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From Wikitravel
Earth : Asia : Southeast Asia : Brunei

The Sultanate of Brunei (http://www.brune

itourism.travel/) (Negara Brunei
Darussalam) officialy Nation of Brunei,
the Abode of Peace is a small but - thanks
to natural gas and petroleum resources -
very rich country located in Southeast
Asia. It's surrounded by Malaysia and has
two parts physically separated by UP TO
Malaysia, almost being an enclave.
Strategically located on the South China
25% OFF*
Sea, close to vital sea lanes linking Indian Location ASIA PACIFIC
and Pacific Oceans, it has an exclusive HOTELS
economic fishing zone that extends as far
as Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly
Islands although it makes no public
territorial claim to the offshore reefs.
Sale Ends

Understand 18 Jan 2018, 8am GMT

Flag
Brunei is a pint-sized and fabulously
wealthy oil-rich sultanate with a population
of just under half a million, if illegal
immigrants from countries such as
Quick Facts
Indonesia, India, China and the Philippines
Capital Bandar Seri Begawan
are included.
Government Absolute Monarchy
It is a member of the Commonwealth and Currency Bruneian dollar (BND)
(= Singapore dollar, SGD) BOOK NOW
has good education and hygiene.
Area 5,765km²
The population is devoutly Muslim. water: 500km²
land: 5,270km²
Population 400,000 (2013 estimate)
History
Language Malay (official), English
(recognised)
The Sultanate of Brunei's heyday occurred Religion Muslim (official) 67%,
between the 15th and 17th centuries, when Buddhist 13%, Christian
its control extended over coastal areas of 10%, indigenous beliefs and
northwest Borneo and the southern other 10%
Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a Electricity 240V, 50Hz (UK plug)
period of decline brought on by internal Country code +673
strife over royal succession, colonial Internet TLD .bn
expansion of European powers, and piracy. Time Zone UTC+8
In 1888, Brunei became a British
protectorate. It was offered the opportunity
to join Malaysia as a state in 1963, but opted out of the Federation due to a
disagreement on the amount of its oil income that would have to be given to the
central government in Kuala Lumpur. Independence was achieved in 1984. The same
family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries.
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Holidays

New Year's Day: 1 January

Chinese New Year: Late of January to February
National Day: 23 February (1 January 1984 was the date of independence from
the UK, while 23 February is marked as the date for the celebration)
Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day: 31 May
His Majesty The Sultan's Birthday: 15 July
Hari Raya Aidilfitri: Month of Syawal in Islamic Calendar (End of June on
2017)
His Majesty's 50 Years On The Throne: 15 October (only in 2017)
Christmas Day: 25th December

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 dollars. Per capita GDP is far above most other developing
countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income
from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services,
housing, education and subsidizes daily needs like rice.

All sectors of economy are fairly heavily regulated and government policy is an odd
mixture of subsidies, protectionism and encouragement of entrepreneurship. Brunei's
leaders are attempting to balance the country's steadily increasing integration into the
world economy with internal social cohesion. It became a more prominent player in
the world by serving as chairman for the 2005 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic
Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the workforce, reducing
unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general,
widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.

Culture

Brunei is officially an Islamic state, with hundreds of large beautiful mosques across
the country. Sale of alcohol is banned. Bringing in meat, (other than seafood) which
has not been certified "halal", (slaughtered according to Islamic law), is also banned.

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 permission is appropriate. In 2014, new law had been passed by the
government where non-fasting people only allowed to take-out foods from all
restaurants and eat privately. This due to the respect of the Holy Month in Islam.

The bulk of the population is Malay (67%) and there is also a significant Chinese
minority of some 15% as well as a number of indigenous peoples, including the
Dusun tribes who inhabit the jungle upriver and the Temburong district, (the smaller
eastern part detached from the rest of Brunei). There is a large number of foreign
workers who work on the oil and gas production or in 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 immigrant workers, most of whom are men.

Geography and climate

The climate of Brunei is tropical equatorial. The average annual temperature is

26.1°C (79.0°F), with the April–May average of 24.7°C (76.5°F) and the October–
December average of 23.8°C (74.8°F).
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Brunei's topology is of a flat coastal plain rises to mountains in the east, the highest
point being Bukit Pagan at 1,850m, with some hilly lowlands in the west.

There are no typhoons, earthquakes, severe flooding and other forms of natural
disasters to contend with, and the biggest environmental issues is the seasonal haze
resulting from forest fires (that is caused by illegal clearing of land) in nearby
Indonesia.

