BRUNEI (Asia)

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Brunei is known principally for one of it's occupants - one of the wealthiest men in the world, the Sultan of Brunei. There isn't a great deal to see here, however, as the Country is wealthy, the Government buildings are new and ostentatious.

A small country with a total land area of just 5,765 sq km with a coastline that runs 161 km along the South China Sea, its tiny size has not impeded its social and economic progress.

The recent years has seen Brunei emerging as an audible voice and a competitive player in world affairs with active participation in international, regional and sub-regional core groups such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), Asean, BIMP EAGA, WHO and other high-powered organisations.

At the same time, keen to sharpen its competitive edge, the country has made leaps and bounds in the areas of technology and infrastructure.

But while the nation keeps pace with modernisation, tranquillity still resides in its heart and for that, Brunei has been called the Abode of Peace, an apt description of the serene haven that the country really is.

Filled with gentle people and a culture of decorum and hospitality, Brunei is a true reflection of the Malay way of life. Indeed, the majority of the population (about 74%) is made up of the Malay race and Islam, being the official religion, plays a central role in the life of every Muslim in Brunei Darussalam,

The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of the Sultanate is the head of the faith and rules the country according to the established values and traditions of Islam.

Brunei Districts Brunei Darussalam, bordered at the north by the South China Sea, is surrounded by and divided into two by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

These two enclaves contain four districts namely Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait to the west and Temburong to the east.

• Brunei-Muara, with an area of just 570 sq km is the smallest but the most populous district of Brunei. The population is about 243,000 people (2003 census). The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is approximately 16 sq km in size and has a population of around 46,000 residents.
  
• Tutong, the third largest district with a total land area of 1,166 sq km, is the home of many of Brunei's ethnic tribes such as the Dusun, Murut, and Kedayan and so on. Its population is around 40,000 people.
  
• Belait is the largest district of Brunei. With a land area of 2,727 sq km housing 58,000 people, it is the production base of the nation's main export commodities - oil and gas. The eight territorial subdivisions/mukims in Belait are Seria - the oil town as it is called, Kuala Belait, Sungai Liang - the site earmarked for oil and gas downstream industries in the near future, Bukit Sawat, Labi, Sukang, Kuala Balai and Melilas.
  
• Temburong, located at the easternmost part of Brunei, is the country's second largest district but the least populated. Heavily forested and largely undeveloped, this 1,306 sq km district has a population of just 9,000 people.

The Capital

The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan with busy business areas and Government Departments, has seen even more development in recent times.

Several areas such as Lambak, Kampong Pengkalan Gadong or Tungku Link, Kg Mata Mata Gadong, Jalan Muara, JalanTutong, Serusop, Berakas (especially the Airport Mall) have opened new business areas that are filled with new buildings, offices and shop lots.

While these areas are developing, the existing commercial hotspots of Gadong and Kiulap have further expanded with the emergence of brand new shop houses offering products and services of all kinds.

Gadong's 'The Mall'- Brunei's first, largest and most sophisticated shopping complex with more than 150 shops, a hotel and Cineplex's allocated inside, has just been opened.

Elsewhere, existing landmarks such as the famous Jerudong Park Playground -a state-of-the-art theme park, the newly-expanded and refurbished Brunei Darussalam International Airport, the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium Complex and the International Convention Centre continue to garner attention.

Kampong Ayer, the country's historical attraction and the world's largest water village that is home to more than 30,000 people, remains a favourite place of interest along with the rest of Brunei's jewels such as the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque -arguably the most magnificent mosque in Brunei, the Royal Regalia Museum, the Brunei History Centre, the Royal Ceremonial Hall or Lapau, the Dewan Majlis or Parliament House and Istana Nurul Iman -the world's largest residential palace in the world.