore only with much less people around and more trees around.
The business district was so relaxed as compared to Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
At 1030H, we reached the hotel and then checked-in. Just opposite the hotel is a canal connected to the Brunei river where motor powered boats are stationed waiting for passengers. We decided to have a quick rest before starting our day tour in the city at 1300H.
Day1: WALKING TOUR IN BRUNEI
At 1300H, we started our walking tour to explore the city. Holding a map and with few instructions from the Hotel concierge, we started our journey on foot. Dr. Norway Vidal was our tour guide and official historian. From the hotel, we went north where the Gedung Perniagaan Shopping Center is located.
We decided to get inside the shopping center for some refreshments. The shopping center can be compared to our Tutuban Mall and again, only with fewer people and more organized.
For a brunch, I tried the "chicken chop with potato wedges" coupled with a "barley" drink. I enjoyed the taste of the chicken and also the barley drink which I had tasted for the first time.
From the shopping mall, we went out and walked further north to explore Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.
It was my first time to explore a Mosque. I loved taking photos of ancient Catholic churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples but never a Mosque before. As we entered the mosque, we were asked to remove our shoes as it is a sacred place for the Muslims.
I found the interior of the mosque to be quite plain rather than artistically decorative with paintings and frescoes as compared to those of the ancient catholic churches. The floor is carpeted and the entire mosque is air-conditioned. Photo is not allowed inside.
Fronting the mosque is an artificial lagoon where a barge is located. According to the mosque administrator, it is a replica of a 16th Century Sultan Bolkiah Mahligai Barge.
The barge itself was completed in 1967 to commemorate the 1,400th anniversary of Nuzul Al-Quran (coming down of the Quran) and was used to stage the Quran reading competitions.
According to wikipedia, the mosque is often considered as one of the most beautiful mosques in the Asia Pacific, it is a place of worship for the Muslim community, a major historical site and a famous tourist attraction of Brunei. Named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei who also initiated its construction, the mosque serves as a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei and dominates the skyline of Bandar Seri Begawan. The building was completed in 1958 and is an example of modern Islamic architecture.
Built in an artificial lagoon on the banks of the Brunei River at Kampong Ayer- the "village in the water", the mosque has marble minarets and golden domes, a courtyard and is surrounded by a large number of trees and floral gardens. A bridge reaches across the lagoon to Kampong Ayer in the middle of the river. Another marble bridge leads to a structure in the lagoon meant as a replica of a 16th Century Sultan Bolkiah Mahligai Barge. The mosque's most recognizable feature - the main dome, is covered in pure gold. The mosque stands 52 m (171 ft) high and can be seen from virtually anywhere in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The main minaret is the mosque's tallest feature. In a unique way it mixes Renaissance and Italian architectural style. The minaret has an elevator to the top, where a visitor can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The interior of the mosque is for prayer only, with features such as stained glass windows, arches, semi-domes and marble columns. Nearly all the material used for the building were imported from abroad: the marble from Italy, the granite from Shanghai, the crystal chandeliers from England and the carpets from Saudi Arabia.
From the mosque to walked towards the Brunei History Center. At 1450H, we started exploring the history and the rich culture of Brunei through the exhibits at the Brunei History Center.
According to the museum administrator, this place was founded in the year 1982 with the approval of His Majesty the Sultan.
The history center is divided into five categories providing a chronological exhibition of the country’s history. The categories are referred to as Area 1 to 5. Area 1 showcases the Genealogical Stone pill that's inscribed with the past Kings of the country from the year 1368 AD, with Awang Alak Betatar and concluding with Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin 1804-1807 AD. Area 2 meanwhile, exhibits the earlier years of the country, starting with Ancient Brunei. Area 3 takes on the subject of the beginnings of Islam in Brunei.
Area 4 exhibits the results and influences of the Golden Age on Brunei and area 5 exhibits the progress of the country beside the country’s era of independence.
Area 4 exhibits the results and influences of the Golden Age on Brunei and area 5 exhibits the progress of the country beside the country’s era of independence.
After exploring the Brunei History Center, we transferred to the nearby Royal Regalia Building.
The Royal Regalia Building has a profusion of exhibits related to the commemorations of the 25 years of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's rule of Brunei. It was officially opened on 30th September 1992 by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
The building is a large gold-domed structure which is fitted with specially-designed mosaics. It has a semicircular plan and is covered with plush carpets. Marble has been used extensively in its interior. The main display at the entrance hall is a huge Royal Chariot, a "gold-leafed winged chariot" that was used for the parade carrying the Sultan through the streets of the city on the occasion of his 1992 silver jubilee celebration of coronation in 1968. A bevy of headless mannequins dressed in traditional attire are displayed in front of the chariot. There is also a second chariot which was used in the 1968 coronation of the sultan.
