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Introduction
Brunei is a country of Southeast Asian (Full name: Negara Brunei Darussalam, with Darussalam meaning "Abode of Peace") is a small country but, thanks to natural gas and oil resources, very rich on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is a country of quiet mosques, virgin forest, and friendly inhabitants.
Understand
Brunei is synonymous with money and oil. Politically it is an anachronistic absolute monarchy under Islamic law that is adapting itself by the millions to the modern world.
For centuries this sultanate controlled Borneo and the Philippines. Its cultural heritage is therefore inextricably linked to remembering those glorious times, which ended abruptly when the British decided to be the masters of the area.
Brunei became a British protectorate in 1888.
Regions
Brunei is a small, oil-rich sultanate with a population of 450,000 as of 2016, strategically located in the South China Sea, close to vital sea lanes linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its oil resources have generated great wealth for the Sultan and some local people, and the best evidence of this is seen in the palaces and mosques. However, many Bruneians, including those living in the Water Village (Kampong Ayer), still have relatively simple, yet comfortable, livelihoods.
The description of an "oil-rich sultanate" might conjure up images of Dubai or Qatar, but travelers with such expectations will likely be disappointed. Brunei doesn't have much in terms of great man-made attractions, and while great diving and jungle walks are available, it doesn't have mind-blowing nature parks like Malaysia's neighboring states of Sabah and Sarawak do. Many people who visit Brunei actually do so just for "country collection" or "passport stamp collection".
If there are particular attractions for Brunei, perhaps it is the absence of crowds, the comfortable yet relaxed atmosphere, and the way the society remains religious and conservative, refusing to embrace modernity and globalization despite having the material wealth to do so. .
History
The heyday of the Sultanate of Brunei occurred between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its control extended over the coastal areas of northwestern Borneo and southern Philippines. Subsequently, Brunei entered a period of decline caused by the internal struggle for royal succession, the colonial expansion of European powers and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate. He was offered to join Malaysia as a state in 1963, but was excluded from the federation due to a disagreement over the amount of his oil revenues that would have to be turned over to the central government in Kuala Lumpur. Independence was achieved in 1984. One family has ruled Brunei for more than six centuries.
Independence January 1, 1984 (from the United Kingdom) National holiday National Day, February 23 (1984); Note: January 1, 1984 was the date of independence from the United Kingdom, February 23, 1984 was the date of independence from British protection Constitution September 29, 1959 (some provisions suspended under a state of emergency since December 1962, others since independence on January 1, 1984) Signs The Istana Nurul Iman is the largest occupied residential palace in the world. The 300-acre palace sits on an artificial hill with a clear view of Kampong Ayer. Istana Nurul Iman is the residence of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and the palace is worth an estimated $ 600 million.
Economy
The backbone of Brunei's economy is oil and gas, and the Sultan of Brunei is famously one of the richest people in the world with an estimated personal wealth of around $ 40 billion. GDP per capita is well above that of most other developing countries, and substantial income from foreign investment complements income from domestic production. The government provides all citizens with a comprehensive welfare state without collecting any income tax.
All sectors of the economy are highly regulated, and government policy is a strange mix of subsidies, protectionism, and fostering entrepreneurship. Brunei's leaders are trying to balance the country's increasing integration into the world economy with internal social cohesion. He became a more prominent player in the world by serving as chair of the 2005 APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) Forum. Plans for the future include improving the workforce, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourism sectors, and, in general, broaden the economic base beyond oil and gas.
Culture
Given its shared history, Brunei shares many cultural similarities with neighboring Malaysia, and the Malay language serves as a common link between the two countries.
