Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

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Asia

Bandar Seri Begawan, formerly known as Brunei Town, is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei. Bandar Seri Begawan has an estimated population of 50,000, and including the whole Brunei-Muara District, the metro area has an estimated population of 279,924.

History

Human settlement in Brunei can be traced back as far as 6th and 7th century with Malay trading center and fishing port located near the current site of this city. The first settlement on the banks of the Brunei River can be traced back to the 8th century where there had been settlements similar to those in Kampong Ayer, located near the present site of the Brunei Museum with the modern city on the opposite shore. During the Bruneian Empire period from 15th–17th century, the Sultanate ruled many parts of Borneo including the southern part of the Philippines and its capital of Manila, with the water settlement near the city area became the third center of the administration after been moved twice from Kota Batu and Kampong Ayer. When the Sultanate rule declined through the eighteenth century due to the arrival of western powers such as the Spanish, Dutch and the British, this settlement population was totally decreased from its peak of 20,000 inhabitants. From 1888 until its independence in 1984, Brunei was a British protectorate and land development began in 1906 when the British resident encouraged the Sultanate citizens to moved on a reclaimed land on the western bank of the inlet. In 1899, the first oil well was drilled at Ayer Bekunchi near Kampung Kasat, Bandar Seri Begawan. Although the oil well was drilled as deep as 259 meters (850 feet), no oil was found in the well. Oil exploration in Brunei later shifted to Seria and Belait District in 1924. Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II established a new palace on the west bank in 1909 after being persuaded by the British, along with the arriving of Chinese traders to boost the economy. Mosque and government buildings were also built along the western shores in 1920. In the same year, the new settlement was declared as a new capital of Brunei and became a municipal area. Brunei Town under Allied attack in 1945; the attack was intended to flush out the Japanese.
Brunei Town in 1950, with the starting of the redevelopment. However, the city prosperity was almost ended when the city was captured by the Japanese in 1941, before being recaptured by the Allied forces in 1945. During the war, most infrastructure was destroyed by Japanese and Allied bombing. The British began reconstructing most of its possessions in Borneo at the end of 1945 with the restoration of the law and order and the reopening of schools. In 1950, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, upon his ascension to the throne, negotiated with the British for an increase in corporate taxes, growing from 10% to 30% in 1953. A M$1.2 million (US$0.39 million) allotment to Brunei for war damages during the Japanese occupation increased from M$1 million in 1946 to M$100 million (US$32.6 million) in 1952. A five-year development plan with a total budget of M$100 million was also implemented in 1953, with infrastructure receiving the largest percentage (80%) and the rest going toward social programmers. Together with the expansion of the oil and gas industry, commercialization began to transform Brunei's capital and a large number of public buildings were constructed, along with the development of a central business district in the 1970s and 1980s. On 1 August 2007, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah gave consent for the expansion of the city from 12.87 km2 (4.97 sq mi) to 100.36 km2(38.75 sq mi).

Source: http://wikitravel.org/en/
Bandar_Seri_Begawan

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Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Port Information

The cruise terminal is quite at a distance from Bandar Seri Begawan (about 15 miles). You can get the city by taxi, ship or regular bus. Don't forget to check the bus schedule for the return trip. One way trip takes about an hour.

Get around Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Walking

The downtown area (Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Kianggeh Market, Royal Regalia Museum,...) is best covered to walk on foot. It takes 30-60 minutes to get from there to Jame Asr' Hassanil Bolkia Mosque or Gadong night market. Sidewalks are not always present, so going by bus might be the better choice.

Water Taxi

You can hail a few water taxis at almost any dock but the most popular place to find one is at a stand behind the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah mall or at the canal market. They are great fun to ride in.

By bus

Going by a public bus is the cheapest way to travel in the city even though the buses do not operate at frequent intervals (usually 20-minute intervals) and end service quite early (at about 6 pm). All of them begin and end service at the bus terminal at Jalan Cator. The buses are actually in the form of purple-colored large vans which can seat about 20 people at the most, and are generally clean and comfortable to ride. Main bus routes include bus service 01 (Circle Line) and 20 (Business Centres Line). The detailed routes of the bus services are written on a board placed on the front window of the buses and are also can be found on the information board at the Jalan Cator terminal.

