Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque at dusk
Despite its modest size the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam is
enormously wealthy in both natural resources and worthwhile
attractions. Few people consider this tiny nation at the top of
Borneo to be a destination in its own right but those that do are
rewarded by the safest, most environmentally pristine country in
Asia. The majority of visitors, however, experience Brunei either
as a passenger en route elsewhere or a business traveller taking
advantage of its burgeoning role as regional economic hub.
Brunei's culture is shaped by its Malay majority and deeply
entrenched Islamic traditions, bound together by the sultanate's
uninterrupted 600-year royal heritage. Citizens enjoy one of the
world's highest standards of living with free healthcare, education
and housing thanks to the largesse of the Sultan, who is the sole
beneficiary of the country's oil reserves. In celebration of his
50th birthday he reportedly spent US$50 million; on another
occasion he tipped hotel staff US$170,000.
Located on the north tip of the island of Borneo, the country is
divided into two unconnected halves: 97% of the population live in
the larger western half where the modern capital Bandar Seri
Begawan (BSB) is located, while an estimated 15,000 people live in
the predominantly rural and mountainous eastern half. Adventure
travellers are draw to the natural splendour and adrenalin charged
sporting activities of this region, most of which is virgin
rainforest.
Visitors to BSB can enjoy architectural treasures such as the
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, the fascinating traditional
water villages, and the Sultan's palace, Istana Nurul Iman - with
1,700 rooms, the world's largest palace still in use. BSB also has
some worthwhile beaches, most notably Jerudon which has gorgeous
white sands and a child-friendly amusement park to one side of
it.
