One tweet and the rest is a #Brunei adventure!
Earlier this month, I came across a tweet mentioning to visit Brunei and Maldives. This one coming for a @davedtc who runs a travel site at http://www.davestravelcorner.com/
So it was by chance really that I saw his tweet, so I responded and voluntarily offered myself if he needed any assistance should he choose to visit our beloved abode of unexpected treasures.
Emails and tweets exchanged, he made his arrangements and he would be in the country for a 6 day 5 nights stay.
Having no experience what so ever about hosting a tourist, I had asked some of our fellow bloggers to help me out.
Thank you to @thanislim of http://cookiemonzters.blogspot.com/ and @snrpablo of http://world-of-pablo.blogspot.com/ for kindly accepting my invitation and @marul69 of http://www.geekinwhite.com/ for replying but was sick and unable to meet up. You never know there might be a next time.
Note to self: Take pictures! Which I didn't during two meet ups. (as mentioned, still a newbie to hosting)
We had dinner at Tarindak Restaurant at Jalan Kota Batu on Wednesday Friday and Thanis was such a good host. We had lively conversations and would have gone elsewhere for dinner had it not rained heavily that night. There was a buffet spread of local dishes and we explained to Dave the different types of local dishes for starters to main dishes to desserts. The highlight of the dinner had to be the Ambuyat tasting and Dave grew fond of the 'tampuyak' based dip.
On Saturday night, Senor Pablo was kind enough to spare some of his time and we also took Dave out for a foodie adventure. First pit stop was the Night market at Pasar Gadong. Then a Penyet pitstop at a warung in Kg Kiulap. After that, we went to Seri Kandi to try out the beef rendang and ended the night at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for some hot drinks. I was learning the ropes and admired the way Senor Pablo had carried out the adventure. A more detailed account can be found on Pablo's blog.
Dave's flight back to Bangkok was earlier this morning and we had one final meet up at Jing Chew for some freshly made red bean buns and kacang kawin's. I also met Adam from TravelHub Tours & Travel. I think anyone who comes to Brunei must either have breakfast or morning or afternoon tea at Jing Chew. It's where the locals eat and that's what tourists should try as well.
Meeting Dave was such an honour and I had such a great time, sharing stories and exchanging views. This, I believe is one way to prove that twitter is an amazing way of communicating and it creates that borderless world that the internet has always sought itself out to be.
I would like to think that I helped Dave see as much of Brunei as he could in the few days that he had spent here and he even said he would most likely comeback with his wife in the future and stay at the Empire.
My verdict: SOLD! He did not hesitate to say 'Yes' when as if he wanted to come back to Brunei.
Again special thanks to @Thanislim and @snrpablo for helping me out. We'll have coffee one of these days, my treat! :D
