Brunei is one of the least- traveled countries in Southeast Asia, and the reputation of the country is such that some prospective tourists might think twice before booking their tickets. People have called Brunei boring, saying that nothing interesting happens in the country and also that no one would feel welcomed there. The above statements gain ground especially when prominent travelers share their bad experiences in Brunei.
However, the opinion of the people does not tell the complete story.
Experiencing Brunei over a period of four days changes one’s perception about the country completely. The journey does not look like a perfectly planned, well-organized tour. Instead, the traveler experiences local neighborhoods, water villages, food markets, wilderness, and even reaches the boundary of Malaysia.
Water Village in Brunei Is Worth Visiting
Water village in Brunei is one of the first stops of the traveler. The water village is reached by the means of water taxi that is usually used by locals. The only aim of the person is to feel the way locals feel.
The boat fare is only one dollar and takes a few minutes. The ride is short, yet it gives some relief from the great heat by the cool breeze blowing across the river. In addition, the boat creates quite an experience due to stable rises and falls of water hitting the boat.
When arriving on the opposite bank of the river, one changes the impression of being at the tourist attraction spot. The buildings in the water village are located on stilts connected by bridges made of wood.
The residents welcome the arrival and tell the tourists about the gallery nearby. It is interesting that the friendliness is in contrast to the perceptions of Brunei being unsupportive towards tourists.
What Is It While Being in a Brunei Water Village?
Walking through the water village has shown many aspects of the past and progress of humanity. Some houses are unexpectedly huge, reaching two floors high.
The wooden sticks on the water village have transferred to metal in some sections. Also, it is possible to see electricity wires connecting the houses, which serves as a proof of modern lifestyle existing at the water village.
Narrow paths function like roads in a small township. Some of them are called by names, although they consist of wooden planks instead of asphalt.
This locality is far bigger than one might think. After spending around 20-30 minutes there, only a small part of it can be examined.
There is also a small private gym located on the stilts.
Meeting friendly local people in Brunei
Perhaps the most unforgettable aspect of this water settlement is not the architecture, but the people.
The locals don’t mind inviting passerby to have a few words while providing different information. The same is true for a small shop selling drinks like 100 Plus.
Despite the fact that a language barrier may arise from time to time, a call to the writer’s girlfriend may help solve the issue, as she speaks the local language – Bahasa.
This experience also contradicts the famous stereotype about Brunei locals being unkind towards tourists.
Does Brunei’s Water Village Have Crocodiles?
One interesting focus is that there are crocodiles.
Although the water village has crocodiles in the waters surrounding the village, the children and their families live in houses that do not have large fences along the walkways.
According to the local explanation, crocodiles had never attacked a person near any house. Nonetheless, people living there understand that there are crocodiles around them.
Crocodiles make walking around the wooden pathways much more interesting. There are loose boards and several holes on the way.
Narrow walkways, crocodiles, and open water create an adventurous but cozy atmosphere.
What Is Life Like in Brunei’s Water Village?
Life in the water village is based more on boats rather than cars. Boats serve as a better means of transportation than cars in every household.
Some of the residents work as water taxi drivers, while others run small shops that can be reached directly from the river.
Gasoline can even be found in the village.
A resident of the village admits that the price of gasoline here is about 80 Brunei cents per liter, but it might be cheaper in gas stations. Fuel is cheap in Brunei due to the fuel reserves the country has.
This entire case portrays how a community can create a real commercial and means of transport system along the water.
What Makes Brunei Water Village Genuine
One of the most important findings from the visit was that the water village does not seem to have been made for tourists.
There are no big tourist groups wandering. What one can see instead is people living their lives.
That authenticity is what makes the place something worth visiting.
People often look for the hottest attractions, but sometimes it is more interesting to visit the place where ordinary people live. The water village gives one chance to observe how the residents of Brunei adapted their transportation for life on water.
The village eventually arrives at the mainland, indicated by the presence of roads and a big mosque. From this point onwards, it becomes apparent how large the village really is.
Searching for Proboscis Monkeys in Brunei
Following the visit of the water village, the expedition proceeds to the mangroves in search of one of the most recognizable creatures of the country—the proboscis monkey.
The boatman arranged for the passage on wildlife spotting trip for BND 30.
While traversing across the water, one can see many small floating businesses and even a floating petrol station. The service station fills the gas tank of the boat with the help of a long hose and the payment is made in a basket.
