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| Festivals |
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| Sports and Recreation |
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| Transportation | |
| Where to Eat | |
| Tours | |
| Shopping | |
| Banking |
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| Communications | |
| Entry Formalities | |
| Medical Facilities |
|
| Water and Electricity | |
| Common Courtesies | |
| Business Hours |
In Brunei festivals are always celebrated with colour,
enthusiasm and happiness.
Young and old from different races come together in
a spirit of unity that we are
justifiably proud of. We invite you to join us, and
enjoy the unique traditions that have
National
Day Celebrations
National Day is celebrated on the 23rd of February, and the nation
begins to gear up for this momentous occasion
about two months beforehand. Schoolchildren, civil servants and
private sector representatives rehearse for their
part in colourful crowd formations
and flash card displays. Invariably a sell-out, the event takes place
in the
Hassanal Bolkiah
National Stadium before about 35,000 spectators. Thousands of others
watch the live
nationwide telecast. His Majesty the Sultan and other members
of the Royal Family will be present. In recent
years the Ramadan fasting period has
coincided with the National Day celebration resulting in a more low
key
affair.
Awal
Ramadhan
The month of Ramadhan is a holy month
for Muslims. It is a period of fasting, and Muslims abstain from eating
and drinking between dawn and dusk for the whole month. Foodstalls, which sell a wide variety of local delicacies
such as cakes, pastry and fruit, spring up in many areas - notably
around the National Stadium This is a good time
to try some special local dishes and cakes-at low cost. During
fasting hours it is considered ill-mannered, (even
offensive) to publicly eat, drink, smoke etc. Do not offer even
coffee to a muslim person during these times
to
avoid embarrassment .
Hari
Raya Aidilfitri
Hari Raya
is a time for celebration after the fasting month of Ramadhan.
Prayers are held in the early morning of
the first day at every mosque in the country. This day is usually
an occasion for. The second day normally means
open house; an invitation for all to visit. Special festive dishes
are made, including ketupat (rice cakes),
satay (beef
and chicken kebabs), rendang (spicy
marinated beef) and many others.
His Majesty the Sultan also throws his doors open to the people
at the Istana Nurul Iman.
This gives the people
and visitors a chance to meet His Majesty and other members of
the Royal Family, in order to wish them Selamat
Hari Raya
Aidilfitri. This is defintely an
offer which should not be missed. When visiting you should dress
conservatively.
Royal
Brunei Armed Forces Day
The formation of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces is commemorated
every year on the 31st of May, and the event
usually takes place at the Taman Haji Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien in
the heart of the city. It consists of a military
parade and displays, such as a parachuting show or battle demonstration.
In other districts, units of the armed
forces organise local parades and displays
for the public.
Hari
Raya
Aidiladha
This is also known as Hari Raya
Koran. It marks the time when Muslims embark on the Haj,
or holy pilgrimage to
Mecca. The usual practice - for those who can afford it - is
to sacrifice goats and cows. The meat is then
distributed to relatives, friends and those who are less fortunate.
His Majesty the Sultan's Birthday 15th of July
This joyous occasion is one of the most important events in the
national calendar, with events and festivities taking
place across the whole country. It usually starts when the people
gather at the Taman Haj
i Sir Muda OmarAli
Saifuddien, in the centre
of Bandar Seri Begawan. His Majesty meets his subjects there and delivers
a titah, or
speech, to mark the occasion. Afterwards
there is an investiture at the Istana Nurul Iman and, for the next two
weeks or so, a series of processions, parades and celebrations.
Fireworks displays take place and night markets -
pasar malam
- open up to sell food and drinks to the crowds.
Birthday
of the Prophet Muhammad
This occasion is better known in Brunei as Mauludun
Nabi SAW. Muslims gather at the Taman
Haji Sir Oman Ali
Saifuddien to honour
the occasion. There are readings from the Holy Koran and an address
on Islam from the
Ministry of reliroys Affairs to open
the function. His Majesty the Sultan also gives a speech and then, along
with
other members of the Royal Family, leads a procession on foot
through the main streets of Bandar Seri Begawan.
The Prophet's birthday is also celebrated at the same time in
other parts of the country, with lectures, religous
functions and other activities.
Chinese
New Year
This festival is celebrated by the Chinese community and lasts
two full weeks. It begins with a reunion dinner on
the eve of the celebration which, traditionally, all members
of the family attend. Open house is declared and
everyone is invited to feast on sumptuous spreads of food and
drink. Unmarried youngsters are given 'ang
pow' -
gifts of money in little red packets.
