Cross-Border: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia to Muara, Brunei via Labuan Island

It was my second day in Kota Kinabalu and I was thinking to visit Labuan Island before I headed to Brunei for my flight back to the Philippines. The bus from KK to Brunei will take more or less 10 hours and I can’t do it anymore since I took that bus from Brunei to KK. The weather in Borneo is really hot and there are 4 borders to cross, its very tiring route.

Labuan Express Tiga bound to Labuan Island

I went to Jesseltson Port just 5 minutes’ walk from Hotel Grandis where I stayed for 2 nights to buy a ticket to Brunei via Labuan Island on the next day and I pay 60 Ringgit and extra 5 Ringgit for a 1^st class seat to Labuan.

Ticket Booth for Brunei via Labuan

I'm roaming around the pier and nothing an interesting, my planned was to do an Island hopping in Gaya and nearby island, since there’s a lot of tourist on that day I decided to cancel it because I will not enjoy the tour.

The next morning I wake up around 6am to fix my things before I take my breakfast since the departure time of the fast craft is 8am sharp. I check out by 7:30am, 30 minutes before the departure and walk going to the pier.

Ticket booth for the Island Hopping

I headed to the security check and board the fast craft after. The journey to Labuan will take 3 hours passing by the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Island. The sea was so calm and we arrived in the Duty Free island of Labuan around 11am. There’s 2 more hours to stay in the island buying some Duty free items like chocolates it is very cheap compared in KK and Brunei.

Jesseltson Terminal Hall

My Ticket to Brunei via Labuan

Approaching Labuan Island

Inside the Fast Craft in First Class seat

I walk around to look for a food to eat with my heavy luggage full of my things and souvenirs. The weather on the island is around 34 deg. And it is very hot. J I went back to the pier around 12:30pm. I paid 5 ringgit for the Terminal fee and boarding pass. 

Welcome to Labuan Island

While falling in line in the immigration booth one of Malaysian IO noticed me and start to interrogate in the nice way asking me what I will do in the Brunei because they know that Brunei is nothing special to offer to the tourist, I said to him that I will transit back to the Philippines, He asked my plane ticket because he makes sure that I will transit only. I was so nervous that time, but I keep myself calm and chill as we talk casually after he asked me again if I have a money, I said yes, he relied how much? Can you show to me? I get my wallet to show him that I have enough US dollars to support my transit in Brunei.

Labuan Express Tiga 

After we ended our conversation as I am approaching in the Immigration booth, he told me that we will secure that you will arrive in Brunei safe as the Bruneian IO will ask you a show money, have a safe Journey back home.

I am the last passenger who board the fast craft. The fast craft that we used from KK to Labuan change into a small one with economy class only. The journey to Serasa pier, in Muara will take 1 hour. While in the trip I was thinking that the transportation from Serasa to BSB is very difficult since there is no fix time that the bus will arrive. 

Dataran Labuan

My seatmate barrowed my pen as we fill-up the arrival form, after that I opened a topic regarding to the bus going to the Brunei Airport, he is a Malaysian lived in Kuala Lumpur and he has a project in the airport of Brunei. After one hour we arrived at Serasa pier and bid goodbye to each other, but when left the fast craft he approach me that he can give a ride all the way to Brunei Airport. Yay! I said sure, Thank you so much, I got a passport stamped and there is no more question in the Bruneian IO as I present my onward ticket to the Philippines. 

Labuan Ferry Terminal

I waited Mr. Jung because he gets his car, parked outside in the terminal. In 30 minutes we talked a lot about my travels and his work and he told me that his family is in Labuan for vacation.

He dropped me off in departure hall of the airport and bid goodbye.

I arrived in Brunei Airport around 3pm and flight scheduled at 10pm. My former college professor picks me up around 6pm for dinner with his son and company, after dinner we went back to the airport and we check-in into our flight together.