Commissioned by Brunei Shell Petroleum and designed by a local architect the Billionth Barrel Monument commemorates the production of the billionth barrel of oil by the Seria oilfield. It is locate close to the seawall, near the site of "S-1", the first well dug almost 70 years ago.
The approach to the monument is through an arched entrance and a row of trees on either side. The arches serve to remind visitors that Brunei is an Islamic country and the floor is tiled in an Islamic pattern. The monument is a mere five-minute drive from the Seria town centre.
Built to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty's accession to the throne, it is a beautiful site along Jalan Maulana, just 1 km from Kuala Belait town.
The 2,679-hectare park faces the beach and features exhibition huts and a 'Pintu Gerbang' (official decorative entrance) that symbolises the MIB (Malay Islamic Monarchy) concept of Brunei. It is established by Brunei Shell Petroleum to commemorate the occasion of His Majesty's Silver Jubilee year as Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, Anduki Jubilee Recreational Park was officially declared open by the monarch in 1992.
The park's blue-water lagoon and recreational facilities ensure its popularity as a family destination.
Kampong Labi, some 40 km south of the coastal highway, is a small settlement that has served for years as a base for speculative (and unsuccessful) oil drilling in the surrounding hills. Tropical fruits, such as rambutan, durian, cempedak and jackfruit, are grown in the area. Further down the Labi Road, past Kampung Labi itself, the forest gives way to several examples of a form of dwelling unique to the island of Borneo - the Iban longhouse. Literally a village under one roof, a long house consist of a single shed-like structure divided along its length into separate family lodgings, each of which is accessed via a communal area running the length of the building. This communal area is the venue of the village population's social and daily indoor work activities.
The nearest longhouse to the town of Labi is Rampayoh Longhouse which is divided into 16 lodgings. Others include Mendaram Besar Longhouse, Mendaram several trails head off into the jungle along this stretch of the road. They are clearly marked and signposted, and direct hikers through tracts of primary rainforest to various waterfalls and elevated viewing areas. The walks are relatively undemanding and guides are not necessary but for safety reasons, local advice should be sought.
Further longhouses can be found deep in the interior, along the upper reaches of Sungai Belait. These are accessible by longboat from Kampong Sungai Mau, which is situated halfway along the Jalan Labi. Of course, it is possible to begin the journey in Kuala Belait, passing Kuala Balai along the way, but this route takes many hours.
The journey upriver into Ulu Belait (Upriver Belait) depends very much on the level of the river; in the dry season its upper reaches are barely navigable. Kampong Sukang, some two hours from Kampong Sungai Mau by longboat, is a community of Dusun and Punan tribes people, with two longhouses and a hamlet of family homes. The Punan are nomadic hunter-gatherers by tradition, though the inhabitants of Kampong Sukang were persuaded to settle here back in the 1970s. They now farm paddy rather than relying on the old staple diet of wild sago, but they still hunt in the traditional manner using blowpipes and poison darts.
If you're feeling even more intrepid, there is another hamlet of longhouses located at Kampong Melilas, located one to three hours - depending on the water level - upriver from Kampong Sukang. These are home to Iban people and, like the Labi Longhouses, they are upgraded versions of the traditional longhouse, although this community supports a thriving cottage industry in traditional basketry and weaving. Beyond Kampong Melilas, there are hot springs and plenty of waterfalls; a guide can be arranged at the village.