Regions
Brunei has four districts (Malay: daerah)

Brunei and Muara

Heart of the country where the
capital Bandar Seri Begawan is
located.
Tutong
Lies under the coverage of the
virgin forest, scattered small
scale plantations.
Belait
Western-most district, also the
centre of the country's petroleum
industry. Seria town is a small oil
town.
Temburong
Isolated eastern district,
separated from the rest of
country by the Sarawak district
of Limbang.

City & Towns

Bandar Seri Begawan — the capital, sometimes known as "Bandar" or "BSB"
for short.
Bangar — the tiny district capital of Temburong district.
Kuala Belait — town to catch transport to or from Miri, Sarawak.
Muara — main port of Brunei with passenger ferries to Labuan and Sarawak.
Seria — oil capital of Brunei, also known as "Shelltown".
Tutong - full of virgin forest and the beauty of nature including Tasek
Marimbun

Other destinations
Gadong; shopping centres where the biggest mall in Brunei located. Local markets
can be found just next to the building. Full of local shophouses from cheap T-shirt to
cheap food, even car's workshop!

Serusop; newly shopping complex. New malls and affordable Times Hotel. Serusop
located just 5 min from Brunei International Airport. The new trend for youth hang
out place.

Tasek Merimbun; famous lake located in Tutong district.

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Pantai Gadong, Pantai Muara and Pantai Serasa; the must visit beaches in
Borneo.

Kiulap; Shophouses and Shopping Mall.

Kampong Ayer; the very old, traditional kind of the Venice of the East. It is not a
shopping complex but only cover with full of traditional and modern floating water
villages.

Get in
Entry requirements

Visa Restrictions:

Entry will be refused to citizens of Israel. Other passports

containing Israeli stamps and visas will not be an issue for entry.

Foreign nationals of the following countries/territories can enter Brunei visa-free as

long as they present a passport valid for at least 6 months:

For up to 90 days: All European Union member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein,

Norway, Switzerland and the United States.

For up to 30 days: Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine
and the United Arab Emirates

For up to 14 days: Cambodia, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau,
Maldives, Myanmar, Peru, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam

Nationals of Australia and Bahrain may obtain a single entry visa for B$20 or a
multiple entry visa for B$30 at Brunei International Airport valid for 30 days.

Nationals of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia may obtain a single entry visa for B$20 at
Brunei International Airport valid for 30 days.

Nationals of China (PRC), Qatar and Taiwan may obtain a single entry visa for a fee
at Brunei International Airport valid for 14 days.

Proof of return or onward travel is required to check in for your flight to Brunei. If
you plan to leave by ferry you will need to purchase a cheap flight out of Brunei
before you arrive there.

Those who need a visa must apply in advance at a Brunei embassy, where processing
can take up to 3 days and costs B$20 for a single entry visa. See Brunei Immigration
Department [1] (http://www.immigration.gov.bn/visiting.htm) for the latest details.

Apply for the visa in Kota Kinabalu: It costs 70 RM and takes 3 working days. Time
to receive application is 8.30am-11.30am (Monday-Friday). Time of collection is
2.30pm-3.30pm (Monday-Friday). My argentinian friend asked for the visa on
Monday and was able to collect it on Wednesday before 11.30am. The Consulate of
Brunei is in Grace Square. You need one photo and proof of onward travel.

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If you require a visa to enter Brunei, you might be able to apply for one at a British
embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if
there is no Bruneian foreign mission. For example, the British embassies in Addis
Ababa[2] (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/ethiopia/commonwealth-bot
s/?langname=null) and Belgrade[3] (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/se
rbia/commonwealth-bots/?langname=null) accept Bruneian visa applications (this list
is not exhaustive). British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a Bruneian visa
application and an extra £70 if the authorities in Brunei require the visa application to
be referred to them. The authorities in Brunei can also decide to charge an additional
fee if they correspond with you directly.

By plane

Brunei's sole airport of significance is Brunei International Airport [4] (http://ww

w.brunet.bn/gov/dca/fids/) (BWN), the hub of national carrier Royal Brunei Airlines
[5] (https://www.flyroyalbrunei.com/en/brunei/). The airport itself is small but clean
and functional.

After over-expansion and huge losses in the 1990s, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) has
cut down on its services considerably but still offers a reasonably comprehensive
network, with daily flights to London via Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Kota
Kinabalu. There are also frequent flights to Jakarta, Surabaya, Bangkok, Hong Kong,
Manila, Melbourne and Shanghai. The best prices are usually found on RBAs
website. Stopovers in Brunei are available and are good value, though you'll need to
book by phone or through a travel agent. RBA is a dry airline; if you wish to drink
you must bring your own.

