A Gloomy Sky and the Perfect Start
July 22nd. Today was the day to pack up, leave Limbang behind, and cross the border into Bangar, Brunei.
I looked up at the sky this morning and it looked pretty gloomy. Most people would be bummed out, but honestly? It was music to my ears. No scorching sun meant it wasn't too hot to walk. The perfect start to a long travel day.
A Surprise Welcome: Local Running Group
Barely 100 meters into the trek, I bumped into a local running group. Before I knew it, I was getting waved over for a group photo in front of a bison monument. Talk about a warm local welcome!
Kindness on Every Corner
A few hundred meters later, I spotted a small tea stall run by an auntie and her son. I stopped for a lemon tea, but when I reached into my wallet, I realized I only had a 50 Malaysian Ringgit bill (about $11 USD)—which is surprisingly hard to break at small street stalls.
When I asked if she had change, she just smiled and said, "It's a service, on the house!" Not only did she give me the tea for free, but she even topped me off with a refill. The sheer generosity of people never ceases to amaze me.
Cart Troubles and Roadside Help
But it wasn't all smooth sailing. I quickly realized my packing job on the pull-cart I was dragging behind me was a total disaster. It was rattling, poorly balanced, and just not cooperating. Man, this is gonna be a long day, I thought to myself.
I found another little food stall, asked for some water, and tried to fix the cart while chatting with the ladies working there. We took some fun photos together, and while I managed to secure the load a bit better, it was still rattling away behind me.
A Lift to the Border
With about 4 kilometers left to the Brunei border, a car suddenly pulled up beside me. An older couple rolled down the window. "Want a ride to the border?"
Normally, I try to walk every single step of my routes, but today? With the cart acting up, I swallowed my pride and hopped right in. We had a great chat about my potential plans to visit the Brunei capital later on. Walking trips are great, but sometimes you just have to say yes to the universe (and free air conditioning).
Crossing Into Brunei
Just like that, I stamped out of Malaysia and officially crossed into Brunei!
While I was taking a breather on the Brunei side, another random stranger walked up and handed me some sparkling water.
Seriously, I thought today was going to be a rough one because of my cart issues, but the overwhelming kindness of everyone I met turned it into one of the best days yet.
Bangar at Last: Scenery and Street Food
Finally, I made it to Bangar.
The scenery here is absolutely stunning. It has this deeply traditional vibe that just completely draws you in.
For dinner, I hit up the local food stalls. I started off with a sweet banana snack,
followed by this incredible fish cake (kind of like Japanese kamaboko),
and finished it all off with a delicious noodle dish. I totally forgot the name of the noodles, but trust me, it was a 10/10.
I spent the rest of the evening chatting with the stall owners, taking pictures, and learning all about the local area and community shows. These are the moments I travel for.
I'm absolutely exhausted, but my heart is so full.
Tonight, I'm treating myself to a real hotel room. After a long, beautifully unpredictable day like this, I'd say I've earned it. Time to recharge and see what tomorrow brings!