The Empire Hotel is the most luxurious and famous hotel in Brunei. Because Brunei does not really have many tourist attractions, the first question that any Brunei resident asks of the visitor is: "Have you been to the Empire Hotel?"
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
Brunei: Empire Hotel, Tutong
On May 15, 2008, we went to the Empire Hotel and to the town of Tutong. It was only our third day in Brunei and we were already bored and we still had 4 more days to go because we booked our itenerary for a week in Brunei.
The Empire Hotel is the most luxurious and famous hotel in Brunei. Because Brunei does not really have many tourist attractions, the first question that any Brunei resident asks of the visitor is: "Have you been to the Empire Hotel?"
The Empire Hotel is the most luxurious and famous hotel in Brunei. Because Brunei does not really have many tourist attractions, the first question that any Brunei resident asks of the visitor is: "Have you been to the Empire Hotel?"
Brunei: Kampong Ayer (Water Village) and Wild Monkeys
On May 14, 2008, on our second day in the capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan (which everyone just calls "Brunei" as it was just called "Brunei Town" before its name was changed to Bandar Seri Begawan), we went to Kampong Ayer (Water Village) which took up most of the morning and afternoon and then walked around the "downtown" area a bit before returning back to my cousin's house.
My aunt and cousin lives in Brunei and it was fortunate for us that my aunt had a spare Toyota Vios car or else we could not have gone anywhere as there is no public transportation system at all. My sister drove the car (they drive on the left side of the road) and I was the so-called navigator. I had to rely on an old map book that the oil company Shell had produced a number of years ago for their expatriate workers.
Because Brunei is an oil producting country, gas was really cheap, it was around $0.30 per litre in Brunei dollars ($1.00 Brunei = $0.74 Canadian). As a result of all this cheap gas, almost everyone drives an SUV in Brunei and the whole city feels like a transplated American suburb with "Southeast Asian characteristics". Unlike other Asian cities where there is a vibrant downtown area full of energy, the downtown area was completely dead, devoid of people and any sort of energy. We would later find out that most of the people did their shopping in suburban malls and suburban shophouses.
Singapore to Brunei: Flight, Arrival and Royal Regalia Museum
On May 13, 2008 we flew from Singapore to Brunei after coming back from Kuala Lumpur the day before. Brunei is not exactly a tourism hotspot so the only reason we went to Brunei was because that is where my mom was born and also because she never went back to visit after she immigrated to Canada in the mid-1970s...until now.
Since most people have no idea where Brunei is, I thought that maybe I should include some maps of where it is. The country is located on the island of Borneo. The following map shows the relative locations of Singapore and Brunei with respect to Southeast Asia.
The following map shows the places that I visited in Brunei and East Malaysia.
We started our journey in the morning from Singapore's Changi Airport. It is constantly voted as one of the best airports in the world due to the amount of amenities it offers to travellers.
The following shows the distinctive control tower of Changi Airport.
Since most people have no idea where Brunei is, I thought that maybe I should include some maps of where it is. The country is located on the island of Borneo. The following map shows the relative locations of Singapore and Brunei with respect to Southeast Asia.
The following map shows the places that I visited in Brunei and East Malaysia.
We started our journey in the morning from Singapore's Changi Airport. It is constantly voted as one of the best airports in the world due to the amount of amenities it offers to travellers.
The following shows the distinctive control tower of Changi Airport.
Kuala Lumpur: Merdeka Square and Departure
On May 12, 2008 we spent a half-day exploring the Kuala Lumpur city centre before going to the airport at late noon for our evening flight back to Singapore.
We started out at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre area where our hotel was located and took the LRT system to the old downtown area.
The Kuala Lumpur City Centre area is also where the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria shopping mall are located. In front of the twin towers is a massive landscaped park.
We started out at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre area where our hotel was located and took the LRT system to the old downtown area.
The Kuala Lumpur City Centre area is also where the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria shopping mall are located. In front of the twin towers is a massive landscaped park.
Putrajaya: Malaysia's Other Capital City
Merry Christmas 2009! Now continuing with my series of posts from my travels in Malaysia last year...
On May 11, 2008 after our day trip to Melaka the day before, we went on another day trip to Putrajaya, the federal administrative centre of Malaysia, first stopping at the Royal Selangor Pewter museum on the way there.
Royal Selangor is a famous Malaysian brand in pewter goods and their products make excellent gifts. Another reason for going to the museum was to buy souvenirs at their factory store for back home at a fraction of the price that they sell overseas because everything was priced in Malaysian currency.
Entering the museum, we see a massive model of the modern icon of Malaysia, the Petronas Twin Towers.
