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1. COUNTRY
Brunei Darussalam is
an oil-rich country located on the island of
Borneo in Southeast Asia.
There are
four main districts (daerah) in Brunei. They are
divided into the following :-
a) Brunei-Muara district
b) Tutong district
c) Belait district
d) Temburong district
2.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Brunei is located northwest of
the island of Borneo, between latitudes 04000'
and 05005N
and longitudes 114004' and 118023'E.
Brunei is bounded on the north
by the South China Sea, and on the other sides by the
Malaysian state of Sarawak, which also divided Brunei
into two parts whereby 97% of the population lives in the
larger western part while the rest lives in the mountainous
eastern part i.e. the Temburong district.
Photo: Ulu Temburong National Park
3. AREA
5,765 sq km
4. POPULATION
350,000
5. CAPITAL
Bandar Seri Begawan
6. PEOPLE
About two-thirds of Brunei's
population are of Malay origin while the Chinese is the most
important ethnic group.
7. LANGUAGE
Malay is the official language
while English is widely spoken. A number of Chinese and
Indian languages and dialects are also used.
8. RELIGION
Islam is the official religion
of Brunei as stated in the Brunei Constitution, with His
Majesty The Sultan as the head of the Islamic faith in the
country. Thus, Islam plays a central role in the life of
every Muslim in Brunei. Christianity and Buddhism are also
practised freely.
9. GOVERNMENT
Brunei is an independent
sovereign Sultanate which is governed on the basis of a
written constitution. His Majesty The Sultan and Yang
Di-Pertuan is the supreme executive authority in Brunei. His
Majesty has occupied the position of Prime Minister since
resumption of independence in 1984.
Brunei's administrative system
is centered on the Prime Minister's Office which has
provided the thrust behind His Majesty's aim to introduce
greater efficiency in the Government. In his National Day
speech in 1987, His Majesty pointed out that it was
essential to keep the country's administrative machinery
up-to-date in line with the development of Brunei as an
independent nation.
His Majesty has followed a
combination of traditional and reforming policies, moving
away from a structure of a Chief Minister and State
Secretary to a full ministerial system with specified
portfolios.
10. CLIMATE
Brunei has a tropical climate, a
uniform temperature, highly humidity and copious rainfall.
Daily temperature averages between 220C and 280C,
with annual rainfall ranges from around 2,790 mm in many
parts of the interior, particularly during the monsoon
period from November to March.
Photo: Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
11. HISTORY
AND CULTURE
The history of Brunei are both
very interesting and colorful. The Sultanate of Brunei was very
powerful from the 14th through the 16th century, covering
southern Philippines, Sarawak and Sabah of Malaysia.
European influence made itself felt in the region around mid
16th century and Brunei began to lose its grip on the empire
, which was besieged by problems such as wars, internecine
strife, insurrection and piracy. Brunei became a British
protected state in 1888. On the 31st December
1983, Brunei was declared a fully independent sovereign
nation. The culture of Brunei is very similar to the Malay
culture with heavy influences from Hinduism and Islam.
Bruneians are very proud of
their country, have a high standard of living and harbor an
international perspective and openness towards tourists
despite their adoption of certain Islamic social codes.
Brunei follows Malay traditions, and the Bruneian customs,
beliefs and pastimes are very similar to those of the Malays
in Malaysia.
12. MAJOR HOLIDAYS
New Year's Day (January 1),
Chinese New Year, National Day (February 23) , Israk Mekraj
(Anniversary of the Prophet's Journey to Heaven), First Day
of Ramadan (Fasting Month), Nuzul al-Qur'an (Anniversary of
the Revelation of the Qur'an), Hari Raya Aidilfitri
(Festival celebrated after the fasting month) and the
following day, Armed Forces Day (May 31), Birthday of His
Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam
(July 15), Hari Raya Aidiladha (The Festival of the
Sacrifice), First Day of Hijrah (The Islamic Calendar), Hari
Maulud (The Prophet's Birthday) and Christmas Day (December
25).
13. ECONOMIC PROFILE
Economically, Brunei
is dependant on revenues from crude oil and
natural gas. Apart from this, the economy of
Brunei is supported by incomes received from
rents, royalties, taxes and dividends.
14. ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS
The government of Brunei
Darussalam requires visitors to be in possession of a valid
passport.
VISAS
German, Malaysian, Singaporean,
British nationals with the right of abode in the United
Kingdom and New Zealand nationals are exempted from the
requirement to obtain a visa for visits not exceeding 30
days. American passport holders can enter Brunei for three
months without visas. For nationals of Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, France, Indonesia, Japan, Luxembourg, Republic of
Maldives, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, South
Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the
Principality of Liechtenstein, visas are waived for 14-day
visits. Whereas nationals of Australia are issued visas on
arrival at the Brunei International Airport for visits not
exceeding 14 days.