In addition, Singapore Airlines [6] (http://www.singaporeair.com/) flies 5 times a

week from Singapore, and Malaysia Airlines [7] (http://www.malaysiaairlines.com.m
y/) flies from Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. In July 2006, discount, no-
frills carrier AirAsia [8] (http://www.airasia.com/) started flights from Kuala Lumpur,
bringing some much-needed competition. AirAsia is the cheapest carrier to serve
Brunei from an international Hub, with fares as low as US$35 one-way from Kuala
Lumpur. AirAsia flies from 35 destinations in Asia to Kuala Lumpur, where
connections to Brunei are available. Cebu Pacfiic fly red-eye flights to Manila.

Departing by plane from Brunei involves paying a departure tax: B$5 for flights to
Kuching and Kota Kinabalu and B$12 to other international destinations. This is now
included in the price of most airline tickets.

Getting there/away: A taxi to Bandar Seri Begawan takes 20 minutes and costs
around B$25. A covered walk down to the end of the car park further away from the
Terminal (turn right from Arrivals) leads to a bus stop for Purple buses to the city
centre (B$1) along with other busses for tours & hotel shuttles. The reason for the
long walk is extensive construction of airport upgrades.

By car

You can drive into Brunei from Sarawak, Malaysia. There are two entry points for the
main part of Brunei, one from Miri at Sungai Tujuh and one from Limbang at Kuala
Lurah (Tedungan on the Malaysian side). Both these crossings have drive-through
immigration checkpoints at the border but queues can be horribly long, especially
during weekends.

Note that the border checkpoint opens at 06:00 and closes at 00:00(midnight)
daily.
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It is also possible to drive from the Sarawak towns of Limbang and Lawas to the
Temburong district of Brunei. The drive from Limbang requires a ferry ride across
the Pandaruan River (RM8 or B$4) which forms the border between Malaysia and
Brunei. You can now conduct immigration formalities at Pandaruan (no longer at
Limbang Wharf) with the opening of the Malaysian checkpoint in June 2007. Brunei
immigration formalities are conducted at Puni, about 600m away from the ferry
landing. From Lawas (which is connected by road to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah,
Malaysia), a ferry ride across the Trusan River (RM10) is required before you can
proceed to the actual border at Labu. Malaysian immigration formalities are done in
Trusan (the immigration office, officially known as the Mengkalap immigration
checkpoint, is in a shoplot just east of the ferry crossing) about 8km away, and no
longer in Lawas. Those for Brunei can be done at the Labu checkpoint at the border.

It is possible to drive from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to Bandar Seri Begawan in one day.
See the Kota Kinabalu to Brunei in a day page for details.

By bus
To/from Miri: The Miri Belait Transportation Company DOES NOT RUN
ANYMORE (November 2016). It used to run buses between Kuala Belait in
Brunei and Miri in Sarawak, Malaysia. The journey required a bus change at
the Sungei Tujoh border checkpoint. Through tickets were however available at
RM12.20 from Miri. Note that there have been reports that buses from Miri
occasionally refuse to go all the way to the border and stop just before the
Asean Bridge at Kuala Baram because of the high toll charge of the bridge.
You may had to use taxis to complete the final 5km between the border and the
bridge. As of November 2016, this bus does NOT exist anymore (their website
is not updated and provides outdated information).

From Kuala Belait, there are buses to Seria (B$1) approx. every 20 minutes, where
you can change to another bus for Bandar Seri Begawan (B$6). The entire journey
takes about 5 hours. Buses depart Seria every hour.

There are also two express buses a day between Bandar Seri Begawan and Miri, run
by PHLS (+673 277 1668). One runs early in the morning (dep 8:15am from Miri,
7am from Bandar, as of november 2016), and the second in the afternoon (dep
3:45pm from Miri, 1pm from Bandar, as of november 2016). Fares have increased,
B$38

To/from Limbang: The direct bus from Bandar Seri Begawan to Kota
Kinibalu serves Bangar, Limbang, Lawas and other stops en route to Kota
Kinibalu. It leaves opposite Tamu Kianggeh at approximately 8am.
Alternatively, you can catch a local bus from Bandar's bus station to Kuala
Lurah on the border, walk across the checkpoint into Tedungan in Sarawak and
catch a Syarikat Bas Limbang bus to Limbang. Do the reverse if coming from
Limbang to Bandar. Buses depart from Limbang bus terminal several times a
day and bear the destination "Batu Danau". Taxis are also available on both
sides of the border but bargain hard for the fare. You can also get to Temburong
district by bus from Limbang, although again, there are no direct buses into
Bangar; all buses (destination "Pandaruan") stop at the ferry landing at
Pandaruan, where there is now a Malaysian immigration checkpoint. Cross the
river by ferry and catch a taxi for the 5km to Bangar.