Brunei is officially an Islamic state, with many large and beautiful mosques throughout the country. The sale of alcohol is prohibited. It is also forbidden to bring meat (other than shellfish) that has not been certified "halal" (slaughtered according to Islamic law). That said, it is possible to find pork in restaurants that cater to ethnic Chinese communities. During the fasting month of Ramadan, many shops and restaurants will be open. However, eating, drinking or smoking in front of people who are fasting is considered rude and asking for permission is appropriate. Expect everything to be closed, including hotel restaurants and all shops, during Friday prayers (noon - 2PM) all year long. Things start to close around 11 a.m. and they start to reopen again around 2 p.m. Even the buses stop running, although you may still be able to take a water taxi.
The majority of the population is Malay (67%) and there is also a significant Chinese minority of around 15%, as well as a number of indigenous peoples, including the Iban and Dusun tribes that inhabit the jungle upstream and the district of Temburong (the smallest eastern part separated from the rest of Brunei). There are a large number of foreign workers working in oil and gas production or in lower positions, such as restaurant staff, field workers, and domestic staff. The male-to-female ratio is 3: 2. More than a quarter of the people are short-term migrant workers, the majority of whom are men.
Geography and climate
Brunei's climate is subtropical. Temperatures range between 14 and 33 ° C, with January being the hottest month. The rainy season is always mild and humid, followed by a hot and humid dry season. However, the difference between the two stations is not so marked. Rainforest and jungle areas tend to be colder and wetter than the coastal region.
Brunei's topology is of a flat coastal plain rising to the mountains in the east, the highest point being Bukit Pagan at 1,850 meters, with some mountainous lowlands in the west.
There are no typhoons, earthquakes, severe floods and other forms of natural disasters to deal with, and the biggest environmental problem is the seasonal haze resulting from forest fires (which is caused by illegal logging of land) in nearby Indonesia.
To get
Entry requirements
A map showing Brunei's visa requirements, with countries in blue, pink, and gold that have visa-free access; and countries in green and purple that have visa on arrival Foreign nationals of the following countries / territories can enter Brunei without a visa as long as they present a passport valid for at least 6 months:
Up to 90 days: all member states of the European Union, British citizens and subjects with the right of residence in the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Swiss Y United States
Up to 30 days: Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine Y United Arab Emirates.
Up to 14 days: Cambodia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Laos, Macau SAR, Maldives, Myanmar, Peru, Russia, Philippines, Thailand Y Vietnam
Nationals of Israel They cannot enter Brunei, although other passports containing Israeli stamps and visas are not a problem for entry.
Citizens of Australia and Bahrain can obtain a visa on arrival (single or multiple entry) for 30 days. Citizens of Saudi Arabia Y Kuwait they can get a 30-day single entry visa on arrival. Citizens of China, Qatar Y Taiwan. You can get a visa on arrival for 14 days. These citizens can obtain a visa on arrival for $ 20 or a 3-day transit visa for $ 5. Immigration officers at Sungai Tujoh Checkpoint between Miri and Kuala Belait will not accept payment for a visa on arrival other than in Brunei or Singapore dollars; there are no ATMs and checks are not accepted. At Brunei airport, payment must also be made in cash. There is a money changer (with reasonable fees), but there is no ATM before immigration. If you need a visa on arrival, make sure you join the correct queue at the entrance. Joining the foreign passport queue you will see it posted at the end of the line. Large groups of tourists requiring visas on arrival can bog down the system. You may have to be quick, persistent, or patient.
Official return or travel voucher is required to check in for your flight to Brunei. If you plan to depart by ferry, you will need to buy a cheap flight from Brunei before you get there. Alternatively, you can book an expensive (but fully refundable) flight and cancel it afterward.
From Kuala Lumpur, Air Asia is not enforcing this rule; therefore, you probably will not need such proof of return if you are flying from KL.
Those who need a visa must apply in advance at a Brunei embassy, where processing can take up to 3 days and costs $ 20 for a single entry visa. Check with the Brunei Immigration Department for the latest details.
