Preface

The Best- Kept Secret of Southeast Asia positioned on the islet of Borneo is a nation that many trippers
neglect, but is rich in contradictions and artistic heritage – Brunei Darussalam. With one of the world’s six remaining absolute monarchies, this small country offers an intriguing combination of Islamic heritage, royal extravagance, and contemporary development.

My trip to Brunei began with curiosity about a place where gold- domed kirks shine like the morning sun, where the sultan maintains one of the world’s largest auto collections, and where – yes – petroleum costs lower than bottled water.

The Basics: Understanding Brunei

Before diving into my experiences, let’s establish some context about this intriguing nation:

The Tale of Two Kirks

I started my adventure at the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, the most recognizable structure in Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. Constructed in 1958 to commemorate Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien’s 50- time reign, this engineering wonder takes its design cues from the Taj Mahal.

Approaching the synagogue , its golden pate shone incandescently against the blue sky. The structure is positioned within an artificial lagoon, which gives the print that it’s floating on water. As I approached, I recalled hearing about excursionists being made to vacate, so I took care to note proper form.

” I have taken off my shoes and will enter now,” I observed to myself as I went by. Outside, the synagogue showed me indeed more substance – walls plated in gold, elaborate Islamic penmanship, and a peaceful, regardful atmosphere. A married companion came up to me and asked if I was Muslim. When I replied no, he ate me with enthusiasm and directed me to where I could do, indeed allowing me to take filmland and vids.

” 3,000 individualities can supplicate then contemporaneously,” the companion said as we rambled through the enormous prayer hall.

The innards of the synagogue was both majestic and serene. The gold plating on walls and pate is n’t only a matter of aesthetic taste but also a reflection of the country’s substance from its oil painting deposits. Contrary to the bad gests I had heard about, everyone was friendly and regardful to me as a guest.

The alternate notable synagogue in Brunei is the Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, which was named after moment’s Sultan. Although I was not suitable to see its inside during my trip, its surface – featuring 29 golden polls emblematizing the 29 sultans who ruled over Brunei – is just as stunning.

Royal Opulence A regard into Sultan’s Life

perhaps nothing represents Brunei’s distinctive nature further than the life of its sovereign . Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has been in power since 1967, which makes him the longest- serving absolute monarch in office moment.

My neighborhood friend Habeeb took me to view the Sultan’s palace gates.” The king goes for a drive every day at 430 PM,” Habeeb told me. With over 7,000 buses in its collection – featuring substantially supercars similar as Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, and Rolls- Royces – the Sultan is said to drive a different vehicle every day, with his top pick being the Mercedes G- Wagon.

” occasionally he does not travel by auto but flies his own aircraft over his land,” Habeeb said, adding that the 78- time-old monarch drives aeroplanes
himself.

The Sultan’s riches do n’t stop at buses . He has further than 1,000 nags, imported from Argentina, which I caught a regard of as we drove by the royal forces. His former palace has been converted into the Empire Hotel, a 5- star hostel with further than 500 apartments where Michael Jackson formerly held a private musicale.

What was so striking was the immediacy between this redundant and Brunei’s poor origins.” A land beset with poverty and starvation where indeed the king wore worn and tattered clothes,” they say. currently, the Sultan’s net worth is estimated at about$ 30 billion.

The Economic Paradox: Where oil painting is Cheaper Than Water

” The water then costs 60- 62 per liter and oil painting is 20- 30 per liter,” I noticed during my stay. This is not embroidery – it’s the verity in this oil painting-rich country.

A half- liter water bottle costs roughly 60 cents( around ₹ 35), so a liter would be roughly 1 Brunei Dollar( ₹ 60). In discrepancy, a liter of petrol only costs around 30 cents( ₹ 20). The computation is simple water is doubly as expensive as gasoline.

This profitable anomaly is a result of Brunei’s main source of riches petroleum and natural gas, which contribute 90 to the frugality of Brunei. They were discovered by the British in 1929 and turned Brunei from a poor region into one of the richest countries per capita in the world.

The dominance of the petroleum sector has some fascinating counteraccusations

1. minimum husbandry: In malignancy of rich soil, Brunei imports the maturity of its food rather of producing it domestically.

2. Free services for citizens: Bruneians have free medical care, free education, no taxation, and subventions on a wide range of goods.

3. precious tourism: hospices, hacks, and sightseer installations are high- priced since the frugality does n’t calculate on tourism.

4. Overseas investments: Brunei has a cattle estate in Australia bigger than the country itself, exercising it to supply meat rather of rearing cattle locally.

My hack lift was the perfect illustration of this difference. A 10- nanosecond lift cost 10 Brunei Bones( roughly ₹ 641), which is outrageously expensive for Southeast Asia, considering that energy is extremely cheap.

Daily Life Rules, Restrictions, and Reality

Brunei practices Sharia law in addition to British common law, performing in a society with veritably clear- cut restrictions. I’d read beforehand about harsh corrections for different transgressions

• 1.Alcohol and tobacco are banned
• 2. medicine crimes can affect in the death penalty
• 3. Homosexual connections are technically punishable by death
• But the reality I lived was more complex. While some restrictions are indeed rehearsed – smoking in public incurs a forfeiture of 3,000 Brunei Bones( around ₹ 200,000) – others appeared less strict than they do online.

