Exploring The Brunei Area

Formerly known as Brunei Darussalam, Brunei is a small nation on the island of Borneo. Exploring the Brunei area is a fascinating adventure as it is surrounded by the South China Sea and Malaysia.

The northern coast of Borneo is known for its biodiversity and spectacular beaches. Within its capital city, Bandar Seri, there are 29 golden domes, as well as the Istana Nurul Palace and the JameAsr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque.

History of the Brunei Area

Three thousand years ago the area that is now Brunei was part of a trading network called the Maritime Jade Road. During this time kingdoms joined together to wage war against the Chinese Empire.

As the country developed and established new towns there was much fighting and discord as the various rulers or datus vied for prominence. Early Chinese records dating back to 977 AD are the first to refer to Borneo as independent.

This area was known for its great wealth. In his memoirs, Marco Polo mentioned that the Great Khan who ruled the Mongol Empire failed several times to invade Bruneian-controlled Borneo, known as “Great Java” by the Europeans at the time.

In the 15th century, the area became the independent Sultanate of Brunei. At this point, it converted to Islam and the country’s power peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries as its power extended from Borneo to the Philippines.

Islam solidified its roots in Brunei in the 16th century.

War with Spain in the 16th century coupled with Europe’s increasing influence in the area resulted in the decline of Brunei’s regional power base. In 1846 Britain attacked Brunei as there were internal conflicts over who was the real Sultan. Brunei became a British-protected state from 1888 until 1984.

Oil was discovered in Brunei in 1929 and the first offshore well was drilled in 1957. Since the late 20th century natural gas and oil have been responsible for its development and wealth.

The Japanese occupied Brunei during World War II. Japanese was taught in schools during the occupation. In June 1945 the Australians landed and recaptured Borneo from the Japanese.

A new government was formed after the war by the British Military Administration (BMA). A new constitution was composed in 1959 which declared Brunei as a self-governing state, but its defense, security, and foreign affairs remained under the United Kingdom.

On January 1, 1984, Brunei gained its independence from Great Britain.

Exploring The Brunei Area — Some Interesting Facts

• the population is approximately 460,345
• the government is ruled by the Sultan of Brunei as an absolute monarchy using a combination of English Common Law and Islamic jurisprudence including Sharia
• since 1967 the Sultan has been Hassanal Bolkiah
  
• due to oil and gas, it has become an industrialized nation
• Brunei ranks second in Southeast Asia in the Human Development Index, surpassed only by Singapore
• the capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan formerly known as “Brunei Town”
  
• the majority of the population lives in the western part of the country with much fewer living in the mountainous eastern part
• the majority of Brunei is located within the Borneo lowland rainforests
• the climate is tropical equatorial or basically a tropical rainforest climate
• Brunei has close relations with the Philippines and Singapore
• Brunei is accessible through land, air, and sea. Brunei International Airport is located in Bandar Sen Begawan.
• Brunei has one of the highest car ownership rates in the world
• Islam is the official religion of the country which comprises 80% of the population
• Standard Malay is the official language but English is widely spoken
• the predominant culture is Malay
  
• although as a Sharia country, the sales and public consumption of alcohol is banned, non-Muslims are allowed to bring in a limited amount for private consumption
• the media is government-controlled and criticism of the monarchy and government is frowned upon
• football/soccer is the national sport

Things to Do in the Brunei Area

* Floating Village — the world’s largest floating village is composed of numerous stilted buildings and is known as the “Venice of the East”. The village has around 13,000 residents who live in 40 separate villages that comprise the main village. There are schools, restaurants, and mosques scattered throughout the area. To get there take a ferry from the waterfront.

* Museums — since 2018 many of these museums are free to access. Check out the Royal Regalia to learn about the Sultan and his lifestyle. A more comprehensive museum on the history of the country and its British colonial days is the Brunei Museum. This is a great way to learn about the country, its culture, and history.

* Mosques — the country is known for its Islamic architecture and beautiful mosques. The Omar Ali Saifuddien (located on the waterfront near the Brunei River) and Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah (the largest mosque in Brunei) Mosques are located in Bandar Seri Begawan. Non-Muslims can visit outside of prayer time.

* The Nodding Donkeys — these are the devices used to extract oil from under the ground. Seria is a town along the northern coast of Brunei and has many of these structures as it is the original location of the country’s oil industry. There is also a monument there celebrating Brunei’s billionth barrel of oil.

* The Sunsets — the way the clouds gather around the horizon produces some of the most fantastic and stunning sunsets anywhere in the world. The purples, reds, and oranges combine in amazing ways as the sun descends. A couple of good viewing sites are Muara and Penanjong beaches.

* Thie Rainforest — unlike other countries around the world such as Malaysia and Indonesia, Brunei has no deforestation. Temburong National Park provides a way to visit this virgin rainforest since access is limited to just 1% of the rainforest. Because of the wealth of the oil industry, there was no need to chop trees for palm oil and timber plantations.

* Proboscis Monkeys — these monkeys are endemic to Brunei and are named after their unique and unusual nose. You will find these pot-bellied primates hanging out in the mangroves. These are rare and endangered species and can be found on the river island in Taman Prsiaran Damuan Park or you can take a safari to track down these monkeys.

* Andulau Forest Reserve — located halfway between Bandar Seri Begawan and Sarawak’s Miri, this is an interesting day trip to check out waterfalls, muddy rivers, and plenty of monkeys. Tours are available and they also include visiting the Iban longhouses.

* Pasar Gadong — Also known as the Gadong Market, it is located just north of the waterfront and opens at 4 p.m. daily. It has numerous stalls serving delicious local food. You will find barbequed fish and beef as well as satay (kebabs, Malaysian style), a local favorite. There is also a night market in Bandar Seri Begawan.

* Shopping — because of the low taxes it is cheaper here than in neighboring countries to shop for many items including electronics. Check out the malls to locate many bargains.

Exploring The Brunei Area — Why Visit

With ultra-low crime rates, Brunei is a very safe country to visit. Other than a little petty theft Bandar Seri Begawan is known to be safe day or night. It is also one of the cleanest countries in Asia.

There is much to see both in the city as well as in the outlying jungle areas.

The Bruneians are very friendly people. It is important to respect their culture, government political system, and religion while visiting. A conservative dress code is recommended.

Traveling here to check out the virgin rainforests is worth the time and expense. The majority of the jungle has remained relatively the same for thousands of years. The beauty of this country is reflected both in the jungle as well as in the city.

It is also a relatively affordable place to visit, and the Indonesian, Malay, and Singaporean food is excellent.

The local population is very humble and dignified and welcomes foreigners. Water taxis are inexpensive and many hotels do airport pickups and drive tourists around free of charge.

There is a wide choice of accommodations from modest to luxurious to fit almost anyone’s budget.

Although this may not be on your current list of destinations to explore, Brunei does offer a very interesting experience into a fascinating culture with a wealth of history. Exploring the Brunei area can be a fascinating experience.

Happy travels,

Joseph William

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