Pickleball Brunei

A New Chapter: My Travel & Pickleball Journey

For more than 3 years, I missed spending summer in the UK. It has always been my favourite time of year to explore the country because of the long daylight hours, beautiful countryside and endless opportunities for road trips.

This year, I decided it was finally time to take a step back, slow down and continue my lifelong dream of exploring the world again.

After nearly 4 years of building pickleball in Brunei from the ground up, I felt it was the right time to take a break from my day-to-day responsibilities as C.E. President of PBDA. Our Association is now in the capable hands of a committed Vice President, experienced Executive Committee members and a new generation of volunteers who are ready to continue moving PBDA forward.

On 25 June 2026, I formally delegated my authority as C.E. President of PBDA to our Vice President, allowing me to travel with peace of mind while remaining available whenever needed.

Although I am taking a break from the daily leadership of PBDA, I am certainly not taking a break from pickleball.

As the person who introduced and pioneered the development of pickleball in Brunei, I remain committed to helping the sport grow from the grassroots. Wherever I travel, I hope to continue playing pickleball, learning from players around the world, collecting new ideas, knowledge and experiences, and bringing them back to benefit pickleball players in Brunei.

Technology makes this possible. From wherever I am in the world, I shall continue organising the weekly schedules for our 3 PBDA venues through ReClub and shall continue serving as PBDA’s Founding Adviser whenever my assistance is required.

On 25 June, I flew to London before spending two wonderful weeks in Dorset. I enjoyed the beautiful countryside, took a short train trip to London and, of course, found time to play pickleball.

I had the pleasure of joining sessions with the Weymouth Pickleball Club and the Dorchester Dinkers.

Playing with different pickleball communities is an important part of this journey for me. It gives me an opportunity not only to enjoy the game, but also to meet other players, exchange experiences and pick up new ideas that I can share with our pickleball community back in Brunei.

After two weeks in Dorset, my first road trip began.

We drove from Dorchester all the way to Aberdeen, breaking the journey with an overnight stop in Kendal. The drive took around 11–12 hours in total, and we made pit stops every two hours to stretch our legs and discover some of the hidden gems along the way.

I am sharing maps of my road trips so you can follow the routes we took and some of the places we discovered along the way.

Scotland has been my second home for much of my life. After spending 35 years living and working there, together with 4 years studying at a university in England, the UK remains a place that holds countless memories for me.

Over the 2 weeks in Scotland, I cherished every moment spent with my husband, our children and our 2 grandchildren. We had a wonderful family reunion to celebrate my 66th birthday at a seafood restaurant in Johnshaven, a charming fishing village on the east coast.

I also managed to play pickleball with the Northsea Picklers and even joined Circuit and LIIT classes at a local sports centre.

Everywhere I play, I learn something. Different players, clubs and communities all have their own ways of enjoying and developing the game, and that is exactly the kind of experience I want to collect during my travels.

After Scotland, my travelling companion and I flew back to London.

From Heathrow Terminal 5, we caught a coach to Woking, then a train to Dorchester South for another relaxing week in Dorset before setting off once again - this time on another road trip to explore the beautiful Norfolk Broads.

Our journey took us from Dorchester to the Ivy Country House Hotel in Lowestoft, Suffolk, before continuing to the Dairy Barns in Hickling, Norfolk.

On our return journey to Dorchester, we decided not to simply retrace our route. Instead, we took a different way home via Tollesbury Wick in Essex, giving us another opportunity to enjoy different scenery and discover more hidden gems along the way.

I Still See Pickleball Everywhere!

Our final hotel whilst visiting the Norfolk Broads was a beautiful converted dairy farm. It was luxurious, welcoming and full of character.

As I walked into the reception area and then into the beautifully decorated breakfast room, with its colourful nature-inspired décor and charming blue-and-white checked tablecloths, I couldn’t help admiring how lovely everything looked.

But then, the pickleball coach in me took over.

I looked at the converted barn with its magnificent high ceiling and immediately thought:

“That could fit a tournament-size pickleball court with plenty of run-off space!”

There was more than enough height for lobs, one side could become a comfortable waiting area, the balcony overlooking the court would make a perfect spectator gallery, and the kitchen beside it could easily be transformed into a pro shop and office.

So as you can see…

You can take me away from pickleball…

…but you can never take pickleball out of me!

My Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will no longer be only about pickleball in Brunei.

I’ll also be sharing my journeys around the world—the places I visit, the people I meet, my road-trip maps and photographs, and hopefully the pickleball communities I become part of along the way.

My goal is simple: Play more. Learn more. Improve more.

Every court I step onto teaches me something new. Every player I meet shares a different perspective. Every club has ideas worth learning from.

I hope to bring those experiences back to Brunei to help existing players improve, inspire more people to try pickleball and continue supporting the growth of our wonderful pickleball community.

After all, learning never stops.

And neither does the journey.