All other nationals entering
Brunei Darussalam must have visas obtainable from any Brunei
Darussalam diplomatic missions abroad. These visas are
normally issued for a two-week stay but can be renewed in
Brunei. Visitors must have onward tickets or sufficient
funds to support themselves while in the country.
15. CURRENCY
Brunei issued its own currency
in 1967, replacing the Malaya British Borneo money, which it
had previously shared with Singapore and Malaya. The
currency unit is the Brunei Dollar (B$). The currency consists of
notes of $1, $5, $10, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 and $10,000
and coins of 1 cent, 5 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents whereby
one dollar is equal to 100 cents.
In 1992, a new denomination of a
$25 note was put into circulation in honor of the Silver
Jubilee of His Majesty The Sultan's ascension to the throne.
It is advisable to use a HSBC or
a Standard Chartered travelers checks. A fee of B$15.00
surcharge will be imposed.
USD1.00 = B$1.635 (Brunei Dollar)
16. BANKING
HOURS
Monday - Friday: 9.00am to
3.00pm except on public holidays and Saturday: 9.00 am to
11.00am. Most banks handle travelers checks and currency
exchange and are approved by the government.
ATMs can be found easily in
Bandar Seri Begawan, Seria, Kuala Belait, Jerudong and Muara.
Private offices usually operate
from Monday - Friday: 8.00am to 5.00pm and Saturday: 8.00am
to 12.00 in the afternoon. Government offices open from
7.45am to 12.15pm and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm every day except
Fridays and Sundays. Most shops open at 10.00am to 9.30pm.
During Ramadhan, the Muslim month of fasting, office hours
are often shorter.
17. POST
OFFICES
Most hotels provide postal
services at the front desk. Post offices are open from
7.45am to 4.30pm daily except on Friday and Sunday. On
Friday, opening times are from 8.00am to 11.00am and from
2.00pm to 4.00pm. The main post office in Bandar Seri
Begawan (corner of Jl Sultan and Jl Elizabeth Dua ) is near
the Tourist Information Centre.
18. TIME
Eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific
Standard Time.
19.
ELECTRICITY
Voltage is 220-240 volts AC at 50
cycles per second throughout the country.
20. WEIGHTS
AND MEASUREMENTS
Brunei follows the metric
system in weight and measures.
21. TELEPHONES
The
telecommunications system in Brunei is on par
with the best in Southeast Asia, serving the
country with fixed phones and two earth
satellite stations for worldwide IDD, telex and
fascimile links. All hotels in Brunei are
equipped with these services.
Hallo Kad, a
pre-paid card is available and allows calls to
be made, with any phone to over 130 countries
from Brunei and from 68 countries to Brunei.
Visitors can purchase a Hallo Kad at the
international airport and other local vendors.
Coin phones are operable with local coins of 10
and 20 cent denominations. Phonecards for card
operated phones are available from JTB and many
retail stores.
DSTCom, the mobile
operator server of Brunei Darussalam, offers the
system GSM. If you have a GSM phone you may use
it in Brunei, depending on agreements between
your home country and Brunei. GSM phone rental
service is available from DSTCom. Mobile phones
rental charges may vary. Further information can
be obtained by calling the DSTCare Hotline, 151.
USEFUL TELEPHONE
NUMBERS
Police Tel: 993
Fire Tel: 995
Ambulance Tel: 991
Directory Enquiries
Tel: 113
Flight Information
Tel: 2 331747
Taxi Service
Bandar Seri Begawan
Tel: 2 222214, 2 226853
Kuala Belait Tel: 3
334581
Seria Tel: 3
222030/155
Country code: 673
22. GETTING
THERE
BY AIR
The main gateway to Brunei is
through Berakas, about 15-minute drive from Bandar Seri
Begawan using the Brunei International Airport. The national
airline, Royal Brunei Airlines has direct flights between
Bandar Seri Begawan and other major Asian destinations like
Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Manila, as
well as flights from Kuching in Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu in
Sabah of Malaysia.
Malaysia Airlines, Singapore
Airlines and Thai Airways also fly into Bandar Seri Begawan.
BY SEA
The main entry point by sea to
Brunei is at Muara Port, Muara which is about 28 km from
Bandar Seri Begawan.
Traveling by boat is the easiest
way to get into Brunei from Sabah or Sarawak. Numerous
express boats travel between Muara Port and Labuan of
Malaysia between 7.30am to 4.40pm.
BY ROAD
From Sarawak, Malaysia and
Kalimantan, it is possible to enter Brunei through a number of crossings.