After passing through the mangroves, the royal palace becomes visible in the distance—the golden dome is easily visible among the green trees.
Suddenly the boatman notices something in the trees.
Seeing Proboscis Monkeys in Their Natural Habitat
A couple of proboscis monkeys can be seen between the greenery.
In a wildlife adventure, there is no assurance of viewing the animals closely. The wildlife tour is about cruising through the habitat where the animals live. The boat arrives at a particular point near the trees where the monkeys can be seen.
The monkeys are spotted after a while.
Around this location, there is a juvenile monkey. The adult monkeys stay at a higher level in the trees forming a family group.
Interestingly, among the monkeys, there is one monkey observing everything happening around the group. Locals say that this was done for safety reasons.
What is interesting is that crocodiles are also lurking around.
Relevance of the Touristic Animal Watching Experience in Brunei
The experience is particularly interesting as it doesn’t involve animals being fed so that the tourists will come and take pictures of them.
Here, there is no theater performance and the participants do not have any certainty that they will get to see any animals in the required spot. The group just watches things happening in their natural environment.
The journey provides proof to the fact that the mangrove ecosystem is important in Brunei. The waterways that pass through them accommodate unique wildlife, communities that depend on boats for transportation, and food production.
If a nature lover is visiting, this activity is undoubtedly one of the most interesting things to do in Brunei.
Eating Local Food in Gadong Night Market
Upon returning to the capital city, it is time to go to Gadong Night Market.
There is an entirely different mood than in the silent city center. By six o’clock in the evening, the market is filled with locals having dinner.
There are multiple food stalls around offering a combination of Bruneian and Malaysian food items, as well as other Southeast Asian dishes.
One can find dishes such as nasi katok, kuih, popiah, noodles, kebabs, roti John, pancakes, and plenty of snacks there.
This market proves that while some areas of Brunei may seem too quiet during the daytime, at night it truly comes alive in areas that offer food.
Gadong Night Market Food Options
I started with a fishy snack that can be considered sausage.
The price for 6 pieces of this snack is around $1. While a similar snack was tried before in Malaysia, the Brunei version is much milder in taste and a bit less fishy.
Thus, it can be eaten by a person who is not fond of fish.
The next dish I tried was something much more heavy as compared to the fish-based sausage.
Brunei Wagyu Burger
The Wagyu burger made of locally sourced beef was chosen as my next meal.
The burger is served with a beef patty and many toppings including a fried egg, cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbages, and mayonnaise. The seller mentioned that it is made of the local Brunei beef.
The burger was larger than I thought because the steak sits outside of the bun.
The exquisite taste of fresh vegetables and a combination of flavors makes a great meal. The dish deserves a good rating of around 8.5.
So, if you are thinking of trying out local food in Brunei, Brunei burger is a great choice!
Brunei’s Mini Pancakes – A Dessert to Satisfy
Following the burger and fish sausage comes a need for dessert.
A small pancake stall has a variety of toppings, including Nutella and strawberry, tiramisu, and cappuccino flavors.
The pancakes are freshly cooked, with about 12 small pancakes as a serving. A plain pancake is first tasted before being topped.
The pancake is hot out of the pan and fluffy inside and a little bit crispy on the outer surface.
Chocolate sauce is added on top of the pancake to turn an appetizer into a dessert. The dessert is rich and full of indulgent calories.
At Gadong Night Market, there are enough tables and chairs for customers to sample food from different stalls without worrying about where to sit.
A Kind Local’s Gesture
While waiting for a taxi after the visit to the market, another unexpected incident happens.
One of Brunei’s locals notices the traveler from a YouTube video and comes with a small gift of food.
This is a simple gesture worth appreciation – it does not require anything in return.
The generosity of the person reflects the hospitality of the nation and helps to shape the impression of the place.
The Beginning of an Unplanned Voyage to the Brunei-Malaysia Frontier
The journey takes an exciting turn.
Unlike the practice of going on a traditional tour, the objective is to take an impromptu trip to the countryside, catch a boat, search for a trekking route, and if possible, get to a place with a view to Malaysia.
The unpredictability arising from lack of planning only adds to the excitement of this adventure.
Really dark clouds can be seen, which prompts worry since the path itself goes through a high mountain region.
After purchasing some drinking water, the travelers find a local boat driver willing to take them to the destination.
This becomes fascinating as the border area stretches across the waterway.
