Brunei

Brunei

The official name for Brunei is Negara Brunei Darussalam, on the island of Borneo.  It is one of the oldest kingdoms yet one of the youngest independent nations of the regions.  It is a small country with a total land area of just 2,225 square miles with a coastline that runs 100 miles along the South China Sea. Brunei has a wealthy economy which derives most of its income from exports of oil and gas. The Sultan, his majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah receives the profits as personal income, and then uses it to manage his country as needed. His personal wealth has been estimated at $10 billion.

As an Islamic country, alcohol consumption in public is banned and there is no sale of alcohol in Brunei. Brunei has no income tax, everyone gets a pension, minimum wage is high and housing is subsidized and available for all citizens.  Formal education is given free to all Brunei citizens through university level and they are charged only 1 Brunei dollar for medical and health care at all government hospitals, health centers and clinics. Petro (gas) is currently about $1.20 per gallon.

Today we had a tour planned which visited the Brunei Museum featuring exhibits on Gas and Oil, Natural History, and an Islamic Collection owned by the Sultan. The Islamic Collection included beautiful, old pieces of tapestries, jewelry, swords and guns, porcelain, vases and pottery.  We were not allowed to take any pictures here.

We stopped at two Mosques used by the Sultan.  Both were very different but beautiful.

 

Our next stop was for a boat ride on the mangrove-lined canals to see the old and new water villages, birds and wildlife.  We did catch a couple glimpses of some monkeys. They were too quick for pictures but did not look like the proboscis monkeys we were on the lookout for, which are only found in Borneo.

Midway through our boat ride we stopped at a private home in the water village for some local tea and snacks.

 

 

Yes, this room was inside one of those shacky looking stilt houses!

 





 

It was a very hot day here.  Because of the culture we had to have all but our faces, hands and feet covered which made it feel even hotter.  The boat ride was an enjoyable way to spend the day as the breeze and water spray made the afternoon feel cooler.