Christmas
Day
Although not celebrated on a wide scale, Christmas Day is nevertheless
a joyous and colourful occasion, well
received by the nation. It is centred
on Bandar Seri Begawan and the Belait District,
where the greatest
concentrations of Christmas expatriates live. They also hold
"open house" to entertain their friends and colleagues.
Brunei has good facilities wide range of sports and recreational
activities These include
golf, bowling, squash, tennis, swimming, badminton, snooker,
windsurfing, soccer,
aerobics and traditional sports such as gasing,
sepak takraw and
kite-flying
Golf
Golf is very popular here, and the Brunei Muara
District has an international-standard,
18-hole par 72, course in beautiful surroundings at the Mentiri Golf Club. This is situated atJalan
Pengkalan
Sibabua. . Other courses include the
Royal Brunei Golf and Country Club at Jerudong
Park, and the Panaga Golf
Club in Seria. There is also a driving
range at the Royal Brunei Sports Complex near the Airport.
Bowling The Utama Bowling Alley is
on Jalan Tutong in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Tennis
For tennis fans, there are courts at the Youth and Welfare Sports
Complex on Jalan Berakas
- with 3 types of
surface: clay, synthetic grass and
cement.
Swimming
Public swimming pools are at the Hassanal
Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan, and at the
Mumong Sports in Kuala Belait.
A nominal entry fee is charged.
Squash
There are public courts at National Stadium. They are open daily
except Friday and Sunday, and bookings can be
made at the stadium. Fees are very moderate.
Windsurfing
and Kayaking
Boards can be hired for a small hourly fee from the Royal Brunei
National Wind surfing Association at Serasa
Beach, along with kayaks for those who prefer a gentler form
of watersport.
Snooker
There are a number of snooker clubs in various locations around
the centre of Bandar Seri Begawan.
Scuba
Diving
Bandar Seri Begawan has a thriving dive club which meets at the
Anggerek Desa swimming pool on Monday
nights around 8.00 pm. There are also
private operators who run boat trips for diving in Brunei Bay at the
weekend. They offer kit hire, guided dives, and courses of instruction.
To contact the club by telephone, ring the
Diving Officer on 02-332077.
Transportation
Taxis
Metered taxis are now available at most hotels and shopping centres as well as the airport. In the capital, Bandar
Seri Begawan, taxis are located at the multi storey
carpark at Jalan
Cator.
Car
Hire
Self drive or chauffeur-driven cars are available for hire from
major hotels and the airport.
Buses
There are three bus lines in Bandar Seri Begawan, the Central
Line, Circle Line and Northern Line. This public
transport operates from 6:30 am to 6pm, with Central Line buses
running every 15 minutes and the Circle Line
once every 20 minutes. The Central Line stops at the following
bus stations: international airport, post of office,
government of offices, government schools, the Terrace Hotel,
the Sheraton Utama Hotel, the Youth Centre,
main
bus terminal in Bandar, the Arts and Handicraft Centre,
the Brunei Museum and the Malay Technology Museum.
The Circle Line stops at the main bus terminal in Bandar, the
Ripas hospital, the Jame Asr' Hassanil Bolkiah
Mosque, the Kiarong fish and vegetable
market, the Centrepoint in Gadong,
government offices,
Immigration/Labour Department, the
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium,
the Pusat Dakwah
Islamiah, the
SMART Department Store, Terrace Hotel, Sheraton Utama
Hotel and the Youth Centre. The Northern Line
caters to three routes, Northern Line 1, Northern Line 2 and
Northern Line 3. Northern Line 1 and 2 runs
between Berakas Camp, International
Airport and the Bus terminal in Bandar, whilst Northern Line 3 runs
between Berakas Camp, the Bus Terminal
and The Malay Technology Museum in Kota Batu.
To get to major towns outside of Bandar, you can catch buses
going to Seria and Kuala Belait at the Bandar
bus
terminal located at the multi storey
carpark. Bus fares start from as low at $1.
Airlines
Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA), flies to over 30 cities. Major airlines
such as Singapore Airlines, Thai International,
Garuda Indonesia, Philippines Airlines
and Malaysia Airlines also service Brunei Darussalam.
Water
Taxis
Water taxis are the most common form of transport in Kampong
Ayer. Fares are negotiable. Regular water
taxi
and boat services to Temburong and
to the Malaysian towns of Limbang, Lawas,
Sundar and Labuan
are also
available. Boat services to Temburong
start at 7:45 am and end at 4:00 pm.
Where to Eat
cuisine.
