Brunei is full of massive hypermarkets and shopping malls. You could easily spend an entire day in them because they are absolutely huge!
Brunei is a tax-free, subsidized society, and statistically, its population enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes on earth. Because of this, almost everyone seems to drive expensive sports cars or luxury vehicles.
Since alcohol is virtually unobtainable and there’s no real nightlife to speak of, I’m certain that if I lived here, I would save a lot of money! In a place like this, owning a car feels like owning freedom, and if you own a luxury car, it feels like you own even more than that. :)
If you own a car, means that you own freedom.
And if you own a luxury car, man you will own more than freedom.
Most of these vehicles are imported, and since they are tax-free, you can see the latest models on the road almost as soon as they are released. I truly wish Malaysia could be more like Brunei in that regard!
My father circled the mall several times, hoping someone would leave so we could snag a parking slot.
After a few rounds, the constant circling made me feel a bit dizzy, and my father eventually gave up the search. We all agreed it was better to just head back to Limbang.
On the way back, my father was worried about the traffic at the border, so he drove quite fast. Whenever he needed to overtake a slower car, he would pull up close, check the mirrors, downshift, and floor the accelerator to pass them. It was a bit of a thrill! :S
I looked out the back window and whispered, “Bye-bye, Auntie. Bye-bye, Brunei.” I really hope I can visit again next year.
When we reached the Brunei immigration checkpoint, OMG! Our worst nightmare had come true. The queue was incredibly long. It was sweltering hot, and we had no choice but to sit and endure the wait.
Eventually, I couldn't stand the heat inside the car anymore, so my brother and I got out and waited near one of the immigration booths. It took approximately one hour and 45 minutes before it was finally our turn to get our passports stamped.
By the time we finished, it was 4:00 PM. As we looked at the traffic coming from the opposite direction from Limbang into Brunei, it was even worse! I estimated that the queue was about 3 kilometers long. I felt so sorry for the people at the very back; they probably wouldn't get through until 8:00 or 9:00 PM. All I could think was, "Happy waiting!"
That marks the end of my trip to Brunei. I am so impressed by this small but wealthy nation. It was a fantastic trip, though it would have been much better without those long border queues!
— THE END —
1. The Road to Tedungan: A New Year’s Journey to Brunei (Part 1 of 3)
2. The Journey to Brunei (Part 2 of 3): Royal History and Heartfelt Reunions
3. The Journey to Brunei (Part 3 of 3): Supercars and the Great Border Wait