Most people have not heard of Brunei, the official name “The Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam”, which is part of the exotic Borneo. Here, amongst the lush Southeast Asian rainforests lies a peaceful, beautiful and unpopulated country. Two thirds of Brunei’s land comprises tropical green rainforests, so visit here if you are after adventures in the outdoors!
Brunei is a beautiful country with luscious rainforest covering much of it
Brunei is a modest country that is not often visited by tourists. Surrounded by lush rainforests, you won’t find an endless list of tourist hot spots here or even good bars to drink at. It is important to note that Brunei is a Muslim country. Therefore, drinking alcohol and smoking in public is banned, but don’t let that put you off. It is a wonderful destination to visit. The busiest area of Brunei would be its one and only shopping mall called simply ‘The Mall’, which is located in the capital city.
Sail along Brunei River and discover life on the water village
With a population of approximately 417,000 people and a very small land mass, Brunei is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, thanks to its rich oil resource. There are plenty of outdoor trails to be explored in Brunei and one of the most ‘touristy’ things to do is to visit the water village in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan.
The water village runs along the Brunei River, whereby you can get a glimpse into how some of the locals live; in houses teetering on stilts right over the water. You can catch a boat ride along the Brunei River here for 2 USD from the Jalan Jetty area. This is quite easy to do and most locals will understand enough English to take you for a tour down river where hopefully you may glimpse the native Proboscis monkeys, easily identified by their big long protruding noses. These monkeys are listed as an endangered species and although these are quite rare to see on this side of Brunei, you will no doubt see the more common macaques.
Dining by the Waterfront
Also along the waterfront is a fabulous Sushi restaurant, Kaizen Sushi, that looks out over the water and is quite a nice restaurant. Here they have a range of sushi meals including salmon and chicken. While you are out and about in Brunei, don’t forget to check out the local markets. There are plenty of these and food is very cheap! For 1 USD, you can buy a small meal of rice and spiced chicken, which is a very popular dish as well as spiced and dried fish. Make sure you try Ayam Penyet, a national dish made up of spiced chicken accompanied with fresh salad. It is delicious and goes down well with a fresh coconut water drink that is also very popular in Brunei.
Take a leisurely stroll in Jalan Menteri Besar Recreational Park
Another outdoor area to visit in Brunei is the Jalan Menteri Besar Recreational Park. Here you will see monkeys racing about in the trees and see unusual species of native plants and flowers. Keep an eye out for Brunei’s national flower, the ‘Simpur’, which is a bright yellow flower on small trees. This is a beautiful place to visit and best to go in the morning when it is still cool enough to take a leisurely stroll. Brunei’s all year round humidity is something to keep in mind when planning outdoor trips and activities, as it can be quite challenging for those not accustomed to it. It is important to remember that a modest dress code is required here. Tee shirts are fine as well as shorts below the knees.
Brunei has a range of weird, interesting and fascinating insects, animals and plants. They will quite often have displays in the main shopping mall where you can hold some of these including pythons and corn snakes for those brave enough!
Don’t miss the iconic Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque!
Another impressive sight is the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque located in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan perched on the Brunei River. It has beautifully paved outdoor areas with fountains and is the place to appreciate architectural designs in Brunei. This mosque towers rise 52m into the air and the top is covered in pure gold, making it quite a spectacular sight. The mosque’s tall towers can be seen from most of Brunei and you can get a good view of it from the river. When visiting any of the mosques in Brunei, bear in mind to dress conservatively and avoid revealing clothes.
A second equally exquisite mosque and the largest in Brunei is the James Asr Hassanil Bolkiah. You can view from both the inside and outside but there are strict visiting hours. You will find any day except Sunday, a good time to visit, but do check the opening hours before visiting. The information is easily available online.
Getting around Brunei
Car rental services in Brunei is available, although these are limited. There are also a couple of taxi services. For the most part, it is a good idea to use the buses or just walk, as Brunei city centre is not very big. Ensuring that you have Bruneian dollars makes getting to places easier, as this is the preferred method of payment. Although Brunei is not a popular tourist destination and can be limited in terms of activities, it is a beautiful country that is worth visiting.
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