The building, originally "Churchill's Museum", which had been established by the father of present Sultan of Brunei as he admired Winston Churchill, was replaced in late 1992 by the Royal Regalia Exhibition Hall. It was established to celebrate the 1992 Silver Jubilee of the Sultan's coronation as the king of Brunei. A historical review of the present Sultan's life is narrated through family pictures with detailed narrative texts in which the Sultan is highlighted through many of his portraits and a hologram.
Exhibits include the artifacts that were used for royal ceremonies in the country, the gold and silver ceremonial weaponry, crowns embedded with jewels, and other paraphernalia that formed part of the coronation ceremonies, and ceremonial costumes. A particular photograph of interest shows the Sultan smiling at his circumcision ceremony. There is an exhibit of a golden hand and forearm that the Sultan used as a prop for his chin at his coronation and an "ornate crown", as well as exhibits of "documents and treaties" in a Constitutional Gallery.
From the Royal Regalia Building, we walked back to the Hotel and then took the boat to visit the water village along the Brunei River.
At 1616H, we were onboard the boat and started our water village tour.
At first I was expecting to see a floating market similar to those in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia along the Mekong River. However, Brunei's water village is different. It's not a market at all but a village built with the Brunei river underneath.
According to Wikipedia, Kampong Ayer, or the Water Village (Malay: Kampung Air) is an area of Brunei's capital city Bandar Seri Begawan that is situated over Brunei Bay. Around 39,000 people live in the Water Village. This represents roughly ten percent of the nation's total population. All of the Water Village buildings are constructed on stilts above the Brunei River.
People have lived in Kampong Ayer for over 1300 years. Antonio Pigafetta dubbed it the "Venice of the East" when the fleet of Ferdinand Magellan visited in 1521. Antonio Pigafetta described the village in 1521: "that city is entirely built in salt water, except the houses of the king and certain chiefs. It contains twenty-five thousand hearths. The houses are all constructed of wood and built up from the ground on tall pillars. When the tide is high women go in boats through the settlement selling articles necessary to maintain life".
The district is a culturally important part of Brunei that preserves the nation's river dwelling origins. According to geography professor Abdul Aziz of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam, this is the largest and most famous water settlement of Southeast Asia. "It was historically the very core of Brunei and one of the most important centers of trade in Borneo."
Still onboard the boat, we passed the end of the water village and there we entered the mangrove forest. Our guides said that the mangrove area is home to crocodiles and some monkeys. Slowly, we stared at the mangroves and spotted several monkey. The water is murky and we had no chance to see a crocodile in the water.
Famous mangrove inhabitants include the pot-bellied, big-nosed proboscis monkeys (orang belanda), unique to Borneo. They feed extensively on mangrove tree leaves and are commonly seen in large troops at the water edge around dusk, when tens of thousands of giant fruit bats (flying foxes) leave the mangrove, where they roosted during the day, in search of food.
The mangrove forest is a valuable ecosystem: not only does it support unique animal life and maintain the highly productive coastal fisheries, but it also stabilizes the mudflats and protects the coastline from storms and erosion.
Selirong Island is the largest mangrove forest reserve and reputed to be the best in South East Asia. The mangrove forest are important to the communities living around the Brunei Bay because it is the breeding ground for much of the marine lives that populate the bay. The abundant population of these marine lives are routinely harvested for consumption or sale.
After exploring the mangrove forest, we decided to stop-over at the water village for some refreshments.
From the water village, we took the boat back to the hotel where the van that will bring us to the Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque was waiting.
From the hotel, we took the van going to the central mosque. At 1832H, we were at the central mosque to witness its grandeur at night.
Built in 1992 to celebrate the 25th year of the current sultan's reign, Brunei's largest mosque and its four terrazzo-tiled minarets dominate their surroundings.
It's certainly an impressive building; because the sultan is his dynasty's 29th ruler, the complex is adorned with 29 golden domes. At night the mosque is lit up like a gold flame.
The interior more than matches the mosque's lavish exterior. The sheer volume in itself is remarkable, not to mention the myriad woven rugs scattered across the men's prayer hall.
After exploring the central mosque, the van took us to Gadong night market. This was our final activity for the day. 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 various native foods such as – 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 cooked as it is ordered, so it’s piping hot when served. The best part is, each dish usually cost only $1 – $3. There are also stalls selling drinks, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and even clothes and accessories.