By tour van

Try asking the counter tickets for a tour van to drive you around Brunei and bring you to the places. Discuss the price first before you agree to board the van.

By Taxi

There are not many taxis in Brunei because almost all locals own a car. The only official taxi stand is located at the bus terminal in the city center. Generally, local taxi is quite expensive. However, it's worth to note that taxis are either using a meter, or you have to agree on the fare beforehand.

What to see in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Don't expect to find much tasteful and stunning architecture like you would normally find in Southeast Asia. Here, most of the buildings are just plain and box-shaped. However, an interesting twist to the billboards around here, is that the "Jawi" (Arabicized Malay writing) are prevalent among them. Sometimes, foreign names are translated literally, e.g. "Pizza Hut" to "Pondok Pizza".

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is located in Bandar Seri Begawan and is known as one of the most peaceful and calm mosque in the world. Before stepping in to the mosque you may sense the beautiful ray of the sun and the smell of the unique odour of fish because of the river near the mosque. The mosques' gold dome gleams under the sunlight during the day, the white walls of the exterior complementing the gold. Even during the night, the dome seems to shine brightly as light illuminates it. The mosque is surrounded by a peaceful setting of swishing trees and colourful floral gardens.

The green marble floor as well as other parts of the mosque feels hot against your feet as you pass through the men's ablution area. White marble columns surround the area, where little blue and gold tiles line the perimeter of the walls. As you step into the peaceful and quiet atmosphere of the prayer hall in the mosque, you can feel the soft, plush carpet. It is a little too comfortable because of the cool air. Aside from that, the bland taste of water would also refreshes you. You will smell the alluring odour of the Arabic perfumes used by the worshipers as you peer at the beautiful chandelier, stained glass windows and marble domes imported from foreign countries such as Italy, England and Saudi Arabia. Quranic verses are carved on the semi-domes and arches.

In addition to that, there is an artificial lagoon situated at the back of the mosque. Made out of concrete, it is designed with multi-colored tiles and arches which are adorned with intricate designs. A long winding bridge leads from the mosque to the lagoon. There, you could see a spectacular view of the water village and bustling Yayasan Complex; the sight leaving a tranquil feeling inside.

