Brunei

Brunei‘s ruling Sultanate once laid claim to most of Borneo and portions of the Philippines. Today, the 29th Sultan of Brunei rules absolutely a small piece of Malaysian Borneo. Due to oil, this tiny nation of 460,000 residents is one of the richest in the region. 

Our tour bus picks us up after breakfast for the 1/2 hour drive to the capital. Dense growth covers much of the land; there are strict development rules. Everyone owns at least one auto. The streets and highways are good. 

Arriving in the capital, we make our first stop at a large covered market. One entrepreneurial fellow has set a trap for birds. 

Our next stop is a well appointed building (sponsored by the Sultan) where artisans demonstrate their handcrafts and show off their wares. Eve has a go at Batik. 

We board a river boat next for a tour of one of the water villages. These have a long history throughout southeast asia. One gets a glimpse here of life as it has long been lived. 

Back in the bus we head to a shopping center for a lunch buffet at a Chinese restaurant.

After lunch, we cross town again. Most all structures are low. The strip shopping malls, with lots of glass, large parking lots, and flat landscape remind me of Dallas. On to the boat dock. 

We don life vests again. A 200 hp outboard zips us along the river to the mangrove thickets. We are told that crocodiles are lurking in these waters. With luck we might spot one. That captures our attention; we all scan the waters intently. Someone notes that life vests are probably superfluous. 

Our next stop (our excursion is called “Brunei Intensive“!) is a visit to the Royal Regalia Museum, a rather imposing structure filled with artifacts from the Sultan’s life. I was moved by our tour guide’s enthusiasm and pride in explaining the history of her king and her land to us.

The day is almost over. We make two more quick stops for photos on our way back to the ship. The first is at the gates to the Sultan’s palace, the Istana Nurul Iman. The second is in front of the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque. 

And now, back to the ship. Lines are cast off and we set course for Tioman Island, Malaysia. 

As we head out, oil platforms are visible in the distance. A fitting sequel to the day.