Home bound

Hey Peeps.. ahuh...the long silence are mainly due to trying to finish what needs to be finished before the long weekend. Yes the Abode of peace is celebrating 49th Army Day or otherwise known by the locals as"Hari Jadi Asgar" no idea why..since its a long weekend a lot of people have one thing in mind.. go for a holiday to neighbouring Country without having to take long leave or travelling on long haul flights. Me included . For me it would be be killing 3 birds with one stone.. take a breather from work, go back home and visit with my mama (grandma)and mum whom I sorely miss.

It would seem though those who are not flying had the same idea which is to go to places accessible via road/boat hence the natural choice of going to Land Below the wind.. about 5 hours drive from the abode of peace.. oh that is barring the peak days i.e. actual holidays or weekends fridays/sundays during the so called peak days especially when you have a long weekend or an extended public holidays + school holidays the journey could take more than 5 hours some 7 hours and some even half of the day . Really its not the actual length of the journey, its more of the long queues at the many checkpoints between Brunei and KK.

So note to would be travellers , do avoid peak days as the queue at the main check points especially Kuala Lurah / limbang is a killer. However if you choose to or if you really have to go during the peak days please bear the following in mind:

Tune your mind to having to sit for hours without moving or only moving at snail pace.

One of the many queues, notice the many cars stretching behind

(Pic courtesy of a fellow traveller who went to kk during the long weekend , thanks beb!)

1. Ensure you have downloaded great tunes in your ipod /bring great CD's/choose great classics sing to songs to while away the time.


2. Travel with like minded people helps or you will be at each others throats before you even reach Kuala lurah checkpoint.


3. Bring good snacks /drinks.


4. Bring something to entertain babies/tots/kids or better bring a portable dvd player ( if your car dont have it already) to amuse them.


5. Ensure that your passengers have ample space between you (read: do not overcrowd with possessions -not good f0r peace of mind).
6. Baby wipes!
7. a Map if you can get hold of one.

Oh if you are bringing your helper with you, do ensure that they have a multiple entry visa and dont forget your Car registration card, insurance, departure and visiting immigration card for Malaysia and Brunei (for the none malaysian in the travelling group), just fill in two of em as they will retain one after departing from one of the checkpoints..Brunei Permanent residents who are Malaysian citizens do not need to fill any cards .

We had the foresight to go one day before the peak day hence managed to make record time , we reached Kuala Lurah about 7.30am reached Sipitang (2.5 hours away from KK) at about 10.30 not bad at all we spent an hour refreshing ourself change lil D's Diaper had some mamam and continued our journey . We sampai KK at exactly 1.30pm. Is'nt that great! My fellow traveller went with her friends on a peak day left BN early in the morning and reached KK a 7PM! lets just say sore bums and backs for the remainder of the day but thank god she reported to have had a FAB time in KK.

After hearing some disturbing news about my Gran a few months back, I have made a conscious effort to go home as frequently as I can. Thank God Hubz understood my need to do this coz where I go my "trailer" goes as well.. trailer being Hubz , lil D and helper. We spent every night at my grans but day time is reserved for shopping and food. KK has developed beyond expectation and is now a hotspot for a lot of Bruneians too mainly because it offers the best of both worlds..you can be laid back as the Sea and clean beaches especially the easily accessible islands are in abundance. If you dont want any of that you can shop shop shop..Warisan Square, Centre Point, Wisma Merdekal ,Philipines Handy Craft Market (gorgeous brooches can bargain one!) and now the best of the lot would be ONE BORNEO..its a hypermall and has mainly what the likes of KLCC/One Utama in KL could give - Euro Moda, Habib Jewels, Esprit, Nine West, Eclipse are among the big names. I believe it will be fully operational by August though the actual launch will be done this weekend by the Sabah Chief Minister. OK.. I sound like the Malaysian tourism Board so we shall leave it at that .. Needless to say it was an enjoyable visit home.

Can't wait for the next trip!