Brunei: The tiny tourist paradise Sophie and Dale, owners of small businesses We had to leave the Philippines and go to Kota Kinabulu in the province of Sabah, Malaysia. We had to leave because the 21-day period, our almost expired visas. Of course, the visa can be renewed, and we plan to do it on his return, but it turned out that depart on time, it was cheaper than to renew a visa twice. All this little vanity: but we need such a version is well suited. Rather than fly, and immediately come back, we decided to stay for a week outside the Philippines, and go a short time in Brunei. We thought that we should not miss this chance, especially since here only a couple of hours flight. Dome of the Rock Seyfuddina, the view from the back side to Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, one could get in several ways, but we decided to take the bus from Kota Kinabulu to Menumboka, and then by boat to reach the island of Labuan. From there, the ferry will take us to the port Serasa Ferry Terminal in Brunei, as the bus for $ 2 take you to the city. We arrived fairly quickly, a move is replaced by another without any adventure, with the exception of the usual crush at the pier at planting and at the exit from the ferry. View of the Mosque of Omar Seyfuddina on the input side we did not know what impressions we will visit Brunei. About this country we knew only that the rights it is very rich sultan, and that this strict Islamic state. We imagine that will see the house, decorated with gold, and people who wear expensive jewelry, but in reality it was not the case. When entering the city we saw a lot of normal for this part of Asian homes, but, however, we noticed a few luxurious mansions. The city center was very small. We thought that we need several days to explore all of its attractions, but the size was similar to the average English town, so that half had more than enough. In the city we arrived in the evening, getting dark, and it was too late to go anywhere. We met Danny, a guide who is very much surprise us. He is in the usual manner, characteristic of all guides, began talking about the city. He led us in the cheapest hotel ($ 30), but still he was not quite the usual tours. He refused the money, and even tips and told us everything we needed to know at the moment. Of course, he mentioned what may be useful to us, but do not advertise themselves, and eventually we agreed that if we need his services, we will contact him through the hotel. View of the Dome of the Rock from afar Seyfuddina evening there was nothing, and we went for a walk into town. The main building in downtown is a great mosque of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin. This must be the main character on which fashionable to know the city. The mosque is simply amazing in its beauty as the sun, so after sunset, when the lights turn on. Having admired the mosque, we went to the mall, which has not made much impression on us, is quite a small department store and several small cafes. We went out into the street and just around the corner found a small cheap restaurant, which decided to eat all the remaining days. Honestly, if you're used to a lot of different restaurants, the Brunei you obviously did not like because there's nothing special to choose not anything else. Bandar Seri Begawan specific plans we had, and the next day we just decided to walk around the city. Once we read about the Museum of the Royal Regalia, we thought that it might be interesting, and decided to spend the afternoon. Walking through the city was very short, because it was very hot and we had to seek refuge in an internet cafe, where we spent several hours under the protection of the air conditioner. In the hour of the day the museum reopened, and we went there to learn more about the Sultan of Brunei, whose name is synonymous with untold wealth. Cat on the market like most buildings in the city, the museum was built under the personal supervision of the Sultan, and I want to tell you, this is one of the best museums that I visited, the attractiveness of the exposition. In it we found many interesting facts about the life of the sultan and his family saw the original items, with whom he held the coronation ceremony. Crowns, swords, and even the golden throne of the hand with which the Sultan kept his chin during a ceremony on display in a huge glass case that protects the hour. Also, we were able to look at the installation ceremony of the coronation of a life-size, but most of all we liked all kinds of gifts, which the Sultan was to celebrate her birthday and other important dates. Swords and shields at the Museum of the Royal regalia So what are presented to the sultan, because he has so much money that he himself can buy whatever he wants? Most give all sorts of gadgets. Very expensive gadgets, of course. We never understood why he was exhibiting his gifts in the museum: perhaps they did not like him, or maybe he already has about the same things. We walked through the halls of the museum and represented that the Sultan