Brunei (Borneo) by Daniele Somenzi

Brunei-Singapore-Vietnam-Australia

March 2006, flight Pisa-Rome with AZ and onward to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. I'm travelling with Vanni's company. 3 days ago we arrived in the Sultanate of Brunei, on the island of Borneo, surrounded by Malaysia. The first day, the arrival day, jet-lag disorientation, then after a good sleep here's the real start of the holiday. We booked and did a very beautiful tour in the Brunei jungle: first a stretch by car to the port, then a fast motorboat for 45 minutes, passing through rivers and channels surrounded by incredible vegetation, then a short stretch in Malaysian territory and 10 km by car to the Brunei national park, and a 7-metre-long wooden motorised canoe to go up the river with small rapids. A walk in the jungle and a beautiful view from an aluminium platform 50 metres high.

MAMMA MIA, WHAT CHILLS FROM UP THERE, MY PARACHUTIST INSTINCTS HAD AWAKENED AND I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT TWICE ABOUT JUMPING IF ONLY I HAD HAD A PARACHUTE. Then with Vanni we came back down from up there; it looked like Tarzan's house even though there were few if any animals. The heat advised me to take a dip in the wild river. The day in Brunei Darussalam was spent fully. On the way back, the river current helps us and gets us to our destination sooner, then the whole itinerary in reverse for the return towards the capital. In the evening, tired but satisfied, after a shower at the hotel, a short walk and here we are in an Indian restaurant to sample some specialities. For Vanni, pleasing the taste buds is a must; every now and then you can. The Filipino waiter, very kind, we meet him shortly after in the nearby shopping centre, for a few minutes of leisure.

After a walk to burn off the food, we see the illuminated mosque with its domes plated in real gold, then off to bed. The time zone, still a bit off, makes us sleep so-so, though the air conditioning is very welcome. The third day in Brunei, a walk in the nearby fruit and vegetable market. When we're at the airport we ask whose that Boeing 747 in the hangar is. Of the Sultan, naturally, they say. And the twin plane? Well, that's the one for the staff, bodyguards, wives etc., who naturally accompany the prime Boeing.