The Ming Tomb Exhibitions

Inside the great hall, is the statute of the Ming Emperor of built the Ming Tomb complex, Emperor Yongle. This hall is quite magnificant as the log which hold the roof of the building is the scented sandlewood (?) tree, hence this hall will always smell nice. This monument has stand magestically for the last 600 years...







The inside of the building, houses the crowns of the Ming Emperor and Empress, the replica of the Emperor and Empress robes as well as the Jade Belt of the Ming Emperor.






This emperor is respected because he was a great leader who went to war with his people, hence his bows and arrows and war suit are on display.

The Ming Tomb Complex

The Ming Emperors Tomb complex is well preserve by the Chinese government and become part of the tourist attraction in China. This tomb complex houses the remains of 13 Ming emperors;located at the southern foot of the Tianshou (Heavenly Longevity) Mountains, 45km of Beijing. This Changling Mausoleum was conferred UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage Site.








Note: We didnt get visit all the Ming imperial tombs and many of the exhibitions were closed. We thought we would and could visit the underground tomb but we were told it was never open. This, however, is contrary to the guidebook which seemed to indicate that one can visit the underground tomb. Either our tour guide was lazy or he was telling the truth, but somehow, there should be more things to see than what that one exhibition hall... Its quite remarkable that there's no free information flyers for tourists on the historical places visited tourists in China, if you want to get a information flyer, you have to pay for it...

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was built as early as in the 6th century BC, made famous when it was expanded by the 1st Emperor of united China, the King of Qin, Shih Huang Ti. By the end of the construction in the Ming dynasty, it covered about 6,000km long. Because of its difficult constructions, covering mountainous area as well extreme temperature changes, the Great Wall of China was also known as the longest tomb in the world, since many labourers who work in the wall died and was entomb in the Wall.

A famous legend which is told for many generations thereafter is the Meng-jiangnu, whose husband was captured by Qin Emperor soldiers, not long their marriage, to build the Great Wall. Meng-jiangnu travelled 500km to find her husband had died. Meng-jiangnu cried and cried until a section of the Great Wall collapse and she eventually died. A temple was erected in her memory.

This wall was built with the aim of protecting China against attacks by the Mongol worriors who constantly raided the Chinese territory.







The part of the wall we visited, was said to be the "gate" or key to the city of Peking/Beijing and if this wall fall, then Peking/or Beijing as it is now known as, will fall to the enemies.

A Visit to China

The "gate" of the Forbidden City, which used to be the residence of the Chinese Emperors. Now infront of the main gate, bears the picture of Mr. Mao Tze Tung, the founder of Communism in China.

The middle of the whole area, between the gate of the Forbidden city and Mr. Mao's Mausoleum, is call the Tianamen Square = the largest square in the world?




The building behind is the Mausoleum of Mr. Mao.



Inside the Forbidden City



The ancient "tiger" which guard the imperial palace.

Note: why is mr. mao's photo on the main door of the Forbidden City?

Chung Hwa School, Labi

This school is near the Hua Ho farm deep inside Kg. Labi, Daerah Belait. Establish back in 1966

Chung Ching School, Seria

The Secondary and Primary School of Chung Ching, Seria

Progress on the New Parliament building, June 2006

The progress on the new parliament building as of June 2006...





Then again, is this the new legislative council or is it the new "city hall" since recent media said stated as such. The new building for the "Municipal Board, Bandar SEri Begawan" is kinda extravagant, is it?

Unique Mosque in Brunei

This is quite a unique design of a mosque, found somewhere in Kg. Kasat, Brunei/Muara District.

Mosque these days dont have any new, impressive design anymore - many are similar (hence less cost in terms of construction?)- eg. Kg. Perpindahan Kg. Pandan and Kg. Perpindahan Kg. Lambak mosques.

What struck me when visiting the villages up to the Kampong Sg. Kebun, is one road, which is named Jalan Buang Tengkorak (Literally the Throw Skull road). I wonder if it is named after what the Japanese did during their occupation in Brunei...