On May 11, 2008 after our day trip to Melaka the day before, we went on another day trip to Putrajaya, the federal administrative centre of Malaysia, first stopping at the Royal Selangor Pewter museum on the way there.
Royal Selangor is a famous Malaysian brand in pewter goods and their products make excellent gifts. Another reason for going to the museum was to buy souvenirs at their factory store for back home at a fraction of the price that they sell overseas because everything was priced in Malaysian currency.
Entering the museum, we see a massive model of the modern icon of Malaysia, the Petronas Twin Towers.
Melaka (Malacca): Malaysian UNESCO World Hertitage Site
On May 10, 2008, we hired a taxi for the day from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka for a day trip. We hired a taxi because unless you have a car in Malaysia, it is very hard to get to many places (a situation similar to traveling in the United States). Luckily hiring a taxi for the day was not that expensive. We just asked our hotel to book a taxi and the taxi drivers knew most of the tourist areas and would drop us off for sightseeing while he waited in his car. It took around one hour and a half to reach Melaka from Kuala Lumpur on the taxi.
In 2008, UNESCO awarded Melaka along with George Town in Penang the status of "World Heritage Site".
What makes Melaka interesting to tourists is that beginning from the 15th century onwards it had been colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and finally the British before gaining independence within the Malaysian federation. Also Melaka has a large Chinese population due to past migration and all of these factors contributed to creating a town with a distinct culture.
The Christ Church built by the Dutch in the "Dutch Square" area, an area that was once the centre of the Dutch colonial administration in the 17th century. The colonial administration building is one of the oldest Dutch buildings in the East.
In 2008, UNESCO awarded Melaka along with George Town in Penang the status of "World Heritage Site".
What makes Melaka interesting to tourists is that beginning from the 15th century onwards it had been colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and finally the British before gaining independence within the Malaysian federation. Also Melaka has a large Chinese population due to past migration and all of these factors contributed to creating a town with a distinct culture.
The Christ Church built by the Dutch in the "Dutch Square" area, an area that was once the centre of the Dutch colonial administration in the 17th century. The colonial administration building is one of the oldest Dutch buildings in the East.
Kuala Lumpur Day 1 Continued: Jalan Alor & KL Tower
This is the second part of the photos from Kuala Lumpur on May 8-9, 2008. This set of pictures is actually from our second day in Kuala Lumpur as we arrived at night on our first day.
Continuing from my previous post:
Kuala Lumpur Day 1: Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC, Chinatown
After we left Chinatown (see previous post) it was already around mid-afternoon so we decided to go to the main shopping and entertainment area of Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang via the KL Monorail.
Another view of the Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre complex as we walked away from it.
Continuing from my previous post:
Kuala Lumpur Day 1: Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC, Chinatown
After we left Chinatown (see previous post) it was already around mid-afternoon so we decided to go to the main shopping and entertainment area of Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang via the KL Monorail.
Another view of the Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre complex as we walked away from it.
Kuala Lumpur Day 1: Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC, Chinatown
Continuing with the series of pictures from my travels to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei last year in May 2008. Next is a set from May 9, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur.
Here is a recap of what I posted so far with regards to my 3 week trip in May 2008.
Stopover in Seoul, Korea:
Nanyang Trip: Stopover in Seoul Day 1: Arrival and Namdaemun Night Markets
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the USO Korea Tour
Seoul Day 2: Seoul Station, Deoksugung Palace, N Seoul Tower
Seoul Day 3: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsangol Traditional Folk Village
Seoul Day 3: Insadong, Seoul Skyline from Han River
Seoul Day 3: Myeongdong at Night, Cheonggyecheon Stream
Seoul Day 4: Namdaemun Market
Seoul Day 4: Incheon International Airport
Singapore:
Singapore Day 1: Financial/Colonial District, Boat Quay
Singapore Day 1: Singapore City Gallery at the Urban Redevelopment Authority HQ
Singapore Day 2: The Singapore Flyer (The World's Largest Ferris Wheel as of 2009)
Singapore: Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street
We flew from Singapore via a Japan Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur whose final destination was Osaka, Japan. The flight was only 30 minutes long and was so short that all we received on the flight was a juice box.
Arrival at Kuala Lumpur airport:
Here is a recap of what I posted so far with regards to my 3 week trip in May 2008.