To/from Kota Kinibalu: There is a daily bus from Bandar Seri Begawan to
Kota Kinibalu. The bus departs opposite Tamu Kianggeh approx 8am and takes
approximately 8-9 hours, given twisting single lane highways, picking up and
dropping passengers along the way, and the numerous border crossings which
entail passport/immigration checks. It costs 100 RM.
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By boat

The main ferry terminal in Brunei is the Serasa Ferry Terminal at Muara, where
there are several ferries daily to/from Labuan and one daily ferry each to/from Lawas
and Sundar, both in Sarawak. With a change of boats in Labuan, you can even make
it to/from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in a day. See the Kota Kinabalu to Brunei in a day
page.

Please note that the ferry terminal is quite a distance from actual Muara town where
the container port is located. The terminal is about 25km from Bandar Seri Begawan.
Getting there: There are purple buses (No. 38) linking the ferry terminal with BSB.
Or you can just take a tour van / taxi.

There is a car ferry service from Brunei to Sabah [9] (http://www.pkljaya.com/Timeta

bles.htm)

Please note that you need to pay a tax ("cukai kepala") to get out of Brunei (currently,
B$ 2 per ferry ticket). Enquire the counters/travel agent if you didn't get the tax
coupon when purchasing the tickets.

Get around
By car

There is one "motorway", from Bandar Seri Begawan (the capital) along the coast. It
devolves into dual and then single carriageway but is suitable for all vehicles, right
through to Kuala Belait and the toll bridge to Malaysia/Sarawak in the west)

There is also a side road off this, which runs into the jungle towards the settlement of
Labi and beyond. Excellent scenery, and a 4-wheel drive may be useful, but the road
is now sealed up to the longhouses some distance beyond Labi. Stock up on water at
the convenient shop at the junction.

By taxi

There are only ± 40 taxis in whole Brunei (2009), because the car ownership and
usage are high. Since there are around 10 waiting at the airport and 8 in the Belait
District there is a little chance of finding a free taxi along the road, especially during
morning and afternoon peak hours when they are hired by business men. Needing a
taxi might require a phone call. The main taxi stand is direct north of the bus station
in the capital with only a few taxis waiting.

None of the taxis has a taxi meter since there is no taxi company nor regulation
requiring to have one. Drivers have fixed prices for most trips, although the tariffs
may vary between different drivers, or they will give a price for an irregular trip.

By tour vans

Another alternative is hiring a tour van to drive you around 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 board the van.

By boat

Waterways
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209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m

By bus

Around the capital, Bandar Seri

Begawan, there is a good-sized
network of purple minibuses.
Brunei's high rate of private car
ownership means very few
Bruneians take these buses, which
largely cater to foreign workers.
The speed of the buses are limited
to 50km/h but are actually quite
efficient and reliable. Note that bus
routes cease operation before 8pm.

In general, the bus system around Brunei bus map

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 let
off at unofficial locations at the discretion of the driver. The unofficial mode of
operation makes easy travel and entice patronage. Unfortunately, it is difficult to
obtain some form of details on bus routes and timetables. Recent experience in mid
2011 prompted a small contribution in the form of pictures of the known bus routes at
the time.(The pictures of the bus routes will be posted at a later date). There are 13
routes and the fare is flat B$1.00 which is collected by a conductor. The passenger
can advise the driver the location to disembark. Sometimes, the conductor asks the
passengers their respective locations to disembark and skips part of the route, to the
dismay of passenger who wish to catch the bus. This also implies that there is no
strict scheduled time. It is quite normal to wait 30 to 45 minutes for a bus.

There is also an infrequent long-distance bus which runs between BSB and Seria
through Tutong.

Talk
The official language of Brunei is Malay, but due to its British colonial past, English
is widely spoken and understood in urban areas. A little Malay will come in handy in
rural areas, as English proficiency is limited there. While all Bruneians are able to
speak standard Malay, the local dialect of Malay is almost incomprehensible to other
Malay speakers. Solely among the Malay-speaking states, Brunei also officially uses
the Arabic script for Malay known as Jawi, although most signs are written both in
Jawi and Roman letters. Nevertheless, the Roman alphabet is still the more
commonly used script when writing Malay in Brunei.

The ethnic Chinese community in Brunei continues to speak a variety of Chinese

languages, including Hokkien, Teochew and several others.