"Pretender" to the Malaccan throne

Recently, the malaysian newspaper has been reporting on a man who claimed to be the 44th Sultan of Malacca. Its interesting to read the story because, he claimed the throne based on the "royal regalia" he had with him... The thing is, just because he had the royal regalia, does it mean that he had a right to the throne? Afterall, the Malacaan Sultanate had fell in 1511, so it is very unlikely that he would be installed as the Sultan, even if he is a real descendent of the Malaccan Sultan... But the amazing thing is that, he had his own investiture ceremony which over 500 people attended. Anyone who even think of doing this in Brunei for sure wouldnt get far... need i say more... heheh ....



KUALA LUMPUR, November 16th 2005: A 48-year-old man who proclaimed himself the Sultan of Malacca at a so-called investiture ceremony here on Monday night is willing to take the matter to court to stake his claim to the state’s “throne”.

Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah has evidence, and the regal artefacts, to prove the claim, said Azri Safian, who identified himself as the alleged ruler’s organising secretary.

“He is serious about being installed as the 44th sultan of Malacca,” Azri told reporters at Raja Noor Jan’s purported ceremonial hall in Gombak here yesterday.

More than 500 guests attended the “investiture” ceremony at a community hall in Taman Melati, where 150 people were also bestowed honorific titles.

Two of the four wives of the property businessman, who has given himself the title Sultan Ahmad Shah, accompanied him at the Istiadat Watikah Gelar Adan Kesultanan Melaka ceremony, which came ahead of the Rulers Conference in Malacca on Nov 21.

Azri said Raja Noor Jan had claimed he was a descendant of the last known Sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mahmud Shah (1488-1511).

He said Raja Noor Jan would hand over his documents for the rulers to discuss at their meeting. Another ceremonial gathering would be held on Nov 19 in Malacca, he added.

“We have the regalia, like two keris, a silver buckle, a royal crown and brooches from ancient Malacca and authenticated by the Museum and Antiquities Department,” he said.

Letters and profiles relating to the claim had been sent to the Rulers Council, the Yang di Pertuan Agong and the Sultan of Perak as well as the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Malacca.

“These items are proof to be presented to the Rulers Council,” he said. ” So far, we have not received any response.”

The Museum and Antiquities Department had authenticated the sultan’s genealogy, Azri said, adding that this further proved his claim.

Azri said the “sultan” had not pursued his claims until the regal instruments unexpectedly turned up two months ago.

“The sultan received some signs from his ancestors on the whereabouts of the regalia and, with the help of a pawang (traditional soothsayer) the artefacts were dug up from a place in Malacca,” he said.



KUALA LUMPUR, November 19th 2005:: Property businessman Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah Shah has left it to the Rulers Council, which meets on Nov 21 in Malacca, to discuss his claim to the state's “throne”.

“I respect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the others who protect the rights of the Malay Rulers.

“But I think my claim should be debated at the meeting since I have shown my royal regalia as proof,” he told reporters at his ceremonial hall, Balairong Melaka, in Gombak yesterday.

Raja Noor Jan, who calls himself “Sultan Ahmad Shah”, claimed to be a descendant of the last known ruler of the Malacca sultanate, Sultan Mahmud Shah (1488-1511).

He said that he was hopeful that his claim would be taken up and debated by the council. He hopes to be installed as the 44th Sultan of Malacca.

He said letters and profiles relating to the claim were sent to the King on Nov 11 and to the council on Nov 16.

He hoped the relevant authorities would be “open” to studying his claim.

The alleged ruler's special duty official, Abdul Latif Daud, clarified that the Museum and Antiquities Department had not authenticated the regalia, which included two keris, a silver buckle, a royal crown and brooches from ancient Malacca forwarded to it but had merely admitted receiving them for authentication.

He said the “sultan” had no qualms about going for a DNA test, if required, to proof his claim that he was related to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.




PETALING JAYA, December 22nd 2005: Self-proclaimed “Sultan” of Malacca, Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah, has set up his own “palace” in Malacca, with a team of officials, to meet people he calls his “loyal subjects”.

His secretary Azri Sapian said the “palace” at Bukit Punggor was a gift from the people.

