Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine August 2016 | Page 121

Travel | Brunei

117

© Jay Tundall

Brunei’s most
recognisable landmark
– the Sultan Omar Ali
Saifuddin Mosque.
Friendly vendors at
a local produce market.

struck by their warmth and guilelessness.
We also had the chance to visit a family
in the village and get a glimpse of their
over-water lifestyle.
We continued along the river, beyond
the city to the surrounding mudflats and
mangroves. I was disappointed that it was
high tide, since I’d been told that at low tide
the area was crawling with crocodiles.
We did, however, see several troupes of
proboscis monkeys, with their distinctive
squashed and trunk-like noses – each group
heralded by one male with his harem of
females and babies. These endangered
creatures are still relatively common here
and in Brunei’s national parks, along with
a rich array of other exotic flora and fauna.
Blanketed by pristine rainforest, many
of the parks are criss-crossed with elevated
walkways so you can immerse yourself in the
canopy and discover its natural wonders.
That evening, I made my way to the
city’s night market. Though not sprawling,
like many I’ve been to, Pasar Gadong was
extremely clean (this was becoming a theme),
and I was surprised how appetising the food
looked. Fresh, vibrant fruits and vegetables
lay alongside thick cuts of lamb, grilled fish,

sausages, beef with noodles, satays and other
local dishes, and there was even one stand
selling burgers Brunei-style. Once again
though, my strongest impression was of
the vendors’ easy charm and wide smiles as
I approached them to sample their wares.
Arguably the reason for the pervasive
happiness of the people of Brunei is the
country’s social system. It’s a good one –
with no income tax, fuel at 30 cents a litre,
free medical care and significant housing
subsidies – plenty of reasons to smile, you
might say. But, perhaps it is the fact that
despite their city being among the cleanest
I’ve visited, and their being surrounded
by gorgeous natural rainforest, they are
largely left alone.
As a country with an undeserved bad
reputation, it is avoided by visitors looking
for the flashy bars and nightlife of more
obvious Asian destinations, which means
mass tourism hasn’t taken hold or been
allowed to make the changes it usually
does. In turn then, the people of Brunei
are at liberty to be genuinely friendly
and welcoming to those visitors who do
venture in, revealing the real charm
of this place – the people.

5 Senses – Sight
SMILING FACES
Brunei conjures a certain picture in
your imagination, with a skyline punctured
by domes and spires. But besides that most
postcard-perfect and iconic of landmarks,
the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque,
and beyond the charms of the Istana Nurul
Iman, which can only be glimpsed from afar,
the real star attractions in Brunei are the
faces of its people. Everywhere you look,
young and old greet you with genuine
warmth and ear-to-ear grins.  
Mendengar kata Brunei, gambaran
yang muncul dalam imajinasi adalah
cakrawala yang dihiasi kubah dan menara
masjid. Namun di samping objek-objek
wisatanya yang ikonis dan indah, seperti
Masjid Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, dan
pesona Istana Nurul Iman, yang hanya bisa
dilihat sekilas dari kejauhan, yang paling
menarik dari Brunei adalah wajah rakyatnya.
Ke mana pun Anda pergi, orang-orang tua
dan muda akan menyambut Anda dengan
kehangatan yang tulus dan senyuman lebar.