In 2018, five of us booked a promo fare to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

At least, that was the original destination.

As usual, the itinerary slowly evolved.

Somewhere between booking flights and researching attractions, someone casually mentioned that Brunei was only a ferry ride away.

That single observation changed the entire itinerary.

At the time, it sounded completely reasonable.

Years later, I would realize that most of our questionable travel decisions started with someone saying, "Duol ra man."

Looking back now, that should have been a warning sign.

Because whenever our group discovers that another country is "nearby," there is a very high chance that it will somehow end up included in the itinerary.

Island Hopping and a Realization

Fortunately, the rest of our Kota Kinabalu itinerary went smoothly.

We visited Sapi and Manukan Islands, enjoyed the island-hopping activities, and appreciated the fact that lunch was already included in the tour package.

One thing that genuinely impressed us was the ferry service.

The boats were fast, comfortable, organized, and surprisingly efficient.

As travelers coming from an archipelago, we naturally compared everything to what we were familiar with back home.

And honestly, this was one area where they clearly had an advantage.

The transfers were smooth, the boats were well maintained, and everything operated on schedule.

Of course, being Filipinos, we still found ourselves making comparisons.

The islands were beautiful.

The beaches were beautiful.

The water was clear.

But somewhere during the trip, a very Filipino realization quietly entered the conversation.

"Mas nindot man japon ang dagat sa Pilipinas."

It was probably the most patriotic thing we said during the entire trip.

We had crossed borders, explored new places, and admired different landscapes but somehow we still ended up promoting Philippine beaches.

🤣🤣🤣

The same thing happened when we joined a hiking activity and visited a waterfall.

The experience was enjoyable, and we were glad we went.

But after traveling all that way, we could not help comparing it to the countless beaches, waterfalls, and natural attractions we have at home.

It was not disappointment.

Far from it.

If anything, it made us appreciate the Philippines even more.

The trip reminded us that while other countries offer different experiences, we are also incredibly fortunate to have world-class destinations of our own.

And honestly, that realization made the experience even more meaningful.

Unfortunately, appreciating nature was not the only thing occupying my thoughts during the trip.❤️

The Great White Linen Crisis

One of the most stressful parts of the trip happened before we even started exploring.

It happened inside the hotel room.

And it involved absolutely no transportation, immigration, or border crossings.

Just white bed sheets. 🤣🤣🤣

The hotel had a policy stating that guests would be charged for stained linens.

Normally, this would not be a concern.

Unfortunately, nature had other plans.

As someone unexpectedly dealing with a monthly visitor at the time, I suddenly became more concerned about the bed than the entire international trip.

I remember strategically placing layers of protection and sleeping as carefully as humanly possible.

For several nights, I probably moved less than the hotel furniture.

If there had been a competition for “Most Motionless Hotel Guest,” I would have won comfortably.

Thankfully, both the linens and my wallet survived. 🤣🤣🤣

The Chocolate Investment That Failed

Like many travelers, we also bought a considerable amount of chocolates for pasalubong.

The prices were attractive.

The packaging looked promising.

Everything suggested success.

Unfortunately, reality had a different opinion. 🤣🤣🤣

Once we got home, we discovered that the taste was not exactly what everyone expected.

Some recipients politely accepted them.

Some never asked for them again.

And a few boxes remained untouched long enough to expire.

It was probably one of the least successful pasalubong investments in our travel history.

Still, for the record, they were very affordable.🤣

Welcome to Brunei

Our journey to Brunei was surprisingly smooth.

The ferry ride was fast, comfortable, and completely hassle-free.

Before long, we found ourselves in a country that felt very different from the places we had previously visited.

Our accommodation was apartment-style, spacious, and comfortable.

The challenge was not transportation.

The challenge was figuring out what to do. 🤣🤣🤣

The Day My Disney Princess Dream Almost Happened

Back then, I had a crush on Prince Mateen. 🤣🤣🤣

Please understand.

I was younger.

And apparently still entertaining Disney Princess-level expectations. 🤣

While exploring Brunei, we visited one of the parks when traffic suddenly stopped.

Vehicles remained in place.

Nobody moved.

Everyone seemed to know something was happening.

Then we learned that members of the royal family were passing through the area.

For a brief moment, I thought the universe was finally cooperating with my Disney Princess storyline. 🤣🤣🤣

Unfortunately, fate apparently took a day off.

I never actually saw Prince Mateen.

Not even from a distance.

Not even a blurry glimpse.

Nothing.🤣

The closest I got to royalty was hearing that they had passed by.

Which, technically speaking, is not the same thing.🤣🤣🤣

The Palace We Almost Visited

One of my biggest travel regrets happened because of timing.

Every year during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the royal palace opens its doors to the public, allowing visitors to meet members of the royal family and experience one of Brunei's most unique traditions.

Unfortunately, our trip ended just before the celebration.

The palace would open shortly after our departure.

Our transportation was already booked.

Our schedule was fixed.

And changing everything was no longer practical.

So while other visitors would soon be entering the palace grounds, we were already preparing for our journey home.

Looking back now, that was probably the closest I ever came to fulfilling my Disney Princess ambitions. 🤣🤣🤣

Sadly, no prince appeared.

No royal encounter happened.

And I returned home exactly as I arrived:

A regular tourist with too many itineraries, not enough leave credits, and absolutely no royal connections.🤣🤣🤣

The Country That Sent Us Back to Jollibee

One thing we quickly noticed about Brunei was how early many establishments closed.

As tourists accustomed to wandering around late into the evening, this caught us by surprise.

Several times we found ourselves asking:

"Unsay sunod?"

The answer was often surprisingly familiar.

Jollibee. 🤣🤣🤣

Imagine traveling to another country only to end up eating the same Chickenjoy you could find back home.

International travel really broadens the menu.

And yet somehow, it still tasted like a good decision. 🤣

The Sunday Money Changer Problem

The final challenge happened when we returned to Kota Kinabalu.

By then, we were already tired from traveling and simply focused on preparing for our flight home.

There was only one problem.

Most money changers were closed because it was Sunday.

And most of our remaining cash was still in Brunei dollars.

🤣🤣🤣

Nothing creates financial awareness faster than standing in another country while realizing your money is technically valid...

Just not where you currently are.

🤣

Fortunately, we managed.

As travelers always do.

Looking back, I realized this was probably the beginning of a travel pattern.

Book one destination.

Discover another nearby.

Convince everyone it is possible.

Ignore all signs of practicality.

Then somehow make it work.

In hindsight, Kota Kinabalu was never really just about Kota Kinabalu.

Brunei had quietly inserted itself into the itinerary long before we even left Manila.

Looking back, the trip itself was surprisingly uneventful by our standards.

Which probably explains why I remember the small moments more than the attractions.

Looking Back

Looking back now, our Kota Kinabalu and Brunei trip was much calmer than some of our previous adventures.

There were no double-booked hotels.

No emergency room key situations.

No marathon journeys to see a single landmark.

Instead, it became a trip filled with smaller stories:

the terrifyingly white hotel linens,

the failed chocolate investment,

the surprisingly impressive ferries,

the realization that Philippine beaches still held their own,

the almost-royal encounter,

the missed palace visit,

multiple visits to Jollibee,

and the Sunday money changer problem.

And perhaps that is why I still remember it fondly.

Because sometimes the most memorable adventures are not defined by famous landmarks or bucket-list attractions.

Sometimes they are simply five friends, a promo fare, two countries, and a collection of stories that somehow become funnier every year.

Looking back, I may not have met a prince.

But I did come home with something better:

another chapter for the Karen Diaries.