I Shake Hands with the Sultan!

Month of August is approaching, though it is 5 months away, I have to collect more ideas about Brunei's one of the biggest event celebrated every year which gonna fall within that month. Upon searching and searching and searching... I stumbled upon my last year's Brunei Hari Raya Aidil Fitri experiences. It's a great experienced because for almost 2 years working in Brunei, It was the first time seeing the most important person of their land. And not just simply seeing him but greeted and shaking hands with the Sultan Hadji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darrusalam!

Okay, here's how it happened.

Last year, I shake hands with the Sultan during the final day of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri 2011 celebrations at Istana Nurul Iman.

Sultan of Brunei

The Istana Nurul Iman palace, the Sultan’s official residence, provides visitors a spectacular sight.
It is the biggest palace in the world, much bigger than the Vatican palace. US$ 350 million was spent in erecting the palace. It has 1788 rooms, 257 bathrooms and the total floor area is 2,152,782 sq. feet.

I learned from the local news that day that the overall number of guests over the three days was 94,431 (imagine, ganyan ka dami kakamayan mo?!). And among the 14,766 who paid respects to the royal family during the final session in the afternoon (September 03, 2011), was I and the Cercado family. It's so overwhelming to be part of the celebration, and of course, shaking hands with the very important and highly respected persons in Brunei: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and members of the royal family who continued from the previous days, meeting and greeting with well-wishers who had begun queuing outside the palace from 7am in the morning.

 hariraya istana nurul iman sultan brune
We arrived at Nurul Iman Palace at exactly 1:00 in the afternoon. And the adventures begin:

 hariraya istana nurul iman sultan brunei

The Arrival: at the car park.

Since Jenny didn't forget to bring her video camera and Tatay worn his fave baseball cap already—then it's a sign we're ready to go in.hariraya istana nurul iman sultan brunei

The lady with curly hair – Sharon was confused on some Malay words upon filling the Registration Form. Luckily, the local lady translated it for her. 


Our journey starts here:  queuing at the entrance door (segregated by gender), followed some guard's instructions, temperature checking, signing up another coupon, etc... 

But before that... picture taking muna... 1.. 2.. 3.. smileeeee!!!

The Cercado Family: Jenny, Sharon, Nanay & Tatay

hariraya istana nurul iman sultan brunei

Like father, like son???? (nangangkon)

And of course, MY BEST FRIEND for life... SHARON.

Since we are all in good condition, we passed the test. ^^

...and the reward? A discount card (Potongan Kad)! 

After receiving the coupon, we proceeded to the meal booth. Choosing the food we want to eat, & take note: Eat All You Can and the good thing was: It's FREE! 
No wonder why t'was too hard finding vacant area for us to dine in.


After 25 minutes, we found one!
hariraya istana nurul iman sultan brunei

They are not worried for foods but where to eat, because all space are fully occupied.


While some are on diet...

...some forgetting they were.

There's still some who are addicted to gadgets than foods.

 (Where am I?)

Okay, enough for the foods... let's continue our odyssey... 


If you're not a Bruneian and don't understand Bahasa Melayu (their language), don't worry my friend. There's still nothing to worry about the signage (for it had English translation)...

 and just ignore someone's facial reaction...for it is natural when you're excited, you know.


See? I told you... there's nothing to worry about. hariraya istana nurul iman sultan brunei

Only one thing for sure you should worry about...
 ...when you're violating the rules. 

A visitor violating the Dress Code

How I really wished to wear that Baju Melayu and Songkok... 


Oh! sad to say... but at this point, cameras and phones are not allowed. 

What do we do in there? 

Well, after staying at the wide room that can accommodates hundreds of visitors, we continue queuing till we reach our destination—the room where we meet the Sultan and the rest of the Royal Family—shaking hands with them. (Greetings! Greetings! Greetings!) 

Do you still remember the Discount Card I'm talking earlier? 

After meeting with the latter, next stop was the Kiosk where guard asked you where's that Discount Card, then you hand it over to him and few steps ahead—the Hari Raya Card and the Gift Box will be given. 


I am overwhelmed meeting them and almost forgot to get tatay's baseball cap at the baggage counter (It's not allowed wearing any caps unless if it is a songkok or kopiah, when you are meeting with the Royal Family).

After 2 hours, we're done.  It's time to leave the area so that they will have more space for the new comers.

Since the family group are segregated by gender, some are waiting for their loveone's  outside. 


Some are exhausted... 

Others are thirsty...

Few are sleepy...

and even this little princess was really, really tired that cannot help herself but cry.hariraya istana nurul iman sultan brunei

But tatay is in good condition. I never saw him so tired that day.

Hmm. Did I say he never get tired???

Okay, you take a rest tatay, while I enjoyed taking pictures...


Awesome garden, flag pole and fountains  

Decorated street lamps

Marching soldiers

Buses, Visitors & Traffic Enforcer

Hey.. what's up there?

Okay, guys.. what's really up there you're looking at?

Oh, it's the Flag! 


Lucky this guy.. He got two souvenirs down there.

Wait mafla, I'm not ready yet.  

Where's my souvenir boxes?? 


Say, "Cheese!" 

"Burguurrr!!"




"Focus... focus... focus..."

It's not hard for them to find their siblings because of their dress codes. And of course, they have cellphones too.hariraya istana nurul iman sultan brunei

"I need to use macro on this." 

Just like them, I was so eager to know what's inside the gift box. So, when we arrived home we open it and this is what we've got.

The Hari Raya Card's details

That's all kawan! Looking forward to visit the palace again this year. 


Terima Kasih for viewing!