Malay Islam Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja): Discover a Golden Heritage

Remy_3D · Post time 9-2-2004 11:34 PM

Golden Heritage

Brunei is a Malay Islamic Monarchy and the country is ruled according to Islamic values and traditions by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu抜zzadin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam.

You抣l find intriguing insights into the lifestyle of the country and people wherever you go. Take a riverside stroll and see His Majesty抯 royal palace, the largest residential palace in the world, resplendent with its golden domes and vaulted roofs.

Visit the many museums and discover royal regalia, a priceless collection of Islamic art and artisans at work. In Brunei, everything will beg for a bit of your time.

Remy_3D · Post time 9-2-2004 11:37 PM

The earliest mention of Brunei can be found in writings from the 10th century, when it is mentioned as a trading nation in the South China Seas and was referred to as either 慞uni

Remy_3D · Post time 9-2-2004 11:42 PM

Brunei is a land for adventurers. Go on a tropical safari through emerald green rainforests and refresh your senses in a natural health spa of picturesque pools, hot springs and waterfals.

Visit a longhouse - a village under one roof where the inhabitants were once feared as headhunters but now give visitors a warm welcome. Take a water-taxi ride along the river at sunset and catch a glimpse of a large colony of proboscis monkeys and exotic birds. Every day and every night Brunei will offer an exhilarating encounter with people, places, flora and fauna. Adventures just to happen.

LOCATION

Negara Brunei Darussalam (The Nation of Brunei - The Abode of Peace) lies on the North Coast of Borneo, 200 miles north of the equator. It is a small country with a coastline of less than 100 miles and a total area of some 2,226 sq. miles.

It is bounded to the north by the South China Sea and on three sides by Sarawak - a state of Malaysia. Brunei is divided into four districts, with the western portion of the country comprising Brunei/Muara, Tutong and Belait, and the eastern part consisting of the Temburong district.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

The land is made up of a combination of sandstone, shale and clay. To the west is hilly lowland which rises to about 300 metres above sea level. To the east, the wide coastal plain moves up to an altitude of 1840 metres above sea level in the Temburong District.

CLIMATE

Brunei has a tropical climate with a uniform temperature, high humidity and heavy rainfall. It has the advantage of being constantly cooled by breezes off the South China Sea and has a daily temperature of between 22癱 and 31癱. Brunei has a monsoon season for the five months between November and March, which brings the average annual rainfall to about 280 cm in many parts.

VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE

Five types of forest - mangrove, heath, peat swamp, mixed dipterocarp and montane - cover about 75 per cent of Brunei抯 total land area. Over 2,000 sq. kilometres of this land is occupied by State Forest Reserves.

Native Bruneian wildlife includes the honey bear, deer, monkeys and a wide range of reptiles and birds.

Remy_3D · Post time 9-2-2004 11:45 PM

Sun bathing and aqua-sports find new life in Brunei with its sun-kissed beaches, warm waters and gentle breezes, jet skiing, windsurfing and kayaking are popular activities. Scuba diving enthusiasts will be thrilled with the turquoise-blue waters.

Explore beautiful coral reefs, local shark reefs and old sunken shipwrecks - you never know what treasures you抣l discover.

If you抎 prefer something a little bit more off the beaten track, take a boat tour to a little mangrove island and explore to your heart抯 content. Deserted beaches and beautiful watering holes surrounded by stands of bamboo are easily found in Brunei.

Remy_3D · Post time 9-2-2004 11:47 PM

THE CAPITAL

In 1970, in order to honour the previous Sultan, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin and his 17-year reign, Brunei抯 capital Brunei Town was renamed Bandar Seri Begawan.

Located in the most populated region of Brunei - the Brunei/Muara District - the city covers 15.8 sq. kiometres and has a population of some 56,000 people.

It is a richly varied and historic city - as well as being the modern administrative centre for government and commerce. Within the capital is the famous Kampong Ayer (water village), which has been in existence for centuries. The most important building in the city is, however, the Royal Palace, seat of government and official residence of the Sultan.

The former ruler had assumed the little "Seri Begawan Sultan" after he handed over the throne to the present king His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

KAMPONG AYER

Before the establishment of Brunei Town on the mainland in 1906, Kampong Ayer represented the essence of Brunei. Since that time, the number of traditional Malay water homes has decreased as more people have accepted government offers of resettlement on the land.

Today, Kampong Ayer is still home to more than 30,000 people who live in the traditional way in houses built on stilts and huddled together on the Brunei river. Yet, the interior of these houses are now very modern with full services - such as electricity and piped fresh water. In addition, Kampong Ayer now has its own community services such as schools and health clinics while traditional Bruneian cottage industries such as cloth-weaving, silver crafting, brass casting and fishing continue to flourish in the area. It is an area throbbing with life and it is in many ways still the "heart" of Brunei Darussalam. The majority of Kampong Ayer residents work for either the government or the private sector on the mainland and each morning commute to the mainland, where they keep their cars.

THE OTHER Towns

Muara, which is 25 kiometres to the north-east of Bandar Seri Begawan.

Bangar, which is 48 kilometres to the south-east, in the Temburong District.

Pekan Tutong, which is 48 kilometres to the south-west, in the Tutong District.

Seria and Kuala Belait, about 109 kilometres to the south-west, in the Betiait District.

Of these towns, Seria is the most vital, as it has been the seat of Brunei抯 petroleum industry since oil was first struck in 1929. Just outside Seria is Lumut, where one of the world抯 largest liquefied natural gas plants now operates.