We were back at the hotel at 2035H. From the hotel, I decided to see Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque at night. Just like the central mosque, Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque at night is marvelous with the barge as foreground.
Day2: WALKING TOUR IN BRUNEI
We had a good breakfast at 0600H and then had a good photo ops at the hotel before resuming our walking tour in the city.
It was a Sunday. According to the hotel concierge, Sunday is a family day in Brunei. People would go to the streets and parks to unwind and relax.
We were supposed to attend the morning mass at the Church of Our Lady of Assumption. From the hotel, we took the road on foot towards the church. I was surprised to see a lot of people on the streets and on the parks.
It was really a family day. I also met fellow Filipinos along the road while walking.
At 0841H, we reached the Church of Our Lady of Assumption.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Bruneiensis) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction covering the territory of Brunei and headed by an apostolic vicar, currently Bishop Cornelius Sim. The present Catholic community in the country finds its roots in the ministry of the Missionary Society of St. Joseph (Mill Hill Missionaries).
The origins of the Roman Catholic population of Brunei is traced to the influence of the Spanish missionaries coming mainly from neighbouring Philippines, who also converted the Kadazans in Sabah.
Throughout the years, the local Church was administered by various ecclesiastical jurisdictions centered in Labuan, Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu), Kuching and Miri, cities in neighboring Malaysia.
From the church, we walked back to the hotel. Along the way, we visited a Jollibee food store at the city shopping center for some refreshments and then continued walking towards Mercu Dirgahayu 60 monument.
Mercu Dirgahayu is a monument erected to commemorate the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's 60th birthday.
Opposite the monument are chains of souvenir shops. We had our lunch at the area and got few souvenir items.
We proceeded back to the hotel and took a van to see the Malay Technology Museum.
We were at the Malay Technology Museum at 1246H. The museum is located at Kota Batu, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. 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 boat-making, 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.
From the museum, the van took us back to the hotel for us to check-out and then took another van going to Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's residence.
We reached the Sultan's residence at 1336H. It is the equivalent of Malacanang Palace in the Philippines and tourists are not allowed inside the residence premises.
Istana Nurul Iman palace is located 3 km southwest of the city center. Its name is taken from Arabic, meaning "Palace of the Light of Faith". The palace was designed by Leandro V. Locsin, and built by the Filipino firm, Ayala Corporation, mixing Malay and Islamic elements in the building architecture.
It contains 1,788 rooms, with 257 bathrooms, and a banquet hall that can accommodate up to 5,000 guests. The palace only opens to public during the yearly three-day Hari Raya Adilfitri celebration.
After taking photos at the entrance of the palace, we proceeded to the grandest hotel in Brunei, The Empire Hotel and Country Club.
Empire Hotel and Country Club is Brunei's Six Star Hotel. From conception to completion, The Empire Hotel and Country Club was an ambitious project; employing over 300 highly skilled designers, technicians and craftsmen throughout its six-year construction.
Since it opened on 16 October 2000, The Empire has become synonymous with Brunei: reflecting the country's majestic and cultural heritage.
From the Empire Hotel, we moved to the Jerudong Park.
At 1452H, we were at the main entrance gate of the Jerudong Park facing the fountain. Jerudong Park is an amusement park in Brunei. It is the largest and most expensive amusement park in South East Asia, built and funded by the Bruneian government for $1 billion.
It is notable that during its first few years of operation, Jerudong Park featured no admission fees and free rides. It is currently larger than phase 1 of Hong Kong Disneyland. The public only had to queue up for rides. However, recently the number of visitors and tourists has dropped significantly and the administration has started a one time B$15 admission fee, and allride ticketing system.
From the park, we drove straight to the airport. At 1703H, we were at the airport and prepared to leave Brunei for Kota Kinabalu.
We left Brunei at 1825H onboard Royal Brunei airlines and landed safely at Kinabalu International airport at 1905H. From Kinabalu International airport we took a cab going to our accommodation at the Hotel Shangri-la.
We checked-in at Hotel Shangri-la at 2015H and then decided to walk across the street towards the Filipino night market along the seashore. Along the way, we had a good dinner at the seafood market place before proceeding to the night market.
At 2153H, we were at the night market for souvenirs. We were back at the hotel at 2255H and prepared for our
Day3: KOTA KINABALU TOUR
We started our guided tour in Kota Kinabalu at 1000H through Amazing Borneo.
Our first destination was the Foundation Building.
