Brunei – an independent and Muslim enclave (two separate pieces actually) on the Island of Borneo surrounded by Malaysia and Indonesia. Governed religiously by a 600 year bloodline of Sultans, it has since its 1984 independence from Great Britain been governed politically by the same man as King. The current King/Sultan ( Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam), 71, has served as Sultan for 50 years this week.
The population of 440,000 is 78% Sunni, 15% Buddhist and 6% Christian. Guest workers from neighboring countries provide most of the low skilled work force. Taxis are scare since most everyone own cars.
Kampong Ayer – Water Village (referred to as Venice of the East) are wooden homes built on stilts housing approx. 10% of the population. A bustling community with taxi boats buzzing about.
Oil and gas provide for perhaps the highest standard of living in the developed world, but the application of Sharia law (e.g. death for blasphemy and blatant sexual discrimination) moderate the praise for this clean, healthy little country.
Click on photo to enlarge.
Beautiful once again. I see a book you will be writing about all your travels with your photos giving the picture of how beautiful these countries are…
Thanks Kim!!
Great shots, I visited once. The Sultan was reputed to be the richest man in the world.
Thanks. I’m not surprised about the Sultan. They had a huge celebration for him yesterday. 50 years since he became Sultan.
I’m concerned that you didn’t catch all the sultans names
His name is written like that in every newspaper article and placard in the city.
Lovely once again!
Thanks.
Wonderful photos and as always, thanks for sharing so I get to travel too!
❤️
your talent for photography just grows and blossoms day by day, simply beautiful
Thanks.
An example of a benevolent dictator. Severe oppression of women through Sharia law & culture. Plenty of money & everyone in their roles defined by Sharia brings lasting peace. Shangri la. The opposite side of the same N. Korea coin. I appreciate the history and especially the photos. Question is, now that you’ve seen it, would you go back?
The only reason we wouldn’t go back is because there is so much more to see in the world. However, it was certainly worth going to see. We enjoyed it.