Stopover in Seoul, Korea:
Nanyang Trip: Stopover in Seoul Day 1: Arrival and Namdaemun Night Markets
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the USO Korea Tour
Seoul Day 2: Seoul Station, Deoksugung Palace, N Seoul Tower
Seoul Day 3: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsangol Traditional Folk Village
Seoul Day 3: Insadong, Seoul Skyline from Han River
Seoul Day 3: Myeongdong at Night, Cheonggyecheon Stream
Seoul Day 4: Namdaemun Market
Seoul Day 4: Incheon International Airport
Singapore:
Singapore Day 1: Financial/Colonial District, Boat Quay
Singapore Day 1: Singapore City Gallery at the Urban Redevelopment Authority HQ
Singapore Day 2: The Singapore Flyer (The World's Largest Ferris Wheel as of 2009)
Singapore: Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street
We flew from Singapore via a Japan Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur whose final destination was Osaka, Japan. The flight was only 30 minutes long and was so short that all we received on the flight was a juice box.
Arrival at Kuala Lumpur airport:
Singapore: Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street
After a 5 month hiatus from my last post about my travels to Nanyang: Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, I decided to continue where I left off by posting pictures from Singapore's ethnic areas.
The pictures are taken from May 5-8, 2008.
Here is a recap of what I posted so far with regards to my 3 week trip in May 2008.
Stopover in Seoul, Korea:
Nanyang Trip: Stopover in Seoul Day 1: Arrival and Namdaemun Night Markets
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the USO Korea Tour
Seoul Day 2: Seoul Station, Deoksugung Palace, N Seoul Tower
Seoul Day 3: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsangol Traditional Folk Village
Seoul Day 3: Insadong, Seoul Skyline from Han River
Seoul Day 3: Myeongdong at Night, Cheonggyecheon Stream
Seoul Day 4: Namdaemun Market
Seoul Day 4: Incheon International Airport
Singapore:
Singapore Day 1: Financial/Colonial District, Boat Quay
Singapore Day 1: Singapore City Gallery at the Urban Redevelopment Authority HQ
Singapore Day 2: The Singapore Flyer (The World's Largest Ferris Wheel as of 2009)
Because we stayed at my cousin's flat in Singapore, everyday when we went sightseeing we would commute via the train system from the suburbs to the city centre.
The suburbs are where the population of Singapore lives. They live in HDB - Housing and Development Board "new towns" where all the housing is built by the government.
Unlike in most countries, there is no "low income" sigma attached to public housing as almost all housing within Singapore is public. Therefore household ownership is affordable to people of all income levels.
Typical HDB block:
The pictures are taken from May 5-8, 2008.
Here is a recap of what I posted so far with regards to my 3 week trip in May 2008.
Stopover in Seoul, Korea:
Nanyang Trip: Stopover in Seoul Day 1: Arrival and Namdaemun Night Markets
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the USO Korea Tour
Seoul Day 2: Seoul Station, Deoksugung Palace, N Seoul Tower
Seoul Day 3: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsangol Traditional Folk Village
Seoul Day 3: Insadong, Seoul Skyline from Han River
Seoul Day 3: Myeongdong at Night, Cheonggyecheon Stream
Seoul Day 4: Namdaemun Market
Seoul Day 4: Incheon International Airport
Singapore:
Singapore Day 1: Financial/Colonial District, Boat Quay
Singapore Day 1: Singapore City Gallery at the Urban Redevelopment Authority HQ
Singapore Day 2: The Singapore Flyer (The World's Largest Ferris Wheel as of 2009)
Because we stayed at my cousin's flat in Singapore, everyday when we went sightseeing we would commute via the train system from the suburbs to the city centre.
The suburbs are where the population of Singapore lives. They live in HDB - Housing and Development Board "new towns" where all the housing is built by the government.
Unlike in most countries, there is no "low income" sigma attached to public housing as almost all housing within Singapore is public. Therefore household ownership is affordable to people of all income levels.
Typical HDB block:
Singapore Day 2: The Singapore Flyer (The World's Largest Ferris Wheel as of 2009)
On May 7, 08, after visiting my mom's cousin in Singapore. We decided to visit the Singapore Flyer. It is billed as the world's largest Ferris wheel at 165 m (541 ft) although it will soon be eclipsed by the 208 m (682 ft) Beijing Great Wheel when it is completed in late 2009.
2008 Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Level 2 Results
I just received my results last week for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 2 that I took in December and I was pleasantly surprised that I barely passed. In normal circumstances this would not be an acceptable result, but in this case it is because I only started to study for the test after I registered in September one week before the closing registration date of the exam. I only had three months to study the material for the test which included about 150 grammar points and countless vocabulary.
Singapore Day 1: Singapore City Gallery at the Urban Redevelopment Authority HQ
On May 6, 2008, after exploring the financial and government district of Singapore (see my previous post: Singapore Day 1: Financial/Colonial District, Boat Quay) we took the MRT ("Mass Rapid Transit", as what the subway is called there) to Chinatown.