See
Istana Nurul Iman

The Istana Nurul Iman is the world’s largest residential palace in occupation with
1788 rooms. The 300-acre palace sits on a man made hill with a clear view of
Kampong Ayer. Istana Nurul Iman is the residence of the Sultan Haji Hassanal
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Bolkiah since 1984 and it is open to the public three days in a year, on the second to
fourth day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Omar Ali Saifuddie Mosque

The Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Mosque is an oasis of tranquility within the bustle of
downtown Bandar. Completed in 1958 and named after the 28th Sultan of Burnei, it
was built with the craftmanship that reflects classical Islamic architecture. The lagoon
replicated of 16th century Mahligai or Royal Barge where religious ceremonies such
as Holy Qur'an readings were staged during 1960s and early 1970s. The mosque has
been regarded as Brunei's architectural achievement, and has over the years
established itself to become the country's most recognisable landmark. Opening daily
except Thursday, Friday and Islamic holiday from 8:00am-12:00pm and 2:00pm-
3:00pm.

Royal Regalia Building

The Royal Regalia Building is located in the heart of Bandar Seri BEgawan. It was
built to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the Sultan's accession to the throne in
1992. The museum is home to a collection of Royal Regalia, including the royal
chariot, gold and silver ceremonial armory and a replica of the throne, which is used
by the Sultan on state occasions. Opening daily except major public holiday from
9:00am to 4:30pm.

Timepiece Monument

Memorial Clock Monument built on July 11, 1959 to commemorate the visit of His
Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Yang Di-Pertuan Agung of
Malaysia. This Monument is located in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan to function
as a 'Zero-Mile-Clock', it is used to indicate the starting point of distance between
Bandar Seri Begawan and other places in Brunei.

Kampong Ayer Cultural & Tourism Gallery

The $3-million Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery was built to provide
visitors a glimpse of Kampong Ayer's storied past while preserving part of Brunei's
heritage. Five mini galleries within the building showcase the water village's history
and origin, with handicraft and relics from bygone era also on display. There are also
a souvenir shop selling traditional handicraft and an observation tower which gives
visitors a fantastic panoramic view of the water village and the capital's skyline are
all to be found at the centre. The Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery can be
reached by taking a water taxi from the Royal Whaft. Opening daily except Friday
and public holiday from 9:00am - 5:00pm.

Eco Ponies Garden, Tutong

Looking for an extraordinary adventure and getting close to nature as well as the
chance of learning traditional techniques to fill your spare time with something
lovable? Here, situated in Southeast Asia, on Borneo Island, the country named
Brunei Darussalam is well-known as a religious country. Located here is a
community and family run farm and astounding garden called Eco Ponies Garden in
Lamunin, Tutong district. Visitors receive a warm welcome every peaceful morning
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with birds whistling and singing and are also inspired by the healthy nature of the
environmental area, while having fun as well as enjoying the products at their mini
bizarre.

A blend of unique traditional and local sights are availale. Bright and cheerful quotes
are colourfully displayed and beautifully painted everywhere like on the rusty, huge
rocks and the wooden man-made items such as the large traditional boat. Futhermore,
a range of exciting activites are provided with the help of the local community. For
example there is a gardening full of various kinds of plants; mostly medicinal and you
can touch the smooth, edible plants, magnificent petals of numerous flowers as well.
You can smell the aromas and taste different kinds of spices and herbs used for
appetizing traditional cooking dishes such as soft, sweet and spicy, beef rendang. This
is great for filling up after an exhausting day of buliding and painting. The delightful
home made traditional side dishes like oily and chewy 'penyaram' are made to
energize you for all of the exciting activites. Filled with smooth and sun-warmed
wooden benches and covered by enormous trees, this is a great place to relax.

Apart from that, you will also get a chance to buy their herbs and medicinal plants,
which are reasonably priced, as well as perfumes made from the unique flowers. In
the end, you get to experience the warm, friendly ecosystem and good-natured
atmosphere of the garden.

Do
For things to do in and in the near vicinity of Bandar Seri Begawan, see Bandar Seri
Begawan.

There are many eco-tours which typically go to the Temburong district by boat then
to a native "longhouse". It is then followed by a powered boat (by the natives) up the
river to the Belalong National Park, a reserve in the Borneo rainforest. There is a
canopy walk and research centre at the park headquarters. Visitors can book to stay
overnight at the Ulu Ulu Resort (http://www.uluuluresort.com), experience different
outdoor adventure with Freme Rainforest Lodge (http://www.freme.com/bruneitours/t
emburong-tours/) at it's Adventure Park and discover the rainforest with
BorneoGuide (http://www.borneoguide.com) and stay in the Sumbiling Eco Village
(http://www.sumbiling.com).