Jame' Asri Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is another mosque, that resembles Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. Whereas Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque is built to commemorate Sultan Omar, this mosque is to commemorate the current reigning Sultan.
Kampong Ayer (the water village). Best visited by taxi boat. It's a beautiful sight to see hundreds of houses seemingly floating on water. The water village people are very friendly and many open up their homes to visitors year-round. Water taxis can be found by walking along the Brunei river or the main market in Bandar Seri Begawan and waving one down. Try to negotiate the price down. You shouldn't pay more than B$30 for an hour-long tour (B$15 for half an hour) of Kampong Ayer. Even though the water taxis are not wheelchair-friendly, their drivers are very willing to lend a hand and even team up and carry a person in a wheelchair on board; ask for a larger boat though. If you'd rather not pay for a water-taxi tour, consider wandering around the villages yourself. You can start from behind the Sultan's Mosque or from the other side in towns like Batu Satu. There is a small, free, water village museum across the river from the town centre.
Royal Regalia Museum (Bangunan Alat Kebesaran Diraja) near the city center displays the royal accessories utilized during the coronation, and gifts received by the Sultan from all dignitaries around the world, and civilians alike.The smell of the classic and old heritage stuff allow one to taste the infinite royal accessories.Royal regalia is a very interesting place that should be visit by the foreigners and also the locals that really want to know about the history and the heritage of the bruneian royal family. Definitely worth checking out. If you don't have time to visit both, and need to choose between this museum or "Brunei Museum" at Kota Batu, choose this one. The entrance is on Jalan Sultan, next to the Brunei History Centre, between Jalan Stoney and Jalan James Pearce. Hours: Sun-Thurs, 09:00-17:00; Fri, 09:00-11:30, 14:30-17:00; Sat, 09:45-17:00.
Istana Nurul Iman is the residential palace of the Sultan. The palace is only open on the first 3 days of Hari Raya, immediately after Ramadan, when you will be treated to a banquet and a fleeting audience with the Sultan. Otherwise it is closed, yet the huge size of the palace attracts tourists to snap picture in front of the gate. The palace is however, hidden behind the landscapes, so a better picture can be seen in flyers or souvenirs that feature it.
Brunei Museum on the Kota Batu road has an excellent display in the Islamic Art Gallery. It is highly recommended. As of Feb 1 2017: museum is closed until further notice. Accesible from the city by Bus 39.
After visiting the Brunei Museum, walk along the road toward BSB to visit two tombs: the first is the Tomb of Sharif Ali, the third sultan of Brunei. The green sign by the road is written entirely in Arabic lettering. Further down the road is the Tomb of Sultan Bolkiah, the fifth sultan of Brunei. Both tombs are in easy walking distance from the Museum.
Malay Technology Museum, (Walk a short distance down from the brunei museum). This place has many exhibits featuring the different style of houses and lifestyle of those who live on the water village.
Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum walking distance from Brunei Museum. Displays the thousands of 4-5 centuries old artifacts (mostly Chinese ceramics) rescued in the 90s from a shipwreck.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium - Trying to find a place to jog and have a peace of mind? Or would you like to improve your time in a race or in a marathon? Then the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium might be the place for you to visit. Located in Berakas , near with the Orchid Garden Hotel, the stadium has a capacity of around 28,000 for fans to watch DPMMFC Football matches. Be careful because the hot blazing tracks can heat up your shoes in the middle of the day, but it is still a great place to burn off your calories. Alongside the stadium you can see smoke rising up into the atmosphere, The smells of different types of foods either being fried, steamed or grilled will make your saliva drop to your toes. If the Ramadhan season is near, Many stalls become reserved for sellers to sell their own food for Muslim People to break their fast at the end of the day.
Muara Beach - To find a place to have fun and relax at the same time is not easy. However, the beach is a place that perfectly meet these need. In Brunei there are many delightful beaches, and Muara Beach is one of them.

Muara Beach is located in Muara Town, along the South China Sea. The beach is about a mile long and is very wide. It is usually alluring as it has very large amenity spaces including a well-equipped picnic area, usable toilet facilities, a colourful children's playground as well as small and numerous weekend food and drink stalls. Most people go to Muara Beach during the Bruneian weekend which is Friday and Sunday. The sound from the huge,non-stop waves here is very soothing, smells refreshing and reduces stress. It is also relaxing to watch the delightful endless view of the sea with its glossy surface and feel the wind hitting your whole body. Playing with the fine sand is also a favorite pastime. After having fun with the white fine sand, instead of rubbing it off from their clothes, people usually run straight to the salty, but fresh,sea to play with the splashing water while cleaning off their bodies. Many competitions are also held here due to its clean environment and large space. Some of the food sold at the small stalls is rare and can only be found at these specific stalls, The smell from the food stalls and the sea makes a great combination which attracts many people. The food and drinks are visually pleasing and they make your mouth water.

Agro Technology Park - Located in the south-east of Brunei Darussalam, is one of the most visited park in the country. First entering the park visitors will immediately capture the enticing view of the whole park, the radiant green and translucent grass flattened in waves with each gust of wind. The field is trimmed daily making it soft and comfortable for laying down and having picnics. Further inside is a miniature zoo which contains various of local and foreign animals that can be seen sauntering inside their field. Animals such as the Peacock with its elongated and iridescent feathers, and also the ostrich strolling around with its long legs and a long neck that protrudes its round body. Twitters of all different kinds of birds, and the bleats of the deer and fawns can be heard as you stroll down the zoo. After visiting the zoo visitors can amble down the path crossing the creaking wooden bridge to the alluring flower garden. The most prepossessing part of the park. All sorts of plants each with its elegant colors and unique shapes. The petals glow and changes in color as the sun shine through it and with the sweet and fragrant smell of all the plants in the garden makes the garden a truly magical place. Lastly, after walking through the flower garden, visitors that are hungry may buy food and drinks from the stalls right outside the park. The flavor of the saute chicken in the smoke can be smell a distance away luring in customers. The refreshing drinks with each gulp of sweetness and satisfaction, perfect for an end to a park visit.