You can enter Brunei via Kuala
Baram in Sarawak and onto Kuala Belait by bus, or from
Limbang to Kuala Lurah, just southwest of Bandar Seri
Begawan or from Limbang to Bangar in the Temburong district.
23. GETTING
AROUND
Many of Brunei's places of
interest actually lie within a comfortable stroll of each
other in the heart of the capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan.
TAXIS
Metered taxis are available at
most hotels, shopping centres and the airport. In the
capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, taxis are located at the
multi-storey carpark at Jalan Cator. Airport taxis are also
available at different rates.
CAR HIRE
Self-drive or chauffeur-driven
cars are available from major hotels and the airport.
BUSES
There are six bus routes in
Bandar Seri Begawan, the Eastern Line, Southern Line,
Western Line, Central Line, Circle Line and the Northern
Line. This public transport operates from 6.30am to 6.00pm,
with Central Line buses running every 15 minutes and the
Circle Line every 20 minutes.
The Central Line stops at the
following bus stations: Brunei International Airport, post
office, government offices, government schools, Terrace
Hotel, Sheraton Utama Hotel, the Youth Centre, the main bus
centre in Bandar, the Arts and Handicraft Centre, the Brunei
Museum, and the Malay Technology Museum.
The Circle Line stops at the
main bus terminal in Bandar, the RIPAS hospital, Jame' Asr
Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, the Gadong fish and vegetable
market, the Centrepoint in Gadong, government offices,
Immigration/ Labour Department, the Sultan Haji Hassanal
Bolkiah National Stadium, the Pusat Dakwah Islamiah, Supa
Save Mabohai, Terrace Hotel, Sheraton Utama Hotel and the
Youth Centre.
The Northern Line caters to
three routes: Northern Line 1, Northern Line 2 and Northern
Line 3. Northern Line 1 and 2 runs between Berakas Camp,
Brunei International Airport and the bus terminal in Bandar,
whilst Northern Line 3 runs between Berakas Camp, the bus
terminal and the Malay Technology Museum in Kota Batu.
Buses heading to other major
towns such as Seria and Kuala Belait depart from the bus
terminal located at the multi-storey carpark on Jalan Cator
in downtown Bandar Seri Begawan. Bus fares start from B$1.00
AIRLINES
Operating from Bandar Seri
Begawan, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) flies to 23 cities.
Brunei International Airport is also serviced regularly by
Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Garuda
Indonesia, Philippine Airlines and Malaysian Airlines.
WATER TAXI
Water taxis are the most common
means of negotiating the waterways of Kampung Ayer. They can
be hailed from the numerous 'docking ports' along the banks
of Brunei River. Fares are negotiable. Regular water taxi
and boat services to Temburong between 7.45am to 4.00pm
daily and also service the Malaysian towns of Limbang, Lawas,
Sundar and Labuan.
Most short trips cost around
B$2.00 and you can even hire your own water taxi for B$25.00
per hour.
FERRY SERVICES
Car and passenger ferry services
to the Malaysian towns of Labuan and Miri depart from the
Serasa Terminal and Sungai Tujoh in Kuala Belait
respectively. The journey takes between 45 minutes to an
hour. During public holidays, the journey to Miri may take
more than two hours.
24.
ACCOMMODATION
Brunei has a wide range of
accommodation at competitive rates. International standard
hotels, medium and budget hotels, youth hostels and
timeshare apartments are just some of the types of
accommodation available. Privately operated motor-homes are
also available fro rental. A cheap room may cost slightly
above about USD20.00 which is expensive compared to other
countries in Southeast Asia. Visitors can always find the
types of accommodations that suits them ranging from budget
hotels to luxurious five-star hotels.
The youth hostel is the only
choice in Bandar Seri Begawan that can really be called
budget, while the accommodation in Bangar in the Temburong
district is also quite reasonable.
25. DO'S AND
DON'TS
Tourists are
required to observe the local dress code and
should understand that revealing clothes are
considered to be immodest and therefore socially
unacceptable.
Bruneians shake
hands by lightly touching the hands and then
bringing the hand to the chest, it is customary
not to shake hands with members of the opposite
sex. You should not point with your finger,
instead use your thumb of your right hand with
the four fingers folded beneath it.
When visiting a
mosque, you should always remove your shoes
first and you should not pass in front of a
person in prayer or touch the Qu'ran. Women
should cover their heads and not have their
knees or arms exposed.
Gifts and
particularly food should only be passed with the
right hand, although it is acceptable to use the
left hand under the right wrist for support.
It is polite to
accept even just a little food and drink when
offered. When refusing anything offered, it is
polite to touch the plate lightly with the right
hand.
During the Islamic
fasting month, Ramadhan, Muslims do not take
food from sunrise to sundown. It would be
inconsiderate to eat and drink in their presence
during this period.
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