By plane
E1 Brunei International Airport (BWN IATA) This is Brunei's only major airport and the hub of the national airline Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA). The airport is compact, spotless and functional, there are air and ground cafes, and customs and immigration are smooth. There are additional fast food restaurants outside arrivals. There are ATMs on the ground at departures, but none in the boarding area or arrivals.RBA offers a reasonably comprehensive network, with daily flights to London, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Kota Kinabalu, and four weekly nonstop flights to Kuching. Fares transiting Brunei are attractively priced and you are guaranteed service with a smile. Singapore Airlines flies 5 times a week from Singapore, and Malaysia Airlines flies from Kuala Lumpur twice a week. Malaysia Airlines' rural subsidiary MASwings operates flights to and from Kuching via Mulu, 4 times a week. Budget airline AirAsia offers flights to Kuala Lumpur from US $ 35 one way. For other destinations, the best transit airports are Singapore Changi and Kuala Lumpur. Brunei International Airport (Q1148514) in Wikidata Brunei International Airport in Wikipedia edit How to get / away: A taxi to the center of Bandar Seri Begawan takes 20 minutes and costs around $ 25. A covered walk to the end of the parking lot further from the Terminal (turn right from Arrivals) leads to a bus stop for Purple buses to downtown ($ 1) that only run during the day.
By car
You can drive to Brunei from Sarawak, Malaysia. There are two entry points for the main part of Brunei, one from Miri in Sungai Tujuh and one from Limbang in Kuala Lurah (Tedungan on the Malaysian side). Both crossings have immigration checkpoints at the border, but the lines can be excruciatingly long, especially on weekends.
It is also possible to drive from the cities of Limbang and Lawas in Sarawak to the Brunei district in Temburong. A bridge over the Pandaruan River was opened in December 2013 and the ferry service was suspended. Immigration now takes place in Pandaruan (Malaysia side; opened June 2007) and Puni (Brunei side; opened 2013). From Lawas (which is connected by road to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia), another bridge completes the connection between the banks of the Trusan River (and a ferry ride is no longer required). Malaysian immigration formalities take place in Trusan (the immigration office, officially known as the Mengkalap immigration checkpoint, is located in a shop just east of the ferry crossing) about 8 km away, and already not in Lawas. Those from Brunei can be done at the Labu checkpoint on the border.
It is possible to drive from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to Bandar Seri Begawan in one day. See the Kota Kinabalu to Brunei overland page for more details.
Warning: only a few gas stations in the country can sell gasoline to cars with non-Brunei plates due to a tax issue. It can be frustrating to find these stations to make sure your car is full.
The Malaysia-Brunei ferry, the Malaysian city of Limbang and the Bruneian district of Temburong have been suspended since December 2013, due to the completion of the free friendship bridge, which connects the two borders on the eastern side of Limbang.
By bus
From Miri: PHLS Express operates a service between Miri and Bandar Seri Begawan twice a day. The bus will also stop in other Brunei cities such as Tutong and Kuala Belait if requested.From Limbang: There are no direct buses between Bandar Seri Begawan and Limbang in Sarawak. However, you can take a local bus from Bandar bus station to Kuala Lurah at the border, cross the checkpoint to Tedungan in Sarawak, and take a Syarikat Bas Limbang bus to Limbang. Do the opposite if you are coming from Limbang to Bandar. Buses leave from Limbang bus terminal several times a day and go to the destination "Batu Danau". Taxis are also available on both sides of the border, but they negotiate a lot for the fare. You can also reach Temburong district by bus from Limbang, although again, there are no direct buses to Bangar; All buses (destination "Pandaruan") stop at the jetty in Pandaruan, where there is now a Malaysian immigration checkpoint. Cross the river by ferry and take a taxi for the 5 km to Bangar.From Kota Kinabalu: buses run once a day between BSB and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia .By boat The main ferry terminal in Brunei is the Serasa ferry terminal in Muara, about 25 km from Bandar Seri Begawan. With a boat change in Labuan, you can even get to / from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in one day. See the page from Kota Kinabalu to Brunei by land. See Bandar Seri Begawan # By Boat for more details on the terminal.