Hawker-Style
Food
Hawker centres offer fine local delicacies
at very reasonable prices. Favourite dishes
include satay, noodles, rice,
whole roasted chickens, grilled fish and steamboats. Hawker food
can be found along the Brunei River in
downtown Bandar Seri Begawan, and in a purpose-built complex
next to Jerudong Park. The Persiaran Damuan
park on Jalan Tutong
is well known for its popular steamboat dinnersand
satay. In Gadong, there is an indoor
hawker centre on the ground floor of
Yaohan Megamart - which offers a variety of food ranging from quiche
to
sushi!
Restaurant
Dining - Asian
Gadong has a good mix of
restaurants offering Asian cuisine. This includes Chinese,
Lebanese, Indonesian, Indian, Thai and Japanese food,
as well as speciality outlets for
seafood and Nonya. Many are
family-run enterprises with a comfortable, friendly
atmosphere.
Downtown Bandar also has many kedai
makan (local eateries), and good seafood
restaurants can be found along Jalan
Muara and in Muara town. Tutong, Seria and Kuala Belait have a good and
Chinese cuisineis especially
popular in Brunei, and there are many fine authentic restaurants. In
Gadong the
Emperor's Court and the Szechuan
Dynasty are renown, as are the Jade Garden in the Riverview
Hotel and the
Restaurant
Dining - Western
The major hotels all have cafes which serve a mixture
of Asian and western meals, and sumptuous value-formoney
Fast
Food
Fast food has really caught on in Brunei. Pizza Hut,
KFC and MacDonalds all have outlets in the city andatJerudong
Park. Jollibee, Sugar Bun and Express Burger
are local equivalents.
Please note that the public sale and consumption of alcohol is
prohibited by law in Brunei, therefore restaurants do
Tours
There are 35 licensed travel agents in the country. Three of
these specialise in
Park. Other specialist tours include twilight dinner
cruises, golf excursions,
entertaining and informative since you will be in the
hands of experienced operators familier with
the area. For new
residents or long term visitors the tours will prove an vital
orientation exercise. Travel agencies will also be able to
provide travel arrangements to the rest of Borneo's diverse range
of attractions. For further information and
enquiries regarding both private and
packaged tours in Brunei Darussalam, please
contact the licensed travel
agents listed here :
Shopping
For many travellers, one of the pleasures
of visiting another country is finding something of interest and value
for
oneself, family or friends. From market stalls and "syarikats" " to departmental stores For Souvenirs
specific to
Brunei, there are a number of stores as listed in this chapter.
The largest shopping mall in Brunei is the recently completed
onJalan Mc Arthur. This is a breathtaking
piece of
architecture with ample parking for visitors. Departmental stores
in Brunei include Yaohan, with two locations;
Yaohan in Abdul Razak
Plaza and in Gadong Centrepoint.
Located just out of town on Jalan Muara
is another
large departmental Store, Tiong Hin. A very popular shopping mall for locals with a good selection
of grocery
supplies, while upstairs you will find most items from toys to
fishing supplies. Downtown Bandar Seri Begawan,
Kuala Belait and Seria
sport a variety of modern air conditioned outlets and older shop houses.
There are also a
number of shop at theshorts International
Airport,where you can purchase Duty Free items CDs, sports
equipment, chocolate and also a good selection of books on the region.
Banking
Local currency is Brunei dollars and cents . Dollar notes are
available in denominations of 51, X5, $10, X50,
$100, $500, 51000 and $10,000. Coins are in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50
cents denominations. Brunei currency is on par
with the Singapore dollar.
Banking
Hours:
9.00 am to 3.00 pm on Weekdays and
9.00 am to 11.00 am on Saturdays. Most banks handle travellers
cheques
and currency exchange, and are government approved for these transactions.
Communications
The telecommunication system in Brunei Darussalam
is on par with the best in Southeast Asia, serving the country
with fixed phones and also two earth satellite stations for worldwide
IDD, Telex and facsimile links. All hotels in
Brunei are fully equiped with these
services in their business centres.
Hallokad, a prepaid card for International
and local calls, is available. This card allows calls to be made with
any
phone to over 130 countries from Brunei and from 68 countries
to Brunei. You can purchase a HalloKad at
the
international airport and other local vendors . Payphones are
widely available, coin phones are operable with local
coins of 10 to 20 cent denominations. Phone cards for card-operated
Phones are available from JTB and many
retail stores.
