Morning Goodbyes and Amazing Hosts
It was finally time to hit the road and leave Limbang.
Yesterday, I crashed at a place called "Mini Smart" for the night. I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for the amazing people I met and the deep conversations we shared during my short stay.
Before leaving, my hosts kindly offered to drive me around to see some traditional local spots. Now, I'm usually a strictly "travel-by-foot" kind of guy, but when locals offer to show you their world, you say yes and enjoy the ride! Oh, and of course, I had to say a quick goodbye to the newborn kittens at the house before we left. (Cue the awws).
Unique Architecture: The Traditional Longhouse
After a quick 10-minute drive, we arrived at a traditional longhouse.
The architecture was wild! The first floor was completely hollow, essentially a pilotis structure supported by wooden pillars, while the main living quarters were entirely on the second floor. Unlike other longhouses I've seen where individual homes just sit side-by-side, this one felt like one massive, continuous living space. It had such a unique vibe to it.
On our way to the next spot, I spotted a "Beware of Crocodiles" sign. Yep, a literal crocodile warning. Note to self: Do not mess with Borneo's wildlife!
Massive Water Villages and Next-Level Local Food
Next, we finally rolled into the main town of Limbang.
My first thought? "Whoa, this place is huge!" Across the river, there was a sprawling traditional water village built right over the water.
It totally gave me flashbacks to the stilt houses I saw in the Visayas, Philippines. Brunei might be famous for having the world's largest water village, but seeing this massive settlement here in Sarawak was still absolutely breathtaking.
For lunch, we hit up a local spot in town. We had meat, chicken tail, and some fish.
Guys, the fish dish on the far left was next-level. Honestly, it was one of the best fish dishes of that kind I've ever eaten in my life. So good.
The Bittersweet Reality of Backpacking
As night fell, I met up again with the lovely folks who drove me around earlier. We grabbed dinner, chatted, and just enjoyed the slow, relaxed vibe.
But as chill as it was, it hit me—this moment is fleeting. The hardest part of traveling is that no matter how close you get to people, you always have to pack up and move on to the next town. It's a lonely feeling, saying goodbye.
Yet, experiencing that exact sadness is proof that I actually took the leap to travel. It's part of the beauty of the journey. Feeling this way only makes me want to keep traveling and discovering more of what the world has to offer.