There is a ferry service from Brunei to Sabah.
Travel
Use caution when requesting information from locals for transportation. The people here are friendly and very helpful, but when asking about transportation, you will get three different answers from three different people, even people whose job it is to help tourists.
By car
There is a "highway" from Bandar Seri Begawan (the capital) along the coast. It is almost all expressway from Muara to Kuala Belait and the toll bridge to Malaysia / Sarawak in the west)
There is also a side path that leads into the jungle to the Labi settlement and beyond. Great scenery and 4-wheel drive can help, but the road is now sealed to longhouses some distance beyond Labi. Stock up on water at the convenient store at the junction.
In taxi
There are not many taxis in Brunei, because car ownership and use are high. There are always some at the airport and others in the Belait district, but there is little chance of finding a free taxi on the road, especially during the morning and afternoon rush hours when they are hired by businessmen. Needing a taxi may require a phone call. The main taxi rank is directly north of the bus station in the capital with only a few taxis waiting.
None of the taxis have a meter as there is no taxi company or regulations that require having one. Drivers have fixed prices for most trips, although rates may vary between different drivers, or will give a price for an irregular trip.
The preferred transportation app is Dart .
In tourist vans
Another alternative is to hire a van to take you to Brunei, for example, for a whole day or several hours. Try asking them from the ferry counters in Muara. Discuss the price first before agreeing to get in the truck.
Boat
- Channels
- 209 km; navigable by vessels of less than 1.2 m. Water taxis are available in the capital.
By bus
Around the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, there is a network of good-sized minibuses. Brunei's high private car ownership rate means that very few Bruneians take these buses, which largely cater to foreign workers. The speed of the buses is limited to 50 km / h, but they are quite efficient and reliable.
In general, the bus system around the capital radiates from the bus terminal in the central district. There are designated bus stops along each route, but passengers are picked up or dropped off at unofficial locations at the driver's discretion. The unofficial mode of operation makes travel easy and attracts patronage. There are maps of the bus routes in the terminal. The routes are numbered and the buses are of different colors depending on the route. The fee is $ 1, which is normally charged by a driver, but can also be collected by the driver. The passenger can advise the driver of the location to disembark. Buses run every 20–40 minutes from 6 am to 6 pm. Sometimes the driver asks passengers for their respective places to disembark and skips part of the route, much to the dismay of passengers who wish to take the bus. The buses runabout every 20–40 minutes from 6AM to 6PM, but there is no strict schedule. It is quite normal to wait 30 to 45 minutes for a bus.
There is also an infrequent long-distance bus that runs between BSB and Seria via Tutong.
With thumb
Hitchhiking in Brunei is doable - drivers are very willing to stop.
Talk
The official language of Brunei is Malay (bahasa melayu), but due to its British colonial past, English is widely spoken and understood in urban areas, albeit sometimes with a heavy accent. A little Malay will come in handy in rural areas, as English proficiency is limited there. While all Bruneians can speak Standard Malay, the local Malay dialect is almost incomprehensible to other Malay speakers. Brunei also officially uses the Arabic script for Malay known as Jawi. Outside of government signage and religious publications, almost all signs use the Roman alphabet.
The ethnic Chinese community in Brunei continues to speak a variety of Chinese dialects, including Hokkien, Teochew, and several others.
Tourist sites are always signaled in English and often also in Chinese due to the large number of Chinese tourists.
To buy
| Exchange rates for the Brunei dollar As of January 2020:
Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available on XE.com |
Money
The local currency is the Brunei dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" or "B $" (ISO code: BND). You may hear ringgit used to refer to the dollar, but make sure the speaker is not talking about the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) which is valued at less than half a Brunei dollar. All prices in this guide are in Brunei dollars unless otherwise noted.