Located 5 kilometers or about 15 minutes away from the KK city center. Formerly known as the Sabah Foundation Building, this circular tower of steel and glass stands 30 storeys high in the Likas Bay area and is instantly recognizable as a Sabah icon.
It has a central core with steel brackets supporting each floor. When completed in 1977, it was one of the three such buildings in the world based on this design concept. Inside the building are an auditorium, two mini-theaters, exhibition foyer, a gymnasium, kindergarten and research library.
From the Sabah Foundation Building, we moved to Kota Kinabalu City Mosque a.k.a Floating Mosque. We were at the mosque at 1047H.
The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Malay: Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu) is the second main mosque in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, after State Mosque in Sembulan. As of June 2014 the head imam is Mokhtar Rapok.
Preparations for the mosque began in 1989, and the installation of foundation piles began in 1992. Construction was delayed between 1993 and 1994 owing to a lack of funds. The mosque was officially opened on 2 February 2000 following a proclamation of the city status of Kota Kinabalu. Construction of the mosque cost 34 million Malaysian ringgits. The architectural design is based on the Nabawi Mosque, the second holiest site in Islam, in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The dome is blue and gold, inspired by similar Arabic architecture.
The mosque sits on a 14.83-acre (6.00 ha) site at Pasir Road on the shores of Likas Bay, on the South China Sea. It is partially surrounded by a human-made lagoon; this has given rise to the nickname "The Floating Mosque". It has a maximum capacity of 12,000 worshipers. The mosque features an ATM, three madrasas, a palliative care clinic, and – in a joint project with Universiti Malaysia Sabah – a fish farm.
From Islam, we turned into Buddhism at the Kinabalu Chinese Temple. We were at the temple at 1103H.
Pu Tuo Si Temple (also called as Puh Toh Tze Temple or Poh Toh Tse) is a Buddhist temple located off Tuaran Road in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
The temple was build in 1980 with a statue of Guanyin located in the entrance. It is the main Chinese temple for the city. In 2013, the temple received a total of RM115,000 from the federal government to finance its on-going renovation.
The temple main hall is called Daxiong Baodian. At the main altar, there is a big statue of Buddha, with a statue of Guanyin in the left and Da Shi Zhi in the right.
From the Chinese temple, we proceeded to the Signal Hill to have a better view of the City Center above. We were at the viewing deck a.k.a Signal Hill at 1133H.
Signal Hill, the highest point in the city, is one of the best places to get a good view of Kota Kinabalu. It derived its name from the signals being sent up the hill using flags (hence, the name Bukit Bendera in Malay for the hill) whenever mail steamships arrived at Jesselton Port. There's an observation platform to get a panoramic view of Kota Kinabalu below.
Our next destination was the Sabah Museum. We started exploring the exhibits at 1159H.
The Sabah Museum (Malay: Muzium Sabah) is the state museum of Sabah, Malaysia. It is sited on 17 hectares of land at Bukit Istana Lama in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital.
The complex contains not only the museum proper, but also an ethnobotanic garden, a zoo and a heritage village. The main building also houses the Sabah art gallery. Other galleries cover Islamic civilisation, archaeology and history, natural History, and ceramics and Brassware. The mission of the museum is to collect, preserve, conserve and document ethnographic, archaeological, historical, numismatic, art-historical, botanical, zoological and mineralogical collections from throughout the state, and to conduct research on important and interesting aspects of Sabah's history, culture, and social and natural history.
The Sabah Museum was established in 1965 in a shophouse in Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu, largely due to the efforts of the Sabah Society. The George Cathcart Woolley Collection of photographs, diaries and other artefacts, bequeathed to the State Government of Sabah, formed the nucleus of the Museum. The first Curator of the Museum was E.J. Berwick. In 1981, it came under the Ministry of Community Services and then, in 1982, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. It moved to its current location in 1984. The new museum was officially opened on 11 April 1984 by the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang.
After learning the history of Sabah, we proceeded to the Sabah State Mosque. We were there at 1322H.
Construction began in 1970 and was completed in 1975. The architectural design was by Arkitek Jurubina Bertiga, led by Dato Baharuddin Abu Kassim. The mosque was officially opened on 28 June 1977 by the sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan.
From the mosque, we traveled to the Filipino market place at the seashore for last minute souvenir shopping and for lunch. We were at the market at 1356H.
This concluded our guided tour in Kota Kinabalu. After getting all that we need at the market, we went back at the Hotel and then prepared to leave Kota Kinabalu.
We left the hotel back to the airport at 2100H. We left Kota Kinabalu at 0215H on December 6, 2016 back to Manila and landed safely at NAIA 0414H.
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