Ulu Temburong is a national (rainforest) park in the Temburong district of Brunei.
If you want to visit it, you basically have to go with a tour group. Brunei's government is doing all it can to protect the Temburong district.
There is only 1 resort, and the best way to get there (and back) is via longboat.
I had done a lot of research before this trip, asking for prices and such. To make a long story short, I ended up booking a tour at the check-in desk of The Brunei Hotel. If I had gone alone, I would've paid about BND 195 (this is the solo-traveler, having a tour all to oneself price tag). Since I joined a group, I paid BND 150 (you can click here for my favorite online currency converter).
Much better, don't you agree?
A miracle of miracles,
I DO have my pictures from this day!
YAY!
Let's go to them.
The day started very early. I had to meet a guy from the tour company (AZ Back 2 Nature) at The Brunei Hotel at 7am. We both arrived earlier, so we set off earlier. He took me to the main Jetti to get a boat to Temburong.
Oh wait, I took a picture of my best BND 1 breakfast I've had in Brunei there. That picture was lost. Blast.
I do have the following picture, though!
My boat to Temburong. Imagine 45 minutes in this.
I found it better than I expected.
A lady picked me up and took me out to breakfast (my 2nd) as we waited for the other 3 people I was going to join. I found out her entire family was working in this tour venture. She was our driver. Her first son was our guide along the trek. His grandfather was the longboat "driver." Her husband helped set up our lunch (which she cooked). Their younger son (our guide's younger brother) assisted in setting and cleaning up the lunch site. So nice to know our money was going to supporting this family.
Just off the Jetti in Temburong.
A map for better visualization.
Let's drive down to where we got on the longboat.
Traditional longhouse. Up to 15 families (all related) would live in one.
Made it to the longboat. Everyone got in one at a time. Before we realized what was going on, we were off, whizzing on the river's surface, off to the start of "the trek."
First clip of the long boat ride.
This was too cool.
Second clip of longboat ride
We had to register here before we could continue on to our trek.
Near the entrance to the trek.
See the stairs? That's where our 747-step trek starts!
How can you not enjoy this? Oh, if you're afraid of heights, well...
This was the highlight of my Bruneian trip.
Heights-lover in heaven (... whoa, no pun intended)
An almost 360-degree panorama from where I stood.
Nah, you gotta be here to really get it.
Looking down at the previous bridges.
"Look at this view!"
"I mean, just look at this view!!"
"Almighty, Eternal, Loving FATHER GOD, Thank YOU!!!"
Time to go back down. Same as going up.
Wait, you can't see the bottom, can you...
In case you were wondering how many steps it took.
If you noticed, there were no other people in my pictures. I think we spotted about 2 or 3 different (small) tour groups and 3 men who help maintain the place. Our guide said the torrential downpour from the night before could've deterred many people from venturing out there that day. He said many tourists were roaming through the area the day before. Perhaps this can be a tip: if you want to avoid the crowds, try to go on the day after it rains. Don't quote me on that, though. I will not be responsible if it backfires on you!
Once we got back down to the longboat, it started to rain. Talk about timing! There were parts in the trek that were a little slippery without the rain. We were all so grateful.
We rode on the longboat back to the resort. Water below us, water above. I don't think I've ever had a more natural shower in my life. Except for getting my glasses wet (which I don't really like), that was one of the best boat rides I've ever been on.
Back at the resort, there's a small waterfall. At the foot of said waterfall, there are small fish--doctor fish. You take your shoes and socks off, step in (the deeper, the better), and wait for the fish to start nibbling your feet.
It. Was. Weird.
It felt like pins stabbing my feet all over--but only surface-deep, not any deeper.
All four of us agreed that it was an "interesting" experience. I'll leave the definition of "interesting" up to you.
The waterfall where you can have your own Dr. Fish experience.
From here, whoever wanted to go tubing down the river had the chance to go. The rest of us would meet the "tubers" at the campsite where our lunch was getting prepared.
The campsite's sign.
Our view of the river during lunch.
We ate our lunch in the top part.
After a delectable lunch (chicken curry, spicy fish curry, veggies with fried eggs (and regularly steamed vegetables for someone who was vegan), basmati rice, coffee or tea, and fresh Rambutan for dessert), we had to say goodbye and make our way back to Temburong. From there, we'd catch a boat back to Bandar and on to our respective paths.
Ulu Temburong was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Brunei. I was not disappointed.
Part of the ride back.
**BONUS**
Taking a bus back to my hostess's place, I took a quick snapshot of the entrance to the Sultan's palace. From what I've heard/read about his insane mansion, this gate is only the tip of the iceberg's tip. Click on the name for more info about the largest residence in the world of any country's leader: Istana Nurul Iman.
Just the gate. This is nothing compared to what's inside.
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