Brunei- Chapter 5: Jungle walking and the rain!

Fairy tales! Princesses and princes! Sultans and … Life isn’t a fairy tale. So be it! Time to be real again, and though there is more to life than fairy tales, is there really? Some experiences are beautiful and deeply gratifying like walking in the jungle (yes, the transition is awkward and weak... :) ).

Tasek Lama, Markuching, Shabandar and more. And no, it doesn’t get boring after a few times. There’s something magical every time (as well as “good exercise”, this Chinese guy kept saying to us today every time he passed us, funny!) about walking along the paths in the Bruneian jungle. Magnificent trees, with incredible roots that have fashioned paths and steps, so intertwined and snake-like you would feel like Tarzan at times… The beauty of the scenery from the ridges once you’ve reached to the top. The peace these trodden paths offer you makes you feel at one with nature, and although this has perhaps become a pedestrian way of looking at it, a cliche even, I don’t care. I get the same pleasure every time as if it were the first time. Now, how often does this happen, people? Exactly!

Nature is truly amazing and we forget too easily, sadly, particularly when living in large cities such as Beijing where, well, I will never join in the criticisms about the weather but I will say that nature has definitely struggled with man and man has so far conquered the city. Brunei seems to have made peace with nature and blended with it as best as was needed, however. And then, it rains! I’ve always hated the rain and that is probably one of the reasons why I loved Beijing so much- it’s dry. Coming from Normandy, I just hate the cold, damp feeling that the rain brings with it. Here, however, it’s always hot and yes, it does rain everyday but mostly at night and when it pours in the day, it’s actually fun and beautiful because it’s still hot. No shivers down your spine, no head colds, no feeling like a wet dog! Quite an upgrade. To tell the truth, I was worried about one thing only before moving to Brunei and it was my sheer hatred for the rain. Not anymore!

Link to the video of a storm!
http://youtu.be/4FbMED1mRTA