The beauty of Tasek Merimbun

Enjoy the video of Tasek Merimbun!

A little description about the place:

‘Tasek Merimbun (Translation: Merimbun Lake) Heritage Park’ is a wildlife sanctuary, a conservation spot for flora and fauna, a recreational center, and a venue for research and education. It is the first to be declared a national park in Brunei Darussalam. The 7,800-hectare park was also declared an ASEAN Heritage Park on 29 November 1984, marking a significant era in its history. With this recognition, the government earmarked funds in the 6th National Development Plan for developing facilities at Tasek Merimbun to establish a national park that would incorporate extensive forest areas adjacent to the lake.

The story of jong batu

In some versions of the story as told in Brunei, Dang Ambon was a rich widow and her son, Nakhoda Manis, inherited wealth from his deceased father. In other versions, they were both poor. They lived in Kampong Ayer.

Nakhoda Manis left Kampong Ayer to seek his fortune in the city of Sulu. After many years, he achieved success and wealth there and married a pretty noblewoman and became owner of a huge ship. The version of the legend where they were rich had his mother sharing her wealth with poor people until one day she found herself poor like them. In any case, she longed for her son.

Dang Ambon was overjoyed to hear that her son’s ship was going to anchor in the Brunei River and Nakhoda Manis was also looking forward to reuniting with his mother. When he arrived at the Brunei River, Dang Ambon paddled a small boat out towards his larger vessel and shouted that she missed him. He was very happy upon hearing his mother’s voice and looked forward to introducing her to his wife. However, before he could say anything to his wife, she was disgusted with the poor old woman and demanded her to be chased away. Nakhoda Manis was forced to turn his back on his mother and ordered his crew to push her small boat away. Other versions of the tale had them throwing her overboard. Dang Ambon was heartbroken and she cursed her son, whereupon a storm came and capsized the ship.

After the storm, there was a huge rock in the river where Nakhoda Manis had anchored his vessel, which sank in the storm. The rock is known today as "Jong Batu

Theres a place where all the Bruneians hang around

The MALL, the Bruneian usually called it and it is the most populated shopping mall in Brunei as It is also the largest shopping Mall in Brunei. It is located at the heart of Gadong surrounded by a lot of shops and restaurants where the Bruneians usually buy their stuffs. 

There is a Cinema on top floor next to a large food court selling all kinds of international food, you can find Indonesian food, Japanese food, chinese, western and malay food or economy rice they are all available in every stalls and a fast-food chain too.  The Arcade Funland is located at top flr next to foodcourt too, is a good place for toddlers / kids & parents to have some great fun after food.

Atrium always got something happening.  Some said like pasar! some said is good many cheap things to buy, some don't really mind. Well it is sad sometimes to see some other retail store located up at the building getting less customers and paying expensive rental as customers enter the Mall getting all their attention to the kiosk at ground flr like you could see it almost every time bazaar sell is available. 

There's always something happening at The Mall, is a great place to hunt for things you want to bring home as souvenirs and food etc and to cool down yourself on a hot sunny day outside. 

10 Fun Facts About Brunei

1. Despite the fact that Brunei is classified as a developing country, Bruneians get free education and health care, subsidized food and housing, and they do not pay personal income taxes.

2. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 29^th sultan of Brunei, owns five thousand cars, including around 20 Lamborghinis, 160 Porsches, 130 Rolls Royces, 360 Ferraris, 170 Jaguars, 180 BMWs, 360 Bentleys, and 530 Mercedes-Benzes.

3. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah belongs to the same family that has ruled Brunei for over six hundred years.

4. Traditionally, Bruneians don’t shake hands with the opposite sex.

5. Bruneians don’t point using their index fingers; this is considered impolite. They point with their thumbs instead.

6. Whenever Bruneians enter someone else’s house, they always take off their shoes.

7. It is illegal to drink alcohol in public in Brunei.

8. When Brunei first participated at the 1988 Olympic Games, its delegation was composed of a single official and no athletes.

9. The Belalong Tree Frog (Rhacophorus belalongensis) can only be found in Brunei.

10. There are about 35 species of plants that come only from Brunei. Some of these are the orchidCoelogyne bruneiensis, the palms Calamus maiadum and Livistona exigua, and the bamboo Temburongia simplex.

6 Fun Facts about Kampong Ayer

1. Kampong Ayer is called 'Venice of the East'

2. The populations are up to 39 000!

3. It consist of 10% of Brunei's total population.

4.  The villages in Water Village are Mukim Sungai Kedayan including Bukit Salat, Sumbiling Lama, Sungai Kedayan 'A', Sungai Kedayan 'B', Ujong Tanjong and Kuala Peminyak; Mukim Tamoi including Tamoi Ujong, Tamoi Tengah, Pengiran Kerma Indera Lama, Pengiran Tajuddin Hitam, Ujong Bukit/Limbongan, Pengiran Bendahara Lama; Mukim Burong Pingai Ayer including Burong Pingai Ayer, Lurong Dalam, Pandai Besi 'A', Pandai Besi 'B', Sungai Pandan 'A', Sungai Pandan 'B', and Pengiran Setia Negara, Pekan Lama; Mukim Peramu including Peramu, Pekilong Muara, Bakut Pengiran Siraja Muda ' A', Bakut Pengiran Siraja Muda 'B', Bakut Berumput and Lurong Sikuna; Mukim Saba including Saba Tengah, Saba Ujong, Saba Laut, Saba Darat 'A' and Saba Darat 'B'. Mukim Sungai Kebun including Setia 'A', Sungai Siamas/Ujong Klinik, Setia 'B' Sungai Kebun, Bolkiah 'A' and Bolkiah 'B'.

5. 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

6. This is the largest and most famous water settlement of Southeast Asia!

Enjoy reading!

Muzium Teknologi Brunei

Muzium Teknologi Brunei, located in Kota Batu, in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Muara District, Brunei

The front door of Muzium Teknologi Brunei

The technology used by the Water Village people

The gallery is divided into three showroom namely Water Village Traditional House Gallery, Water Village Traditional Technology Gallery and Inland Traditional Technology Gallery. The first gallery shows architechural structure of houses in the water village in the late 19th to mid 20th century.

The environment of Water Village

Water Village Traditional Technology 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.

Awesome Brunei

Let me share you a video about Brunei. Awesome!