The Sultanate of Brunei is located in Southeast Asia. A
small-sized state is located on the island of Kalimantan, washed by
the South China Sea. It borders only with Malaysia.
Brunei is
an oil-rich sultanate of relatively small size with a population of
450,000 as of 2016, strategically located on the South China Sea,
close to the vital shipping lanes connecting the Indian and Pacific
Oceans. Its oil resources brought great wealth to the Sultan and
some of the locals, and the palaces and mosques are the best proof
of this. However, many Brunei, including those who live in the
village on the water (Kampong Ayer), still have a relatively simple,
albeit comfortable, livelihood.
The description of an
"oil-rich sultanate" might conjure up images of Dubai or Qatar, but
travelers with such expectations are likely to be disappointed.
Brunei doesn't have many grand man-made attractions, and while great
diving and jungle trekking is available, it doesn't have the
mind-blowing natural parks of the neighboring Malaysian states of
Sabah and Sarawak. Many people who visit Brunei are really only
doing so for the sake of the "country collection" or "passport.
Regions
Administratively, Brunei is divided into four districts
(daera):
Belite
Brunei Muara
Temburong - the district has no
land border with other districts, the territories are connected through
the bay
Tutong
Cities
Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital
and largest city of the country.
Bangar
Kuala Belait
moire
Pecan Tutong
Other destinations
Forest Park Peledeyan
Jungle Park and Research Center Kuala Belalong
Batan Duri Park
Ulu
Temburong National Park
Merimbum Historical Park
Seri Kenangan
Beach and Recreation Area
Sungai Basong Recreation Area
Tamu
Tutong - traditional handicrafts market
Berakas Forest Park and
Recreation Area
Bukit Shahbandar Forest Park and Recreation Area
Tasek Lama Forest Park and Recreation Area
Language
The
official language of Brunei, as well as the surrounding Malaysia, is
Malay, English and partly Chinese are widely used.
Purchases
The country's currency is the Brunei dollar (BND).
Connection
The international dialing code for Brunei is +673. Country internet
domain .bn
Etymology
Brunei was founded by Awang Alak Betatar, who
converted to Islam in 1363 and became the first Sultan of Brunei
under the name Muhammad Shah. According to legend, Awang Alak
Betatar discovered the mouth of a previously unknown river while
traveling and exclaimed "Baru nah!" (usually translated as "here!"),
from where the name of the river, and later - the sultanate, came
from. Subsequently, the name was transformed into "Barunai",
possibly influenced by the Sanskrit word "varun" (वरुण), which means
either "ocean" or the mythological "lord of the ocean". In the
country's full name, "Negara Brunei Darussalam" (Arabic: دار
السلام), "Darussalam" means "abode of peace" while "Negara" means
"country" in Malay.
Physical and geographical characteristics
Geographical position
Brunei is located in Southeast Asia, on the
northwestern coast of the island of Kalimantan and consists of two
separate areas separated by approximately 30 km of Malaysian
territory. In the north it is washed by the South China Sea. The sea
coast is heterogeneous, in the northeast there is Brunei Bay with
many islands, in the west a sandy sloping coast prevails.
Relief and geological structure
Western Brunei is a rolling
lowland, foothills are located in the south. The eastern part
consists of the coastal plain, which is heavily waterlogged. The
highest point is Mount Bukit Pagon, 1850 m.
Water resources
There are no large lakes and rivers in the country. Among the
medium-sized lakes is Merimbun, which is an integral part of the
wildlife sanctuary of the same name. The rivers Brunei, Tudong,
Temburong and Belait flow from the hills of the southern part of the
country to the north, flowing into the South China Sea.
Climate
The climate is humid, equatorial. It is subject to strong
influence of monsoons from the waters of the South China Sea. There
are earthquakes. Small rivers flow from the highlands and hills
north to the sea. The air temperature throughout the year fluctuates
around +26 °C. More than 75% of the territory is covered with
tropical rainforests. Also in the high tide on the coast of Brunei,
mangroves are common.
Story
The first states on the territory of Brunei were created by
the Malays at the end of the 1st millennium BC. At the beginning of our
era, the territory of modern Brunei became one of the centers of
international trade. In the Chinese chronicles of the 6th-7th centuries,
it is mentioned under the name "Polo", "Po-li", "Bun-lai". Islam became
the state religion of Brunei in the 14th century.
In the 16th
century, Brunei was a powerful feudal state that occupied a significant
part of the island of Borneo and some neighboring islands. So it was
seen by the sailors of the expedition of Fernando Magellan, whose ships
visited here in 1522.
In 1839, the British adventurer James
Brooke, who was in the service of the Sultan, suppressed a Dayak
uprising that threatened the position of the Sultan, and received from
him "as a gift" for the service of land in the north of the country
(Sarawak) and the title of "Raja". The dynasty of "white rajas" (Bruks)
ruled there until the Second World War, during which the territory of
Sarawak was occupied by Japan. After the end of the war, Sarawak came
under the direct control of the British crown, and in 1962 became part
of Malaysia.
In 1888, all of Brunei became a British
protectorate. In 1959, after a series of uprisings, Great Britain
granted autonomy to Brunei in matters of internal self-government. Plans
were made for Brunei to become part of Malaysia in 1962, but an uprising
led by the Brunei People's Party (BNP) thwarted these plans. The
uprising was brutally crushed by British troops. The Sultan, whom the
British suspected of sympathizing with the PNB, was subsequently forced
to abdicate in favor of his son. On January 1, 1984, full independence
was proclaimed.
In 1992, the concept of "Malay Islamic Monarchy"
was adopted. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah pursues a policy of cautious
modernization of society. Brunei has had diplomatic relations with
Russia since 01.10.1991.
Political system
The form of
government in Brunei is an absolute theocratic monarchy with some
outward signs of a constitutional monarchy. The political regime has a
patriarchal-authoritarian form.
The head of state and government
is the Sultan. He is also the Minister of Defense, as well as the
religious leader of the country's Muslims. The government consists
mainly of his close relatives.
After a state of emergency was
introduced in 1962 in connection with an attempted armed uprising in
Brunei and the Legislative Council was dissolved, the Sultan almost
single-handedly rules the country through his decrees. The state of
emergency is renewed by the Sultan every 2 years. Advisory bodies under
the monarch have limited rights. The Sultan personally appoints the
members of the Privy Council, the Religious Council and the Council of
Succession (of the Throne), and since 1970, the Legislative Council.
Political parties
The Brunei National United Party is the only
political organization in the country. Supports the monarchy. Created in
1986