Brunei is a state in Southeast Asia. It is small but very rich. What is interesting for Brunei Darussalam? How does the country's population live, and what can a traveler find here? We’ll talk about this.
State of Brunei Darussalam: where is the country
Brunei is located in the northwest of the islands of Borneo or Kalimantan, as it is called by the Indonesians. The only country with which the border of Brunei shares is Malaysia. Part of the Malaysian state separates the two regions of the country about thirty kilometers from each other. The South China Sea washes the northern shores of Brunei Darussalam. The area of the state is only 5 765 square meters. km
There is an absolute monarchy in Brunei . The Sultan as head of state is part-time and the prime minister, and the main commander, the minister of finance and the leader of the religious community, in general "one for all." The sultan personally appoints people to all important positions in the country, however, most of the high-ranking people are his relatives. Interestingly, there are no opposition parties in this country, although they are allowed by law.
The country is divided into four districts - Daer - Tutong, Belait, Temburong and the capital district of Brunei Muara, which are divided into small areas called mukim. Officially, there are no settlements in Brunei, the districts are divided into villages or kampongs, although in fact several cities are still distinguished (Kuala Belait, Seriya, Bandar Seri Begawan).
Population
How many people live here and who is the country of Brunei Darussalam inhabited by?
The country's population is about 418 thousand. By the number of inhabitants, the country occupies 175th place in the world. As in neighboring countries, the Malay population prevails.
In addition to the Malays, Chinese, Ibans and Kadazans live here, there are Europeans, but there are very few of them. To obtain citizenship, you need to pass a test for knowledge of the culture and language of the state of Brunei Darussalam. The official language is Malay, but English is also quite popular, especially in business. In everyday life, dialects of Chinese and Ibans are also used.
The official religion is Islam. The sultan himself makes a pilgrimage to Mecca and encourages citizens of the country, through the money that is allocated for the annual pilgrimage of believers. Other beliefs are not prohibited.
To be born Brunei is to catch luck. The main source of profit in the state of Brunei Darussalam is oil. Citizens of the country do not pay income tax and are entitled to interest-free loans to purchase everything that the soul desires. And she can wish a lot, because the average annual income of residents is about twenty thousand dollars. Bruneis also pamper with a free health care system and free education.
Brunei life
The local population of the country is different in lifestyle and language from the Malays who live in Indonesia and Malaysia. Many Brunei residents prefer to wear traditional clothing or its elements. It is customary to name your name completely, along with all ranks and titles.
The state of Brunei Darussalam is deeply religious, so schools always teach the ideology of “Melaya Islam Beraja”, which talks about Islam, the values of the monarchy and Malay culture. For the same reasons, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages has been prohibited since 1991.
The most privileged job in Brunei is state work. Such work is excellently paid, and most importantly on time. The employee is entitled to several breaks during the day. The working day ends early, at five, and, as a rule, no one is left to work a little more. All things need to be done only in the allotted time for this.
According to the tradition of Muslim countries in Brunei polygamy. Moreover, equality between all wives is enshrined at the legal level. This means that having made a gift to one wife, you must certainly give an equally valuable gift and a second. Divorces in the country are not prohibited, therefore, if wives do not arrange gifts, no one holds them.
Brunei women have a certain sense of freedom compared to other Muslim countries. They are allowed to wear both traditional and European clothes, but still they cover their heads with a scarf. They are also not forbidden to work and hold various positions.
Bandar Seri Begawan
The most important and largest city in the state of Brunei Darussalam is Bandar Seri Begawan. The city is located on the Brunei River, more precisely on its northern bank. Its name is translated from Malaysian as "the city of His Excellency."
The capital of Brunei Darussalam is small and consists of only a few microdistricts. You can go through the whole city in less than half an hour. Public transport in the main city, however, as in all of Brunei, is absent. All residents move in their own cars. But on the river go boats that perform the function of a taxi. The locals call them penambang. Boats transport people from the city center to other areas, and sometimes to other cities, such as Limbang and Bangar.
Walking along Bandar Seri Begawan, you can decide that it was originally built for people with cars. There are few sidewalks; the districts connect the highways between themselves. If you search, you can find narrow sidewalks inside the areas. Riding motorcycles in Brunei is not common, unlike Indonesia, locals prefer to ride in comfort.
In general, the city looks neat, the streets are very clean, because a thousand Brunei dollars will have to be paid for the garbage thrown onto the road. In the evening, after the end of the working day, a lot of people walk in the streets for an hour or two, mainly shopping. Then everything calms down and the streets become empty, it is difficult to find people who are quietly strolling and enjoying the evening - everyone goes home.
The architecture of the capital is not complicated and without special research, however, mosques are really worthy of attention. The city has parks, museums, cafes - everything you need for a good vacation.
Brunei Darussalam: attractions, photos
The main attractions are concentrated in the capital. The Jalai Residence Museum, where you can see a collection of weapons, copies of the Koran from different countries (Egypt, Iran, India). In the art gallery of the museum you can join the art of Islam. Here, visitors are told about the features and history of the development of the oil refining industry in the region. Not far from the mausoleum is the mausoleum of the ruler of the "golden years" of Brunei - Sultan Bolkia XV.
The Royal Regalia Museum houses a collection of objects from the Sultan's family that are used in ceremonies. In the Center for History, you can familiarize yourself with the history of the reign of the Sultan and his family tree.
The Malay Technology Museum is interesting in that it acquaints visitors with the peculiarities of indigenous architecture. The village buildings of the Murut, Kedayan, Dayak peoples are represented here. The museum also hosts an exhibition of modern technology.
