BRUNEI

Population: 374, 000 (UN, 2005)
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Area: 5, 765 sq km (2, 226 sq miles)
Major languages: Malay, English, Chinese
Main religions: Islam, Buddhism, Christianity
Life expectancy: 74 years (men), 79 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Bruneian dollar = 100 cents

Brunei Darussalam is an self-employed sultanate country quite tiny but never lackluster or perhaps insignificant. Tinsel town with a right, Brunei has long been Asia's best kept secret that revels in "golden" culture, traditions, and economy. A great too many impresses on one of the littlest, but richest countries in the world as a nation of elites, royalties, and business moguls with money to final 5 lifetimes, but it is also a state of people with thicker traditions and impoverished lifestyles. Perhaps Brunei's gilded entrance are an open invitation for the world to look in, plus truth is, there is not enough to summarize this charming little region but to say that it is a kingdom of unexpected treasures and even early 13th century civilization is spot on.

A good way to familiarize oneself with Brunei to calm qualms is to understand what it's not. It is not an Islamist extremist nation, nor is this a kingdom of royalty and peasants, with what the particular media's representation of excesses and lavish parties. Regrettable but true, the tiny sultanate stands beneath the dark areas of the rich lists and excessive wasteful lifestyles. Ill-gotten wealth and plunder are issues that plague the nation with all the same family in rule for 6 centuries, typically the longest unbroken dynasty in the world. But Brunei does have the well-to-do financial system to boast which looks as good as economic climate reports of "Not Applicable (NA)" on population beneath poverty line. It seems quite paradoxical however that alcoholic beverages is banned in Brunei, while the Prince Azim beverages himself mad.

GEOGRAPHY

Brunei (4 30 N, 114 40 E) is the second to the smallest country throughout Southeast Asia next to Singapore with but an area of a few, 765 km² that borders the South China Ocean and Malaysia. The country's terrain is generally flat seaside plains with land elevations rising to mountainous towards the east, Bukit Pagon with the highest peak in Brunei 1, 850metres above sea level. It prides of the very most intact virgin rainforests in all of Borneo, 70% involving Brunei to be exact. The reason- its profuse abundance with oil has found no necessity for exploring and take advantage of the forests for other natural resources. Brunei really is a country of 2 slivers of separated territories less than a good hour's trip by boat.

CLIMATE

Brunei just experience it lucky with a sub-tropical climate as it rarely experiences organic catastrophes such as typhoons, earthquakes or flooding. Brunei will be hot, humid and wet with average temperatures connected with 28°C that can go up to 33°C in January, apparently the coldest month for most SEA countries. Most environment issues they contend with are by-products that travel quite a distance from Indonesia, such as haze. Travel to any part of Brunei is best with a head start very early in the morning or maybe late in the afternoon. But the traveler's best choice and summary of Brunei is after the Ramadan, when the palace throws open up its gates for more than 100, 000 people for a banquet and meet-and-greet with the Sultan, and possibly sneak in a handshake, except for women who can only meet Her Majesty.

PEOPLE

Area of Brunei is an officially Islamic State as is written in their constitution. However , with an open-minded attitude for visitors and explorers, the 388, 190 Bruneians impose absolutely no danger on travelers wherever the origin or whatever the belief, attesting to its reputation as an "abode of peace" not only of opulence. Therefore , Buddhism (13%) and Christianity (10%) etc . are embraced and practiced freely. Islamic to Brunei is not just a religion, but an ideology that manuals all aspects of the people's lives especially governance while using 3 M's code called "Malay Muslim Monarchy"- the easiest method to describe their government. Malay of course because of their bias towards culture as Brunei with its location and considering everything else is an enclave of Malaysia. MALAY, as well is the recognized language. ENGLISH is rather common and used by the general human population, and CHINESE dialects like Fukien and Teochew will also be widely spoken by ethnic Chinese communities.

ATTRACTIONS

Journey amongst Brunei territory is to a degree difficult especially when venturing via land. From BSB to Bangar, road travel goes along with the inconvenience of passing through two immigration points, Malaysia on exit from either BSB or Bangar, and Brunei immigration, upon entry as well. That's only one of the 3 major challenges to behold in Brunei, the other as being a few budget options in Brunei, true to its wealth, at least for BSB. The last, of which is-have I pointed out there was no booze?

Brunei effortlessly presents a country such as no other starting off with BSB which is not your typically active, overtly modernized city, and carefully balancing lush produce with an efficient and uncongested building layout. Comes with a cost though for it is the City of the Abdicated Sultan, because Bandar Seri Begawan directly translates, where the traveler will discover the same imperial luxuries of golden architectures. Ever experienced a 6- Michelin star hotel? The preponderance with what a land of early civilizations offers are spectacular architecture of edifices and temples that honor the legacy and religion such as the Royal Regalia Museum together with Brunei Museum, where the traveler will find the most incredible items of Brunei's rich history, "rich" in the full feeling of the word. What about the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque or that of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's? During the night, the Jerudong Park Gardens offers the public a vision fit for palace guests with its dancing fountains and dazzling design by Prince Jeffri. Far from the glitz and gild, the world's largest water village, kampong ayer will render a century's old experience or perhaps a proboscis monkey tour, one of a kind species of large-nosed monkeys, having a newfound appreciation for beauty amidst simplicity. And indeed, there's kayaking, windsurfing, and scuba diving.

Temburong District is usually endowed with two unprecedented nature parks, the Ulu Temburong National Park for B$5 or USD$3. your five and the Peradayan Forest Reserve at no admission charge, both these styles which are breathtaking and brilliant escapes with the most pristine virgin mobile rainforests. Bangar, the district capital is less glamorous however equally beautiful and has more in store for the budget traveler in $4 by boat from BSB, not to discredit BSB that's for sure. All these concerns of visa and costs are sure to come to pass by looking at and appreciating Brunei because of its culture, people, and food, need I say?

FOOD

Bruneian cuisine is a blank page to most outsiders looking around, or perhaps a misconception of Malay food without character, however the traveler has yet to find out that Bruneian cuisine has become incredible to a fusion of Malay, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Arabic and European flavors that is akin to the sultanate state alone. Chinese food is ubiquitous, as is everywhere else. Grain is ever present while pork is avoided, because of the Islamic religion. A few of the national specialties are Daging Masak Lada Hitam or spicy beef with potato as well as beans, Serondeng Pandag, garlic-fried chicken in pandan simply leaves, Udang Sambal Serai Bersantan, which is a seafood dish along with prawns, coconut milk and chilli, and Nasi Katok spicy curry beef/chicken, all these served with rice. For any true Bruneian flavor, try the ambuyat, a gooey surprise. Then, shove it all down with refreshing coconut juice, fruit juice, coffee, tea, or just water. And as a rustic of two phases, BSB and Bangar, the traveller feels double the melancholy and broken-heartedness upon leaving behind Brunei, as s/he technically leaves twice.

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