BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Thursday 29 August 2013 – While ASEAN-Plus Defence Ministers are busy with the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting, their spouses were brought around town to learn about the culture and traditions of Brunei Darussalam. The wives of Defence Ministers from Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan were brought to Baitul Wajihah Homestay in Kg Wasan where they experienced first hand what Brunei has to offer.
Leading the delegation was the spouse of Brunei Minister of Energy, Datin Hjh Noryasimah Abdullah. The group was accompanied by the programmes committees. As soon as the guests of Baitul Wajihah Homestay arrived, they were greeted by its Manager, Haji Muslin Haji Salim, who also escorted the ladies to the venue.
During their walk into Baitul Wajihah Homestay, they were welcomed by the sound of hadrah; a traditional way to welcome guests during a special ceremony. Once they have been seated at their designated table inside Baitul Wajihah, the guests were welcomed with a cultural performance by the DKS Group who performed a welcome dance as well as showcase traditional musical skills on the gulintangan, gong and dombak.
After the musical and cultural performance, the ladies were then invited to try some of Brunei’s traditional games like congkak and also gasing. They also had the chance to try some of Brunei’s traditional toys like Salok-Salokan and Sorok-Sorokan which is a sort of puzzle made of rattan.
The ladies also got to try Ambuyat, a traditional Bruneian delicacy that is liked by most locals as well as other delicacies like Kelupis among others.
Baitul Wajihah Homestay is one of the favourable homestay location in Brunei where the host family provides not only a first hand experience in the richness of Brunei culture and heritage but also in the ability to provide participants with a taste of mouth-watering local cuisine.
According to Hj Muslin, Baitul Wajihah Homestay receives a lot of day visits from tourists as well as from locals. “We have been open since 2005 and since Brunei Tourism’s support and help, we have received more visitors that are interested in learning about the culture and traditions of Brunei Darussalam,” expressed Hj Muslin.
