The capital city Bandar Seri Begawan and his attractions
The city of Bandar Seri Begawan has been the capital of Brunei since 1405. The founder of the empire, Awang Alak Betar, chose this place, later adopted Islam and the name Muhammad. The current name of the town has been used since 1970 when Brunei Town was then renamed Bandar Seri Begawan in honor Sultan Omar, who received the title of Seri Begawan.
Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
The mosque is named after the 29th sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzadin Waddaulah. It was opened on July 14, 1994, the night before Her Majesty’s 48th birthday. It was built in honor of 25 years of the sultan government. The mosque is an architectural masterpiece. It originated from Turkish mosques with 4 high minarets and 29 golden domes. The surrounding area is set in a garden with several fountains, pools and several kinds of plants. At night it shines like a golden flame. On Friday, the mosque is closed for visitors.
Royal Regalia Museum
A great museum where you can see gifts for the present sultan (weapons, clothes, vases, statuettes …). One part deals with the Sultan himself (from childhood to his reign). In addition, we were able to see the coronation throne. At the entrance, you can also see 2 state golden carriages.
Brunei History Center
Government institutions that carry out research, documentation, publication, and dissemination of information on the history of Brunei. It was founded in 1982. The museum documents the whole history of Brunei from the settlement, colonialism to contemporary modern history.
Interestingly, the entrance to the museums is FREE and without footwear. Fortunately, there are slippers and the only thing waiting for you is the guestbook, where you have to write the name, surname, date of visit, country and number of people. In the Royal Museum, you can put your bag to the storage box with the lock. I definitely recommend having a sweatshirt or a scarf (the air-conditioning works great). No taking photos inside (there is e a camera system and security personnel), so if you will come here, enjoy it so much to keep in mind many memories as we do 🙂
Gadong Night Market
Night market with local delicacies, vegetables, and fruit at great prices. Do not expect to see an open-air stall. The market is in the building.
Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge (Sungai Kebun Bridge)
A cable bridge connecting the city center and Sungai Kebun in the capital. It is named after Queen Saleh (wife of the present sultan). It was officially opened on October 14, 2017, as part of the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Sultan government. It is the second longest single pylon cable bridge in the world.
Kampong Ayer
Floating village where the original settlement of Brunei was located. Sometimes it is also known as “Venice of the East”. It spreads over the Brunei River, which flows into the Gulf of Brunei. The only possible way to get to the village is by the water taxi.
Mercu Dirgahayu 60
The monument, built in honor of the 60th birthday of the Sultan of Brunei, shows number 60 in Arabic. It is a gift from the Brunei people to their leader, showing their gratitude, affection, and loyalty. The golden main structure is heading upward to indicate its wisdom and charisma in the pursuit of prosperity, peace, and progress in this country.
Istana Nurul Iman
The largest residential palace in the world. The official seat of sultan and government. It was built on a hill overlooking Kampong Ayer. It is the center of state affairs. It is opened to the public only 3 days per year. There is the bus stop near the palace, so we said that we will see the palace from the outside. But actually, we didn´t know, that we will stand before the huge closed gate and the only thing we will see is the exchange of guards. The whole palace is hidden behind a huge garden.
Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
Short description – an oasis of tranquility in the heart of the capital city of Brunei. The mosque was completed in 1958 and named after the 28th Sultan. The building features a typical Islamic architecture, the main dome is 52 meters tall and covered with gold. The main minaret is a combination of Renaissance and Italian architecture. Some material was imported from abroad (marble from Italy, granite from Shanghai, crystal chandeliers from England, carpets from Saudi Arabia).
You can also see the mosque inside and don´t worry if you are not wearing long-sleeved clothing. At the entrance there are several cloaks, only the women must have their head covered, so I recommend having at least a scarf. Entry is without shoes.
What to say about Brunei after our visit
We have a lot of feelings. It is true that we have read a lot of information about the country’s richness. Perhaps it is, but it is not visible in the capital city. Apart from the few exceptions that belong to the Brunei icons, the buildings are old, cracked and half-broken. Overall Brunei is not a country for a longer stay. The majority of the population lives in the capital city, and the rest of the country is the rainforest, but we met only a few people. It was an empty place for us … it can be said that we called it like a “city of ghosts”.
P.S .:
Do you know, as I wrote in the previous article, that shared rooms in hostels are a good place because you can meet interesting people here? So outside of David, we met Daryl from the Netherlands before the day of departure, and finally, we found out that we are flying on the same day, at the same time and by the same plane to Kuala Lumpur. So we went to the airport together. At the airport, we still had to do a photo together She was surprised because we are traveling just with our small baggage under 7 kg. She always read about these travelers, but she never encountered such travelers in person. On the other side, she is traveling with a suitcase that weighed 24kg and she has a small baggage too. For us absolutely unimaginable: D