For nature lovers, a new activity to try in Brunei is the Tutong River cruise tour,
about 40 minutes away from [Bandar Seri Begawan]. The cruise provided by
Sunshine Borneo Tours & Travel (http://www.bruneiborneo.com) emphasizes on
mangrove ecology and conservation education. The beautiful and calm mangrove-
fringed Tutong River is home to the endemic Proboscis monkeys, eagles, crocodiles,
macaques, kingfishers and other wildlife. Some villages and other eco-activities can
also be found on Eko-Brunei (http://www.ekobrunei.com)

Bukit Shahbandar is a nature reserve offering several hikes according to the number
of small peaks you want to ascend. All well marked. The longest takes 1.5 to 2 hours
among trees and steep dirt hills. At the bottom, there is a park and jogging trail. It is 5
min drive, 15 min walk from The Empire Hotel. Most people went there to exersice
but some people went there to do something else such as doing photoshot, playing at
the mini playground and to buy the famous fresh coconut juice.

Jerudong Park was once a decent theme park with a multitude of rides. Sadly, a
downward cycle of neglect, declining admission and unaffordable maintenance costs
led to the closure and sale of most of the big-ticket rides, including the three
rollercoasters. This has given the park a sad "circus left town last week" air about it.
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Though in recent years there have been attempts to revive the park, including some
new rides (mainly for children) as well as clown shows. The original bumper cars,
go-karts, paddle-boats & merry-go-round are still operational. As is the fountain &
light show.

You can also visit the water village called 'Kampong Ayer', where you will ride on
boat to reach the old, traditional village. All day and night in the water village, you
will hear the sounds of engines roaring and water splashing. The rough texture of the
handmade boats and the houses above the calm, brown silty water, is what makes
Kampong Ayer a unique cultural and traditional place. When you ride on the boat to
the village, you will see other boats that are zooming very fast and all you can hear is
the rough waves hitting the boats and the whooshing sound of wind passing by your
face.

Tamu Kianggeh is also located in Bandar Seri Begawan, near Kampong Ayer. At the
entrance of Tamu Kianggeh, traditional music is played by people using traditional
instruments such as Gulingtangan and Gambus. Tamu Kianggeh is a market that sells
fresh fruit and vegetables, sweet and fresh drinks and also delicious and fresh cooked
dry food such as Kuih Malaya. the sweet smell of banana fritters (cucur pisang) being
fried is heavenly. The loud sound of people yelling and shouting about what they are
selling is heard from metres away.

Most people who visit only go at night to avoid the heat during the day. Outside the
park, but very close, is a small complex of restaurants which is open at night, though
only around half of the stalls are still operational.

Scuba diving

Brunei offers some great diving. In

addition to coral and fish, Brunei is
home to several shipwrecks and
many species of nudibranch - one
of the best places in S.E. Asia for
macro photography. Water
temperature is generally around 86
degrees (30 Celsius) and visibility
is usually in the 10-30m range,
although this can be changeable
during the monsoon season. As
diving here is not overly
developed, it means that the sites,
Bonella at Icebox
and especially the coral reefs, are
unspoiled and in pristine condition.

Popular dive sites include the Blue Water Wreck, a 80m trawler that gets her
nickname from the blue water around her and is still completely intact. Cement
Wreck, a 2,687 ton Japanese freighter that hit a sandbank in 1980 while carrying
cement. She has a length of 92m and a 15m beam. Easy to penetrate, the freighter lies
upright on the bottom at 30m. Australian Wreck, In 1949 while on a voyage to
Manila it struck a mine off Brunei and sank. The wreck lies in 33m of water and is
roughly 85m . Dolphin 88 Wreck Malaysian commercial vessel sunk in bad weather
in 2013 . Experienced divers will enjoy exploring the interior of the wreck. Rig Reef,
a decommissioned oil rig. There are 9 structures to be explored, each seeming to be
home to one dominant group of fish.
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Diving is very reasonable,

averaging out to BN$35-45 per
dive depending on how many
dives you do and whether you
bring your own gear. There are a
number of organisations you can
do trips with such as; Poni Divers

Sun burst on the mast at Cement Wreck

(http://www.ponidivers.com/),Oceanic Quest (http://www.oceanicquest.com/), The

Brunei Sub Aqua Dive Club (http://www.bsadc.com/Index.html) in Brunei-Muara &
Panaga Divers (http://www.panagaclub.com/divisions/kbbc/diving/panagadivers/inde
x.htm) based in seria

Sunset

Brunei had one of the most beautiful sunset sights in Asia. Tourist tend to watch
sunset at The Empire Hotel or nearest beaches.

