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Brunei Darussalam Overview

Located on the Northwestern part of the island of Borneo, Brunei Darussalam is one of the most powerful states in Southeast Asia. Boasting its rich oil reserves, this sultanate is bordered by South China Sea in the North, and Sarawak Province of Malaysia on the East, West, and South. The country shares the island with Malaysia and Indonesia on one of the largest islands in the world.

Having the nickname “The land of unexpected treasures,” Brunei Darussalam literally means “abode of  peace” which is true to its meaning as the country has a high standard of living. The GPS coordinates of Brunei are 4.5353॰ N 114.7277॰ E.

Brunei is also known as one of the few absolute monarchies in the world. With Sunni Muslim as the predominant religion in the country, homosexuality is considered a crime punishable by death by stoning (a weird fact personally).

When I strolled around downtown Bandar Seri Begawan, there were a lot of South Asians along the streets and all people in general were friendly. Prices of goods are quite cheap and there are a small number of local establishments present, too. The best eating spot I could recommend is in Gadong Night Market (which is quite far from the City center).

Read also: Brunei: Discovering SEA’s Abode of Peace

Best time to go to Brunei

Being part of the Southeast Asian Region, the tropical humid weather of Brunei is not surprising (for me, at least). Visiting Brunei best is during the months of December through April. Dry Season in Brunei is from January to May where weather can be warm and humid. Rainy / Wet Season in the country is from September to December. Though many people consider June to September as “high tourist season” in Brunei because it coincides with the end of Ramadan (depends on their Lunar calendar) and the birthday of the Sultan every July 15.

Cool Months (Northeast monsoon) is from December to March and the Wet Months (Southwest monsoon) is from May to September. There are only two general seasons in Brunei – the wet and dry season. The temperature range is at 23 – 32 °C (73.4 – 89.6 °F) on average.

How to get to Brunei Darussalam

Being part of Borneo Island sharing it with Malaysia and Kalimantan Provinces of Indonesia, Brunei can be easily accessed and reached via land, air, and water. Below are the details:

By Land

To Sarawak

Driving to and from Brunei is possible by passing through Sarawak, Malaysia. There are two main entry points: Miri (Sungai Tujuh) and Limbang (Kuala Lurah). Drive through immigration counters are present in these points and queuing in line may take time.

To Kota Kinabalu

By land, it is also popular to go to Kota Kinabalu, the Capital of Sabah province of Malaysia for about 8-10 hours via bus. You will have to cross at least 4 border crossings going to Kota Kinabalu (and 8 passport stamps in an instant).

By Air

Air travel is the fastest mode of transport when visiting Brunei Darussalam. All aircraft come to and from the Brunei International Airport (IATA: BWN), the only international airport in the country. The airport is also the hub for the Royal Brunei Airlines and offers direct flights to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and London. Here are some of the airlines that service the Manila – Bandar Seri Begawan route:

Philippine Airlines	Monday, Thursday, Friday	2135 – 2340 H
Cebu Pacific	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday	2025 – 2255 H
Royal Brunei Airlines	Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday	2135 – 2340 H

*Note that all schedules are subject to change without prior notice! You can e-mail me here so we can dish things up!

By Water

To Sarawak

The main ferry in Brunei is at Serasa Ferry Terminal in Muara and there are once-a-day trips to Sundar and Lawas. The Serasa Ferry Terminal is about 25 kilometers away from Bandar Seri Begawan central business district. There are public buses available going to and from the ferry terminal.

To Kota Kinabalu

It is advisable that you take the earliest express bus going to Serasa Ferry Terminal at 0630 H. Bus fare only costs BND 1 (PH₱ 43.26). Travel time to the ferry terminal is roughly 2 hours and you can buy a ticket for the 0930 H terry trip to Labuan.

The ferry fare going to Labuan (Kota Kinabalu) is around BND 17 (PH₱ 735.36) = BND 15 base fare + BND 2 departure tax. The trip may take 1.5 to 2 hours. Upon arrival, you will go through immigration and customs check before entering Kota Kinabalu.

Things to know about when visiting Brunei

Land Area	5,765 km² (2,226 mi²) – slightly smaller than the US State of Delaware
Languages / Dialects spoken	Malay (official), English (second)
Cellular Signal	Datastream Technology Sdn Bhd (DST) and Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd (formerly B-mobile) – Good to Strong in most areas (Only 4G)
Socket Standard, voltage (V), frequency (Hz)	Type G (3 rectangular pins), 240 Volts, 50 Hz
Modes of Payment	Mostly Cash, Wire / Card Transfer (in some establishments)
Currency used	Brunei Dollar (BND) US$ 1 = BND 1.35

Basic (Language: Bahasa, Malay, Filipino) Sentences / Phrase you might need to know

– Welcome! = Selamat Datang!

