Revisiting Jerudong Playground

Pin It

Tweet

This is a long overdue post of our recent travel in Brunei Darussalam.  Last December, Ivan had 2-week holiday from school and I think that was the best opportunity for us to visit his daddy. I requested as well a one-week absent from his teacher so as not to spoil the fun.  Also airfare is much lesser if we'll travel back second week of January.

We've been  to Brunei several times, were my husband is working for about 8 years now.  Yes! half of our married life, we're separated from each other.  To make it up for everything, other than his yearly home vacation to the Philippines, I used to go there alone.  When we had our son Ivan, those visits became family bonding time.

Other than wifey duties like cleaning the house, cooking and doing the laundry, we always visit Jerudong Playground which is just a stone throw away from the staff house.  

The magnificent "Crystal Arch" stands as a majestic sentry just across the Playground entrance.  It has become one of Brunei's most recognizable icons.  Weighing 7 tons, it is the largest known diamond replica in the world.

Jerudong Playground is an amusement park in Brunei Darussalam. It is the largest and most expensive amusement park in South East Asia, built and funded by the Bruneian government for $1 billion. In its early years of operation. it has no admission fees and rides are all free, you just need to queue up. But today, the management introduced a ticket card system.  Admission is free but guests need to purchase ticket to be able to enjoy the rides and its other attractions. Ticket costs B$8 (4 + 1 free rides) and B$10 (5 + 3 free rides). The ride operator will punch a hole to the ticket using a puncher just like those being used by bus conductors. Such to monitor, how many rides are already taken.

The playground only operates late afternoon onwards. Sunday,  Wednesday, Thursday, 4:00pm - 10:00pm; Friday & Saturday, 5:00pm - 11:00pm.  Mondays and Tuesdays, it is close.

Train Ride, Caterpillar Rice, Paddle Boat, Spin Zone

The big rides that they used to have were already sold.  What's left and available attractions now are mostly kiddie rides.

The last time we were here was in 2010 and Ivan was then more than 1 yr old.  Now that he is 3, he enjoys the Playground more.  Actually we're here almost everyday.  Most of the time, he'll go with his daddy off to work and I'll just pick him up later in the evening.

SupaKart, Shooting Gallery, Giant Carousel

December was school holiday in Brunei, therefore you can actually find the Playground full of guests. But other days except weekends, there will only be few visitors especially if its raining.

This is the Royal Buggy, for exclusive use of members of the Brunei Royal Family when they do visit the Playground.  The Royal princes are actually fond of visiting here, accordingly.  Daddy was lucky enough to meet them during those visits.

How I wish we can extend our vacation or just stay here permanently, but Ivan needs to go back to school.  I do promised him we'll come back and visit daddy again and go to Playground everyday (again!) if he'll do good in school.  He replied to me, "yes mommy, I am very good very good in school, I am the winner".

Ivan is the winner in our hearts and daddy and I do work very hard just to give him the best we can.  

	Pin It
Tweet