Top 5 places to visit in Brunei Top 5 products in Brunei

SULTAN OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIEN MOSQUE

Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, this royal mosque is named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei who initiated its construction. With a main dome of solid gold and minarets of Italian marble, it might seem engineered to be a tourist magnet – but the interior of the mosque is dedicated solely to worship.

KAMPONG AYER

True to its literal translation of “Water Village”, all of Kampong Ayer’s buildings sit on stilts above the Brunei River. A population of 39,000 makes this place the world’s biggest water village, and its amenities are surprisingly modern: they have air- conditioning, internet access and electricity. Visitors can take a boat tour to experience this unique heritage site.

TASEK LAMA RECREATIONAL PARK

Popular with tourists and locals alike, this park located within the capital city is perfect for a quick, momentary escape to nature. There are various jogging paths suited for both serious hikers and families, and even a jungle trail for the adventurous. The park also houses a reservoir that supplies water to half the country.

ROYAL REGALIA MUSEUM

If you’ve ever wanted a peek into the life of a sultan, this museum presents an opportunity to do so. A plethora of exhibits commemorates Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s silver jubilee; bejewelled crowns, opulent ceremonial costumes, as well as gifts presented to the sultan by many different countries.

GADONG NIGHT MARKET

Although more functional than bizarre, the Gadong Night Market is well worth a visit for a good, strong dose of Bruneian cuisine. With food prices ranging from B$1 to B$ 3, a bonus is that you can try many different delicacies without worrying about your wallet! Some interesting fare includes tongkengayam (chicken buttocks) and hatibuyah (stir-fried beef lungs).

BRASSWORK

One of the best- known traditional crafts, brass- making has been carried out by local craftsmen since 1225. This trade faced a steep decline with Brunei’s discovery of oil in 1929, until the government took action to revive brass- making in the 1970s. Today, brassware is an ubiquitous ornament in Bruneian houses. You can pick some to bring home at the Arts and Handicraft Centre.

TEXTILES

Exquisitely- woven cloths are part of Brunei’s national identity, widely used in religious, official and everyday life in Brunei. Traditional motifs are often inspired by nature, while colours are symbolic in the context of royal ceremonies. A special material to look out for is the Jong Sarat – this high- quality patterned cloth demands fine workmanship from its weaver.

ANYAMAN

Apart from textiles, the Brunei people are also adept at weaving baskets from young bamboo and rattan. Requiring skill, concentration and practice, this craft known as anyaman started out as a hobby for housewives. With fine plaits and bright patterns, these baskets are a functional yet beautiful accessory to spruce up your look.

AMBUYAT

The national dish of Brunei, ambuyat is made by pouring hot water into ambulung, also known as sago. It is often eaten with a binjai sauce, as well as a variety of vegetable and meat dishes. Some might raise an eyebrow at this sticky goop, but it’s an experience you will never find elsewhere.

BELACAN

Belacan, or fermented shrimp paste, is an essential ingredient in many Southeast Asian dishes. Given Brunei’s access to a coastline, it is freshly made with locally- caught shrimps and sea salt. While available in some countries as a pale liquid sauce, Brunei’s belacan is sold in dark blocks. The best place to buy belacan is in open markets.

Although with a similar function to peribahasa in standard Malay, perambahan is uniquely Bruneian. Be it drawing analogies from old tales, making comparisons to things in daily life or referencing the beliefs of ancestors, perambahan is deeply rooted in the experiences of individuals living in the Brunei Malay society. Many perambahan are associated with chicken (“ayam”) because it used to be a common household animal. There is “lagau-lagau ayam”, which refers to an insincere invitation, and “mengayam laki” referring to a conceited person.

Thus, as an element of Brunei Malay, perambahan reflects the culture and life of its people. In this same vein, the less- common dialects of Kampong Ayer and Kadayan, used by water villagers and land-based farmers respectively, also have features that set them apart from standard Malay. Speaker numbers of these two dialects have been on a decline, however – possibly reflecting a greater homogeneity in Bruneian society.