Brunei's Internet server (BruNet) is
available in Brunei via fibre optic cable
links with Singapore allowing
international network access through computers. DSTCom,
the mobile system server of Brunei Darussalam,
offers
two mobile systems, AMPS and GSM. If you have a GSM phone you
may use it in Brunei, depending on mutual
agreements between your home country and Brunei. In the event
that there is as yet no agreement made, you will
have to register and purchase a Sim
Card from DSTCom. AMPS Mobile phone rental service is available from
DSTCom, Mobile phone rental charges
vary from $10 per day. A deposit and your credit card imprint is needed
to register and your phone bill will be payable upon return of
the rental phone. If you need further information on
the usage of GSM and AMPS please call DSTCare
Hotline 151. There are five DSTCom offices,
see
advertisement on page 13 for more information.
Time
Brunei is eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S.
Pacific Standard Time.
Postal
Services
Most hotels provide postal services at the front desk. Post offices
are open from 7:45 am to 4:30 pm daily,
except on Friday and Sunday. On Friday, the opening is from 8:00
am -11:00 am and from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Airmail Postcard Rates:
Malaysia & Singapore 20 cents
Other countries 35-60 cents
Newspaper
The only local daily paper in Brunei is the Borneo Bulletin,
which covers both local and international events.
Media Pertama is the weekly Malay language
newspaper. The government also publishes a weekly paper, Pelita
Brunei, which spotlights government
policies and personalities. Foreign newspapers and magazines are also
available in many shops, bookstores and hotels.
Magazines
and Periodicals
Regal magazine is the lifestyle magazine for Brunei. It is mostly
distributed to Visa and Mastercard holders
but
also available on subscription and in most hotels. For a copy
call 2-332384. Other periodicals include Seni
Bina
(an architecture magazine) Intan (a
Malay ladies' magazine) The Brunei Year book (a business reference
phonebook) Muhibah (the inflight
magazine for RBA).
Television
The national television network, Radio & Television Brunei
(RTB), transmitsprogrammes produced locally and
overseas for about 8 hours on weekdays, 12 hours on Fridays and
15 hours on Sundays. News bulletins are
broadcast in Malay and English and carry several international
news services. Malaysian television can also be
received.
You can access CNN, BBC, Star T.V.
with a decoder. This service is widely subscribed to by the hotels and
is
free of charge.
Radio
Radio Brunei began broadcasting in 1957, consisting of two networks,
one in Malay and the other in English,
Chinese and Gurkhali, which are now
called National Network and Pilihan Network
respectively. Both networks
operate on medium wave and FM stereo bands. The National Network
starts at 4.30 a.m. until 12 midnight,
while the Pilihan Network starts at
6.00 a.m. until 12 midnight. The latest network supplied by Radio Brunei
is
called Pelangi Network and it began
its operation on 1st January 1996. This bilingual network (Malay and
English) starts at 6.00 a.m. until 12 midnight, and operates
on FM stereo band only. The UK (London) radio
station Capital FM and Capital Gold can also be received.
Entry Formalities
Travel
Documents
The government of Brunei Darussalam
requires visitors to be in possession of a valid passport.
Visas
Malaysians, Singaporeans, and British nationals (with the right
of abode in UK) are exempted from visas for visits
of up to 30 days. For nationals of Indonesia, The Philippines,
Thailand, Belgium, Canada, Germany,
France,Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, The Republic of
Maldives, New Zealand and Norway, visas are waived for visits
of up to 14 days. Exemptions are also provided
for residents of the United States of America within a period
of 90 days. Nationals of all other countries require a
visa, which must be obtained through Brunei embassies or consulates
before entering Brunei.
Customs
Subject to Section 9, Part B of the Customs Import Duties Order
1973, arriving passengers over 17 years ofage
are eligible for the following concessions:
Used personal effects
Cigarettes
or
Tobacco
200
sticks.
250 grams.
Perfume
or
Toilet water
60 ml.
250 ml.
Alcohol
A non-muslim over 17 years of age may
be allowed to bring in not more than two bottles of liquor (about 2
quarts) and twelve cans of beer for personal consumption, which
must be declared to customs upon arrival by the
passenger himself / herself.
Failure to declare to customs is an offence punishable under
the Customs Act.
Inoculations
Yellow fever innoculations are required
for visitors over one year of age coming from infected areas. Malaria,
cholera and small pox have been eliminated from Brunei Darussalam and innoculations are
not needed.
Airport
Tax
Malaysia and Singapore B$5.00
Other Destinations B$12.00
Airport
Check-In Times
Please arrive in good time at the airport terminal as this will
help ensure that your flight operates on schedule.
