TORN BETWEEN CAREER AND PASSION

Travel Date: May 16-22, 2018 || This is a less than 24 hours visit in BsB.

The plan is to head to Brunei right away.

• Currency: Brunei Dollars // Malaysian Ringgit
  • 1 BND – 36 Php
  • 1 MYR – 12 Php
• Mode of Transportation: Bus & Cabs
• No VISA for the Filipinos
• Point of entry and exit: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

How to get to Brunei from Kota Kinabalu via Ferry Boat

• 8AM: Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal – Labuan via Labuan Express = 47MYR (Business Class)
• ETA: 1130Labuan, Malaysia – Serasa Ferry Terminal, Brunei = 35MYR
• ETD: 1:30PMSerasa Ferry Terminal to Muara Bus Terminal = 10 Brunei Dollar
• ETA: 3:00PmMuara Bus Terminal – BsB = 1 Brunei Dollar
• ETD in BsB at 4PM

Accommodation in Brunei: Joy’s Rest House= 15 Sgd/night/person = 45 BND for 3 persons (1700 PHP)

How to get to Kota Kinabalu from Bandar Seri Begawan via bus

• Bandar Seri Begawan to Kota Kinabalu via Jesselton Express = 45 Brunei Dollar

**Make sure to bring Brunei Dollars if you are paying your ticket through cash.

First things first: Buy a local sim card. We finally arrived at Kota Kinabalu (BKI)  1:50 AM. We were on the airplane for only 2.5-3 hours. I never thought that Kota Kinabalo is just right beside Philippines. 🙂 Upon arrival, there’s a shop for sim cards before the immigration. We waite for 3 hours so that we can finally go the Jesselton Point as we decided to just go through bo boat and go back to KK by bus.

The Jesselton Point – he main public ferry terminal to Labuan. When we arrived at the port at 5AM, there were no people inside it. Maybe because it’s just too early or it’s Ramadan. We were still adjusting on how to cross the road as cars drive on the left. We went to 7-11, it was just across the port. We had our dinner and early breakfast and we stayed there while waiting for the ticket counter to open.

At 8AM, we were able to purchase a ticket for Labuan, it was a 3.5 hours boat ride going to Labuan. This is the first trip of Labuan Express from Kota Kinabalu. We paid 36 Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) for an economy ride. Fares and schedules are subject for change.

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Read the link below for detailed instructions on how to get to BsB/Bandar Seri Begawan or Brunei by boat from Kota Kinabalu.

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Above image: The Labuan Express is our carrier to Labuan, Malaysia from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Check Jesselton website for the updated schedule and fare.

Above image: Labuan is still part of Malaysia, yet this place is in a tax free status. We just had 1-hour stay in Labuan where we only had our lunch and we were able to buy few chocolates for pasalubong. The shops beside the sea port is like a chooclate haven. Trust me, it was very cheap and the place is like a chocolate haven. It was Ramadan week when we went to these countries, so there were just a few people around and a few shops that were open. Guess what, we had chicken all the way since this is the only restauarant that was open at that time.

Happy Meals for Hungry Bellies in Labuan.

At 1PM, we already went to the port and we had again immigration check since we are already exiting Malaysia. It was roughly 2.5 hours to arrive Brunei.

3 PM: The Serasa Ferry Terminal, Brunei. This is the entry port of Brunei by boat. Bus 38/39 goes around to Serasa Ferry Terminal before going to BSB for 2BND, however, sometimes, they do not. So you can take a cab to BsB or take a cab to Muara Bus Station and take Bus 38/30 going to BsB. In our case, we took a cab for 10 BND to Muara Bus Station, and from Muara Bus Station, we took the Bus 38 for 1BND to Bandar Seri Begawan.

At 4pM, we finally arrived at Bandar Seri Begawan and Joy Resthouse is just in front of the Kampong Ayer. It’s not a fancy hostel yet it’s just what we needed for our overnight stay, breakfast is also included. Two of the hostel staff are Filipinos, so it was pertty ask to ask, especially with the directions.

Itinerary:

Talking about the itinerary, we just had very limited hours in Brunei and here’s how we spent the afternoon:

• Kampong Ayer or the Water Village (5 Brunei Dollars /person = 25 BND)
• Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
• Dinner at KFC (and oh, there’s Jollibee beside KFC).
• Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex
• Accommodation in Brunei: Joy’s Rest House= 15 Sgd/night/person = 45 BND for 3 persons (1700 PHP)
  • We didn’t go to Gadong Night Market beause the taxi costs 25 BND one way.

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