in his huge palace with 1700 rooms must be full of all the cabinets, hammered gifts that he did not like. And if so, it seems, throws them like a capricious child, and cries out that all this he did not like. On the other hand, why no one gives him what he really wants to get from their fans? River in Bandar Seri Begawan Most of the exhibits were really luxurious and expensive, so that the huge mirror model of the mosque looked at their background, just awful. If he needed a new home for a couple of expensive trinkets we might well give him his own. Copper copies of drawings of the Nazca Desert, a beautiful pearl jewelry box from Indonesia and a beautiful carved chest from Trinidad we liked the most. Rice in the market among the most valuable gifts were writing sets, table gongs, tea sets (Thailand has already donated for two!), Photographs, paintings, and gold copies of the Koran. Our special respect deserved the man who decided that the Sultan of like a rope made of rattan ... At least it is original! The museum has hundreds of gifts. For example, the Queen decided to do a green crystal bowl with oak leaves. Fortunately, the bowl was one of the most beautiful gifts, even if she did not like the sultan, and he sent it to the museum. We spent several hours in the museum, looking at the exhibition. All this gave us a small but persistent feeling that we roemsya in the things of the Sultan at his home. Of course, the ordinary man in the house we would not have to organize a search. But you will agree, in the home of the Sultan is the occupation can not help but like. The museum building was constructed of marble and looks terrific. Generally, this is not the best museum of gifts, but as an entrance here do not take money, do not think that someone from disappointed visitors see this exhibition. So if someone is meeting in Brunei, above all, we would recommend is to visit the museum presents the Sultan. Local Market Leaving behind the glitter and luxury, we went to the hotel. Perhaps not everyone knows that Brunei is famous for pristine jungle. It must be a country of such a large income from oil that deforestation for the sake of extra profit simply not necessary. But for the young and curious tourists the best that the jungle is home to many species of animals, as hunting in the country is strictly prohibited. Being indifferent to the wild, we have very long to decide how best to get to the jungle - with a group or go himself, along with Danny. In the end, we decided to go with our guide Danny, as it was hoped that by doing so we not only look at the animals, but also learn a lot about the nature of this country. Snake on a tree So, on the second day of our stay in Brunei, we hired Danny that he showed us the river Brunei. During our trip we had to get to the village, the huts in which there are over the sea on stilts. In these villages the locals lived here since ancient times. Day was coming saturated, and we, along with Danny went into the village, on the road listening to the stories about the life of Brunei. We learned many interesting things. For example, it appears that people here do not pay any taxes (all paid by the Sultan! "), They have free education and medical care. Tax on vehicles is only 30 dollars a year, gasoline cost only 25 cents per liter (through grants of the same sverhschedrogo Sultan). The crime rate is extremely low, speeding - the only offense that is at least sometimes, but committed citizens. If one wants the land to build a house, it will provide the land for free. Homeless people there do not exist. Poor people, of course, is, as in any other country, but they are not so poor to not have a roof over their heads, a decent education and health care. Not bad, huh? We, too, so it seemed. No doubt his Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzadin Waddaulah cares about its people, and so we are always mentioned it with great reverence and respect. Moreover, he not only performs duties of the Sultan, but the prime minister, defense minister, the heads of financial departments of the country, it turns out his responsibilities and incredibly unbelievably great! After a short tour of the village with huts on stilts, we continued our way up the river and from a distance saw the palace of the Sultan. Close to him could not get close, but Danny told us that the rooms in the palace in 1700, has its own mosque. The roof of the palace, do not lie guidebooks, and really made of gold, and still in the palace is a pool (this was the answer to Sophie). Not satisfied with one of the palace, we proceeded past the "economic territory", which was a hangar with two helicopters, a garage with watercraft and other mechanical toys. There were several smaller palaces, in which family members live the sultan. We were lucky, we saw taking off his private jet, carrying him to some exotic place, along with one (or all) of his three wives. Wow! Sultan leaves for a private jet So, having learned many interesting things about Brunei, on the life of its people and leadership, we began