A drive to Aman Hills Apartment

Husband home early from work. We had salad for lunch before driving to Aman Hills Apartments to view our next potential resident Although I like the countryside esq feel of S’akar Apartment, Aman Hills Apartments was more suited, why you may ask...... because of the facilities inside and surrounding the apartments - there’s a large swimming pool and a gym (for residents usage only), an ice skating ring, a cinema, bowling, restaurant, within the Aman complex...... so you see, there’s plenty to occupy myself with whilst Adrian is at work

A wet morning

My first day alone....... I had planned going for a morning swim in our pool but Mother Nature has turned on her tap! I was stilled determined to go, after all it was just shower, but alas Mother Nature won this debate as the shower turned into heavy rain....... Doh!

Happy New Year and New Decade to you all

Wow........ I finally managed to get into my blog after numerous attempts and being blocked three consecutive days at a time. I haven't written for a while due to illness. I was diagnosed with vestibular neuronitis after a week spell at QE11 hospital in Kings Lynn and was incapacitated for a year. My only mobility was initially by being in a wheelchair then walking stick. I was then referred to my local Leisure Centre. Two years later, I've got ninety nine percent of ME BACK! A New Year and a New Decade waits us all My first country of the new decade is Brunei, flying with Singapore airline (a twelve hour flight to Changi airport,Singapore with a fifty five minutes stopover (which gave us enough time to get to terminal two by the sky train) before boarding another Singapore airline for our last leg to Brunei (a two and half hour flight) Arrived safely a Brunei International Airport and greeted by our driver and two ladies "Good morning Mr Lee, I'm Maia, the person you've been corresponding with" she said with outstretched hands and a smile "Good morning Maia" replied Adrian reciprocating her hand gesture and the shook hands "This is my wife, Nikki" "Good morning" myself and Maia replied in unison "Good morning to you both, my name is Sabrina......... Welcome to Brunei" she said shaking both our hands The heat was noticeably HOT! We were grateful to be escorted into an air conditioned car We chatted with our two new acquaintances until we arrived at a new, albeit temporary, place of abode in Bandar Seri Begawan (S'akar Apartment) On reaching our accommodation, I spotted a papaya tree at the front The driver took our luggages out of the car boot "We will show you your temporary apartment, but before, here is the key to your car, Mr Lee" Maia said as she handed a set of keys to Adrian "Thank you" he replied We both got into the car to get a feel of it We were then taken to our apartment, which is on the third floor A quick tour around the three bedroom, one ensuite and another shower room, we were taken to the kitchen We were introduced to another Sabrina "We hope you like what we have bought you" she said, opening the fridge door, which was fully packed with dairy products, bread, bottled water et al "Thank you" Adrian and I replied in unison "Do we have WiFi?" I asked "Yes" I walked towards our balcony and saw a large pool below (Really wasn't expecting one....... It looked so inviting Ok, I'm going to give a quick catch-up on what we have done since arriving on the early hours of Friday January 17th It's now Tuesday January 28th, but what with having trouble getting into my blog, being blocked and having to wait three days at a time........ You get my gest! Saturday January 18th Picked up by Wayne, from ISB International School for orientation around the area and a spot of local cuisine He took us to Roti Culture restaurant. I ordered the Signature Laska with Otak-Otak and Adrian ordered Rendang with Pulut, washed down with Authentic Nanyang Coffee (I had honey tea). After lunch, he drove us to a coffee bar, where we met up with Tony, another management from ISB International School Sunday January 19th Another orientation, in the afternoon with Garaham (ISB International School He took us to a nearest SuperSava store, where we bought fruits, vegetables, prawns and pork from the non Moslim butcher section But before that, a quick read beside the pool and off course, photo session (lol) Adrian had to call Singapore airline...... Why, you may ask....... My American suitcase was damaged en route and I only noticed it the day before...... Doh! We were told to return it to the airport and it will will be sent to Singapore for evaluation Monday January 20th Adrian had his first meeting with management at ISB International School, to which I was invited. After a fruitful meeting, Sabrina (the first one we initially met at the airport) took us to One City Shopping Mall for a spot of lunch I ordered fried vermicelli with seafood (Singapore style), fish mee seafood soup and a bottle of water, whilst Adrian ordered Malaysian fried mee with seafood, dim sum and a bottle of water Back at our apartment after a long meeting at ISB International School, Lou day is half way over, whereas back home (U.K), is just getting ready for work, school et al. We had planned to swim in the pool but it was too hot! Tuesday January 21st After dropping Adrian off at iSB International School, Sabrina drove to to the nearest gym to check it out A member of staff took me round the gym (Fitness Zone at Serusop, Brunei) and informed me of the membership and daily price I decided not to join as I would need a car of my own to get there whilst Adrian is at work. I paid BD$12 for the day and used the treadmill and bikes for a couple of hours before being picked up by Adrian When we got back to our apartment, we needed to cool off so decided to take a swim in the pool.......... 30 minutes was all we could bare in the heat! Wednesday January 22nd Sabrina kindly dropped me off at Fitness Zone in the morning and I had several hours on the treadmill, rowing, bikes etc... Adrian picked me up and we went home for lunch before being taken to Kampong Ayer, the largest water village in the world. Kampong Ayer, a village in Brunei with its historic settlement area in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of Brunei (where we are residing. Kampong Ayer is a water village consists of a cluster of traditional stilt villages built on the Brunei River. It is widely known as the 'Venice of the East' We saw proboscis baby monkeys, crocodiles, snakes as our boat guided us through the thick mangroves Friday January 24th Morning meet up at ISB International School then a convoy drive to the Royal Brunei Yacht Club, Seri Begawan, Brunei for breakfast with Jon, Jonathan, Graham, Tony, Sabrina, Craig Adrian and myself Saturday January 25th We decided to check out the sister yacht club at Kota Batu, Bandar Seri Begawan, which is near to us. It's smaller than the other club and not as many facilities (no swimming pool nor a library)but it had a pool room (snooker), to which we took advantage of and play pool building up our appetite for lunch. I ordered Alaskan Pollock fish with chips washed down with a coconut margarita mocktail, Adrian ordered a Trio of pork ribs and fries, washed down with a Virgin Mojito mocktail We then drove to Taman Rekreasi Jalan Menteri Besar, for a leisurely walk in the park Sunday January 26th We drove to Pasar Malam, Gadong, the night market. We love the hassle and bustle of the night market, mingling with the locals. We shared a large fresh white fish with rice. I had ice coconut water drink and Adrian had a freshly squeezed iced lemon and lime drink Monday January 27th......Happy Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fa Chai to you all We drove an hour and a half to Panaga Golf Club, Kuala Belait, for lunch with Jon, Wayne, Sal (Wayne's wife) Adrian and myself. I ordered butter prawn egg floss, (fried prawn flavoured with butter, topped with crispy egg floss and served with plain rice, washed down with dry ginger ale. Adrian ordered Mamas style noodles with beef Malaysian style fried noodles with vegetables, potatoes and eggs, washed down with Moody Blues (blackboard and pineapple drink)