“There could not have been a better choice than a 70-year-old traditional Malacca house,” he said yesterday.

Property businessman Raja Noor Jan Shah, 48, claims to be a direct descendant of Sultan Mahmud Shah and the 44th Sultan of Malacca.

He held an “investiture ceremony” with 500 guests in Kuala Lumpur last month.

His claim to the throne, however, has been dismissed by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.



Kuala Lumpur, June 5th 2006: IF his story were true, the man claiming to be the 44th Sultan of Malacca certainly had good reason to be miffed on Saturday, according to Kosmo!

Raja Noor Jan Shah claimed that he received an invitation to attend a tea reception at the Istana Negara but when he got there he was denied entry.

Expecting a royal treatment, Raja Noor and his seven-member entourage, including his wife Che Puan Muda Zaidatul Mardiah, were instead told by palace guards to leave the grounds immediately.

Raja Noor, dressed in his yellow royal outfit, then went to the Kosmo! office to complain.

Citing what had happened, Raja Noor said an officer claiming to be from the Prime Minister's Department handed the invitation to his office in Gombak two weeks ago.

He said his entourage joined 50 other guests at the palace's main entrance at 4.15pm but when he showed the guards the invitation card he was told to leave.

“I was really embarrassed and did not have the chance to say anything. The other guests were staring at me,” he said.

“I would not have come if I had not been invited. I want an explanation,” said Raja Noor, who was shown holding up the invitation card.

All Information Taken from The Star, malaysian newspaper
www.thestar.com.my & pictures from http://forum.cari.com.my/viewthread.php?tid=194006

He claimed to be the descendent:

Sultan Mahmud mempunyai putera bernama Sultan Muzzaffar Shah I yang memerintah negeri Perak (1528-1549) sehingga kepada Sultan Perak Ke-22, Sultan Abdullah Muhamad Shah I Marhum Durian Sebatang (1851-1857) dan dari keturunan inilah munculnya Sultan Ahmad Shah Ke-44 yang bakal menjadi Sultan Melaka itu.

Brunei's Lost Information

The Brunei Government has commissioned several million dollars worth of projects and consultancy reports over the years and yet at the end of the day, these reports cannot be seen by the public, because these reports are owned by the certain department which commissioned the reports, and most do not want to release it for public viewing.

However, because these reports are sometimes worth millions, isn’t it worth to be viewed and research by the public. Who knows if such reports show damming evidence about the certain department, hence there’s a need to rectify problems? Such reports should lead to more investigation on why this and that happened and why the recommendations are not being followed.

One such report, which I have heard of, is the infamous development report of Brunei by the famous University of Manchester’s Business School, possibly commissioned during the 1980s. What happened to this report? I’m sure such report would cost millions of dollars and yet despite the report being made, nothing is heard of it. Once in a blue moon, people would make reference to it, saying that that report is not really practical for Brunei as it doesn’t take account of Brunei’s own local social and economic situation. If such report is worth millions and yet not implemented, then should someone ask question why this is so? Its “public” money afterall which is used to pay for such reports.

What happened to the report by BEDB’s Monitor Group? Is it open for the public to view it? How much did it cost to produce the report? Why cant the report be made several copies and put into the national library so that younger generations of Bruneians are aware of what was written years ago and to see if any of the recommendations being carried out and if not why?

Recent study commissioned by Department of Agriculture and given to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Australia in April 2006, on the Soil Fertility Evaluation / Advisory Service in Brunei, the public was not inform, how much it cost to commision the repot. Hopefully, once the report is completed, an extra copy of the report can be given to the natioanl libaray or the national archive for all to view and read on.

Whats holding Kampong Ayer up...

The old wood type - man, can you imagine how they do it? I wonder how this type of wood would last - maybe 5 years before they have to change new ones?



The modern stilts are thoes made of concrete

Children playing in Kampong Ayer...

Slowly bringing down the hom-made boat



See the water is not so deep afterall...



Ahh... this is how its done... its afloat!

More views of Bandar Seri Begawan

The extreme top left is the palace of the Sultan of Brunei. The mosque is the Al-Muthadee Billah Mosque in Kampong Sungai Kebun in Kampong Ayer.