Check local road conditions to avoid possible delay. To enable
pre-flight formalities to be concluded, have your
baggage screened and checked-in at Brunei International Airport
at least 1 1/2 hours before scheduled departure.
Reconfirmation
of Bookings
You are required to contact your respective airline reservation
office or its appointed agent for reconfirmation of
your onward or return flight at least 72 hours before its scheduled
departure time. Failure to do so may result in
your reservation being cancelled.
Group
Fares
Special fares are available to passengers travelling as a group
on certain routes. For details on group rates, please
consult your travel agent or any RBA office.
Carriage
of Live Animals
Pets and any other animals are not permitted as checked baggage
on all Royal Brunei flights but can be checked
in as manifested cargo. Full details are available from Royal
Brunei's cargo general enquiry line (Tel:
02-333278) .
Drug
Abuse
The trafficking and illegal importation of controlled drugs are
very serious offences in Brunei Darussalam.
The
penalty for such offences is death.
Medical Facilities
Health services are free for Brunei citizens, with a very nominal
charge for permanent residents and expatriate
government officials and their dependants. RIPAS Hospital is
equipped with modern medical facilities at Jalan
Tutong, and a
number of private clinics operate within the town areas.
Private
Medical Practitioners
Borneo
Clinic
Simpang 27, 1 Bang PIF, Jln
Gadong, B. S. B. Tel: 02-224301
Dr.
Hj. Basheer Ahmad
Bangunan Hj. Ahmad
Laksamana, B. S. B. Tel: 02-220545
Clinic
Chung
Bangunan Hj.
Ahmad Laksamana, B. S. B. Tel: 02-240546
Hart
Medical Clinic
1st Floor, 47 Jalan Sultau,
B. S. B. Tel: 02-225531
Chung
Medical Centre
Unit G3/5, Bang Hj Ahd
Laksamana, B. S. B. Tel: 02-240546
Lai
Clinic
7, 1st Floor, Jalan Bunga
Melor, Seria, Brunei
Darussalam Tel: 03-222244
Dr.
Rao K U Hari
Jalan Kerma
Negara, Kuala Belait, Brunei Darussalam Tel: 03-333244
Specialist
Bersehatan Sdn
Bhd
Unit A & B, 5 & 6 2nd Floor, Mabohai
Shopping Complex Lot 16397, Jln
Kebangsaan, BSB Tel: 02-228417/228421
Jerudong
Park Medical
Centre
Royal Brunei Polo Club Jerudong
Park 2021, Brunei Darussalam Tel: 671433/671412
Riverview
Medical Clinic
Riverview Hotel, Km l, Jln Gadong, B. S. B. Tel: 238018 Ext. 8816
Water and Electricity
Tap water is generally safe to drink,
although some take the precaution of boiling it. Electricity voltage
is 220-240
volts AC, 50 cycles. Television operates on the PAL system.
Common Courtesies
The life of the average Bruneian revolves
around his religion, Islam, with certain things being forbidden (haram),
certain things tolerated but not encouraged (makruh)
and certain things which fall under the embrace of Islam
(halal). Pork, the consumption of alcohol,
eating meat not slaughtered under Islamic guidance, casual touching,
adultery, and coming into contact with the wet nose or hair of
a dog are baram. Smoking and eating shellfish
are
considered makruh. Bruneians
shake hands by only lightly touching hands and then bringing the hand
back to the
chest; it is not customary to shake hands with members of the
opposite sex. You should not point your finger,
instead use the thumb of your right hand with the four fingers
folded beneath it. To call a taxi or attract someone's
attention, wave the whole hand with the palm facing down wards.
Do not smack the fist of your right hand into
your left palm, because it has a different meaning in Brunei
to that of Western countries. When visiting a mosque,
you should always remove your shoes first and you should not
pass in front of a person at prayer or touch the
Koran. Women should cover their heads and not have their knees
or arms exposed. Gifts and particularly food
should only be passed with the right hand, although it is acceptable
to use the left hand under the right wrist for
support.
Business Hours
Government offices are open from 7.45 am to 12.15 pm
and from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm
in the afternoon and are
closed on Fridays and Sundays. Private of offices generally work
from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm on weekdays and
from 8.00 am to 12.00 noon on Saturdays. Most shopping centres are open daily from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm.
Shortened office hours operate during the fasting month.
M.K.Ways (Thailand) Co.,Ltd.
57/10-11 Witthayu Rd., Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel. (662) 2544765 Fax (662) 2545583
E-mail: dechaint@inet.co.th