What to do in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Tasek Lama

Tasek Lama is one of the oldest recreational parks in the country. It is also considered as a popular exercise spot for joggers. You can see plenty of colorful flowers and inhale the fragrant smell of the plants as you enter the park entrance. You can also hear the distant waterfall splashing and there is a well-built bridge that allows you to enjoy a gorgeous view of the waterfall. There are jogging and walking trails provided and other enjoyable activities as well. You can constantly hear the shuffling of feet on the trails.

Surrounded by clean, tropical jungle, with fresh clean, air it's a great place to visit. You can see the joyous expressions of guests when they do their activities. You are also able to touch the lake water if you wish and even feel the coolness of the water. You are invited to taste and buy savory and delicious foods that are sold by a row of vendors at the park entrance.

You can find it on Jalan Tasek Lama, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The opening times for this park are, Sunday-Thursday from 6:00am-6:00 pm. On Fridays, it is open from 6:00am-11:00am and 2:00pm-6:00pm.

Taman Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

Taman Jubli Perak Park is located in Bandar Seri Begawan. It is a very large park with a beautiful gardenscape.It is open 24 hours a day.there are few authentic mini gazebo where you can do a small activity such as a picnic.There is mini-prayer room for the Muslims, where it is located near the entrance.If you walk straight from the entrance, you will be directed straight to the center large fountain where you can sit while admiring the beautiful large Gardenscape. It is very pleasing if you are to decide spending time with your family because you won't regret it for coming here.

Super Spinning Studio

The Super Spinning Studio in Bandar Seri Begawan is a place where you use bicycles to do your cardio along with unique movements according to various types of cool instructors. When the loud music plays everytime the session begins, Your heartbeat goes crazy, but in a good way, along with your mind.

Spinning may look to you as a regular cardio but what you'll feel once you're in. You will feel just right in the place because the Spinning community is for everyone no matter their sizes. In fact, Super Spinning Studio has its own aroma that just fits in with the place such as logos of superheroes such as Batman, Wonderwoman, and Superman on the walls that glow in the dark, its called super for a purpose. You'll see inside; there are lots of decorative flashing disco lights, That live up the atmosphere but aren't too distracting.

Once you get into one of their sessions, loud enjoyable music is a play to go along with the exercise of one hour or add a thirty minute to it of vigorous exercise depending on your desire. People's scream of joy will be heard too, and you will enjoy the bloom by the air conditioners and fans. You won't regret it once you've done it.

Berakas Forest Reserve Recreational Park

Berakas Forest Reserve Recreational Park is a recreational park home to various unique species of Flora & Fauna. It is located in the Brunei Muara District, Berakas. The most attractive feature of the park is it's camping grounds where visitors or campers can relax and experience living in the wilderness, listening to the sounds of nature itself.

Various outdoor activities can be done in this luscious park such as hiking. Enjoy a hike into the wild where you can observe the nature of this park.

You can also enjoy the sun on the beach and listen to the relaxing sound of the crashing waves as you walk along the shore. It is the right place if you want to go for a picnic or to have a barbeque party with your friends and family.

If the heat is too much for you, quench your thirst with the sweet, refreshing taste of coconut juice which can be bought from the food stalls which often produce the savory smell of delicious food.

What to eat and drink in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Eat

Gadong Night Market. Bustling night market offering everything from fruits of fried noodles and barbecue fish to bubble tea and desserts. Come after sunset to join crowds of locals and try some delicacies.

