My take on Brunei...

So, after typing the previous blog entry, I did my little city tour of Brunei. Basically it just involved being driven around in the bus, looking at the different buildings, golden topped palaces etc...what sights still though! Amazing!! Ive never seen anything like that before in my life. Then we stopped at this indoor food market....soooo strange! I must have been walking around like a Zombie. FIRSTLY, after being at the airport so long (air con!!) I really really noticed the heat hit me as soon as I went near the airport doors....so so humid, and horribly sweaty! Brunei only have two seasons...the wet and the dry, and their temperatures range from 25C to 30C...this felt a lot hotter- I was sweating and couldnt breathe properly just standing there!!!!
I looked around....wow how cheap the food was! I decided to ask a girl sitting next to one of the stands about the names of the food advertised and what they were...and ended up trying some soup/noodles/beef type concoction for $1.50, and some coconut milk for $1- which she recommended. The servings were huge, and Im not a coconut fan at all, but this drink was GORGEOUS...definitely did the trick for hydration too! In the limited time I had at that market I got chatting to three people from Brunei (they speak quite good English)...such friendly hospitable people. I was amazed at how safe I felt in this place considering the ideas I had in my head from bad stereotypes...I have to admit Im pretty narrowminded with that kind of thing. Arab settings just dont sound safe to me!! Until now... everyone has a smile for you, whether youre sitting in the bus jsut driving past them and you happen to catch their eye, or if you walk past them in a market or go into a shop. I wish it were more that way in every part of the world. And its quite slow going except for the cars on the roads-there was some traffic- however what I had previously imagined to be a 'packed' and crowded place is actually not at all!!! I felt really at ease here and really want to come back again to see more of the place. A great experience!! Some interesting things about Brunei that I've learned so far....

-DEATH PENALTY... for drug trafficing.... ouch !
-No drinkage unless youre not from here and you are over 17
-the people are very friendly but quite shy! ... reserved is a very good description
-Brunei has a population of only 400,000 (i think!)
-NZ$1 is equiv to $0.73 Brunei
-The main foods eaten here are Malay, Chinese and Indian
(they also have some of the same stuff I found in NZ...EG Milo, that we dont have at home in the UK)
-there's a village here totally on wooden stilts in the sea! :D
-It's bloody hot- you can wear less wandering around the place, however inside mosques etc you should cover your hair, legs and arms....
- Actual name is Brunei Darassalum

And now I wait with my free Internet in the departure lounge....yaaaay!!! About time I did catch up with this blog stuff, photos, people.... what a perfect chance! Going to buy a couple of treats from the shop to take home soon, and then off I go onto the Plane again to fly to Dubai, wait in the airport, and then onwards and upwards to Heathrow.... W.O.W.........

The end of Aoteoroa....

Now officially I am out of NZ and have touched down in another country after so long. Currently I am sitting in Brunei Airport waiting for a tour to start, and am reflecting and looking back to a lot of things. Heres a little update for you to talk about the end of my trip, and my last taste of NZ! I struggle to keep this blog up to date, and theres so much I havent yet mentioned...!

So from Fox to Picton onto the Ferry to Wellington (yay!) then up to National Park where I did the Tongariro Crossing. That was one of the best days in NZ! It was a perfect day weather wise, and Im really happy that I made time on the walk to do the side trip up to the crater of Mt Tongariro....1967m :) Go me!

So, Auckland....again. sat and chatted to an English girl, and we made an unspoken agreement to watch over eachothers stuff whilst the other went off to get a drink/stretch legs etc, which was cool!- handy when youre travelling by yourself. I was however a bit overweight....(34 KG!!!! ARRRRG!!!!) on my suitcase and didnt even realise, so most of my clothes and my hiking boots (which were free anyway but I liked!) I threw away. Much cheaper to buy some new clothes than a new flight!!!!! Oh well, my airport antics!! After that was all good though. Royal Brunei are excellent to fly with- some good space, good movies and seat screens on economy! Ive watched 'Yes, Man' 'Quantum Of Solace' and 'Bedtime Stories' so far. They provide everything too from socks to sweets and hot towels....and I had none of that with Air NZ last time. Frequently bringing around soft drinks, and some nice meals. Although it is dry in the alcohol department, as is the country, although you are allowed to drink if you arent from here and you are over 17. The women often have to keep their heads covered, and I havent seen anything like this before, except for the exceptions back in England!! They do a funny praying video before take off also...haha!
So here I am, my first time out of NZ... and Ive bought a drink at a cafe and got free internet, so have decided to plonk myself here for a bit. We landed at 9.30 in the morning, and I have signed myself up for the complimentary city tour, which takes you to and from the airport within two hours. So although its a lot of time til my flight at 8 tonight, Im sure I will keep myself amused and the time will fly past! It still hasnt sunk in yet though that I've left NZ... I guess because the last time I was 'outside' anywhere was in Auckland,...that was a weird reminiscent occasion also! Im looking forward to this tour to experience a country like this for a little bit with no worries for money or safety, but after that I think I'll just be excited to be heading home. I'm continuously pondering if anything would have changed much or not, and have no idea what to expect!! I've changed heaps in many different ways and am also anxious about this too!!

Lots of love and hugs... but still to be continued....
Lorna xxxxx