” I used to read boys and girls can not walk together hand in hand or they can not date one another. But when I came then, I observed that it’s not veritably strict, as I could see people holding hands in dyads. There were numerous women whose heads were n’t covered,” I noted while I was visiting.

For visitors , some are pivotal to observe

• 1. Callers can bring minimum liquor( 2 bottles at a outside) for individual use within hostel apartments
• 2. Cigarettes should be needed to have health warnings, and smoking in public is banned
  3. Public observance of non-Muslim religious carnivals similar as Christmas is interdicted

The thing that surprised me the most was the discipline of society without overt enforcement. buses stopped at respectable distances from one another at corners, adhered rules rigorously, and were gracious to one another – all without bobbies

Culinary Adventures:From Indian Delights to Durian Challenges

• Food discovery is the key to learning any culture, and Brunei handed varied gests . With companion Habeeb, who had noway eaten Indian food, I went to an precious eatery named Tandoor.
• We had ordered adulation funk, black chickpea curry, naan, and gulab jamun as cate. The food was great and the bill was 46 Brunei Bones( around ₹ 2,800) for two – precious by Indian norms but okay for an upmarket eatery outside the country.
• Also we went to the Gadong Night Market, where people go to eat road food. The best- dealing food there’s Nasi Katok, a plain mess of rice, funk, and sauce for only 1.5 Brunei Bones( around ₹ 96).

” There is a reason behind the name,” Habeeb said.”‘ Nasi’ is rice, and’ katok’ is knock. In the morning, only a single person would vend this dish 24 hours a day. guests had to knock on the door in order to be served.”

There was also a collection of original fruits, similar as the notorious durian. Notorious for the inviting odor, which can remain for months, this fruit has been banned on Singapore’s public transport, in hospices, and in utmost areas.

In defiance of my dislike, I indeed tried white durian at original musketeers’ patient urging. It was lively

” I nearly heaved and feel strange moment,” I confessed to them after just one bite.” I would rather die. This is too deadly for me.”

My hosts smiled understandingly.” In fact, durian is extremely pungent,” they comforted me.” Do not consume coke after eating – the gas will make you sicker.”

The People of Brunei Warmth Amid Wealth

One of the nicest surprises of my trip was the warm hospitality of the Bruneians. My Couchsurfing host Habeeb, who was from Indonesia, brought me to his original musketeers who were agitated to meet a rubberneck discovering their important- neglected country.

” Drink to Brunei, Mr. Param. I hope you enjoy your visit then and negotiate your thing,” one friend said at a coffee shop gathering.

The locals were interested in hearing my compliances of their nation and willing to give information regarding their culture. When they discovered my social media following, they were surprised that further individualities follow my work than inhabit their entire country.

These hassles revealed a society that cherishes hospitality, respect, and community. In malignancy of abiding in one of the world’s richest nations, Bruneians have a humble outlook and real interest in reaching out to callers.

Literal environment From British Protectorate to Independent Sultanate

The ultramodern identity of Brunei was forged by its social history and trip toward independence

• 1888 Came a British mandate with the Sultan limited to conventional powers
• 1929 British discovered oil painting
• 1941 Japanese occupation during World War II
• 1945 Freed when Japan surrendered
• 1959 Attained tone- government
• January 1, 1984 Became completely independent
• All this history accounts for a number of effects about ultramodern Brunei, similar as the frequence of English operation, the conservation of the sultanate, and the way that the bitsy country managed to avoid being gulfed by bordering Malaysia.

” It was good to be a British mandate,” I allowed during my visit,” since Malaysia could’ve taken over this region. Because it’s a small nation on Borneo Island with Malaysia hard, Malaysia could’ve come its sovereign , but having British protection allowed it to stay independent.”

currently, Brunei has strong connections with the UK and Singapore, indeed having pegged its currency to the Singapore Dollar so that both currencies are accepted in either nation interchangeably.

Conclusion Beyond Conceptions

My experience in Brunei uncovered a country that resists simplistic categorization. It’s a land of dichotomies tremendous wealth alongside prudent expenditure, severe laws with loose operation, religious traditionalism coinciding with warm hello to nonnatives.

For trippers who are allowing about Brunei, I’d say this Do not go hoping for escapism, booze, or usual sightseer entertainments. Go rather for:

• 1. glowing Islamic armature
• 2. A look at an unusual political system
  3. Friendly relations with the locals
• 4. Clean, tranquil surroundings

Cultural gests not set up anywhere differently in Southeast Asia As one original friend reprised when I asked her about living in Brunei” The stylish thing – everything is free, it’s nipping and peaceful.” perhaps that tranquility – bought on the strength of petroleum and saved by a special social compact between monarch and subject – is Brunei’s most precious commodity, more precious than its oil painting.

Have you been to Brunei or another out- the- beaten- path destination in Southeast Asia? Leave your stories in the commentary below! *