Brunei Tour: Pusat Belia

I was in Brunei not mainly to tour around. But could I help it? No way, right? So I found time in between meetings, to see places, since most of everything to see is nearby anyway! One lunchtime, I passed by the hotel's concierge and casually asked if they could fit a quick tour after lunch, as I was already free.

Voila, there was! At exactly 1:30PM a tour guide driving his own car came to fetch me. So, here I went! I thought I was joining the usual tour group, but I realized I was the only member in the group hahaha! I didn't even ask as to where we might be going on this guided tour. A solo tour, pero sige na lang. Go!

There are just times like this, when I'm so excited to be out and on the move, I don't anymore check or care to check where a guide is taking me to! Masamang ugali yan, hindi dapat tularan. But it happens!

I did have some 'back-of-mind-source-of-confidence' (FYI lang), and that was: this tour was booked by the hotel for me, in fact, I paid to the hotel, not the guide. So, I felt kind of certain this was a legit guide and safe. Plus, this is Brunei 'no? Petty crimes can get punished harshly, so bihira ang manloloko dito!

Off we went, driving westward from Radisson Hotel. Then I saw this on the left side of the road...

Pusat Belia. Analyzing that phrase, I said to myself (absent-mindedly aloud), "a center for the youth or youth center" because "pusat" means center and "belia" means youth. And the guide said "yes sir, very good, that's our Brunei Youth Center". He described it, saying that's the only youth center in all Brunei!

I initially thought "masyado naman yan, isa lang ang palaruan nila, eh sa amin kada barangay yata me multi-purpose ek ek"! Hahaha, what he meant (pala) was this youth center is complete with swimming pools, convention center, performance/conncert venues, majority of indoor and outdoor sports plus a Youth Hostel na parang YMCA style! Oo yes tumpak, nanliit ako! Akala ko just-just ganun-ganun lang!

But more important for you my traveling friends, that is a cheaper accommodation option! While we did not stop to check this place out, my driver/guide told me that is one of the best cheaper options than the usual backpacker hostels scattered at city center. So, ayan mga kababayan. Sugod na, bilis!

Like it is from Radisson Hotel (300 meters away on the same side of the road), you can just walk from the Youth Hostel, cross the road and reach the Royal Ceremonial Hall and the Royal Regalia Museum. And I further learned from my driver/guide, there's even a bus from the airport, that pass by this place!

Okay then.., let's proceed with my tour. Hindi kasama yan, nadaaan lang ako hehe!

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