Not every Russian has probably heard of such a state as Brunei. Nevertheless, this sultanate is also known from the Chinese chronicles of the 15th century, although under other names: Pugni, Polo, Poly. A little later, in the XVI century, it was a powerful empire, which subordinated part of the Philippines and almost all of Borneo to its influence. The protectorate of Great Britain - since the end of the XIX century, since 1984 - an independent state, the head of which is the Sultan. Today we will expand your knowledge of a country called Brunei. The capital of the state is Bandar Seri Begawan.
Sultanate Location
If you have never heard of such a state, the first question will be: "Where is Brunei located?" It is located on the island of Kalimantan, its northwest coast. It consists of eastern and western regions, divided among themselves by Malaysian territory with a width of about 30 kilometers.
Somewhere 85% of its area is covered by a huge tropical forest, overgrown mainly with trees of valuable species. There are several rivers flowing into the South China Sea: Temburong, Pandaruan, Tutong, Belait, all of them are small. By the way, being interested in where Brunei is located, pay attention to the fact that the full name of the state is Brunei Darrussalam, which translates as "a haven of peace." The climate here is equatorial, humid, as it is exposed to monsoons from the South China Sea.
Brunei population
About 400 thousand people live in this country. As we know, in many countries the population is steadily declining. Brunei, however, is a state for which this is not characteristic. It has a positive annual population growth of 1.73%. Women live here on average 78 years, men 74. The ethnic composition of the population is as follows: indigenous people, Malays, here 67%, Chinese - 17%, Indians and Europeans - 9%, Aboriginal Dayaks - 6%.
The standard of living depends entirely on oil production at local fields, which employ approximately 30 thousand technical and civilian personnel from New Zealand, Australia, England and workers from Southeast Asia. Distributed in the country are Chinese and English, the official is Malay. Most people are literate, women - 90%, men - 95%.
The population density is uneven, but on average - 62 people per square kilometer, with 1/3 of them living in the capital. In cities - 75% of the total, many also live in places of oil production. The state religion is Islam.
Brunei - the sights of the country. General Review
This country is a typical state of the Islamic world. Tourists who come here to rest should take this fact into account so as not to get into trouble. There is practically no nightlife here, you need to behave in public places strictly according to the rules. What is left for the traveler to do? Get acquainted with the history of the East and its traditions, explore its sights, look at the primitive nature. So, if you arrived in Brunei, the capital of the Sultanate is just the place from which you should begin your acquaintance with the state.
Inspect Bandar Seri Begawan
In addition to being the capital, it is also the only large city in the country. Modern, clean and tidy, with wide quality roads, high-rise buildings, markets and, of course, mosques. Nevertheless, at almost every step you can see the real national color - many houses are made in the oriental style, places of worship are framed by parks and gardens, nearby are bank offices and palaces with old houses from the beginning of the oil production era. Istana-Nurul-Iman - the most beautiful palace of the Sultan - the main attraction of the capital, the largest residential palace in the whole world.
It is located on the coastal strip, in the west of the city center, in a very picturesque place. It stands out by combining in one object a very expensive modern decoration, local traditions and Islamic architecture. Imagine: 1778 rooms, 51,000 lamps, 44 stairs, 18 elevators and several throne rooms - all in one palace! From England, chandeliers were brought into it, from Shanghai - granite, from Italy - marble. At the end of Ramadan, anyone can visit the palace in accordance with local traditions. If you arrive in Brunei, the capital of the state, the city of Bandar Seri Begawan will show many other magnificent buildings.
Omar Ali Sayfuddin Mosque
This colossal building is one of the most beautiful and impressive eastern mosques. It was built in 1958 and named after one of the sultans of Brunei, the 28th. It is a symbol of Islam in the state. This gigantic building is 52 meters high and has gold bells decorated with magnificent mosaics, a 44-meter minaret and many decorative architectural elements.
A building was built on the banks of an artificial lagoon, right on the banks of the river. Non-Muslims have no access inside, and they cannot view the luxurious interior of the mosque. Nearby is the largest shopping complex in the country - Yayasan-Sultan-Hadji-Hassanal-Bolkia-Foundation, built in 1996. So know: if you fly here on vacation, Brunei will not let you go without shopping.
Jerudong Park - the green zone of the capital
This attraction is a huge beautiful green zone, which has been turned into a real entertainment and sports complex, which is under the patronage of the Sultan. Entrance to the complex is free. There are: first-class croquet ground, golf course, polo stadium, go-kart track, shooting range. Some tourists made complaints by visiting Brunei. Reviews say that not all the objects of this complex were able to get travelers. Somewhere they are allowed only if one of the club members invited. And where does an ordinary tourist get such acquaintances or friends? But, once in the nearby Luna Park, they calmed down after seeing a huge variety of attractions and entertainment.
For religious reasons, there are no gorgeous beaches in the country. All of Brunei, its capital, more precisely, has one beach - equipped and modern. It is located just behind Luna Park. It has a well-developed leisure infrastructure, and, among other things, there are many stalls selling fish and other sea delicacies.
Temburong - ecological zone of the country
Brunei - the country is not so small. There are other interesting places in it, besides those located in the capital. We will share some information about one of them. In the eastern part of the state there are many swamps and rivers, evergreen forests, where millions of the most diverse living creatures live. The main attractions of this region are Ulu-Teburong, National Park, Bukit-Patoi - an ecological trail, as well as colorful ethnic villages inhabited by the Murut, Malay and Iban peoples.
Due to the fact that the Ulu-Teburong park is located relatively far from the central places and has a difficult terrain, the authorities managed to preserve the ideal natural environment where there is a wide
variety of animals and plants. The area of the Batu Apoi forest in whose territory this park is located is almost 50 thousand hectares.
Where to settle for a tourist
There are not as many hotels in the country as in some other tourist places. But for those travelers who still got here, there are enough places where you can comfortably accommodate. We list some upscale hotels in Brunei: Rizqun International 5 *, The Empire 5 *, Empire Hotel & County Club 5 *, The Centrepoint 4 *. A bit simpler: Abdul Razak 3 *, Terrace 3 *, Riverview 3 *, Pusat Belia Youth. By the way, the list does not end there. Most are located in the capital - the city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Many travelers know the only branded international hotel - Sheraton Utama.