A Muslim friendly country that is mostly missed or overlooked by tourists is the country of Brunei. Brunei is known as Negara Brunei Darussalam or Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace. It has been a country since 1984 after gaining independence from Britain.
A mostly unknown nation wedged between the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, Brunei is incredible wealthy with a high GDP, having vast reserves of natural gas and oil and production facilities in the nearby waters.
Bandar Seri Begawan, or simply Bandar or BSB as the locals call it, is the main city in Brunei with almost 150,000 people. This is where most of the attractions in this tiny country are. Reaching BSB is easy, as the city has an airport with direct flights from all over the southeast Asia region.
Most of the attractions that Brunei has to offer are either in Bandar or along the coastline and in the ocean.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
Inside the city one of the biggest and most spectacular sights is the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque,a picturesque mosque surrounded by green grass and a lake. With stunning views to be had of this masterpiece of architecture, and the option to go inside when the mosque is open to the public, it is not a sight to be missed.
Istana Nurul Iman is another one of the dominant Brunei tourist attractions. The residential palace of the ruling family covers an area of 300 acres and overlooks the scenic Kampong Ayer village.
Kampong Ayer, or simply ‘water village’ is another of the top Brunei tourist attractions. Reachable by water taxi from the city center, it is located directly behind the Sultan’s palace. The village consists of several hundred houses that seem to be floating on water, supported by small stilts with wooden walkways interweaving between them. Its a very picturesque scene that is reminiscent of the more traditional days of Brunei.
Outside of the city are some of the more natural attractions that Brunei has to offer. the Temburong district in the southern part of the country has long been a home to dense rainforests with incredible bio-diversity. Most of the tours in the area include canopy walks through the treetops and riverboat rides up the river into Belalong National Park. Many tribes in the area still live in traditional longhouses, which are exactly what they sound like – long houses, with sometimes dozens of families living in a single house.
Brunei’s coastline along the beautiful South China Sea is thriving and diverse area with pristine shipwrecks, coral reefs and and waters bursting with wildlife. The best wreck diving is at Blue Water Wreck – an 80 meter trawler which is still intact, Cement Wreck – a Japanese freighter ship 92 meters in length, Australian Wreck – a 1949 wreck with 85 meters length, and Rig Reef – a nine lever decommissioned oil rig that is bursting with fish and wildlife. If you’re not a fan of scuba diving, there are also reefs which may be viewed by snorkeling, and plenty of pristine beaches along the sea with fine sand and beautiful sunsets.
No matter how long you decide to spend in Brunei, it is a surprisingly cultured and diverse modern Muslim country with lots to offer to fellow visitors.
