Lance ThooWe here at What’s Neue are always on the lookout for “hidden gems” here in Brunei. And this week, we’ve set our sights on Bangar Town (Pekan Bangar), Temburong, which is about 50 minutes’ drive (54km) away from the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
Be sure to bookmark this page or add it to your home screen the next time you’re planning a day trip to Temburong with your family and friends.
1. Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) Bridge
View this post on Instagram
Your Temburong adventure begins the minute you drive along the Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) Bridge, which spans 26.3 kilometres across the Brunei Bay. The view here is breathtaking. Truly an engineering marvel!
The bridge, which was first opened to the public on 17 March, 2020, is the longest oversea bridge in Southeast Asia. Before the opening of the bridge, travellers from Temburong had to take a 45-minute boat ride across the bay or drive two hours through Sarawak’s Limbang and four border checkpoints before reaching the capital.
#2. Bukit Patoi Recreational Park
View this post on Instagram
As soon as you exit the Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) Bridge, make your way down to Bukit Patoi Recreational Park. Located within the protected Peradayan Forest Reserve, the park is carved with well-marked trails that lead you to peaks that hold breathtaking views of the land below. It’s a strenuous 1 hour, 15 minutes’ walk to the top. Click here to learn more about Brunei’s hiking trails.
#3. Temburong District Office
View this post on Instagram
After your hike at Bukit Patoi Forest Recreation Park, reward yourself with an ice-cold drink and some Udang Galah (giant freshwater prawns) at the MYHO Canteen & Catering Services located at the vicinity of Temburong District Office. This is also a great place for you to snap photos by the banks of the Sungai Temburong.
#4. Tamu Aneka Temburong
A visit to Temburong is so much more than just eating Udang Galah. That said, be sure to visit the many stalls around here to see what the locals are selling. Whether it’s salted duck eggs or the ever famous Wajid Jawa Temburong (sweet glutinous rice wrapped up in a leaf), you’ll be sure to find it here. Do strike up a conversation with the ever-friendly locals here and learn a thing or two about their way of life in Temburong.
#5. Pekan Bangar
(Photo: KHA Arkitek)
It’s hard to miss the (man-made) “giant colourful trees” in the centre of Pekan Bangar (Bangar Town). Snapping selfies are mandatory here … after all, no visit to Temburong would be complete without doing this! You can also find a number of eateries and shops around here.
Pekan Bangar is the administrative centre and the district has five mukims namely Mukim Amo, Mukim Bangar, Mukim Batu Apoi, Mukim Bokok and Mukim Labu. There are more than 80 villages from the five mukims.
Fun fact: Temburong is Brunei’s second-largest district that covers an area of 1,306 square kilometres.
#6. Batang Duri Recreation Park
View this post on Instagram
Did you know that you can find a landscaped park with a mini zoo that houses the local animals and birds in Temburong? Entry is free. However, it is a bit of a drive – about 21 minutes’ drive (16.7km) away from Pekan Bangar. You can even go wading in the nearby shallow river – if you’ve got a spare change of clothes. (Nobody wants to drive home soaking wet!)
View this post on Instagram
What’s Neue with you?
What other places would you like to see added to our list? Drop a comment below and we’ll check it out!
Click on the following links to check out more Neue Routes: A Foodie’s KB Tour, A Day Trip Through Seria Oil Town, Hidden Gems Of Tutong & A Walk Through Historical Bandar Brunei.