Charming Kampung Ayer

So much has been said of this thousand-year old water village on stilts, which consists of more than 3,000 houses spread over 10 km and home to about 25,000 people living a peaceful life of simplicity and friendly charm. It has even been said to be the "Venice of the East".

Whether you are visiting Bandar Seri Begawan or have lived here all your life, if you have never been to Kampung Ayer, do hop onto the wooden water taxi speedboats on the many jetties opposite the villages and pay the friendly folks a visit. They will only be too happy to welcome you into their midst.

Depending whether you want a simple trip across or a guided tour that lasts up to 40 minutes, the cost may vary from just B$1 to $20 or more.

Indeed, Kampung Ayer is a picturesque sight. The houses in Kampung Ayer are joined within a maze of timber walkways connected to one another, and are really a sight to behold. As you walk, you will pass by the dwellers going along their daily chores i.e. cooking, mending their boats, children playing with one another or doing their school work or just relaxing watching the world go by.

But that's not all. Open your senses and see beyond the rickety wooden houses and see the simple way of life led by the village. Feast upon the easy going nature of the villages and the way their faces break into laughter. Feel the warmth that is truly Bruneian. And if you can, sit down in their airy homes, experience the homely appeal and share a meal of delicious local food amidst a relaxed atmosphere.

In fact, while walking on the planks and gawking at the people and their homes, we saw cats lazily sunning themselves and even couple of agile monkeys jumping from roof to roof in a hive of activity (and everyone was still so relaxed!). They must have come from the nearby forests on the land adjacent to the villages.

Kampung Ayer professes a unique architectural finesse of its own. Traipse along the wooden walkways and you will chance upon sundry shops, eating houses, mosques and schools, all on stilts.

There's even a floating museum, showcasing some historical artifacts from the water village, seasoned over the years, and with the rain and sun etching their marks over time.(Mini museum @ Mukim Saba, Kg. Ayer)

My trip this time was with Mazarina, a sweet local lass and James Cann, a young English teacher with one of the floating schools at the water village. As our boat arrived, the children were ecstatic and kept on calling out to him and were more than happy to pose for photos with us. Some daredevils even demonstrated their diving skills by performing stunts to impress us, all in the spirit of fun.

If you love a breezy river ride, a water taxi journey around the whole village lasts just about 40 minutes or so (without embarking). And if you love sunsets, do have a delicious meals on the many restaurants on the west side of the river where the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah shopping centre.

Here there are a number of local and Western-style restaurants serving delicious food and great views of Kampung Ayer. This beautiful destination is indeed a national heritage and your must-visit destination in Brunei Darussalam. Selamat Datang to Kampung Ayer.