Brunei, reizen naar een van de bizarste landen

Taking a trip to Brunei? Well why not!

It may not be the first country that comes to mind when you are planning a trip to Asia. And maybe not the second either. And when that does come to mind, you are quickly shocked by a country like Brunei when you see where Brunei approximately stands on the rankings when it comes to human rights and all kinds of other rights. Because honestly, we were shocked by that too. What doesn't help at all is when other travelers say that Brunei was one of the most disappointing destinations. Echter heeft Brunei ons dus wel positief verrast! Lees verder hierover.
Then why would you go there at all?

Well, that's how I felt, and yet every country appeals to me. Every country must have something beautiful, so ultimately I don't travel for politics, but for what a country is really about. Nature, the people, and the places where people live. I believe that every country can offer something beautiful, including Brunei! When we were planning our trip to Malaysia, I couldn't resist going to Brunei. Even if it is only to be able to visit one of the least visited countries in Asia. And to come to the coffee table with a nice story like "Yes, but I recently visited a dubious country!"

What is there to do in Brunei?

Gelegen in het prachtige Borneo, het 3e grootste eiland ter wereld en bekend om de prachtige jungle is er verrassend genoeg juist genoeg te doen! Eenmaal aangekomen in de hoofdstad, Bandar Seri Begawan lieten wij ons verrassen over deze stad! De locals waren ontzettend vriendelijk en open. Iets wat wij totaal niet hadden verwacht. Iedereen kwam zeer toegankelijk over. Net alsof ze negeren in wat voor situatie zij leven. Met de locals pratende kom je er echter wel achter dat zij naar zeer hoge standaarden leven voor Azië. Een goed inkomen, en veel sociale zekerheden in combinatie met een lage belasting. Zo gezien snap ik dat ze dat waarderen!

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin-mosque

In the Capital you have the impressive mosque Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque. This is the image of Brunei! Built by the Sultan himself, and equipped with a real golden roof, it is an impressive mosque to see! The capital itself is a culture shock in itself, compared to other Asian capitals it is quiet and organized here! Admittedly so quiet that you can easily get to the central part of the city.

Fishing village of Bandar Seri Begawan. Kampong Ayer

Personally, I thought this was the highlight of the capital. Just opposite the central part of the city, and for a euro and a 5-minute boat ride you are in what I feel is where real life is going on. This is where fishermen, farmers, families live and all life takes place on the wooden jetties that connect all the buildings. Including the schools, restaurants and other buildings. Everything here is built on stilts! After a delicious lunch for a few euros with fresh fish, we wandered around here! Every local we saw loved our visit! Feel free to wander around here without a plan 🙂

Explore the nature of Borneo in Brunei!

You are here in the middle of Borneo, one of the most beautiful areas when it comes to rainforest! Brunei is also located on this island, although the Malaysian and Indonesian parts have more to offer. Brunei also has plenty of beautiful Borneo! Book a boat tour in the capital, everyone knows someone who can arrange this for you 🙂 We went on a day tour from the capital into the jungle on a boat, and saw plenty of wildlife! From crocodiles to exotic birds. We were always amazed at the sight of so much beautiful nature and wild animals!

Gadong Night Market

If there was anything delicious here, it was the Gadong Night market! It's a bit of a taxi ride, but everyone seems to enjoy the delicious food here after a hot day! It is therefore the place to explore the cuisine of Brunei and Borneo. And if you like delicious Indonesian food, then you've come to the right place! Because Brunei's cuisine shares an incredible amount with that of Indonesia! In short, you can fill yourself up here with all kinds of satay dishes and delicious bacon biscuits!

Practical tips for Brunei, because good preparation is necessary for this country!

You don't just travel to Brunei without doing your research, that's my biggest tip for this country. It is true that it is visa-free for most nationalities. Not everyone would want to travel to Brunei without worries. As a woman, you are expected to be covered, even in the tropical heat. I personally found walking in shorts uncomfortable. Please cover your shoulders, people are not used to much here. We also did not feel comfortable walking hand in hand. My advice above all is, wees een beetje netjes qua uitstraling en gedrag

The sultan has a say in everything here and has a big finger in the pie. LGBTQ+ rights are not here. The state religion here is the Islam with Sharia law. Alcohol and all other things that are haram are not allowed here. Just like freedom of speech and the like. Be prepared for this and do not push the boundaries, but accept that you are a guest as a tourist. And you just have a great time, because the locals are really friendly!

Further practical tips:

Brunei is easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore for a great price with Air Asia.
Brunei is visa-free for most nationalities
Brunei uses the same European sockets
In terms of price level, it is a lot lower than Singapore, but more expensive than Malaysia
A lot can generally be arranged at your hotel in terms of transport and trips!
Tropical heat, but neatly dressed. Therefore, use airy clothing
Prepare yourself, and you will have a special time 🙂

Anyway, I would always recommend visiting Brunei with Malaysia, Indonesia or Singapore. As a separate trip, it is not worth traveling around for 4 weeks. However, for a few days to a week! For those who are willing to jump a few hurdles when it comes to local customs, you can visit a unique country that few others will see or know! Because Brunei also has, as secretly hoped, a lot of beautiful things to offer when it comes to nature and great locals!