Brunei - BSB

So next stop from Kuching was Miri, but it only took an hour there to decide to move on after just one night. The destination of Bander San Begawan awaited

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

Being an Islamic state mosques were prevalent & the most interesting buildings.

waterfront sculpture

I have resoundingly failed to record one of the common delights of Malaysia - the huge roundabout statues such as a 10ft swordfish. In BSB a personal favourite was the mosaic clock roundabout.

clock roundabout, BSB

Across the water from the main town lies the biggest water village in the world, Kampong Ayer. There's an observation tower and interesting museum documenting the history of the village.

Kampong Ayer

observation tower & visitor centre

 The best way to see it though is from one of the omnipresent motor boats, you can't walk along the shore without a fusillade of offers of trips. There's a huge number of schools and they are all massive long buildings. The police, fire brigade & petrol stations are dotted around. It's a little difficult to reconcile the current state of the houses with a small area of modern, uniform houses that in theory the whole village will be like in just 1 year (according to my boatman). It would take an area of extreme variety and individuality and transform it into a Milton Keynes housing estate, I can't see it happening.

School

police station

Another fascinating museum was the royal regalia museum.

royal regalia museum

Full of extravagant gifts from countries around the world it makes you think they could have spent their money on more worthwhile projects, but at the same time is a fun game of guess the country. There's also plenty of background information on the sultan himself, did you know the sultan was a keen tug-of-warer, although in later times enjoys badminton and golf?