Brunei
Although a relatively small country, Brunei is rich in natural & cultural heritage. With an ancient culture, charming tradition, fascinating countryside & lush tropical rainforest, Brunei is an unexpected treasure.
‘Must see’ sights include the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, the Royal Regalia Museum – housing a collection of royal artefacts, the Istana Nurul Iman – the worlds largest residential palace, Kampong Ayer water village, & for nature lovers the Temburong National Park in the heart of Brunei.
Malaysia Holidays tours show the best that Brunei has to offer, with a more personal touch.
The oil rich Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam (Brunei, the Abode of Peace) is an aptly named little known gem of a destination, nestled on the northern shores of the huge island of Borneo, which it once ruled in its entirety in centuries past, along with parts of the southern Philippines.
As a result of numerous colonial intrusions in the past from the Spanish, Dutch and British, present day independent Brunei now covers only 5,765 km2, or less than 1% of Borneo’s landmass, and is bordered on all sides by the Malaysian state of Sarawak and by the South China Sea.
Fortunately for Brunei, vast reserves of oil and gas have been discovered on and off shore, turning Brunei into one of the world’s wealthiest countries on a per capita basis.
Today, this enchanting kingdom, ruled by a beloved and benevolent Sultan, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, considered one of the worlds wealthiest monarchs and descending from an unbroken royal lineage dating back to the late 14th century, provides generously for the wealth fare of its 398 thousand inhabitants, exempting them from personal income taxes and providing them with virtually free universal education and medical care, among many other ways to share the nations wealth for the betterment of the populating and the country in general.
With some three quarters of the population professing the Islamic faith, Brunei is ruled according to the national philosophy of the Malay Islamic Monarchy, with the most people practicing a pious but tolerant brand of Islam, which encompasses as well respect and attachment for the age old Malay traditions and culture and reverence for the monarchy and its members.
Often wrongly perceived as a strict and uneventful place, Brunei in fact has much to go for it. Except that the sale of alcohol is not permitted in the country (though non-Muslim tourists can bring duty free a quota of two bottles of wine or spirits and 12 cans of beer for their private consumption), tourists will find no more restrictions to their enjoyment than in neighboring countries, as long as they respect Brunei’s cultural and religious traditions.
Brunei of course does not pretend to become the next Bali or Phuket, and in fact tries to position itself as the opposite of a bustling, busy, crowded, nightlife and party filled destination. Its strengths lie elsewhere, although there is also plenty of sea, sun and clean, wholesome family fun for those looking for it.
Brunei’s strong points are rather found in its natural and cultural assets: the vast stretches of tropical rainforests covering some 78% of the land, its rich Malay culture and traditions, a colorful history dating back centuries and reading like the pages of an adventure epic, replete with tales of sultans, princesses, pirates, headhunters and swashbuckling European adventures, an unhurried pace of life, a gentle and contented people at peace with the world, the beauty of clear blue skies, evergreen surroundings, tasteful architecture, uncongested roads and walkways and the peace of mind to be in the midst of a safe, stable, prosperous and family friendly society.
Despite all this, few tourists as yet can be seen around Brunei, prompting many in the know to call Brunei “Asia’s best kept secret”. Now that tourism promotion and development are firmly on the agenda for the future diversification on the oil dependant economy, Brunei is likely to receive an increasing number of discerning, experienced travelers in quest of new places to discover.
This little slice of paradise is packed with a variety of easy to reach attractions, such as the tiny capital of Bandar Seri Begawan, probably South East Asia’s loveliest capital, a green, airy and well maintained garden city free of the crowds, traffic jams, pollution, noise and trepidation found in the regions other capitals.
Bendar Seri Begawan, often simply referred to as Bandar or BSB, boasts of the world’s largest water village, Kampong ayer, where over 20 thousand people still live in wooden houses on stilts, linked by water taxis to the mainland and combining an age old traditional lifestyle with the amenities provided by the modern age and the wealth of the country.
Overlooking Kampong Ayer is one of the regions architectural wonders, the majestic Sultan Omar “Ali Saifuddien mosque, build in 1958 by brunei’s previous ruler, which is illuminations of the dome and minarets and the call to prayer reverberates across the water village and downtown area…
Further down by the river sits the impressive Istana Nurul Imam – the Sultan’s palace and the worlds biggest residential palace with 1,788 rooms, complete with horse stables, polo field and a private heliport, which opens to citizens and visitors alike only once a year during the celebrations marking the end of the fasting month or Ramadan.
In addition, Bander and its surroundings have a number of interesting museums, including the opulent Royal Regalia Museum, which gives a good insight into the decorum and pomp of the Brunei royalty, as well as lively day and night markets, many parks and nature reserves, a seemingly endless supply of restaurants, coffee shops and shopping areas, including many modern shopping complexes and department stores, such as the impressive Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah complex in downtown Bandar of the Mall in the commercial area of Gadong.
Bandar is located in the Brunei – Muara district, the smallest but most populated of Brunei’s four districts. Outside Bandar, in the Tutong and Belait districts, but never too far due to the country’s small size, a number of interesting natural and cultural attractions can be easily visited on day trips, such as the hauntingly beautiful Merinbun lake, a remote jungle surrounded black water lake that is a heaven of tranquility and is recognized as an ASEAN national heritage site, or the traditional native longhouses near Labi, as well as the oil producing areas of Kuala Belait and Seria, and the many forests and nature reserves dotting the country.
