Unadventurous Bruneians
We Bruneians take our country for granted. We don't appreciate what we have. We have so much to savour, so much to enjoy. Many people would pay the earth to get what we have. Yet we complain about Brunei, we complain that there is nothing to see and nothing to do in Brunei.
My wife and I were guests at the Japanese Ambassador last night for dinner. I won't describe the dinner but the usual Japanese food - sushi, sashimi, tempura, noodles were all there. My favourite Japanese food is always tempura and early this year I discovered Udon. So, there were all there for the dinner. During the dinner conversation, we discovered just how extensively the Ambassador had been throughout the country. I was very embarrased that he can describe more about Brunei than I can. And I thought I was a wide read Bruneian compared to most.
The Ambassador was describing about his hobby hiking through woodlands. One of his favourite was a trip he took to Sukang. He was searching for this hot water spring in the interior and his guide took him to Sukang from where he took another boatride for around 2 hours before reaching his destination. From there he had to hike about a couple of hours and swim across a river before getting to where the hot spring was. Unfortunately he could not make it as it was getting dark and adventurous though he was, he was unprepared to spend the night in the jungle. However one of his Japanese friends went and discovered that the river even though not as wide happened to have a baby crocodile. The guide stopped him swimming across as baby crocodile will have mother crocodile somewhere.
The Ambassador described a number of other places in Brunei that I did not even know exist including a butterfly collection taken from the Mount Pagon area. He described Brunei as full of interesting places to visit. This is what gets me. It takes an outsider to appreciate our country - the country we live in. Most of us can talk about Singapore or Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok or even some, Beijing etc and we can recall the various shopping centres and good places to visit. However when outsiders come and talk to us and ask where they should go and what they should do. We will describe the Istana, the Royal Regalia, the two mosques, the Handicraft Centre and a couple of other places and when ask to describe more than that official standard list, most of us have difficulties. We don't even know about the hotwater spring, let alone how to get there.
Maybe this is a good time for me to remind you as well as remind me about the need to be more widely read about Brunei and to be our own country's tourists before we start going out of Brunei.
My wife and I were guests at the Japanese Ambassador last night for dinner. I won't describe the dinner but the usual Japanese food - sushi, sashimi, tempura, noodles were all there. My favourite Japanese food is always tempura and early this year I discovered Udon. So, there were all there for the dinner. During the dinner conversation, we discovered just how extensively the Ambassador had been throughout the country. I was very embarrased that he can describe more about Brunei than I can. And I thought I was a wide read Bruneian compared to most.
The Ambassador was describing about his hobby hiking through woodlands. One of his favourite was a trip he took to Sukang. He was searching for this hot water spring in the interior and his guide took him to Sukang from where he took another boatride for around 2 hours before reaching his destination. From there he had to hike about a couple of hours and swim across a river before getting to where the hot spring was. Unfortunately he could not make it as it was getting dark and adventurous though he was, he was unprepared to spend the night in the jungle. However one of his Japanese friends went and discovered that the river even though not as wide happened to have a baby crocodile. The guide stopped him swimming across as baby crocodile will have mother crocodile somewhere.The Ambassador described a number of other places in Brunei that I did not even know exist including a butterfly collection taken from the Mount Pagon area. He described Brunei as full of interesting places to visit. This is what gets me. It takes an outsider to appreciate our country - the country we live in. Most of us can talk about Singapore or Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok or even some, Beijing etc and we can recall the various shopping centres and good places to visit. However when outsiders come and talk to us and ask where they should go and what they should do. We will describe the Istana, the Royal Regalia, the two mosques, the Handicraft Centre and a couple of other places and when ask to describe more than that official standard list, most of us have difficulties. We don't even know about the hotwater spring, let alone how to get there.
Maybe this is a good time for me to remind you as well as remind me about the need to be more widely read about Brunei and to be our own country's tourists before we start going out of Brunei.
Comments
However, we have the most amazing beaches! I love the water. After all Brunei is surrounded with water. It really should be exploited!
But regarding discovering Brunei, I think the problem is information, or the lack of it. The public (inc the locals) need to know not only that such places exist, but where these places are. The ambassador had a guide, but most of us locals wouldn't know where to find a guide, let alone have one, so we tend to stick to the obvious places. Shahbandar anyone? ;)
But agreed, should have map/guide to all those unexplored places in Brunei... lets start asking the natives...
The jungle is appealing but there is but one problem.
I guess for people like me who has been living in the 'city', it is difficult to venture out alone (unless you have a guide which of course I don't know one. >.>)
Basically after reading your posts it kept me thinking. One of the main obstacle is perhaps that most of us haven't got an inkling on survival skills in such situations. What to pack, how to NOT get lost, what to do in case of 'emergencies', and the likes. I might be just speaking for myself.
Also something just creep into my head while typing this. Now I wonder how many Bruneians will actually buy a book about Brunei (as posted by Anonymous above haha.). I know I would (because I'm looking for one) but just wondering bout the general public. Hmm....
One more thing,it probably due to the society as well..For example people like to ask which country have you been to and Oh..have you been to KLCC, Takashimaya etc..Hmmm..Why don't we twist that question to "Have you been to Pulau Cermin or Belalong?" for instance..
Need to develop a more adventurous Bruneian in the future..Not only to gain more information of your own conutry but to increase health awareness among us.. :D
Hey, can you write about other places of interest and how to get there etc, if you happen to know?
Oh and another blog topic i want to suggest is re our traditional weddings. Kawin sudah, but I didn't have a clue what the significance of certain ceremonies were! (yes, how clueless can you get huh!). Like bebadak atu...I had trouble trying to explain that to my overseas friends!
Thanks! And keep it up. Your blog is absolutely refreshing to read.