Information for backpackers in Brunei
BRUNEI
Population: 374,000 (UN, 2005)
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Area: 5,765 square kilometers (2,226 square miles)
Main languages: Malay, English, Chinese
Major religions: Islam, Buddhism, Christianity
Life expectancy: 74 years (men), 79 years (women) (UN)
Currency unit: 1 Brunei dollar = 100 cents
Brunei Darussalam is a fairly small but never mediocre or insignificant independent sultanate country. Tinsel city with its right, Brunei has long been Asia’s best kept secret that revels in “golden” culture, heritage and economy. Too Many impresses one of the smallest but richest countries in the world as a nation of elites, royalty and business moguls with money for five lives, but it is also a state of people with thick traditions and impoverished lifestyles. Perhaps the golden doors of Brunei are an open invitation for the world to look inward, and the truth is that there is not enough to sum up this charming little country, but to say that it is a realm of unexpected treasures and that the civilization of the early centuries. 13th century hits the spot.
A good way to familiarize yourself with Brunei to calm scruples is to know what it is not. It is not an extremist Islamist nation, nor is it a kingdom of royalty and peasants, with which the media represents excesses and lavish parties. Unfortunate but true, the tiny sultanate finds itself in the shadows of rich lists and excessively wasteful lifestyles. Ill-gotten wealth and plunder are problems that plague the nation with the same family in government for 6 centuries, the longest unbroken dynasty in the world. But Brunei has a wealthy financial system to boast that looks as good as the “Not Applicable (NA)” economic reports on the population below the poverty line. However, it seems quite paradoxical that alcohol is banned in Brunei, while Prince Azim drinks mad.
GEOGRAPHY
Brunei (4 30 N, 114 40 E) is the second smallest country in Southeast Asia along with Singapore with an area of 5,765 km² bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia. The country’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains with land elevations rising to mountainous to the east, Bukit Pagon with the highest peak in Brunei at 1,850 meters above sea level. It prides itself on having the most intact virgin rainforests in all of Borneo, 70% of Brunei to be exact. The reason: its profuse abundance of oil has not found the need to explore and exploit the forests for other natural resources. Brunei is actually a country of 2 strips of separate territories less than an hour away by boat.
CLIMATE
Brunei is simply lucky with a subtropical climate, as it rarely experiences natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, or floods. Brunei is hot, humid and humid with average temperatures of 28 ° C that can reach 33 ° C in January, supposedly the coldest month for most SEA countries. Most of the environmental problems they face are by-products traveling from Indonesia, such as haze. Traveling anywhere in Brunei is best if you start early in the morning or late in the afternoon. But the traveler’s best choice and introduction to Brunei is after Ramadan, when the palace opens its doors wide for more than 100,000 people for a banquet and a meeting with the sultan, and possibly a furtive handshake, except for women I can only meet His Majesty.
PEOPLE
The nation of Brunei is officially an Islamic state as inscribed in its constitution. However, with an open-minded attitude towards tourists and explorers, the 388,190 Bruneians pose no danger to travelers, whatever their origin or faith, proving their reputation as a “abode of peace” not just from opulence. Hence, Buddhism (13%) and Christianity (10%), etc. they hug and practice freely. Islam for Brunei is not just a religion, but an ideology that guides all aspects of people’s lives, especially the government with the 3M code called “Malay Muslim Monarchy”, the best way to describe its government. Malay, of course, due to its penchant for Brunei-like culture with its location and considering everything else being a Malaysian enclave. MALAY, is also the official language. ENGLISH is quite common and used by the general population, and Chinese ethnic communities also widely speak CHINESE dialects such as Fukien and Teochew.
ATTRACTIONS
Traveling through the territory of Brunei is somewhat difficult, especially when traveling by land. From BSB to Bangar, road trips have the disadvantage of passing through two immigration points, Malaysia when leaving BSB or Bangar, and Brunei, also when entering. That’s just one of the top three challenges to behold in Brunei, the other being some budget options in Brunei, true to its opulence, at least for BSB. The last one, of which is … Did I mention there was no alcohol?
Brunei effortlessly presents a country like no other that begins with BSB, which is not your typically fast-paced and overtly modernized city, and which carefully balances lush greens with an efficient, congestion-free building design. But it has a price because it is the City of the Abdicated Sultan, as Bandar Seri Begawan translates directly, where the traveler will find the same imperial luxuries of the golden architectures. Have you ever come across a 6 Michelin star hotel? The preponderance of what a land of early civilizations offers is impressive architecture of buildings and temples that honor its heritage and religion, such as the Royal Regalia Museum and the Museum of Brunei, where the traveler will find the most incredible treasures from the rich history of Brunei, “rich”. in the full sense of the word. What about the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque or that of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah? At night, the gardens of Jerudong Park offer the public a spectacle worthy of the palace guests with its dancing fountains and the dazzling design of Prince Jeffri. Far from the glitter and gold, the largest water village in the world, kampong yesterday will represent the experience of a century or a tour of proboscis monkeys, a unique species of big-nosed monkeys, with a new appreciation of beauty amidst simplicity. And yes, there is kayaking, windsurfing and diving.
The Temburong district is endowed with two unprecedented natural parks, the Ulu Temburong National Park for B $ 5 or USD $ 3.5 and the Peradaya Forest Reserve with no admission charge, both of which are breathtaking and brilliant getaways with the rainforests. most pristine virgins. Bangar, the district capital, is less glamorous but just as beautiful and has more in store for the budget traveler at $ 4 by boat from BSB, without discrediting BSB, that’s for sure. All these visa and spending concerns are sure to be met by observing and appreciating Brunei for its culture, people and food, need I say?
MEAL
Brunei cuisine is a blank page to most outlooking outsiders, or perhaps a misconception of characterless Malaysian food, but the traveler has yet to discover that Brunei cuisine has evolved into a Malay fusion. , Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Arabic and European. flavors that is similar to the country of the sultanate alone. Chinese food is ubiquitous, like everywhere else. Rice is always present, while pork is avoided, due to the Islamic religion. Some of the national specialties are Daging Masak Lada Hitam or spicy beef with potato and beans, Serondeng Pandag, garlic fried chicken in pandan leaves, Udang Sambal Serai Bersantan which is a seafood dish with prawns, coconut milk and chili, and Nasi Beef / Chicken Katok Spicy Curry, all served with rice. For a true taste of Brunei, try the ambuyat, a gooey surprise. Then wash it all down with refreshing coconut juice, fruit juice, coffee, tea, or just plain water. And as a country of two phases, BSB and Bangar, the traveler feels twice as melancholy and heartbroken when leaving Brunei, as he technically leaves twice.
Note: Foreigners can bring alcohol with strict limits of 12 cans of beer and 2 other alcoholic beverages.