Tutong District
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Tutong is a small town some 30 miles from Bandar Seri Begawan, running alongside the Tutong River. Like all districts of Brunei, Tutong is administratively autonomous. The town centre is developing rapidly with a large supermarket, a fast food restaurant and cafes, video centre, bookshops and hardware stores. There is a daily fish market. The administrative area is spread out behind the river front. Apart from government offices, the post office and the hospital, two of Tutong District's four Secondary schools are situated here. The sea, with a number of good beaches, is two miles from town. Most teachers live on either side of Tutong town or in the countryside.
Tutong is quieter and noticeably more relaxed than either Bandar or Kuala Belait. It has a leavening of other races and ethnic groups, its 'tamu' - the weekly market - being the most colourful in Brunei.
Pantai Seri Kenangan (Tutong Beach)
From the far side of Tutong town, turn right to PSK/Kuala Tutong. Half a mile on, the beach with the Tutong River behind, has shade, tables, shelter, is regularly cleaned and tidied and is safe for swimming (in very calm weather keep an eye open for jellyfish). Half a mile in either direction, by road or by track, (to the right of the Istana Pantai), the beach is normally deserted. There is a beach festival once a year in July, with top-spinning, kite-flying and memorable talent contests.
Tasek Merimbun (Merimbun Lake)Now that the bridge over the Tutong River at Layang is operational, there are two ways to reach the Lake:
From BSB : Drive out on the old Tutong Road and at mile 18, take the left fork for Lamunin. At the Lamunin crossroad go straight on until surfaced road becomes dirt track. Just after the first village, Kampong Rambai, turn right and cross the Tutong River on the Bailey Bridge. Follow road left for Merimbun.
From KB : Turn right 2.5 miles before Tutong at sign Penapar/Tanjong Maya. Continue to bridge across Tutong River at Layong. Either turn right before the bridge into dirt track and follow signs for Merimbun or cross bridge and continue three miles to Lamunin where you turn right at crossroads and continue to Kampong Rambai and then as above from BSB.
There is a pleasant lakeside walk to a series of wooden walkways and an island. Birdlife is prolific, and it is a cool spot to spend time/have a barbeque. The lake is shallow and people swim there. It is becoming very popular with visitors, particularly on Friday and Sunday lunch times and on National Holidays.
LamuninA good area to drive in to see rural Bruneian life. Many interlinking roads and tracks and probably many jungle walks. Several looping backways to BSB.
Tutong River TripA trip up the Tutong River can be arranged from the Marine Yard at Kuala Tutong - follow the road to Tutong Beach and keep going to the end of the spit, it is on the left. For 10 or more people the cost will be $23 per head for half a day. Make sure the hire of boatmen and petrol costs are included in the initial estimate. Trips for smaller numbers can probably be arranged from the landing-stage in Tutong (opposite the shophouses). The trip goes through estuarine swampland, up through fairly heavily populated kampong areas (Malay and Dusun) to quieter reaches beyond Layong. If you are lucky you will see many birds, butterflies and monkeys. On the upper reaches there are increasing numbers of crocodiles which you may be lucky enough to see sunning themselves on the sandbanks in the late afternoon.
A similar trip can probably be arranged (certainly if you teach locally) on the Telamba River at Telisai, 10 miles from KB on the main road.
Louis Mini ZooA privately owned zoo with a variety of animals and birds such as camels, donkeys, snakes, lots of monitor lizards, chimpanzees, porcupines, owls, ostriches, peacocks and lots more. The zoo is situated along Jalan Tutong, about half a mile from the Lamunin turn-off and just before you hit Tutong town. Entrance fees are $4 per adult and half price for children.
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