The enchanting : Wasai Belulok waterfalls

WHERE to go? is a question we're all too familiar with in Brunei when we plan a meet up with our friends. Too much time sitting in the coffee shops chatting the time away, or going to the movies or the malls all too often can turn stale within a couple of weeks, if not days. It's easy to get the idea that Brunei is boring when you go through the same routine everytime.

You don't have to go far to have some fun and adventurous times. It's all right here in our home, Brunei.

Brunei is full of hidden wonders of nature and that's the reason why we're called the Kingdom of Unexpected Treasures.

My friends and I embarked on a quest to find the 'untouched' waterfalls of Wasai Belulok in Brunei last weekend, after hearing of the waterfall that has not received many visitors as not many has heard of it. So, off we went to Labi in Belait district in search of this epic waterfall that my friend speaks of.

We left Bandar Seri Begawan as early as 7am to get to our friend's house in Sg Liang, and the only one familiar with the depths of Belait district. The hike began with a rocky trail from the main road, right next to the Teraja Police Station.

What makes this trip particularly attractive is that the trail is unpaved, untainted by civilisation and full of challenges, perfect for adventure seekers and nature lovers. The hike through the jungle took almost two hours, with river crossings and wet muddy trails to add to the challenge. So be sure to wear your lousiest shoes and comfortably clothes if you decide to take this trip, although it is advised you seek a local guide to take you on through the forest. Otherwise, do it at your own risk!

Bird calls and the sound of river water flowing are music to the ears as we hiked through the rich flora and fauna and immersed ourselves in the wonders of nature. As we took a steep hike up a hill that has no trekking path at all, we heard a "WOW! It's so big!!" from our friend who led the group.

In a frantic effort to see the hype and hoping not to be disappointed by what I was about to see, I scrambled through tall grass and vegetation in my way and was confronted by one of the highest waterfall I have ever seen in Brunei. Before me stood a waterfall, seemed to be about 60m high, covered in all sorts of vegetation and looking like it could be a scene in an Indiana Jones movie.

With snips and snaps of our cameras to capture the moments, we spent some 30 minutes taking in the sights of the beautiful and tranquil landscape and relaxing sounds of the water hitting the bottom rocks to keep in our memories before heading out of the forest and on to our next waterfall stop in Wasai Wongkadir in Labi.

Wasai Wongkadir is much well known as a tourist site, but not visited enough, I think, as it is located so far from the city centre. Nevertheless, it's a perfect place for relaxation to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and a much 'tamer' place to venture into.

Wasai Wongkadir is turned into a recreational park with somewhat proper pathways leading to the waterfall. The pathways are much like the Shahbandar Recreational Park in Jerudong, so there's no worry about getting lost in the middle of nowhere. Within the recreational park, there are huts for visitors to rest in along the way before getting to the end of the park to see the main attraction, the Wasai Wongkadir waterfall.

After a long tiring day of hiking through the woods, the waterfalls looked ever so inviting. Without any hesitation, we all jumped in for a rejuvenating swim and were joined by a family who visited the park with their children not long after.

By the end of the trip, most of us were tired but happy as we left the rich nature of Belait district with lasting memories of our adventure through nature in our quest to find the waterfalls. What better way to spend a free day than to enjoy our home treasures that is the rich flora and fauna right in our own backyard?The Brunei Times