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Brunei, known for its small size and reputation for sleep, may not be on your travel list. But it is one of two countries, aside from New Zealand, that people in Singapore will be able to visit for general travel starting Tuesday, although its borders remain closed to tourists for now.
From ecotourism to modern and traditional foods, there are many hidden gems in the oil-rich sultanate just two hours from Singapore.
Here are five of them.
Explore the capital’s waterways
The capital of Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) is home to the largest floating village in the world, known as Kampong Ayer, where more than 10,000 people live in houses built on water.
Newly renovated ones have concrete piers leading to brick-and-mortar homes, while others sport wood-patched walls and missing planks on the boardwalk.
And some houses that you can see from afar, adorned with plants, flowers, ceramics and a riot of colors, seem to have emerged from a children’s story book.
For a more immersive experience, spend the night in Kampong Ayer at Kunyit 7 Hostel, a colorful house-turned-guesthouse. It is run by a resident who inherited the property from his grandparents.
Residents of Kampong Ayer travel in water taxis, which are small speedboats that traverse the narrow canals. Stand on any exposed jetty to point one down – short jumps cost a dollar.
You can negotiate with a boatman to take you on a tour of the town for between $ 10 and $ 20.
Alternatively, the Brunei tourism website has suggested walking trails, which guide you through the village.
Monkey look monkey does
Combine your Kampong Ayer excursion with a boat ride through the surrounding mangroves to see endangered proboscis monkeys, known for their hanging noses and bellies.
The species is endemic to Borneo, the largest island in Asia shared by Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
The monkeys are fairly easy to see and I count about 20 during a one hour boat tour when I visited last March.
Some swing through the treetops looking for a place to rest at night. Others climb the roots of the mangroves at eye level, with webbed feet that evolved to move nimbly near the water’s edge.
Crocodiles are the main predator of monkeys.
Visit ornate mosques
Mosques are a highlight of the Islamic nation and none is as impressive as the Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, which is named after the Sultan of Brunei.
A palm-lined driveway leads to the building’s four minarets and 29 golden domes, impressive by day and luminous at night. With a capacity of 5,000 people, it is the largest in the country and one of the two national mosques.
The other is the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, named after the former sultan. The building glows in white and gold and its best views are from the replica of a 16th century Sultan Bolkiah Mahligai barge set in the middle of the surrounding lagoon.
Enjoy modern and traditional meals
Stroll through the Gadong Night Market to get a glimpse of local life. It is housed in a ventilated and sheltered building, as clean and well organized as Singapore’s street vendor centers.
The prices are also similar. A plate of char kway teow costs $ 2.50 and a whole grilled fish slathered in hot chili sauce costs between $ 6 and $ 10. Street vendors serve slabs of kueh melayu, or martabak manis, pancakes filled with peanuts or chocolate.
Elsewhere, diners flock to Le Keris, which serves Malaysian-European fusion fare and draws a young crowd with its hearty and affordable food.
Kari ayam ($ 9), or vacuum-cooked rolled chicken breast, is served with curry and roti jala, a soft, stringy bread. The Laksa risotto ($ 11) is generously studded with fresh seafood and served with belacan and shaved Parmesan.
And Project Ice Cream, run by a pair of engineering graduates in their 20s, serves up trendy flavors like white rabbit candies, charcoal honeycomb and caramel crackers in a cozy neon-lit hole-in-the-wall that’s popular. in the office crowd.
Watch the sunrise in the middle of the jungle.
Leave the city for Ulu Temburong National Park, a three-hour trip that includes a speedboat, car and motorboat ride on the Temburong River.
The last section, a slow cruise of 30 to 45 minutes, is quite an adventure. When the tide is out, the boat must navigate cautiously to avoid hitting the rocky riverbed.
Make it a day trip if you’re short on time, or stay overnight to watch the sunrise over the rainforest.
If you opt for the latter, an hour-long hike before sunrise takes you to the 50m high canopy walk, a metal scaffold comprising five towers. Up high, the humidity of the rainforest rises.
The sunrise resembles a watercolor painting. Shrouds of fog part to reveal the treetops, while the rising sun turns the sky to pink and lilac, then a blazing orange.
It is a wonderful snapshot of a country where time slows down and nature is still pristine and intact.
GET THERE
Royal Brunei Airlines operates two flights a week between Singapore and Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. The flight takes about two hours and a round-trip ticket costs between $ 428 and $ 484.
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