UAP Brunei Chapter Eleveth GMM for FY2020-2021 & Family Day: Road Trip to Temburong

The United Architects of the Philippines Brunei Chapter held their

Eleventh General Membership Meeting for FY2020-2021 and

Family Day: Road Trip to Temburong, The Green Jewel of Brunei - last 23rd May 2021.

Members at the Assembly Point prior to their departure from Bandar Seri Begawan.

The first part of the Family Day, Chapter President, Arch. Romeo J. Nabong II, UAP, FRIA, EAROPHdelivered a brief opening statement and inform the membership about the detailed itinerary.

Arch. Gilbert C. Sicat led the morning prayer before embarking on the journey to Temburong.

Membership on the way to Temburong via Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saiffudien Bridge, the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, spanning 30 kilometers long, the only road bridge in the Sultanate connecting the Temburong Exclave to its Mainland, which is physically separated by the Sarawakian District of Limbang, Malaysia. The bridge allows commuters to travel between the two territories without having to go through Malaysia, bypassing four immigration checkpoints along the mainland route and shortening travel times between Temburong and the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Previously, the only direct connection between the capital and Bangar, the district town, was via water taxi services, which took about 45 minutes.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the bridge was opened ahead of schedule on 17 March 2020, a day after Brunei barred most non-resident foreigners from entering the country, and most citizens and residents from leaving, which would have otherwise disconnected Temburong from the rest of the country.

The membership met up at the Temburong Signage which has become a landmark welcoming visitors taking the SOAS Bridge going to Temburong and posing for a quick photo-op, the Chapter then visited Tamu Aneka Temburong (farmers market) , much more than just eating udang galah (giant freshwater prawn), 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 WajidJawaTemburong (sweet glutinous rice wrapped up in a leaf), you’ll be sure to find it here.

The third location visited by UAP Brunei was the Taman RekreasiBatangDuri a 22-minute drive away from the town proper, where you can find a landscaped park with a mini zoo that houses local animals & birds, apart from the flora & fauna there is a nearby river which the citizens & residents can have a picnic & wade in the shallow river.

On to the final location on the Chapter’s Itinerary, PekanBangar (Bangar Town) which is hard to miss having giant steel structures resemble colourful trees. No visit to Temburong would be complete without snapping a few selfies in this landmark. A number of eateries are located here serving local delicacies.

Members along with their family waiting for the scrumptious meal to be served.

The event has started at around 7:30 AM and departed Temburong at around 1:45 PM.

Written by: hbn