Parks brunei
Rainforests cover most of the country of Brunei Darussalam (see photo below). By order of the Sultan, forests are under state protection, most of them relate to nature reserves and national parks.
Ulu-Teburong Park is located in the eastern region of Teburong. It covers an area of about 50 hectares and has a unique and diverse vegetation, thanks to the densely dissected relief and considerable remoteness. Here are the villages of indigenous people, such as Iban, Murut, Malay. In the park you can follow the Bukit Patoi ecological trail.
Near the park there are several nature reserves that are easily accessible from the capital. Approximately seventy kilometers from the main city is the Anduki Yubili Recreation Park with relict forests and a fabulously beautiful lagoon.
Another place with picturesque nature that Brunei Darussalam boasts is the Peradayan Nature Reserve, with an area of about a thousand hectares. It is located on the twin hills, rising to a height of 400 meters. The reserve is home to many rare animals, including endemic ones. For example, a representative of the deer genus, which in size resembles a large rodent more than a deer.
Near Bandar Seri Begawan there are several places with pretty beautiful views. Only 10 kilometers from the city is Usai Kandal. This is a region with incredibly beautiful forests, waterfalls and Lake Taisek-Laboi. Among the waterfalls, Air-Terjun-Rendahu Falls is noticeably distinguished.
Sultan's Palace
The state of Brunei Darussalam is controlled directly from the Sultan's Palace - the official residence of the Sultan of Hassanal Bolkiah. It is called Istana Nurul Iman and is translated as “palace of light”.
The palace is located near the capital city. It was erected by a Philippine architect in 1984, and the completion date was timed to Brunei's Independence Day. The interior was handled by renowned designer Khuang Chu, who also worked on the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.
In the palace there are government offices, a throne room for ceremonies and celebrations, the apartments of the Sultan - more than 1,500 rooms in total. The garage is underground and holds hundreds of cars.
The Sultan's palace is replete with luxury and wealth. The interior is decorated with 40 types of marble and gold, which is present on the doors, window frames and small details. The Sultan is a fan of painting, so there is a rather large collection of originals of famous paintings.
There is one day in a year when anyone can come to the sultan to the palace. Even a tourist can do it. The Sultan on this day will give a gift to the visitor and shake his hand. This is truly royal generosity!
Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque
Religion in this country comes first and affects the way of life and the views of the local population, so visiting a mosque is the main thing to do when you arrive in Brunei Darussalam.
The sights of Islamic architecture are always striking in their beauty. Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah is one of the largest mosques in Southeast Asia. The history of its construction is significant, because it was built by the 25th year of the reign of the current Sultan. This mosque with four minarets is completely made of marble, and the dome is made of gold. At night, it is highlighted and looks even more magnificent than during the day.
Within the mosque there are five fountains. They are symbols of faith and are set to remind Bruneians of important canons. One fountain bowl is a symbol of unwavering faith, the rest remind us to donate, to pray every day, to fast at Ramadan, and to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once in your life.
The mosque seats more than 10,000 people. Inside, it is divided into two rooms, one for men and one for women. Walking in a sacred place is possible only barefoot, so at the entrance to the halls it is necessary to take off shoes and wash your feet in the washbasins located nearby. This rule applies to tourists. There should be a scarf on the head, and legs should be covered with pants or a skirt. If a tourist comes to look at the mosque in shorts, he will be given a long hoodie.
Omar Ali Sayfuddin Mosque
The mosque was erected in 1958 by the father of the current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. It was the 28th sultan who ruled the country of Brunei Durasalam. It is located in the capital of the state, right in the middle of an artificially made lagoon and is a Brunei symbol of Islam.
The Italian architect who worked on the mosque combined Islamic and Italian features in it. Most of the materials for construction and decoration were brought from other countries. So, the mosque is made of Shanghai granite and Italian marble, its floors are covered with carpets from Saudi Arabia, and an English chandelier is suspended from the ceiling.
Domes are made entirely of gold. The main dome reaches 52 meters in height. The design of the main minaret repeats the style of Italian architecture and the Renaissance. If you go up on the elevator inside the minaret, you can admire the panorama of the city.
Inside the mosque are courtyards with fountains and gardens symbolizing paradise. The prayer hall has many arches and semicircular arches, as well as mosaic glass on the windows. Near the mosque, in the water, is the Sultan's boat, which is used during ceremonies. A long bridge crosses the lagoon and leads directly to the neighboring village of Kampur Air.
Village on the water
In Asia, such villages are considered commonplace, but Kampung Ayer is considered the largest. It is located near Bandar Seri Begawan, about 50 thousand people live here. In fact, Kampung Ayer consists of 28 small water villages that are so close to each other that you can’t even distinguish borders.
Absolutely all the buildings of the village stand on wooden stilts: schools, shops, residential houses, police and mosques. Instead of streets, there are bridges, they also connect houses with land. The Sultan's Palace in former times also looked like a house on stilts, now it was transferred to land.
Inside the village, locals move along bridges or boats in the water, what is Venice for you? Some houses are old and look rather shabby, but there are even whole new areas. The population has long adapted to life on the water.
Everywhere in the villages, electricity and Internet cables were installed, and water and sewage systems were established.
Water villages appeared thousands of years ago. It is amazing that having huge wealth, expensive cars and full social support, they still continue the lifestyle laid down by their ancestors.
Conclusion
On the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia, there is a small state-sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. Sights of this state are not numerous, but very interesting and are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. Pristine rainforests untouched by man, mosques with gardens and fountains, the Sultan's palace made of marble and gold - a real oriental tale.