| Fizah HAB |
BRAVING the sweltering afternoon heat, thousands flocked to the Dermaga Diraja yesterday, for the annual Brunei Darussalam Regatta and other water-sporting activities on the Brunei River.
Brenda de Kok, a tourist from the Netherlands, said that she was ecstatic at being able to witness the boat race, which coincided with her visit to Kampong Ayer with a friend.
For British expatriates Susan and Sameh El Farmawy, the event gave them an opportunity to spend some quality time with visiting family members and introduce them to Bruneian culture, including its annual boating traditions.
German backpackers Helena and Marle, meanwhile, expressed their delight with the traditional boat race, one of the main highlights of their trip through Asia.
Brenda de Kok from the Netherlands speaking during an interview
Susan, Sameh El Farmawy and their children from England pose for a photo
Backpackers Helena and Marle from Germany pose for a photo
Kim Young-sun, the Secretary-General of the Asean-Korea Centre and delegates pose for a photo. – PHO-TOS: FIZAH HAB
Also present at the sporting event was Kim Young-sun, the Secretary-General of the Asean-Korea Centre, along with several delegates who are currently in Brunei as part of the recently-launched Asean Community-Based Tourism (CBT) programme.
“We heard about the Brunei Regatta as we made our way back from Temburong,” said Kim. “I found that the Regatta is part of the Bruneian people’s daily lives, and so we were very lucky to experience it for ourselves.
“It was really fun, and it is proof of the solidarity among the Bruneian people.”
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