David and Maki were waiting for me when I arrived at Miri airport last night. I had a booking at the Park Hotel in town, but as they were treating themselves to a night at the Mandarin Hotel and suggested that I joined them there. At about GBP35.00 per room, including breakfast, this four star hotel is quite a bargain with very nice rooms and gardens. If only we could get hotels of this quality in Europe at sensible prices.
I ran this morning. It was only about 27°C, but with the humidity being high, it felt as hot as an Al Khobar 37. I had hoped that running here would be a less sweaty experience.
The drive from Miri to Brunei, a tedious road through eighty miles of completely devastated forest, was unexciting. A large bill board announced the illegality of starting fires in the rainforest, an act punishable by huge fines and a three year jail term. Too little, too late, I think.
Brunei is dry, but you can take alcohol across the border for private consumption. Just before the frontier there is a rather shady liquor store. Dave bought his quota, and Maki’s. And mine. I wonder how much the alcohol sales ban keeps the evil of drink from Brunei’s largely muslim population. I suppose it ‘helps’ the poor mainly, although no doubt it boosts the brewing of toddy.
Having drunk a ridiculously large amount of beer in the last thirty six hours, I have decided not to drink for the summer. Once out of Saudi, where I don’t drink, I just lose all sense of self control.
I find it difficult being a house guest, in giving up my freedom.
Like many of the houses here in Brunei, David and Maki’s house is huge. Five bedrooms, five bathrooms and a living room big enough to swing a tiger. In the absence of large cats however, David swigs Tiger at an alarming rate, whilst walking around in his boxer shorts. Saving on airconditioning bills at the expense of sartorial elegance.
Dinner at Tenaga, an Indian restaurant on the outskirts of Bandar. Good food, but regretfully they didn’t sell beer ...
I ran this morning. It was only about 27°C, but with the humidity being high, it felt as hot as an Al Khobar 37. I had hoped that running here would be a less sweaty experience.
The drive from Miri to Brunei, a tedious road through eighty miles of completely devastated forest, was unexciting. A large bill board announced the illegality of starting fires in the rainforest, an act punishable by huge fines and a three year jail term. Too little, too late, I think.
Brunei is dry, but you can take alcohol across the border for private consumption. Just before the frontier there is a rather shady liquor store. Dave bought his quota, and Maki’s. And mine. I wonder how much the alcohol sales ban keeps the evil of drink from Brunei’s largely muslim population. I suppose it ‘helps’ the poor mainly, although no doubt it boosts the brewing of toddy.
Having drunk a ridiculously large amount of beer in the last thirty six hours, I have decided not to drink for the summer. Once out of Saudi, where I don’t drink, I just lose all sense of self control.
I find it difficult being a house guest, in giving up my freedom.
Like many of the houses here in Brunei, David and Maki’s house is huge. Five bedrooms, five bathrooms and a living room big enough to swing a tiger. In the absence of large cats however, David swigs Tiger at an alarming rate, whilst walking around in his boxer shorts. Saving on airconditioning bills at the expense of sartorial elegance.
Dinner at Tenaga, an Indian restaurant on the outskirts of Bandar. Good food, but regretfully they didn’t sell beer ...
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