I woke up early despite having a jumper on and a duvet, the air con was still too cold for me. Eventually I got up around 5.40 and used the internet to do a bit more. Someone called Nickie from couchsurfing had offered me a place to stay if I help out with her convention so I agreed. I got my stuff together and grabbed 3 peanut butter and jam sandwiches and asked the guys there where the bus to the bus station goes but they didn't know and wanted to book me a shuttle. I decided to go myself and got my 50 ringgit deposit back, put the sandwiches in a bag for later and walked a kilometre or 2 to the main road. A bus ignored me but further along I came to a bus stop. Now I'd normally wait for the bus but since I didn't know what the routes were I decided to walk further so that worst case I can always walk all the way. It was around 7.10 and the bus is supposed to leave the centre 3km away at 7.15 so it might meet me at the next stop. I came to a 7-11 shop and topped up my sim card which had run out. I got to a bus stop where taxi people wanted me to go with them but a bus 66 came and for 1rm it took me a short distance from the bus station. I got off, crossed the road and walked there, found the bus and left my suitcase as the bus left at 8.15 and it was 7.45. I went fir a short walk to a replica oil well and got some money out at a petrol station then went back to the bus. The journey was smooth for a change, lots of flat land and before 9am we were at passport control. The Australians were delayed going through the Brunei immigration and had to buy a visa but as they were only transiting it was cheaper, I on the other hand breezed through for free, thank you Brunei. The Australians had been to Mulu and said it was really worth it so I considered maybe still going there but for now onwards. The bus arrived in the centre of BSB and we all got off. They got another bus I walked around to see the local sights including the river, a fountain, the very nice mosque that wouldn't let me far inside or take photos so I couldn't see the inside of the dome and a park which was closed but looked like the cricket pitch type lawn. I went to see a temple and was then looking to get the bus to the ICC to meet Nikie the couchsurfer as she would be there. I needed some Brunei money and there were no places marked on the map so I went in a bank but it was closed as it was Saturday. Then I went to a post office where they pointed me in the direction of a money changer. I went there and asked for the rate on Singapore dollars and they said you can just spend them here so Brunei and Singapore dollars are the same almost. I got my suitcase and headed towards the bus stops and there was a museum so I went in and they had the history of Brunei with lots of documents where the Sultan gave up land to the Brookes (James and Charles) and they also had a bit on explorers like Marco Polo and Magellan who came here. Outside was wet and it was raining a bit and someone called John offered to help but I said I was going in the next museum and then taking the bus. He said to go back to the bus station as buses don't stop at bus stops. I went to the next museum called Royal regalia where I had to leave my bag, camera and phone in a locker. The museum was about the Sultan who had gone to Sandhurst and become a lance corporal and had letters from Queen Elizabeth for his promotions. Then his father died around 1961 and he became Sultan and then the Country became independent in 64. There were lots of gifts from other countries and valuable things in cases. There was also the carriage he rode in for his silver jubilee which was hand carried and they had costumes of the people in the procession.
I got my stuff from the locker and ignored John's advice and went to the bus stop which was nearer. The buses did stop there but most were not going to the right place but it was 30 minutes when the right bus came and I was soon at the ICC around 2.30. I went to the information desk and asked where beauty stalls were and they pointed me to 2 areas so I walked around both of them asking for Nikie at beauty stalls and looking the the couchsurfing photo. I couldn't find her so I carried on to other areas which was food and I tried a free sample and wanted to try and eat more but I wanted to find Nikie first. I went back to the information desk and asked if there was any internet and they gave me WiFi access and I had 2 message from Nikie to first meet at a coffee place in town at 1.30 and then to go to stall Y41 at the expo , so I went there and Nikie was a guy, his photo was from the side from a distance and he had a scarf on which is how I'd got it wrong. I got some lunch as he was busy planning things and when I got back we needed to freshen up so we left and drove back to his place. He told me he does teaching and was setting up his own businesses selling these Beautics products and also designing clothes. We got to his place where I had a shower, left my suitcase and changed into some trousers of his, and a shirt he had designed. He said the maid would wash my clothes so I pulled out a small bunch of dirty clothes and they really were quite dirty from the last few days of trekking and left them in a washing basket, then we headed back to the ICC and he told me about the 2 products, a primer with bees venom and some moisturising soap. I got some leaflets to go around trying to get customers to come to the stand. At 8.30 we had a make up show on the main stage so I was to direct people there closer to that time and then give the people watching the brochures. After the show we stopped for a bit and then Nikie and I went for food in the food court. I had some rice with chicken and afterwards a lasagna. We went back to the stall and the others had packed and left with our bags and Nikie's car keys were his bag so he had to call them back. Afterwards we drove somewhere near to the north coast for some food and drinks but I wasn't hungry anymore so just had 2 teas while we sat and they talked in English and Malay so I didn't always understand. We finished quite late and as Nikie got up at 4.30 everyday for prayer he was a bit tired but did well staying awake to get us back. It was about 11.30 so we went to bed and I slept on the couch.
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