Buy
The local currency is the Brunei dollar (BND) you might hear ringgit used to refer to
the dollar but be sure that participants are not talking about the Malaysian ringgit
(MYR) which is valued at less than half a Brunei dollar.

As of 26th April 2017 BND1.00 = USD0.72 = GBP0.56 = €0.66 = MYR3.12 =

RMB4.94 = JPY79.79

The Brunei dollar is tied to the Singapore dollar at a 1:1 rate. By law both currencies
can be used interchangeably, so if you're coming in from Singapore, there's no reason
to change money as your cash will be readily accepted. (Likewise, any leftover
Brunei dollars can be used at par in Singapore. Although Singaporean coins can be
used in Brunei with the exception of the SGD1, Singapore does not accept Bruneian
coins. However, many stores refuse Singapore notes with seemingly microscopic
tears in them, and notices to this effect are posted at the cash register.

The Brunei dollar is divided into 100 cents. There are banknotes [10] (http://www.fin
ance.gov.bn/tt/EDITKKW/bcb/notes_cir_2nd.htm) from BND1 to a whopping
BND10,000 (handy if you're shopping for Rolls-Royces) and coins [11] (http://www.f

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inance.gov.bn/tt/EDITKKW/bcb/notes_cir_2nd.htm) of 1 to 50 cents. All smaller

notes and the 2004 series of larger notes are printed as brightly coloured polymer
notes.

Costs

By South-East Asian standards Brunei is roughly on par with Singapore, meaning

roughly twice as expensive as neighbouring Malaysia. You can reduce costs by eating
at local restaurants and avoiding the more expensive restaurants in hotels. Budget
accommodation, once very limited, has expanded in recent years and you can now get
a decent bed for the night for around BND30.

Eat

Bruneians love to eat out and there are many Knock knock, who's there?
excellent restaurants in Brunei serving a wide Nasi Katok
variety of cuisines, thanks to the large number of Katok is actually "ketuk" in
foreign workers in the country. the Malay language, and it
means knock. There is a story
There is also the local nasi katok, a simple
behind the name Nasi Katok. It
combination of rice and curried beef or chicken,
was begun by a couple of
which can be quite spicy. It is relatively
teenagers who were feeling
inexpensive when compared to other food that
very hungry after a midnight
you can buy, for example local food such as
practice. They went to a place
chicken rice.
where they normally bought
Another choice is ambuyat, a culinary their food. This place was
experience unique to Borneo. It is a starchy and actually a residential house,
gooey paste made from sago that can be dipped which offered Nasi bungkus (a
into a savoury sauce. pack of rice with chicken and
egg) even in the middle of the
Brunei produces excellent quality soy sauce, night. At any time you could
darker, thicker and stronger in flavour than you'd just Katok (knock) on their
typically find in Japan or China. door, and the owner will come
up with fresh hot Nasi Katok.
And that's how it became Nasi
Drink Katok.
Brunei is a "dry country;" alcohol is not sold
anywhere in the country and consumption of alcohol in public is prohibited by law.
That said, non-Muslim visitors are allowed to bring in up to two litres of alcohol
(wine or spirits), plus up to twelve 330mL cans of beer, lager or cider every 48 hours.
There is a wide array of duty-free shops just across the border in Malaysia to cater to
this demand. However, alcohol permits must be obtained upon arrival in Brunei while
going through customs. (At customs you will be required to fill in a yellow form to
declare your alcohol.)

One should definitely try out Teh Tarik, a sweet milk tea that is poured from one cup
to another to create a layer of bubbles that bring out the aromatic smell of tea, Teh C
Special, another form of milk tea that is mixed with the palm sugar that gives a
distinct taste to it, as well as the wide array of coffee (kopi) available in restaurants.

Sleep

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Accommodation in Brunei was until recently famously expensive — there is still only
one youth hostel in the entire country — but some reasonably cheap guesthouses can
now be found here and there. See Bandar Seri Begawan for listings.

There are also some descent accommodation and even business hotels in other parts
of Brunei.

Learn
Work
Many of the jobs in Brunei are in the gas and oil industry but many positions have
opened up for international English Teachers due to the booming economy and
business sector. Footprints Recruiting (http://www.footprintsrecruiting.com/) offers
placement in teaching jobs in Brunei. This can be a great way to absorb the culture
and see many of the wonderful attractions Brunei has to offer, while making money
to boot.

Stay safe

WARNING: Brunei treats drug offences extremely severely.

