Brunei - Rainforest

Did you know that Brunei has some of the best preserved rainforest in the world? That's right. That's because this guy:

 

has so much money, that they can afford to preserve the rainforests rather than logging them, as they do in a lot of Southeast Asia. 

So, I decided to hitch a ride in one of the many water taxis lining the promenade in Bandar Seri Begawan into the rainforest. I hoped to see some proboscis monkeys, crocodiles and the other animals that inhabit this part of the world. The nice ones. In retrospect, this possibly wasn't the safest idea I had during my trip. These were crocodile infested waters. But I came in pursuit of adventure, and you don't find that by sitting on the shore. 

I paid $50BND for the boat journey. For the record, if you do ever find yourself in Bandar Seri Begawan, you should not pay this much for a tour, unless it is an organised one. I did because rain was rapidly closing in and this was my chance to see the rainforest. 

It was a good tour, if rather frustrating. My guide, nicknamed Pikachu (this remains a mystery to me) would stop the damned boat every 10 minutes or so to light up a cigarette or to send a WhatsApp voice message. 

There was one point in which the boat engine shuddered when he attempted to start it again, deep in the rainforest. People often asked me before I went if I was scared of the wildlife in Australia. The truth is that it didn't cross my mind. If there was one scary moment of the trip, however, it was that. If he had got us stranded in the deep rainforest, in crocodile infested waters, I wouldn't have been best pleased. I mean, I presume he still had signal, as per the WhatsApp voice messages, but I reasoned this once I was back on land. 

I was quite glad to get back to Bandar Seri Begawan to tell you the truth. However, this was one of those moments that you remember fondly

once it's over.

However, some of the sights were very much worth seeing. 

For example, I got to see the private entrance to the Istana Nurul Iman, by some measures the world's largest residential palace. And Buckingham Palace isn't surrounded by saltwater crocodiles. 

 

I got to see proboscis monkeys, an endangered species of monkey, native only to Borneo. They are famous for their unusual noses. People say proboscis monkeys are ugly, but I think they are beautiful in their own way. They also have the unique distinction of being the only nice animal in Brunei. 

 

And I got to embrace an unspoiled part of the world, one that very few people will ever venture to. That is something very special.