More serious nature lovers will head across the Brunei bay to the district of Temburong, separated from the rest of Brunei by the Limbang Division in Malaysia’s state of Sarawak. Temburong is the least populated, hilliest and most jungle covered district in Brunei, home to many native longhouses and to some of Asia’s best nature reserves and field study centers, such as the world famous Ulu Temburong National Park and the Kuala Belalong Field Study Center, and offering as well an exciting array of ecotourism and adventure activities.
Nature Lovers will definitely be spoiled in Brunei : pristine rainforests and coral reefs, mangrove covered islands and river banks, easy to visit nature reserves, canopy walkways, an abundance of migratory and native birds, endemic species of plants, insects, micro fauna and mammals, such as the odd looking proboscis monkey and a rich, abundant, diverse and pristine ecosystem.
Because of its wealth and the religious restrictions on what Muslims can eat, Brunei has not exploited its rainforests for timber extraction and the mostly settled and urbanized population is not in the habit of hunting wildlife or clearing land for shifting cultivation by burning the forest, resulting in a pristine environment that His Majesty’s government is intent on preserving, allowing only for sustainable and environmentally friendly development in its drive for economic diversification.
This also means that Brunei, free of polluting or smokestack industries and with mostly new vehicles on its roads, can boast of having some of the freshest and purest air and one of the least polluted environments anywhere.
With relatively few tourists around, nature lovers will appreciate having this untouched place almost to themselves. Furthermore, with Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan next door, they can spend weeks in Borneo soaking in the magnificence of Mother Nature or discovering the richness of the Islands diverse indigenous cultures.
But Brunei is not just about rainforests. There are a number of good business and tourist hotels allowing for comfortable stays, beaches and islands to frolic in the South China Sea, water sport and white water activities, wreck and reef diving, sport fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking, all kinds of sporting facilities, world class golfing, polo and horse riding, invigorating health spas, many outdoor and indoor playgrounds to keep the kids entertained, surprisingly good shopping opportunities, delicious food from local to international fare, several state-of-the-art meeting, conference, convention and exhibition venues, first class medical and educational facilities, an excellent and almost traffic free scenic road network that is sheer pleasure to drive on, as well as interesting business and investment opportunities to explore, among many other attractions to keep one busy while in Brunei.
However, the jewl in the crown of Brunei’s man made attractions is of course the luxurious and sprawling Empire Hotel & Country Club, an opulent but exquisite 523 rooms, suites and villas, 180 hectares integrated resort, complete with private beach, 9 pools covering over 16,000 square meters, Jack Nicklaus designed 18-hole floodlit championship golf course, children’s playground and Kids Club, 700-seats theatre, 3-screen Cineplex, 8-lane 10-pin bowling alley, 7 food and beverage outlets, shopping gallery, spa, meeting facilities and with some suites reaching astronomical rates affordable only to royalty or the worlds rich and famous!
Another of Brunei assets is its people. Gentle, cultured, welcoming and hospitable, Bruneians tend to view visitors as honored guests who’ve made the effort to come and visit their country, and their curiosity towards tourists is genuine and not the least motivated by commercial motives, as most are by and large wealthy enough and in general not involved at all in the commercial aspect of tourism, to the point that it is hard to find the usual holiday souvenirs outside hotel shops or a few specialixed outlets. Needless to say that, unlike in many other destinations, tourists are never bothered by touts, beggars or over-friendly locals with ulterior motives. Being a former British protectorate, independent since 1984, most Bruneians are at least conversant in English, rendering communication much easier, although making an effort some basic sentences in Malay will go along way in creating a good impression.
Because business travelers regularly visit Brunei, there is a good infrastructure of hotels, tour operators, travel agents, car rentals, taxis public transport and telecommunications, making it probably the best place in the world to immerse oneself in pristine nature far from the tourist crowd’s, yet with all the creature comforts and facilities of the modern age within easy reach, allowing for example the nature lover in a rush to be deep inside a Borneo rainforest less than two hours after landing at the airport, spending the day there and be back in town in the evening to catch the latest news, check the email and sleep in air-conditioned comfort, ready for next day’s new expedition!
Business travelers and potential investors will not only find all kinds of facilities in Brunei, but a business and investment friendly environment as well. With excellent medical and educational facilities, such as the world class Jerudong Park Medical Center, the Jerudong International School and Boarding House, the International School Brunei and the University of Brunei Darussalam with its beautiful campus, investors and expatriates relocating to Brunei can look forward to an enviable quality of living, with spacious housing, well stocked supermarkets, a vibrant social life and several private clubs and golf courses, while those seeking quality medical treatment or a safe and peaceful environment for their children’s education will be well inspired to consider Brunei as an option.
Although Brunei is not a budget destination, it still offers good value for money, having a good range of accommodation and food outlets, while most tourist attractions are free or charge normal fees, and organized tour rates are reasonable.
Brunei, located some 5 degrees north of the equator, enjoys a warm and humid tropical climate year round with no marked rainy season, and is not at risk of typhoons, earthquakes or volcanic activity.
Furthermore, Brunei has the good fortune of being free of malaria and most other tropical diseases, of having a stable government and of being one of the safest places on Earth, with a very low crime rate, stiff anti-gun and anti-drug laws that include also a ban on alcohol sales and consumption – except for private consumption by non-Muslims importing their own quota of beverages, no internal strife and tight border and immigration controls that make it very difficult to undesirable or extremist elements to enter the country.
With increasing efforts by both public and private sectors to enhance the promotional, product and events aspects of the destination, Brunei is poised to take its rightful place as an up-market destination along side its more established regional neighbors, as well as to establish itself as one of the worlds most pleasant ecotourism destinations.