Brief information
Thanks to the large reserves of oil and natural gas, Brunei is now developing at a rapid pace, including the tourism sector. Many tourists consider Brunei to be a unique country. It has a lot of things that are not found anywhere else. Only in Brunei, for example, you can find a real waterfall in the city center (Tasek Lama). In addition, an inquisitive traveler will find palaces of sultans, mosques with golden domes, ethnic villages, parks, jungles, picturesque lagoons and golden beaches in Brunei.
Geography of Brunei
Brunei is located in Southeast Asia, on the northern coast of the island of Borneo (part of Malaysia is also located on the same island). The shores of Brunei are washed by the waters of the South China Sea. The total territory of this country is 5,765 sq. km, and the total length of the state border is 381 km.
In the east and south of Brunei are foothills and mountains, and in the west – hilly lowlands. The highest point is Mount Bukit Pagon, whose height reaches 1,850 m. Almost the entire population of Brunei (about 97%) lives in the west of the country. More than 70% of the territory is occupied by the jungle.
From south to north, several rivers (Brunei, Temburong) flow through the territory of Brunei, which flow into the South China Sea.
Capital
According to itypemba.com, the capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan, which is now home to more than 150 thousand people. The settlement of people on the site of this city, according to historians, has existed since about the 7th century.
Official language of Brunei
In Brunei, the official language is Malay, which belongs to the Austronesian language family.
Religion
About 70% of the population of Brunei are Muslims, 13% are Buddhists, but there are also Christians.
State structure
According to equzhou.net, Brunei is an absolute monarchy, headed by the Sultan (his power is inherited). The Sultan is also the head of the government. The Legislative Council has 20 members, but its recommendations are advisory only.
Because the power of the Brunei Sultan is absolute, it is clear that there are no political parties in this country.
Climate and weather
The climate in Brunei is tropical equatorial. This country is warm all year round. The average annual air temperature is +26.1C. There are two periods of monsoons (rains) during the year – from December to March and from June to October.
Brunei is best visited from November to December and from April to May.
Sea in Brunei
From the north, Brunei is washed by the waters of the South China Sea. The length of the coastline is 161 km. The sea off the coast of Brunei warms up well, and therefore you can swim there all year round. Recently, divers have begun to come to this country more and more often, who are attracted by the clear sea with tropical fish, coral reefs and the remains of shipwrecked ships.
Rivers and lakes
From south to north, the Brunei, Temburong, Tudong and Belait rivers flow through the territory of Brunei, which flow into the South China Sea. In general, there are no large rivers and lakes in this country.
Culture
Buddhism and then Islam influenced the formation of the culture of Brunei. It was Islam that had a decisive influence on Brunei culture and customs. Most holidays and festivals in Brunei are religious in nature. This country celebrates both Muslim and Buddhist holidays.
Interestingly, during Ramadan, in honor of this holiday, local residents and foreign tourists can visit the palace of the Sultan of Brunei.
Most people in Brunei are conservative, they keep their distance during a conversation, and do not show interest in an unfamiliar interlocutor.
Cuisine of Brunei
Brunei cuisine is very similar to the cuisine of Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Thailand (it was formed under the influence of the culinary traditions of these countries). The main food products are rice, wheat, vegetables, fish and seafood (less often meat). Spices are very popular.
Traditional dishes in Brunei are “nasi lemak” (rice with coconut cream, peanuts, boiled eggs, sliced cucumbers, dried fish and spicy sauce), “rending” (beef/curry stew), “ambuyat” (rice balls dipped in fruit sauce), “roti prata” (bread, served with fish or chicken), “lontong” (rice, served with curry, coconut milk and turmeric), “mee goring” (fried noodles), “nasi goreng” (fried rice ), “soto” (thick chicken or beef soup).
Traditional drinks – tea, coffee, coconut milk, juices.
In accordance with Muslim standards, pork dishes and also alcoholic drinks are not made in Brunei.
Sights of Brunei
Brunei has many cultural and religious attractions. During the 600 years of the reign of the sultans, many mosques and palaces were built in this country. The most beautiful Brunei mosque is located in the capital – Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah. Those people who do not profess Islam can visit this mosque on Thursdays.
Tourists in Brunei are recommended to visit the museum of royal regalia. It contains many different historical relics of the Brunei sultans. Also visit the village of Kampong Ayer (called the “Venice of the East”), the Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, the Istana Nurul Iman Sultan’s Palace, the Jerudong Theme Park, and the Drottningholm Sultan’s Palace.
Please note that tourists in Brunei can visit the palaces of local sultans, some of which were built in the Middle Ages and have retained their uniqueness to this day.
Cities and resorts
The largest Bhutanese cities are Kuala Belait, Bangar, Pekan Tutong, and the capital is Bandar Seri Begawan.
The beaches in Brunei are very good, but the infrastructure there is not well developed. One of the best beaches in the country is Jerudong Beach, located near the capital, there are excellent opportunities for recreation. Also pay attention to the beaches with golden sands of Muara and Seras, on Pantai Tuton (there is an ocean on one side and a river on the other).
Tourists in Brunei are offered amazing sightseeing tours, during which they visit forests, reserves (for example, Peradayan Forest Reserve) with magnificent waterfalls, flora and fauna.
Souvenirs/Shopping
Tourists from Brunei usually bring handicrafts, jewelry, traditional knives, fabrics, traditional clothes, sea shells, tea, various spices.
Office Hours
Banks:
Mon-Fri: 09:00-15:00 Saturday – until 11:00
Shops:
Mon-Fri: 10:00-19:30
Visa
Ukrainians need to get a visa to visit Brunei.
Currency
The Brunei dollar is the official currency in Brunei. Its international designation is BND. One Brunei dollar = 100 sen. Hotels, prestigious restaurants and shops accept credit cards.
Customs restrictions
You can bring foreign and local currency into Brunei without any restrictions, but it must be declared. That’s just the currency of India in this country can not be imported. You can take out as much currency as was declared at the entrance. It is allowed to export no more than 1 thousand Brunei dollars.
It is forbidden to export any antique items from Brunei.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
Brunei UN Mission in Geneva:
Switzerland, Geneva 15, 1215
Route de Pre – Bois Case postal 1806
IC Centre, Bloc F/G 5th T:
(00 41 (22)) 929-82-40
Email: mission.brunei@ties.itu.int
The interests of Ukraine in Brunei are represented by the Embassy of Ukraine in Indonesia:
Index: 12084, Jakarta, Jl.Jenderal Sudirman kav. 29-31, WTC Building
T: (10-6221)
521-1700 mail: emb_id@mfa.gov.ua
Emergency numbers
991 – call the ambulance brigade
993 – call the police
995 – call the fire brigade
Time
The difference with Ukrainian time is +6 hours.
Tips
Tipping in Brunei is optional. Some hotels and restaurants add a service charge (10%) to the bill.
The medicine
Doctors recommend that tourists before traveling to Brunei make several preventive vaccinations (for example, against typhoid fever, rabies, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B).
Security
Violent crime in Brunei is extremely rare, but there are many pickpockets there. Without a guide, it is better not to go to some distant corner of this country. Tourists are advised to respect the religious beliefs of local residents.
The political situation in Brunei is stable, and this is a definite plus for travelers. In addition, there is no malaria in Brunei, unlike many other Asian countries.
