Jul 19, 2001 03:51 PM
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The world may be oblivious to the fact that the year 2001 is Visit Brunei Year. You may not even know where this country is, so let me tell you about this place so you may decide whether it is a worthy tourist destination.
Negara Brunei Darussalam as the country is officially known is located on the northern coast of Borneo in South East Asia. It is one of the smallest countries of the world consisting of two wedges of land facing the South China Sea and surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak on its landed side.
The country gained independence from Britain in 1984 and is ruled as an absolute monarchy. Oil was discovered in 1929 which has given its citizens not to mention its ruler, a very high standard of living. Just to give you an idea of the wealth of this place, the government is said to own a cattle ranch in Australia which is larger than Brunei itself...
So what is there to see and do in Brunei...most attractions are in and around the capital Bandar Seri Begawan...
Kampung Ayer or water village is definitely worth seeing. It consists of rows and rows of mainly wooden houses on stilts along the Brunei river , interconnected by long endless walkways. This 'water community' numbers around 30,000 and has its own schools, shops, clinics,etc. The best way of seeing the place is by water taxi. In the foreground of Kampung Ayer is the Omar Ali Saiffudin Mosque which is a beautiful building which has come to symbolise Brunei just as Big Ben symbolises London. Another worthy construction is the Sultan's residence, Istana Nurul Iman which is the largest palace in the world with 1788 rooms. Unlike the Queen who has opened parts of Windsor Castle to visitors for a fee, it is not usually possible to visit this palace....and I suppose he doesn't really need the cash...
Jerudong Playground located just outside the capital is a massive amusement park of Disneyland proportions packed with every conceivable ride and the best thing about it is that its FREE...and one hardly has to queue for any of the rides, unbelievable as this may sound. Also in this area is Jerudong Park which is where the sultan plays polo and keeps his many fine bred polo ponies in air-conditioned lodgings, naturally... He also has his second palace here, another impressive building clearly visible on a hill top.
Temburong on the Eastern side of Brunei houses the Peradayan Forest Reserve which is good for walks and treks into the dense tropical jungle. If you are a naturalist, you may find the many species of birds and plants on show much to your liking.
There are few other places of interest. One of the problems of the country is that the infrastructure for tourism is not fully in place. For example there is a lack of affordable budget accommodation and the public transport system is somewhat limited. Also being a strict Islamic country, alcohol and nightlife are virtually non-existent and this may deter many. Nevertheless I would recommend a short visit to the country if you are travelling within the region .....two - three days would probably be more than enough to get an idea of the place.
