Me and a friend named Sonny had to travel to Brunei-Kota Kinabalu- Kuching, in September 2010. We started our journey from border Entikong, West Borneo, Indonesia.

As a beginner traveler, there are feelings of fear when starting the journey. My first fear was traveling done during the fasting month. Second, my budget is not much, just 2 million in Rupiah. Third, I am an active smokers and loves of food. I should be able to refrain from smoking and eating when the Muslims were fasting.

Brunei and Malaysia is known as a country with a majority Muslim population. Maybe both of the country impose penalties for residents and tourists who are not fasting.

“Take it easy. Brunei and Malaysia are safe, ” said mister Jani, the bus driver.

Mister Jani comes from Surabaya. He said that we should not be carelessly when smoking and eating. if carelessly, will incur penalty of 300 to 1,000 Brunei dollars. How much rupiah have to pay to the penalty, if not careful (currency exchange rate: 1 Brunei Dollar = 6.700 Rupiah). However, do not worry. Mister Jani was inform, in Brunei there is always a place available for smokers. And, many stalls that sell food to people who do not fasting.

The trip to Brunei from Entikong use the bus takes about 17 hours. The bus passed by the East Malaysian region during the trip. Queuing at a border gate Entikong since 05.00 am and no breakfast, makes a hungry stomach for more three hours travel in the bus. Suddenly, Mr. Jani directs the steering wheel into the parking lot of a building full of food stalls in Sriaman, at 10.40 Malaysia time.

We have not had time to exchange the Rupiah to Dollar Brunei and Ringgit, when we’re in Entikong. We’re always chasing time. Start queuing for passport stamped at immigration offices, take to the bus and the broker always yelled “hurry up!”. It makes me and Sonny confused. How we have to pay for the food.

“Let’s eat. Let me pay, “said the driver.

Thank God. How lucky we were. We did not miss the offer of meals from Mr. Jani. Rumbling stomach needs to be filled. The stall that selected are Zarena Abdullah Muslim. The name of the store very, very clearly shows that the owner was a Muslim.

The owner named Abdullah. He said that since the beginning of the fasting month he opened the stall. There is no prohibition of organizations and individuals who forced the stall is closed. Although the stall is open, he and his family are still fasting. By the way, Mr. Abdullah has Indonesian blood. He said his father came from West Java and mother came from Malaysia. However, he had never visited his father’s hometown.

“someday, I want to visit father’s family in Indonesia,” he said hopefully, when we were went from his stall.

Not only in Sriaman we find many food stalls are open. Batu Niah as a place to sleep before going to the Malaysia-Brunei border, there are also stalls selling various kinds of food. Even more extreme. The spacious building is accommodate the kosher food shop and not kosher.

The kosher food stalls and tables and chairs visitors near the entrance to the center of the room. There are child entertainment toys restricting the shops selling CDs. A dozens lined chairs and tables are provided to the buyer who buying not kosher food. A form of tolerance in the Islamic state.

What about in Brunei ????….

We entered in the State of Sultan Bolkiah around 09:00 at local time. After shaking hands with Mr. Jani as a farewell event, money changer became our first goal in the land of Brunei. After that, eat. We did not breakfast when the bus depart from Batu Niah to Brunei at 03.00 local time.
Is it hard to find stalls selling food there ????….

How lucky we were. Right next to the hostel named KH Soon Rest House is located in Bandar Raya (center city), there are building with six floor. And the food court on the second floor. we went to a stall that looks full of people. A waitress handed us a menu book to order the food. The menu is written in Tagalog that we do not understand. Sonny and I was confused to see the menu with foreign writing. We together said “do not know,” in Indonesian languages.

The waitress who is wearing eyeglasses smiled and said : “Hmmm, you’re from Indonesia. I think you guys from Thailand.” We were surprised. The waitress was speaks in Indonesian. She told us that she had worked nine month in Brunei. She was from Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. “Can I see your identity?” said the waitress. The identity was to see if we were Muslims or not. Apparently, the shop serves only non-Muslim visitors who come in the daytime, during the month of fasting.

After we finished eating, we visited the Mosque of Ali Omar Syaefudin. Minarets of mosques which covered by gold makes we’re amazed. The people we’ve met in the mosque is very friendly. They always smile. Sincere smile from the heart most deeply. Heart-like pieces made of gold.

This trip was very memorable for me. It also provides life lessons about tolerance and hospitality. Gold sheen that covers the dome of the mosque is reflected in the life of the people..

announcement at the gate of the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei Darussalam about Holy month of Ramadhan (Fasting) in September 2010.

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