Saying Goodbye to Cebu
July 14th. The day has finally come to pack up and head to Brunei.
Grabbed a quick, carb-heavy last meal in the Philippines—some rice and ramen I had bought the day before—and headed out to the airport.
My flight was at 4 PM, so I got to the Cebu airport around 1 PM. Breezed through check-in and just chilled with my laptop until boarding. I actually really love this kind of downtime on travel days.
Taking off, I looked out the window at the red brick roofs, lush green forests, and that perfect blue sky... and yeah, it hit me. Leaving a country is always a little bittersweet.
Wait, People Actually Go to Brunei?
A quick hour-and-a-half nap later, I landed in Manila for my layover. But walking up to the departure counter for the Brunei flight, I had to do a double-take. It was packed.
"Wait, are this many people actually flying to Brunei?" It's not exactly the most mainstream tourist destination, so color me surprised!
Another 2.5 hours in the air, and touchdown. There is nothing quite like the thrill of stepping foot in a brand-new country for the first time.
First Impressions of a Wealthy Nation
Stepping out of the airport, the first thing that hit me was the vibe—wealthy, pristine, and incredibly put-together. The airport itself is compact but somehow feels incredibly spacious and beautifully designed.
I pulled out $50 BND (about $45 USD) at an ATM and booked a ride directly to my hotel using "Dart," the local ride-hailing app.
Travel days always go by in a flash. That lingering sadness of leaving the Philippines is already completely gone, replaced by the sheer thrill of exploring a new place. Bring on the Brunei adventure!