While I’m Away

For all official matters relating to the Pickleball Brunei Darussalam Association (PBDA), please contact the Vice President and Secretary General through:

PBDA Official Line: +673 7442201
Email: [email protected]

For matters relating to Pickleball Brunei, including:

• Weekly sessions at our 3 PBDA venues
• ReClub bookings and schedules
• Pickleball coaching
• Technical advice and playing tips

you are still welcome to contact me directly:

WhatsApp: +673 7296094
Email: [email protected]

Although I may be thousands of miles away, my passion for pickleball and my commitment to helping it grow in Brunei remain as strong as ever.

This is simply a new chapter - the journey continues…next stop China!

Friday, 10 July 2026 - Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait

On this Friday afternoon, 18 players took to the courts. Two of them had already played in the morning and returned in the afternoon for another session - what dedication! 😍

Our two anak istimewa dewasa were also there. Their enthusiasm is truly exemplary.❤️

Pickleball is a fun, inclusive sport where everyone is encouraged to participate at their own pace, make new friends, build confidence, and enjoy being active in a supportive community. We hope to see more of our anak istimewa community in Brunei discovering the joy of pickleball. 🥰

Friday, 3rd July 2026 - Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait

There was no morning session but 9 players signed up for the afternoon session #.

Although I’m not in Brunei, I continue to organise our PBDA sessions remotely through ReClub, wherever I am. It’s always a joy to receive photos afterwards and see everyone enjoying themselves on court.

Thank you to everyone who came along and helped make another successful Friday afternoon session possible. Your continued support and enthusiasm mean a lot. ❤️

Friday, 26 June 2026 – Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait

Every Friday, we have 2 sessions at Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait:
* Morning: 8.30-11am
* Afternoon: 4-6pm

On this Friday, there were 2 players in the morning and 8 players in the afternoon. The 2 morning players also returned for the afternoon session, enjoying singles in the morning and doubles later in the day.

So if you see only 2 players signed up for a morning session, it doesn’t mean the session is cancelled. 2 players are all you need for a great singles practice, and singles is one of the best ways to improve your game. If more players join, even better.

One of the photos from the afternoon session made me so happy. It was so lovely to see another of our anak istimewa dewasa joined in.

I first met Syiqin on the very first Friday session we held at Pusat Belia. Like many new players, she initially preferred practising on the side rather than joining doubles games. Most of the other beginners soon gained the confidence to play, but Syiqin needed a little more time.

One day, I encouraged her to partner with me in a doubles game. I told her that playing with others would help her improve much more quickly. She did so well, and seeing how happy she was when I complimented her performance was a special moment for me.

So seeing her in the photos from this session meant so much. It wasn’t just another game - it was a reminder of how far she has come. Watching her confidently joining the session with everyone else is exactly what Pickleball Brunei is all about: creating a welcoming community where everyone feels they belong. ❤️

Friday, 12 June 2026 - Afternoon Session (4:00–6:00pm)
Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait

The fun didn’t end in the morning!

After a wonderful morning session, we were back on court again for our afternoon session at Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait. There were 10 of us, only a few played in both the morning and afternoon sessions.

A huge thank you to everyone who spent part of their Friday with us - whether joining us in the morning, the afternoon, or both sessions. You helped make it another fantastic day on court.

Here are a few photos and a video from our afternoon session. I am looking forward to seeing you all again soon.

Friday, 12 June 2026 - Morning Session (8:30–11:00am) at Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait

Another very late post because I’m still travelling! 😄 I’m slowly catching up and sharing some wonderful memories from my pickleball sessions back home.

On Friday, 12 June, we enjoyed another fantastic morning session at Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait, with 10 players joining us. It was also great to welcome more new faces to our growing pickleball community.

This session was especially memorable because we welcomed Hafiz, a 21-year-old anak istimewa dewasa, for his very first pickleball session. I used one of our three courts to introduce him to the game, and I was amazed at how quickly he picked up the basic skills. It was wonderful to see how much he enjoyed himself. During the second hour, Hafiz joined myself and other players for match play, giving him the opportunity to play with different partners. Our players were incredibly welcoming, supportive, and encouraging, helping to make his first experience both enjoyable and memorable.

The morning was made even more special by a surprise visit from a friend from Holland. We first met as students at Anthony Abell College in Seria, later became colleagues at BSP in Seria, and then met again in Oman when our husbands were posted there for five years. Coincidentally, many of our regular Friday players are BSP retirees, so it was lovely reminiscing about the many ways our lives had crossed paths over the years—through school, work, and now pickleball.

Thank you to everyone who came along and made it such a special morning. Here are some photos and a video from this memorable session.

Friday, 5 June 2026 – Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait

This is a very late post 😄 as I’ve been travelling, but it’s one I didn’t want to miss sharing.

On Friday, 5 June, we enjoyed two wonderful pickleball sessions at Pusat Belia, Kuala Belait.

Morning Session (8:30–11:00am with 7 players).

Afternoon Session (4:00–6:00pm with 10 players).

Here are some photos from both sessions. Every session reminds me why I love this sport - not just for the game itself, but for the friendships, laughter and sense of community it brings.

I truly miss playing with this wonderful bunch of ladies and gents from my home district of Belait ❤️. Thank you all for the great memories, and I can’t wait to be back on court with everyone again!

Until then, keep playing, keep smiling, and keep growing the pickleball family.