– Hi / Hello = Hai / Hello

– Goodbye = Selamat Tinggal / Babai

– Thank you = Terima Kasih

– You’re Welcome = Sama-Sama

– Excuse Me = Maafkan Saya

– How Much = Berapa Banyak

– Good morning! = Selamat Pagi!

– Good afternoon = Selamat Tengahari

– Good evening = Selamat Petang

– Good night = Selamat Malam

– How are you? = Apa khabar?

– I am from… = Saya dari…

– Where is…? = Di manakah…?

– Delicious! = Sedap!

Famous food and delicacy in Brunei Darussalam

Dishes

*Ambuyat

Ambuyat is Brunei’s National Dish. This sticky savory solid white concoction is derived from the trunk of the sago palm tree, mixed with water. It is usually served sticky using a ‘candas’ – a chopstick like utensil, only their ends are adjoined. The ambuyat is served with a dip called ‘cacah’ which is usually sour and spicy. It is really interesting for me as you can even eat it by just swallowing. It is a savory food that I started to love!

*Nasi Katok

Nasi Katok is also a popular dish in Brunei. “Nasi” means rice and “Katok” means ‘to knock.’ Rumor has it that back in the days, people used to knock on nasi sellers’ doors to make an order. As time goes by, its name remains and is considered to be one of the most loved dishes in the country. The dish is simple – one piece of fried chicken, rice, and the best part – sambal! It is found almost anywhere in Brunei for only BND 1 (PH₱ 43.26)!

*Ayam Penyet

Another popular go-to meal in Brunei is the Ayam Penyet. This set meal is so hearty that every piece of food is good for the soul! Inspired by Indonesian cuisine, this dish consists of a chicken leg, rice, sambal, and a side dish of cucumber and/or cabbage. Ayam Penyet is so affordable that it only costs around BND 4.5 – 6 (PH₱ 194.64 – 259.52).

*Satay

A popular snack in Brunei (and throughout Southeast Asia) is the Satay. It is basically skewered meat, whether it be beef, lamb, and rabbit at times. If compared to Philippine cuisine, I can say, it is similar to Barbecue and Mindanao’s Satti.

Delicacies

*Kelupis

Similar to the Philippines’ Suman, Kelupis is also made from glutinous rice wrapped in nyirik leaf. This is considered as one of Brunei’s most favorite snacks.

*Pulut Panggang

Pulut Panggang is also like Kenumis that is wrapped in and grilled instead of being steamed.

*Selurut

Selurut is a steamed rice cake that is popular due to its cone shape. It is made up of rice and sago, with salt and coconut milk. The steamed snack is a must-try when visiting Brunei.

*Penyaram

The Penyaram is a sweet-and-soft pastry shaped like a mini “UFO.” In Brunei, it is also known as “Kuih UFO.” 

*Kuih Cincin

Kuih Cincin is also one of the more popular delicacies in Brunei. As ‘cincin’ literally means “ring” in English, this red-palm sugar-coated rice flour is then deep fried and enjoyed while it’s hot.

*Ketupat

I can compare Ketupat to that of the Philippines’ Pusô. These rhombus-shaped rice wrapped in palm or coconut leaves are cooked and are cut open and are usually dipped in rendang. In Brunei, this delicacy is often eaten by muslims when they break their fast during Ramadan. Ketupat is also commonly seen in Malay weddings and celebrations.

*ABC (Ais Batu Campur)

The Ais Batu Campur or “ABC” concoction is what I can compare to Malaysia’s Ais Kacang and Philippines’ Halo-Halo. This sweet dessert is made up of shaved ice and is topped with sago pearls, beans, grass jelly, and corn. It is often drizzled with sweet syrup. When I was in Gadong Night Market, I tried the drink version of the ABC.

Exploring in and out of Brunei

Exploring in and around Brunei, especially in Bandar Seri Begawan is quite easy as the tourist spots are near each other. The downside here is that there are only a few public buses available but at least they do not get crowded as at least 82% of Bruneians have their own cars. The minimum fare for public buses is pegged at BND 1 (PH₱ 43.26) and the mode of payment is via cash. There are also taxis and cars available using the Dart App. The locals are also friendly if you ask for directions. Surprisingly, there are a lot of Filipinos working here, too!

The traffic condition throughout the day is light (it can get a bit crowded during rush hours) as there are wide roads and efficient traffic systems in Bandar Seri Begawan. Actually, traffic jams are not a problem here (it just comes and goes). The road condition is mostly concrete and paved. You have nothing to worry about the roads in Brunei.

Read more: Brunei: Discovering SEA’s Abode of Peace

*Note that the places, prices, and information written as of publication date and time are true and are given best during my visit. Changes may occur without prior notice. If you notice any changes to the information given above, you can e-mail me here so we can dish things up!*

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