The school on the front of the picture is the Lela Menchanai Primary School (name after the Sulu (Or Javanese) wife of the 5th Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Bolkiah).



The mainland Bandar Seri Begawan, with the view of Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque and Yayasan Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Shopping Complex. This picture shows that the Mosque is no longer the highest building in the City. Previously its taboo to build buildings which are taller than the Mosque (Double-click the picture please, for better and larger image. Its quite sad to see that the Mosque is no longer the highest prominent building in the city as its surrounded by other dull-coloured buildings.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III Mosque

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, one of the loviest Mosque in southeast asia, was built in February 1954, completed and opened in September 1958. The mosque was designed by an Italian architect. The golden-domed structure, 52 metres high, was the tallest building in the city (until the new Islamic Bank building overtake its height), has Italian marble floors and walls. The stained glass was hand made in England and the carpets brought from Saudi Arabia and Iran. Granite were imported from Hong Kong, and its chandeliers from England. The Mosque can fit about 3,000 worshippers.

A stone replica of a 16th-century barge rests in the Brunei River in front of the mosque.






An arch presented by Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Dato Seri Setia Hj. Mohammad Yussof on the occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in August 1968. The arch was originally located in Kg. Sultan Lama but it was moved to its present location during the construction of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in October 1993.



The 25th Anniversary Arch of the renaming of Brunei Town (Bandar Brunei) to Bandar Seri Begawan (1970-1995). Seri Begawan was the title hold by the Sultan’s late father, Maulana Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III, after his abdication from Brunei’s throne in 1967.

It cost $60,000 to built, paid by Brunei Shell Company and designed by Arkitek Idris and Jutera Tempatan.

Tonight's dinner (June 3rd)

Curry Prawns & Egg




Fish, Fried Beef, & Never Missed, Chicken

Istana Darussalam

The residence of the late Begawan,
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei


Location: Jalan Kampong Sumbiling

The Palace has seen many important and historic events in Brunei's modern history, among them, the present Sultan, was born in the palace on 15th July 1946. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin became the Pengiran Bendahara on 15th July 1947 while he resides in this palace. In 1951, the Royal Family moved to Istana Darul Hana and Darussalam's Palace was no longer used by the Royal Family.

Tamu Kianggeh, Bandar Seri Begawan

Tamu Kianggeh, Bandar Seri Begawan


There will be more people going to the market if its on Friday or Sunday.



The Perahu (boat) ferrying people to and from Kampong Ayer to the mainland Bandar

Kampong Ayer

Kampong Ayer (Kampong Air)

“Venice of the East”? I wonder who actually said this? Some references that I have come across, suggests that it’s in Thailand that the “Venice of the East” was mentioned, but not Brunei.

Kampong Ayer over 100, 200 years, still has the same problem. Rubbish, faeces and sewerage waste. On top of that, there are many houses which are now occupied by illegal immigrants and migrants as well, who pay rent to the landlord of the house.

The issue of preserving the Kampong Ayer is possibly more than a decade old question. In 1906, it was the British Resident, MacArthur, who moved “Brunei” from its watery origin to its present land based area. In the 1980s, after independence, the Government pursued the policy of resettlement of the Water Village people to the land, hence we have the National Housing Scheme.

Now, to be nationally conscious, there’s a need to preserve the Water Village, which is a Brunei Heritage Site. But how to make it more interesting? I had the opportunity to visit the Kg. Kianggeh night tamu, which overlook the Kampong Ayer. What I see is quite disappointing. It’s not as “bright” as it used it. The view of Kampong Ayer is quite dull. And the big signboard – say no to drug – is a big eyesore.

How to preserve Kampong Ayer then? Not really sure. Can people be forced to live in the village, once they are used to the land? Can people there depend on the little amount of tourists who venture into the village support the incomes of the people who want to venture in small cottage industry? I don’t really know.

What is the issue of Kampong Ayer then? If it ain’t broken then don’t fix it… heheh…

(For the record: The River is cleaner than what I had expected)... )






Bandar Seri Begawan