Colourful umbrellas bloomed as rain fell on the second night of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's 62nd birthday celebrations in the capital.

Bruneians, tourists and well-wishers from neighbouring countries, watched the stage shows for the month-long royal birthday celebrations at the night market opposite the Royal Regalia.

They took photographs and scouted the stalls selling fruits, freshly-cooked food, home-made goods and imported garments.

People also strolled on the roadside lighted up by arches and lampposts decorated with multi-hued, glowing flowers, as birthday banners fluttered from office buildings and shopping establishments.

Vendors sold tropical fruits like the durian, longans, rambutans, "Sotong- Tutok" or pounded dried squid toasted over red-hot coal, a hit snack sold once or twice a year.

Stalls offered freshly done kebabs, freshly home-made satay or skewed-marinated-meat and blended peanut gravy, as the aromatic white fumes from the cooking filled the air. Children enjoyed holding balloons in different shapes, colours and sizes, licking ice cream and eating home-made sweets. - Borneo Bulletin (18th July 2008)