Step into the Gadong Night Market and you’ll be charmed by this heartland of the Bruneian community.The Gadong Night Market is full of vibrant colors, sounds, and scents that stimulate your senses.It is a favorite place for Bruneians to look for a wide variety of affordable hawker food, fruits, vegetables, local pastries, and clothing.A variety of goods are sold at low prices. It is located near the bridge linking Simpang 137 and Simpang 37 near the outstanding Mall Gadong.You can enjoy various kinds of mouth-watering local dishes.Be greeted by the aromatic scent of spices and astounded by the smell of sizzling meats cooked perfectly on the well-oiled griddles.Also, the taste of succulent chicken with BBQ sauce dripping slowly off of it will make your taste buds explode with flavors.Don’t be afraid to walk through the plumes of smoke that are diffusing seamlessly throughout the market The Gadong Night Market has a wonderful array of traditional businesses.If you’re thirsty, try a cup of cold “Milo Peng” filled with ice cubes to quench your thirst.But if you’re hungry, don’t hesitate to satisfy your cravings with a wide variety of food to choose.You can hear the voices of sellers competing to sell their foods.Mumbling chatter of people can also be heard in the background while you shop. The possibilities are endless.So take a stroll through the hustle and bustle of the Gadong Night Market and soak up the atmosphere.You’ll be impressed beyond words.

Aminah Arif Restaurant. One of a few local restaurants that feature the Bruneian delicacy and a good range of other food too.
RMS Portview, opposite the Yayasan Shopping Center. The terrace offers a great view overlooking Kampong Ayer, great for cooling down after sightseeing.
Gerai Makan, on the waterfront in the southeastern corner of the city, just across a bridge. There are some outdoor restaurants serving cheap and tasty fare. It's a great place to relax and soak in the local atmosphere. Great views of stilt villages and water taxis speeding back and forth.
PGS Cafe, near the Palm Garden at Kiulap.
Tarindak Restaurant, overlooking the waterfront and located at the first two floors of the Arts and Handicraft Center, Tarindak Restaurant offers a wide variety of local buffet, including Brunei, Malaysian, and Indonesian food/drinks. It is a very good choice to sample different local cuisines without stuffing yourself.
Tamu Selera, located across the street from the Terrace Hotel and by the St. Andrews Church, it is one of the most bustling night spots for local food stands/shops. It is open until 11 pm, a rare handout spot where you can see the locals and taste a wide variety of fresh seafood, curries, local cuisines, young coconut, etc.

There are plenty of small local Kedai Kopi (coffee shops) in town that sells simple, cheap and tasty food and are frequented by locals.

Gerai Ramadhan ( Outdoor Stadium ), it only happens during the holy month of Ramadhan. A bewildering amount of people can be seen jostling around the Stadium ( Gerai Ramadhan ), purchasing mouth-watering food and thirst-quenching drinks for their breaking of the fast meal. Naughty children can also be seen running around or playing by the side of the deserted, wide road. Their colorful laughter and giggles can be heard as you visit the stalls that are close to the road. Grey, dark smoke billows from the stalls due to the hard-working sellers who are frying various types of fish until their finished product has crispiness that a 'crunch' can be heard as you bite through it.

The sizzling sounds when vendors fry some patties also can be heard when they make their huge, juicy burgers. When you bite into them, you can taste the tenderness of the meat and the soft buns, which also includes a reasonable amount of fresh vegetables and a variety of sauces that make the inside of your mouth explodes due to the amazing taste. When holding one in your hands, feels like it's precious to you. As you finished bustling yourself through the huge crowds, beware of the metallic stench and the fumes from the cars because there is a long line of cars parked outside and it is uncountable because there are so many people try to enter the bazaar.

Drink

Tagz Lounge, Sheraton Utama Hotel. The closest you can get to a bar in an alcohol-free country, here you can bring your booze and buy the mixers. Access theoretically only for hotel guests, but getting in is rarely a problem.

