Brunei Day 3: Exploring Kampong Ayer, Trying Jollibee, and Chasing the Sunset

It was my third and final day in Brunei, and unlike the previous two days, I wasn’t in a hurry to go anywhere.

I woke up late, had a late breakfast, and spent a little more time relaxing in my room at Badi’ah Hotel before checking out at noon.

My flight wasn’t until 11 PM, which meant I still had practically an entire day to explore.

And there were still a few places on my list.

Missed my previous adventures? Read more:

Exploring Kampong Ayer, Brunei’s Famous Water Village

My first stop was Kampong Ayer, often called the Venice of the East because of its extensive network of houses, wooden walkways, and waterways.

I had already seen parts of the water village from a distance during my previous days in Bandar Seri Begawan, but this time I wanted to explore it properly on foot.

Getting there was surprisingly easy.

I simply headed to the waterfront and hailed a water taxi. The ride across cost me just BND1.

No complicated booking process, no organized tour. Just a quick boat ride to the village.

Once I arrived, I headed straight to the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery to get a map and learn a little more about the village before exploring on my own.

I also checked out the viewing tower, which gave me a better perspective of the surrounding water village.

From there, I started my self-guided walking tour.

Getting Lost in the Walkways of Kampong Ayer

One of the things I enjoyed about Kampong Ayer was simply walking around and seeing what everyday life looked like in a community built over water.

There were houses, small businesses, and long wooden walkways connecting different parts of the village.

But here’s something I would definitely tell anyone planning to explore on foot:

Watch your steps.

Some sections of the walkways were not in the best condition when I visited. A few felt less sturdy than others, so I had to be careful where I stepped.

This is especially important if you’re busy taking photos or videos. It’s easy to get distracted by the surroundings.

Among the places I passed was Jabal Rahmah House, also known as the Colorful House. With its bright exterior, it’s one of those houses that immediately catches your attention.

I also passed by a prawn cracker maker and a pottery house, little glimpses of the businesses and traditions within the community.

Eventually, I reached a spot overlooking Masjid Al-Muhtadee Billah.

It was a nice place to end my walk, take in the view, and appreciate how different Kampong Ayer felt from the city just across the river.

From there, I caught another water taxi back to the city. This time, I paid BND3.

So in total, my water taxi rides for the day cost me just BND4.

For a self-guided visit, I thought that was pretty reasonable.

Souvenir Shopping at Yayasan Complex

Back in downtown Bandar Seri Begawan, I decided to stop by Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex.

It’s a shopping complex in the city center, and I wanted to look for a few souvenirs before heading home.

One thing I noticed during my trip was that I didn’t come across as many dedicated souvenir shops as I expected.

The two places where I found a good selection of official-looking Brunei souvenirs were here and at the airport.

At Yayasan, I visited BWN Souvenir Shop, which had a selection of items to bring home.

The prices were fairly reasonable, too.

But here’s a tip: you don’t necessarily need to rush your souvenir shopping in the city.

I also saw BWN souvenirs at the airport, including a branch after immigration, and the prices I noticed were about the same.

So if you’re short on time, you can save some of your souvenir shopping for the airport. Just make sure to leave enough time before your flight.

Trying Jollibee in Brunei—and I Wasn’t Expecting This!

Now, here’s something I had been curious about even before arriving in Brunei.

Jollibee.

Yes, Jollibee! Haha.

I know what you’re thinking. Why would someone from the Philippines travel all the way to Brunei just to eat Jollibee?

Well, I had heard that Jollibee Brunei offered some menu items that weren’t the usual ones we see back home.

And I wanted to find out for myself.

I ended up ordering three things:

Nasi Lemak Fried Chicken
Spicy Tteokbokki Spaghetti
Pistachio Choco Kunafa Sundae

And guys…

Lami kaayo! (Everything was so delicious!)

I enjoyed all three, but the biggest surprise was definitely the Spicy Tteokbokki Spaghetti.

It had that familiar spaghetti comfort-food feeling, but with an extra kick of spice that made it so much more interesting.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that it was my favorite part of the meal.

The nasi lemak fried chicken was also really enjoyable, and the pistachio choco kunafa sundae was a nice way to finish everything.

I left Jollibee feeling ridiculously satisfied.

Who would’ve thought that one of my most memorable meals in Brunei would come from a Filipino fast-food chain?

Haha.

If you’re Filipino and visiting Brunei, I’d actually recommend checking out their menu. You might find something that surprises you.

A Sunset Visit to The Empire Brunei

After that very satisfying meal, I booked a cab to The Empire Brunei, a luxury beachfront resort that I had been wanting to visit.

I had heard that the property was enormous and that it offered one of the nicest sunset views in Brunei.

And I thought, what better way to spend my final afternoon?

When I arrived, I was immediately impressed by the scale of the place.

The resort was massive, with beautiful grounds and plenty of open spaces.

It actually reminded me a little of Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu, especially because of that sprawling resort atmosphere.

What I also appreciated was how accommodating the staff were.

Nobody made me feel uncomfortable about visiting even though I wasn’t a checked-in guest.

I mentioned that I was planning to dine at Pantai Restaurant, since my original idea was to order a few drinks, find somewhere to lounge, and watch the sunset.

But as I made my way towards the beachfront area, I realized there were so many beautiful spots where I could simply sit and enjoy the view.

So I ended up skipping my original restaurant plan.

Instead, I found a comfortable spot, sat down, and waited for the sun to set.

And that was it.

No activities to rush to. No itinerary to follow. No need to be anywhere else.

Just me, the sea, and the sunset.

After several days of exploring Brunei, it felt like the perfect way to slow things down before going home.

Heading to the Airport

After sunset, I made my way back to Badi’ah Hotel to collect my belongings.

I had originally considered having dinner at one of the restaurants near the hotel, since there were several options around the area.

But I was still surprisingly full from my Jollibee meal earlier.

So I skipped dinner.

At around 8 PM, I headed to Brunei International Airport for my 11 PM flight.

And just like that, my Brunei adventure was coming to an end.

Why This Solo Trip Meant So Much to Me

I have to say, I really enjoyed this trip.

These days, I don’t get to do solo backpacking trips as often as I used to.

Most of the time, my parents now join me on my travels, and I’ve grown to appreciate those experiences just as much.

And maybe it also comes with getting older, but I’ve noticed that I sometimes prefer a slower pace these days.

Less rushing around, less overthinking every detail, and sometimes even less research before the trip.

Just taking things as they come.

But this trip reminded me of something I’ve always loved about travelling alone.

The freedom.

The freedom to wake up whenever I want. To change my plans at the last minute. To spend longer in a place I enjoy or skip something when I don’t feel like doing it.

To explore without having to consider anyone else’s schedule.

There’s something incredibly liberating about that.

And even after all these years of travelling, solo travel still gives me that feeling.

Brunei may not have been the kind of destination packed with nonstop activities, but that’s part of what made this trip enjoyable for me.

I got to explore a new country at my own pace, discover local food, experience its culture, and enjoy a little time travelling on my own again.

And I loved every bit of it.

If you’ve been following this Brunei travel series, I hope my stories, experiences, and little travel tips have helped you plan your own itinerary.

Thank you for coming along on this journey.