Brunei Darussalam: Useful
information about country.
fiogf49gjkf0d The tiny but thriving Islamic Sultanate of
Brunei
perches on the northwestern coast of Borneo, completely encircled by the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It has a population of 323,000, nearly seventy percent of which is made up of Malays and indigenes from the larger ethnic groups like the Murut and Dusun; the rest are Chinese, Indians, smaller indigenous tribes and expats. They enjoy a quality of life that is quite unparalleled in Southeast Asia, with the literacy rate a staggering 93.7 percent of the population. Education and healthcare are free; houses, cars, and even pilgrimages to Mecca are subsidized; taxation on personal income is unheard of; and the average per capita salary is around US$19,000. The explanation is simple:
oil
, first discovered in 1903 at the site of what is now the town of Seria.
The sultanate's full name is
Negara Brunei Darussalam,
the "Country of Brunei, the Abode of Peace", and peaceful is a fair, if rather polite, description of the state. Nightlife is almost nonexistent, and liquor extremely hard to get hold of since a ban in 1991. Until recently, the Sultan viewed the development of a
tourist industry
as unnecessary, and there's been little for visitors to do in Brunei. However, things are gradually changing. Brunei is becoming
less introspective
and looking more to the West. You can see the results in the building of smart plazas with their requisite coffee bars in the capital Bandar. The authorities are starting to promote Brunei's natural resources, and sections of pristine rainforest like
Ulu Temburong National Park
in eastern Brunei are opening up to visitors. The lack of accommodation outside the capital is being tackled by the recently formed
homestay programme
- where travellers overnight in Malay and Murut kampungs (villages) and Iban longhouses. This opportunity to share in rural life is gaining popularity. Add to this the fact that the capital
Bandar Seri Begawan
is an attractive city, with two exquisite mosques and the fascinating
Kampung Ayer stilt village
, and a stop-off in Brunei is a more appealing proposition than ever before.
That said, the problem remains that Brunei is more
expensive
than neigbouring Malaysia or even Singapore - hotel prices in the capital are at least double those in nearby Kota Kinabalu or Miri. Most travellers still end up in Brunei either because of an enforced stopover on a Royal Brunei Airlines flight, or as a stepping stone to either Sabah or Sarawak. In the latter case, however, it can work out cheaper to take an internal MAS flight between Miri and Labuan rather than bussing it through Brunei.
Brunei's
climate
, like that of neighbouring Sabah and Sarawak, is hot and humid, with average temperatures in the high twenties throughout the year. Lying 440km north of the equator, Brunei has a tropical weather system, so even if you visit outside the official wet season (usually November to February) there's every chance that you'll see some rain.
More travel guides:
fiogf49gjkf0d Brunei
fiogf49gjkf0d History
fiogf49gjkf0d Language
fiogf49gjkf0d Getting around
fiogf49gjkf0d Travel details
fiogf49gjkf0d Information and maps
fiogf49gjkf0d Time differences
fiogf49gjkf0d Opening hours and festivals
fiogf49gjkf0d Public holidays
fiogf49gjkf0d Religions of Brunei
fiogf49gjkf0d Books
fiogf49gjkf0d Entry requirements and visa extension
fiogf49gjkf0d Money and costs
fiogf49gjkf0d Communications
fiogf49gjkf0d Crime and safety
fiogf49gjkf0d Medical care and emergencies
fiogf49gjkf0d Food and drink
fiogf49gjkf0d Overland and sea routes into Brunei
fiogf49gjkf0d Best Of
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Brunei Darussalam TOP CITIES :
Bandar Seri Begwan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Jerudong
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