The death penalty is mandatory for those convicted of trafficking,
manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 1 g of heroin, 1 g
of morphine, 1 g of cocaine, 1 g of cannabis, 1 g of cannabis resin
and 1 g of opium, and possession of these quantities is all that is
needed for you to be convicted. For unauthorised consumption,
there is a maximum of 10 years' jail or a heavy fine, or both. You
can be charged for unauthorised consumption as long as traces of
illicit drugs are found in your system, even if you can prove that
they were consumed outside the country, and you can be charged
for trafficking as long as drugs are found in bags that are in your
possession or in your room, even if they aren't yours and regardless
of whether you're aware of them - therefore be vigilant of your
possessions.

Brunei is a very safe country, with theft being uncommon and violent crime almost
unheard of. However basic travelling safety precautions should be taken at all times.
Brunei has mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law.

Brunei revised its penal code in 2014, imposing Sharia law in three phases. Currently
it is still on the first phase (April 2017). The first phase of sharia law, which include
only fines and prison sentences for crimes. The Penal Code applies to both Muslims
and Non-Muslims. However, many of the specific offences are applicable to Muslims
only. For example, non-Muslims could be implicated - Adultery if committed with a
Muslim, consuming alcohol in a public place, close proximity if committed with a
Muslim, contempt of Prophet Muhammad, deriding verses of Quran or Hadith,
indecent behaviour, disrespecting Ramadhan (fasting month).

Possession of pornographic material, homosexual and prostitution activities are

illegal. These laws apply to foreigners as well. There are severe penalties for all drug
offences in Brunei including, in some cases, the death penalty. Some crimes may
attract caning and lengthy prison sentences.

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The sale of Alcohol and Cigarettes and other tobacco products in Brunei are
prohibited. Non-Muslims over 17 years of age may import duty free two bottles of
wine or spirits and twelve cans of beer on entry into Brunei, but must declare them
to the customs authorities on arrival and consume them in private. There must be at
least a 48-hour gap between each import. Keep the customs slip in case of inspection.
Duty charge on cigarettes is BND0.50/stick, i.e. BND10 per pack of 20 sticks and
BND100 per carton of 10 packs. Duty charge on other tobacco products may vary.

The carriage of prohibited items such as drugs and live ammunition, including
amulets, lucky charms, decorations, and other byproducts containing prohibited
items, is a serious offense punishable by law for 5 to 15 years of imprisonment and 3
to 12 strokes of caning. This applies to all passengers traveling into or transiting in
Brunei without exception.

Stay healthy
Eating out is generally safe because of good food safety standards, although tap water
is not fit for drinking & should be boiled first. Alternatively, bottled water is very
cheap.

Respect
The Brunei Government is run as a Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB), and the Sultan
of Brunei, apart from being one of the richest men in the world, is in charge and
frequently appears on the front page of the two daily newspapers. At all costs, do not
insult or speak badly of the Royal family.

Furthermore, though Bruneians are generally courteous and tolerant, it is a good idea
to be aware of sensitivities surrounding certain topics of conversation, especially
politics (domestic, regional & international) and world events, particularly those
relating to Islam or Islamic countries.

Bruneian values are strongly influenced by Islam. Some courtesy to observe include
the following:

Remove shoes before entering mosques

For women, ensure that the head, knees, and arms are covered before entering
mosques
Do not pass in front of people in prayers
Do not touch the Qur'an
Shake hands lightly if you must, but never with a member of the opposite sex
Point with the right thumb instead of the index finger
Beckon another with the palm facing downwards
Do not smack the right fist into the left palm
Food and gifts must be passed with the right hand
When sitting, the sole of the feet should not be pointed towards one's
companions

Contact
By phone

The international code for Brunei is 673. The telephone numbers in Brunei consist of
7 digits with no local codes, although the first digit of the number indicates the area
such as 3 for the Belait District and 2 for Bandar Seri Begawan.
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The prepaid Hallo Kad, available from TelBru telephone offices (including one at
the airport) and other outlets in denominations from B$5 to B$50 can be used at any
phone in the country to make local and international calls. Other phone cards are also
available for use in public phones.
GSM mobile phone services are available from network operator DST [12] (http://w
ww.dst-group.com/). They have a good range of roaming connections. 3G mobile
phone services are available from B-Mobile [13] (http://www.bmobile.com.bn/).

B-Mobile is now known as Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd (PCSB). Once exit from the
Arrival Hall at Brunei International Airport, they have a counter selling simcards &
plans. There is also a Visitor Sim - for short term stay (BND10 all in SMS, voice &
data).

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