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Showing posts from June, 2008

The Heart of Borneo

June 22, 2008 That summer day, when I boarded the plane, little did I know that I would be swept off to the surreal landscapes of a fairytale sultanate. Brimming with wanderlust, I was out to explore a land I knew of only as a bounty of black gold ruled by the wor ld’s richest monarch. As I looked out of a bus window the next day, my eyes fell upon the golden domes and vaulting roofs of the Istana (His Majesty’s palace) which were etched against a cloudless summer sky. I was on my way to Bandar Seri Begawan to stroll around the very streets that shall witness a royal parade in a couple of days. The oppressive tropical heat could not becloud the atmosphere of excitement and revelry. Every shop, office, hotel and lamppost was adorned with resplendent banners and national flags. Gold and glittering Before you read any further, let me assure you that this is not a mere reverie that features sultans, palaces and pristine rainforests. This is the nation of Brunei Darussalam