The Brunei dollar is pegged to the Singapore dollar at a 1: 1 rate. By law, the currencies can be used interchangeably, so if you are coming from Singapore, there is no reason to exchange money as your cash will be easily accepted. . (Similarly, any leftover Brunei dollars can be used at par in Singapore.) However, many stores reject Singapore banknotes with seemingly microscopic tears, and notices to this effect are posted at the cash register. The Malaysian Ringgit (RM) will also be accepted in case of need, but the exchange rate may not be in your favor. The ringgit is not available from banks in Brunei, but can be obtained from money changers.
The Brunei dollar is divided into 100 cents. There are $ 1 bills to a whopping $ 10,000 (useful if you're shopping for Rolls-Royces) and 1-50 cent coins. All smaller notes and the 2004 series of larger notes are printed as brightly colored polymer notes.
Costs
By Southeast Asian standards, Brunei is on par with Singapore, which is roughly twice as expensive as neighboring Malaysia. You can cut costs by eating at local restaurants and avoiding the more expensive restaurants in hotels. Budget accommodation available.
Souvenirs
There is not much local cottage industry in Brunei. You will see a handful of different types of branded souvenirs with the Brunei brand, all imported. Souvenir shops often resort to selling imported curios, candles, and generic gifts.
Eat and drink
| Katok is actually "ketuk" in the Malay language, and it means to touch. There is a story behind the name Nasi Katok. It started a couple of teenagers who were very hungry after a midnight practice. They went to a place where they normally bought their food. This place was actually a residential house, offering Nasi bungkus (a packet of rice with chicken and egg) even in the middle of the night. At any time you could just Katok (knock) on his door, and the owner will introduce Nasi Katok freshly hot. And this is how he became Nasi Katok. |
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Bruneians love to eat and there are many excellent restaurants in Brunei that serve a wide variety of cuisines, thanks to the large number of foreign workers in the country.
There's also the local nasi katok, a simple combination of rice and beef or chicken curry, which can be quite spicy. It is relatively inexpensive compared to other foods you can buy, for example local foods such as arroz con pollo. However, it is not a healthy option, with few vegetables and too much fat.
Another option is ambuyat, a unique Borneo culinary experience. It is a sticky, starchy paste made from sago that can be dipped in a salty sauce. Ambuyat is the national dish. Glutinous pasta made with sago flour that is accompanied by a wide variety of highly seasoned dishes.
Being a Muslim country, almost all the food sold in Brunei is halal, with the exception of the food stalls that cater to the ethnic Chinese community. Halal certification is managed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) (Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama (KHEU)).
Kosher food is basically non-existent in Brunei.
Desserts
Kueh melayu (sweet pancakes filled with sugar, raisins and peanuts)
To drink
Brunei is a dry country: Alcohol is not sold anywhere in the country and drinking alcohol in public is prohibited by law. That said, non-Muslim visitors can bring up to two liters of alcohol (wine or spirits) plus up to twelve cans of beer every 48 hours, and there are a wide range of duty-free shops across the border in Malaysia to cater for this. demand. However, alcohol must be declared upon arrival in Brunei while passing through customs.
Many high-end restaurants allow guests to bring their own alcohol and the cork is not charged, although this is actually illegal and it is best to keep a low profile if you choose to consume in a public establishment. At the low end (particularly Chinese restaurants), many restaurants supply illicit alcohol under euphemisms like "specialty tea."
One should definitely try the tarik, a sweet milk tea, as well as the wide variety of coffee (kopi) available in restaurants.
Sleep
One of the seven star hotels is located in this country. The Empire Hotel and Country Club. A luxury at your fingertips. It has good offers. It is a five-minute drive from the capital and the airport. Accommodation in Brunei used to be very expensive, but some reasonably cheap guesthouses and hostels can now be found here and there. See Bandar Seri Begawan for listings.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on Brunei.w: Brunei
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Brunei. Commons