This post will focus on the Singapore City Gallery located at the Urban Redevelopment Authority Headquarters which is located in Chinatown.
This is the description of the Singapore City Gallery from the official website:
"Don’t want to climb a skyscraper to catch a glimpse of Singapore’s central hub? Then drop by Singapore City Gallery and catch an amazing bird’s eye view of Singapore’s central area, and see the fascinating 11 by 11 metre architectural model, the only one of its kind in the world. Spread over two levels, Singapore City Gallery is Singapore’s version of a city exhibition that captures our planning efforts in a nutshell."
This is the main attraction of the Singapore City Gallery, a scaled model of what Singapore will look like in a couple years time.
This post will focus on the Singapore City Gallery located at the Urban Redevelopment Authority Headquarters which is located in Chinatown.
This is the description of the Singapore City Gallery from the official website:
"Don’t want to climb a skyscraper to catch a glimpse of Singapore’s central hub? Then drop by Singapore City Gallery and catch an amazing bird’s eye view of Singapore’s central area, and see the fascinating 11 by 11 metre architectural model, the only one of its kind in the world. Spread over two levels, Singapore City Gallery is Singapore’s version of a city exhibition that captures our planning efforts in a nutshell."
This is the main attraction of the Singapore City Gallery, a scaled model of what Singapore will look like in a couple years time.
Singapore Day 1: Financial/Colonial District, Boat Quay
Happy New Year (although most people seem to already have written off 2009 for 2010...)
Continuing from the Seoul series of posts, on May 6, 08 we arrived in Singapore from Seoul.
This was my second time visiting Singapore. I first visited Singapore way back in 1995 when our family stayed for 1 month in the hot humid month of August.
Because we were staying at my cousin's place, we had to wake them up at 3 am in the morning to let us into their apartment.
After a short rest we woke up and took the train (or as they call it in Singapore, the MRT, Mass Rapid Transit) to the airport to buy the Singapore Tourist Pass which is a set price unlimited travel transit smart card for tourist use. We had to go to the airport because that was the closest MRT station near my cousin's apartment which sold the pass (my cousin lives every close to the airport, maybe 15 minutes away by taxi).
Arrival at the airport again to buy the transit pass.
Continuing from the Seoul series of posts, on May 6, 08 we arrived in Singapore from Seoul.
This was my second time visiting Singapore. I first visited Singapore way back in 1995 when our family stayed for 1 month in the hot humid month of August.
Because we were staying at my cousin's place, we had to wake them up at 3 am in the morning to let us into their apartment.
After a short rest we woke up and took the train (or as they call it in Singapore, the MRT, Mass Rapid Transit) to the airport to buy the Singapore Tourist Pass which is a set price unlimited travel transit smart card for tourist use. We had to go to the airport because that was the closest MRT station near my cousin's apartment which sold the pass (my cousin lives every close to the airport, maybe 15 minutes away by taxi).
Arrival at the airport again to buy the transit pass.
White Chrismas 2008 in Vancouver
Merry Christmas.
For the first time since 1971, every region in Canada has a White Christmas. I think the last time Vancouver got so much snow was in 1996. Yesterday on Christmas Eve, the snow kept falling all day and I had to plow the snow three times or else it would have been unmanageable. In the afternoon alone, more than 6 inches fell. It had been snowing for almost a week here, which is pretty rare since it almost always rains in December.
The result is the following:
For the first time since 1971, every region in Canada has a White Christmas. I think the last time Vancouver got so much snow was in 1996. Yesterday on Christmas Eve, the snow kept falling all day and I had to plow the snow three times or else it would have been unmanageable. In the afternoon alone, more than 6 inches fell. It had been snowing for almost a week here, which is pretty rare since it almost always rains in December.
The result is the following:
Received My Official 2010 Winter Olympics Lanyard
It's the 24th of December and it is still snowing. So much snow that I had to shovel the snow two times already today. But the main reason for this post is to show the Official 2010 Winter Olympics lanyard that I received via the mail today.
I am quite disappointed in the quality of the lanyard, especially when VANOC (Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee) charged $23 for it. It didn't even come with any standard packaging. It just came in one of those cheap plastic sleeves which street market DVD vendors use to sell pirated DVDs in. From looking at the plastic holder, I am also surprised at how big the size of the tickets will be.