the second part of our journey, we had long anticipated - an excursion into the jungle! We went up the stream until it turned to one of the tributaries. Danny talked about crocodiles, monkeys Nosach and many other animals. We are not the first time set out to look at wild animals, so that internally have been prepared that someone from them we can not meet, but we worried for nothing. Once we drown out the engine and start peering into the jungle, as the boatman pointed upward, and we saw a monitor lizard resting on a branch. A few meters further, we almost came face to face with a bunch of monkeys-Nosach. They were almost close to us. We saw them on the island of Borneo in the Malaysian state of Sabah, but we were much closer to these funny and fascinating animals. Since it was morning, light enough to see them better. We are long enough to have watched as a large male kept somewhere in the trees his harem. Monkey Nosach During our past meetings with the wildlife we ??were able to just catch a glimpse of the crocodiles, so we really wanted to see them up close ... but not too close! At this time, it was more successful, and crocodiles have been quite a lot. We managed to see 4.5 reptile resting in the mud until they were frightened and did not go under water. Most of us like a big crocodile, which was hunting for a bunch of monkeys picking berries from bushes near the water. Unfortunately for him, we have spoiled him breakfast, and as we approached, he swam away, must be cursing the tourists. In addition to monkeys Nosach we managed to see monkeys, beautiful kingfishers and other river birds and a snake, which turned into a pile of branches just above our heads. Trip exceeded all our expectations and we got a lot more fun than it was during our tour in the jungle in Kinabantane, especially due to the saturation of the program and highly qualified personnel - the guide and the boatman. Their ability to notice everything around surpassed the limits of human possibilities. If we went without them, we would not see a single living being, as any animal for obvious reasons tends to be the least noticeable. Monitor lizard on the way back to town, we once again saw the need for multiple fire stations in the village itself on stilts and in the neighborhood. We observed a large fire in a house, and Danny told us that the fires are not uncommon, owing to increased fire danger of wooden buildings. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but the mood at all obviously spoiled. Our tour ended with a pleasant surprise: we climbed the tallest building in town to look at it in all its glory. The sight was just amazing, also go to them not all, so we felt elected. Dome of the Rock Seyfuddina Based on his experience, we strongly recommend the services of our guide Danny everyone who is going to Brunei and is looking for a nice, knowledgeable and very friendly guide. Will surpass it is not easy, and despite the fact that during our tour, we paid a little more than usual, the costs were justified to the last penny. We had to spend several hours in this tiny country, and we went for a walk in the park close to a river. It was nice to stretch my legs, but on the way we met too many steps, because of what we are noticeably tired. Taking into account one hundred percent humidity of the local air, it is not surprising that on his return, we simply expire and then immediately went straight into a cold shower. Dome of the Rock Seyfuddina in Bandar Seri Begawan, Colonnade Initially we did not expect to see anything special in Brunei, and were simply amazed at how much it is a nice country. She never needed in tourism as a source of income, so the local tourist industry has not slipped up "all out", as in many other countries. Accordingly, the tourists here have always been much lower than in the generally recognized places of recreation and entertainment. However, since the commercials in 20 years, oil is over, we were told that Bruneians are considering new sources of revenue, and tourism, of course, stands at the head of the list. And now, due to the fact that here comes not so many foreigners, creates a pleasant feeling of newness. However, it is entirely Muslim country, where there is no alcohol, not to mention the bars and nightclubs, so if you want to "revel in full, it is not a place where you should go, even with her, permissible to import alcohol. We were slightly surprised by the Hotel Empire, "the construction of which was spent 800 million dollars. He is considered one of the two 6-star hotels around the world. Who's there at all stops? It is hard to imagine some kind of celebrities who are willing to shell out 16,000 per day of stay without the possibility sip a glass of champagne on the terrace ... And until we leave this wonderful region and go back to the Philippines to continue our Asian adventure. See also other materials on the island of Borneo: Indonesia-Malaysia-Brunei island of natural wonders how to take part in the rescue of turtles?
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