Borneo

From March 14th to March 16th, 2024

Day 1

• Once we landed we were gently reminded by our driver and tour guide that the country was in the middle of observing Ramadan, so eating and drinking during daylight hours was not part of the cultural norm.

• We made it to The Empire Hotel, a self proclaimed 7 star hotel opened in the year 2000. Again, the hotel staff reminded us that because of the observance of Ramadan, there may be some interruptions in food service and overall hotel service.

• We checked into our room, 1 of 522 hotel rooms at The Empire Hotel, and then made our way downstairs to the movie theatre to watch the new Dune movie that had just came out. We were pleasantly surprised to smell the popcorn in the lobby of the movie theatre. So, we purchased our tickets, then went off to buy some popcorn to eat in the theatre. (We were especially excited, because, coming from China, all the popcorn was sweet & sugary - but we would tell this was buttery popcorn). After the attendant had made us our two popcorns, he gently let us know that we were not able to eat the popcorn in the movie theatre, but that we would have to take it back to our room and eat it. Never the matter that there was nobody else in the movie theatre but us. So, we abandoned our popcorn at the stand and made our way into the movie theatre with grumbling bellies.

• After the movie, we took a nap in the hotel, as that seemed to be what everyone else was doing.

• We made it down for dinner at 6:45, shortly after sundown and saw the hotel finally come alive. We made our way to the buffet and saw the plethora of food available to us to help “break the fast”. We were served pink drinks, dates, teas, and more. Max was pleased to find a Margherita Pizza station. We spent about 30 minutes going back and forth from our table to the buffet, looking for anything that might look similar to other food we’ve seen before - before retreating back to our hotel room for the evening.

Day 2

• This day we set out with a local university student who took us around the island and shared information about Borneo and Brunei with us. Our first top was some kind of botanical garden where all their plants, insects, and terrain were showcased to us: ginger, stingless bees, climbing plants, and more.

• The next stop was the Jame’asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque where we were able to take pictures and tour around the outside only. Some mosques will allow you to enter, so long as it’s not during worship hours, and as long as you’re wearing appropriate clothing. Perhaps because it was Ramadan, they were a bit stricter. The mosque was beautiful and well maintained.

• We then set off to see a “floating village” called Kampong Bakut Berumput. The wooden houses are built on wooden stilts just feet of the water. In order to get to and around the floating village, you have to hire a local boat to take you to and from. Boats are constantly circling around the village, so you just raise your hand to flag one over.

• After the floating village, we made a quick pit stop to the outer gates of the Sultan’s house, The Istana Nurul Iman.

• The last stop of the day was at Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, another mosque surrounded by a moat. We were certainly not able to enter the closer grounds to this one. The call to prayer was being alarmed overhead and people were heading inside to practice their daily prayers.

• We got home around 2pm and ordered room service: fruit, fried rice, avocado & quinoa salad, chicken tikka masala, and lasagna.

• That evening Hailey went for a massage at the spa - but all the facilities were closed.

Day 3

• We left for Bangkok!