december-2011

trip journal
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
COUNTRY CODE +673
CURRENCY BND1 = PHP34.21/US$0.80
TOUCHDOWN The international airport is
approximately 10 minutes (about 10km) from the
center of Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB). There are
taxis, car rentals and regular public bus services
that can take you to and from the airport.
BY DAY Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, one
of Southeast Asia’s most impressive mosques, is
named after Brunei’s 28th sultan. It boasts granite
from Shanghai, chandeliers and stained glass from
England, and Italian marble, to name a few.
BY NIGHT Head over to Gadong Pasar Alam
(night market). You’ll fi nd fresh vegetables and
cooked food at countless stalls: nasi katok (fried
chicken), nasi lemak (chicken with coconutfl
avored rice) and, if you dare, chicken butt.
SLEEP For budget travelers, Grand City Hotel
provides good value and decent lodgings. About
fi ve to 10 minutes from the airport, it’s also close
to small shops, restaurants and streetside cafés.
BEST BREAKFAST The Empire
Hotel buffet or nasi katok at a local
cafeteria.
BEST DINNER Bob Ume
Restaurant in Tamu Selera serves great
seafood at affordable prices.
BEST SOUVENIRS Nothing is
better than your own photographs
and your experience in Brunei —
these are priceless.
{ 190 }
Ben Lo
inbound tour
coordinator
PHILIPPINES
MANILA
AREA CODE (02)
CURRENCY Philippine Peso (PHP1 = US$0.02)
TOUCHDOWN From the airport, the ride to
commercial centers takes 30 minutes to an hour,
depending on traffi c and where you’re headed.
Pay around PHP450 to hire registered airport
taxis, but metered cabs are also available.
BY DAY Take a tour of Intramuros, formerly the
nerve center of the Spanish occupation in the
Philippines, and home to several thousand Spanish
colonists. It is now a prominent tourist spot where
visitors can experience Spanish-era Manila.
BY NIGHT Hang out at the Resorts World
Casino, where you will fi nd numerous high-end
shops, bars, coffee shops, restaurants and a
3D cinema as well. It is located just across the
Terminal 3 airport.
SLEEP For budget-conscious travelers who just
need a comfortable and clean place to crash,
Salem Domestic Guesthouse is the most affordable.
Tel: +63 (916) 429 1111
Mike Nocom
entrepreneur
BEST BREAKFAST Geni’s
Fusion cuisine along Domestic Road
has some of the best coffee.
MUST-TRY Try gas-powered offroad
RC racing at Xtreme Toys, SM
Mall of Asia.
INSIDER TIP Be safe and aware
of your surroundings. Have a hotel
in mind before you take a cab at
the airport.