Experiencing Malaysian Soil from Brunei
Usually, the border between two nations is marked by great walls or big checkpoints but here it is defined only by the river.
This means Brunei is on one bank whereas Malaysia is on the opposite side. Mangroves are plentiful and not much can be seen except for some cottages on the shores.
This is extraordinary for those who are fond of geography and borders as two countries can be very close yet separated.
The captain of the boat has mentioned that there are people attempting to get to Malaysia, yes to purchase alcohol to bring back to Brunei where there are stricter rules concerning alcohol use.
A Surprise Storm Alter the Game
Sadly, the hike does not proceed as it was supposed to.
As the boat approaches the site, it starts to rain. A thunderstorm seems to be about to come.
The rain gets heavier and thunder starts rumbling through the air.
Instead of going for a hike through the forest, it is decided to cancel that plan.
Yet while the objective is not achieved, the boat ride itself does become one of the best activities of the entire journey.
The boat keeps moving along the border while rain falls creating circumstances that would be hard to foresee.
Why Irregular Trips are the Source of Fantastic Memories
Travel is not always performed in accordance with the plan.
The rainstorm in Brunei creates just that moment.
Instead of letting the weather spoil the occasion, the traveler enjoys the situation. After all, many years later, the traveler will hardly reminisce about reaching the hiking trail. Instead, it will be about the trip by boat between Brunei and Malaysia in a thunderstorm.
This is a kind of adventure which is not something you can easily buy in a tour package.
A Different Side of Brunei Outside the Capital
Another interesting thing starts the next day.
Outside the well-kept central parts of the capital, Brunei starts looking surprisingly similar to some parts of Malaysia.
The language is almost the same, there are similar dishes in the restaurants and the atmosphere is less formal and looks less rich than it is in the center of the capital.
One more discovery of the traveler is that there are not many shopping malls in Brunei and even the shop that is visited is supposed to be the only shopping mall in Brunei.
For a person coming from the major Southeast Asian cities like Kuala Lumpur where shopping malls are everywhere, this fact is quite astonishing.
Brunei has just a slower and quieter pace
Is Brunei Really That Dull?
After spending a full four days traveling around the country, it is clear that the answer to this question is more complex.
Brunei is definitely quieter than many of the more popular places in Southeast Asia.
There are not countless attractions, huge entertainment centers, or ever-present crowds. Some places almost feel deserted when compared to capitals like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, or Jakarta.
But does that mean that Brunei is boring?
Not at all.
The country offers experiences that are hard to find somewhere else: stilt villages, mangrove forests, proboscis monkeys, remote border areas, night bazaars, and spontaneous communication with locals.
For those visitors that expect to have a busy schedule, packed with things to see every hour, Brunei could seem dull.
However, for those travelers that enjoy nice places and authentic experiences, the very lack of activity can turn into the greatest attraction.
These implications put into doubt the perception of Brunei as a place that does not welcome tourists.
Of course, one’s experience cannot represent the entire community and the varied situations therein. Although, during the four-day visit to Brunei, the traveler meets friendly and helpful people.
What Is the Ideal Number of Days to Be in Brunei?
For this kind of traveling, four days is the perfect number of days.
It is undoubtedly possible to stay longer, but those who want to have activities all the time may find this pace a bit slow.
However, in a short trip, four days will be enough to familiarize oneself with the capital, see the water village, try some local food at the markets, go on a safari in the jungle, and travel a little to the country side.
In any case, Brunei is an ideal place for travelers who want to slow down instead of jumping from one tourist attraction to another.
Is a Trip to Brunei Worth It?
The country possesses a certain uniqueness of its own.
The aquatic villages in the country introduce one to its typical lifestyle. The mangroves found here are home to rare species. The numerous night bazaars provide insight into local cuisine and the way of life. The border regions offer wonderful opportunities to understand geography and the respective culture as well.
However, nothing works better than the locals who meet you on your path.
Brunei is not meant for every kind of traveller, yet declaring it an utterly boring place does not seem fair.
If you are seeking to experience quieter parts of Southeast Asia which are less frequented by travellers, spending some time in Brunei might be a good choice.
There is no need for Brunei to compete with Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines in regard to the nightlife or quantity of interests. Clearly, Brunei is attractive in terms of the peacefulness of life and the local world around.
When you finish your stay in Brunei, you will understand that it is not a country worth avoiding.
