| Achong Tanjong |
TWENTY-SEVEN Sail Brunei 2018 participants left Brunei Darussalam last Monday after a 10-day stay in the country to continue their journey up north to the east of Sabah.
The Sail Brunei event is part of a three-month yacht rally starting from West Malaysia which explores the Borneo coasts including Brunei Darussalam.
The participants from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France and the United States had the opportunity to witness His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 72nd birthday celebration procession in the capital on Sunday.
During their stay in the country, they visited the Teraja Waterfall in the Belait District and the Ulu Temburong National Park in the Temburong District.
They also enjoyed homestay experience at Kampong Sungai Bunga in Kampong Ayer (Water Village), learnt to cook local delicacies and played the traditional gulingtangan music instrument as well as entertained with a Joget dance performance by Kelab Komuniti Belia Tranformasi (KKBT) of the Youth Centre in the capital.
The participants also joined in the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at the Youth Centre jointly organised by the Youth Centre BSB and KKBT.
This year marks the fifth year that Intrepid Management Services Sdn Bhd, a Brunei Tourism licensed tour operator, operates the Sail Brunei event.
The Tourism Development Department of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism supports and encourages initiatives by local tour operators such as Intrepid Management Services Sdn Bhd to bring in more tourists to Brunei, with the Sail Brunei event as one example to attract visitors to explore the country and experience the local culture.
The participants comprise husbands and wives and retired couples on an adventure to sail around the world. They came to Brunei by 13 yachts and docked at Kampong Sungai Bunga.
Managing Director of Intrepid Allan Riches said they were impressed with the local hospitality in Brunei and hoped to bring more tourists to visit the country, especially to Kampong Sungai Bunga.
The 13 yachts are SY Angel Wing, SY Berserker II, SY Enchantment, SY Gucci, SY Indigo II, SY Irie, SY Kinabalu, SY Kitcat, SY Leprechaun, SY Sedna, SY Simba I, SY Stars End 11 and SY Xamala.