Shopping in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

The Mall Gadong. Probably the best place to shop, including a food court and a cinema. Located in Gadong, it is also combined with the Rizqun Hotel.
Yayasan (Hua Ho Department Store). Built by the sultan to support the welfare of the people. Located in central Bandar, it offers the usual fashion brands, fast food and air conditioning.
Arts and Handicraft Center (Pusat Kesenian dan Pertukangan Tangan Brunei). Overlooking the waterfront on Jln Residency, it offers various exhibit halls organized by types of handicraft (e.g. silversmith, wood work, etc). It is an official outlet organized by the government, but the selection is rather limited, quality is average, and tend to be on the more expensive side.
Kianggeh Market. This beautiful market is located in the Capital City of Brunei alongside the Brunei River,which is connected to the South China Sea.This amazing market is known for its beautiful stalls,where people usually get excited because of the cheap and wonderful foods and handicrafts sold there.You can reach the market.You can smell the delicious food and see the amazing atmosphere as you breathe in the wonderful fresh air.You can reach the market by boat which you will get a chance to see the wonders of Brunei or you can enjoy a relaxing walk and have a drive through around the city after visiting the market.At night,the scenery is magnificent as the colourful neon lights make the city look energetic and attractive.
Gadong Night Market. A fascinating place to visit. It sells a variety of inexpensive food made by local entrepreneurs. Gadong Night Market is one of the popular markets in Brunei and is open daily from around 4pm until late at night. The new modernised market offers more space and more convenience for all the market vendors .Some areas of the touristy market are filled with barbecue-smelling smoke from vendors, making your mouth water from the scent. You can purchase and taste the tender, juicy meat as its flavours explodes inside your mouth. Drinks can also be bought from most of the vendor with each drink tasting sweet and refreshing. In the market, vendors sell food such as crispy and scrumptious curry puffs and well-seasoned shawarmas that again explodes with flavour of spiciness and sweetness.

Along with that, some of the vendors sell local mouth-watering -desserts like Kuih Malaya, a dessert like a pancake that is fully filled with peanuts and raisins. They also sells a sweet tasting and flavourful dessert called Cendol that will absolutely quench your thirst. Some vendors also make different variations of Cendol such as Cendol Milk Tea and Cendol topped with durian. The market sometimes gets crowded at times making the environment quite warm, from the heat of all the people. During these times, people usually bums into each other.The busy night market makes a fantastic visit due to the vibrant environment with the sound of vendors calling people to buy their goods along with people chatting and the sound of the sizzling meat and fried noodles.

At this admirable market, the benches provided allow people to enjoy their food within an adorable environment together with some loud and modern music that is played by the vendors. In addition, from the market, we can see the picturesque view of the most impressive piece of modern Islamic architecture in Southeast Asia which is the Mosque of Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah.

Safety in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Stay Safe

Brunei is a very safe place to visit. Crime does occur but is much less common than in many other Asian destinations. Locals are very helpful and will usually assist you if you ask for help. If you do get in trouble, the police can be bureaucratic and inefficient - only call them if you can't resolve the situation yourself.

Embassies and High Commissions:

Canada, 5F, Jalan McArthur Bldg No. 1, Jalan McArthur, ☎ +673 222 0043 (bsbgn@international.gc.ca, fax: +673 222 0040), 12. M-Th 8:30AM-noon and 1PM-5:30PM, F 8:30AM-2PM.
China, NO.1,3,5 Simpang 462, Campong Sungai Hanching, Jalan Muara, ☎ +673 2 334163 (embproc@brunet.bn, fax: +673 2 335710)
Japan, 33, Simpang 122, Kampong Kiulap, ☎ +673 222-9265 (embassy@japan.com.bn, fax: +673 222-9481), 14. M-F 8:30AM-noon, 1PM-5PM.
United States, Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Kebangsaan, ☎ +673 238-4616 (amembassy_bsb@state.gov, fax: +673 238-4606), 15. M-F 7:45AM-4:30PM.