I am quite disappointed in the quality of the lanyard, especially when VANOC (Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee) charged $23 for it. It didn't even come with any standard packaging. It just came in one of those cheap plastic sleeves which street market DVD vendors use to sell pirated DVDs in. From looking at the plastic holder, I am also surprised at how big the size of the tickets will be.
Seoul Day 4: Incheon International Airport
3 months have passed since my last posting, and its time to continue where I left off.
During the past 3 months, two of which were spent intensely studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam Level 2. I completely underestimated the test and whether I passed or not, I learned a lot of new things during those months of study.
Now back to the original topic of this post. I took these pictures on May 5, 08 on our last day in Seoul. Despite the large size of the airport, there was almost nothing to do while waiting for our flight at the airport.
Regarding the shops in the airport, every single one of them was a duty free shop which sold luxury goods priced in U.S. dollars, not Korean Won, even though we were in Korea. I found this quite strange, but I guess the duty free shops can make more money from the exchange rates. Also what few shops that weren't selling luxury goods were selling merchandise that only targeted the Korean people. I thought this was kind of weird that for an international airport that they didn't have any other types of shops which offered amenities to the international traveler like newspapers, snack food, etc.
The departure hall:
During the past 3 months, two of which were spent intensely studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam Level 2. I completely underestimated the test and whether I passed or not, I learned a lot of new things during those months of study.
Now back to the original topic of this post. I took these pictures on May 5, 08 on our last day in Seoul. Despite the large size of the airport, there was almost nothing to do while waiting for our flight at the airport.
Regarding the shops in the airport, every single one of them was a duty free shop which sold luxury goods priced in U.S. dollars, not Korean Won, even though we were in Korea. I found this quite strange, but I guess the duty free shops can make more money from the exchange rates. Also what few shops that weren't selling luxury goods were selling merchandise that only targeted the Korean people. I thought this was kind of weird that for an international airport that they didn't have any other types of shops which offered amenities to the international traveler like newspapers, snack food, etc.
The departure hall:
Seoul Day 4: Namdaemun Market
This was our last day in Seoul (on May 5, 08). We stopped over for 4 days en route to our final destination of Singapore. Our flight to Singapore was at 7 pm on that day so we had the entire morning and afternoon to finish our sightseeing.
We had visited most of the usual tourist attractions with the exception of the Namdaemun area so we went there on our final day in Seoul.
Some pictures of the Myeongdong area from our hotel. We stayed at the Ibis Myeongdong hotel. We picked that hotel because it was highly rated on the TripAdvisor.com travel website. It had a pretty reasonable price of $100 per night and was located in a very good location. The only bad thing about it was that the air conditioning was centrally controlled and for one day in our 4 day stopover, it got really hot and we had to ask them to bring in portable air conditioners because they wouldn't lower the temperature of the central air conditioner.
Some pictures of the Myeongdong area from the hotel lobby. The way the hotel was set up was pretty weird. The lobby was on floor above the rooms.
We had visited most of the usual tourist attractions with the exception of the Namdaemun area so we went there on our final day in Seoul.
Some pictures of the Myeongdong area from our hotel. We stayed at the Ibis Myeongdong hotel. We picked that hotel because it was highly rated on the TripAdvisor.com travel website. It had a pretty reasonable price of $100 per night and was located in a very good location. The only bad thing about it was that the air conditioning was centrally controlled and for one day in our 4 day stopover, it got really hot and we had to ask them to bring in portable air conditioners because they wouldn't lower the temperature of the central air conditioner.
Some pictures of the Myeongdong area from the hotel lobby. The way the hotel was set up was pretty weird. The lobby was on floor above the rooms.
Seoul Day 3: Myeongdong at Night, Cheonggyecheon Stream
Continuing from my previous posts from May 4, 08, this is the final part of "Seoul Day 3".
As night approached, we went walking around the Myeongdong shopping areas. We didn't buy anything as there was nothing that suited us.
As night approached, we went walking around the Myeongdong shopping areas. We didn't buy anything as there was nothing that suited us.
Seoul Day 3: Insadong, Seoul Skyline from Han River
Continuing from my previous post from May 4, 08.
Seoul Day 3: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsangol Traditional Folk Village
After visiting the Gyeongbokgung Palace, we walked to the nearby neighbourhood of Insadong.
Seoul Day 3: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsangol Traditional Folk Village
After visiting the Gyeongbokgung Palace, we walked to the nearby neighbourhood of Insadong.
Seoul Day 3: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsangol Traditional Folk Village
On May 4, 08 our last full day in Seoul, we decided to see the remaining stuff to see on our "things to do" list. This included visiting the Gyeongbokgung Palace so we started off at the end of the long boulevard that stretches to the palace's front gate.
