Bandar Seri Begawan Local Customs

Brunei is a Muslim country. However, there is a large population of non-Muslims, prominently of Chinese or Indian decent.

Muslims do not eat pork, nor drink alcohol. Brunei has made a loop-hole for the former of these, but has instituted a 'dry' country policy against alcohol.

Restaurants that serve pork dishes must publicly display the fact as to caution Muslims about dining there. One such sign is shown here, but many alternatives exist. If you are meeting people, it would be courteous to choose a restaurant keeping this in mind.

If you are content to eat fish, chicken, beef or vegetarian, you can go anywhere. If you are searching for a bit of pork, you will most probably have to go to a Chinese style restaurant.

On the unlikely chance that the servers don't speak English, here are some helpful words while dining:
chicken - ayam
beef - daging
seafood - makanan laut
vegetable - sayur-sayuran
rice - nasi
how much? - Berapa?
where is the toilet? - di mana tandas?

I'm not a smoker so cannot say I had a problem with this, but I'm sure some may find it a bit tough to get their nicotine fix when the urge arises.

Smoking is prohibited in many places, for example all air conditioned public areas as well as many open air places. Recreational areas, restaurants, schools, public transport, etc.

Best to take a look around before you light up.

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Sultan Hossanul Bolkiah is highly respected and in the words of one Malay ciiizen (non malays are not citizens anyway), better to say a Malay denizen, he is good to us. Nothing like the reverance Thai people have for Bhumipal Ayudej the King of Thailand. Brunei Malays know where the toast is buttered. So his birthdays are serious affairs. Fully six months before his 62nd birthday in July 2008, no one other than the Interior Minister have called together a committe to discuss matters relating to the celebration of His Exfellency, may Allah grant him long life, Hossanul Bolkiah.
Unlike the Malay Sultans of Peninsular Malaysia, this Sultan has absolute power and money to prove it. Like his father did in December 1962, when there was an uprising against the Sultan by disgruntled Malays and Indonesians. Gurkhas were flown in and soon the rebellion was over. By the way the Gurkhas are still here, you can see their army compound in Seria.

When you enter someone's house, chances are you will have to take off your shoes. It's a normal custom in Asia and if you're not used to it, you have to start practicing because should you just walk into someone's house with your shoes on, it's considered rude and unclean.

Brunei is a Muslim country and unlike their neighbors, Malaysia or Indonesia, they have implemented a "no alcohol" law. So, you are advised not to bring alcohol into the country or drink it in public. I guess some expatriates have brought in liquor but they are allowed to.

Royal Brunei Airlines also does not serve alcohol onboard their flights

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In both Brunei and Singapore, both currencies can be used interchangably because their values are the same since many years ago. Therefore you can use Singapore dollars in Bandar Seri Begawan (and other parts of Brunei) if you happened to visit Singapore prior to Brunei. However, I was told some stalls do not accept Singapore coins but I did not encounter this problem when I was at Bandar Seri Begawan

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When I was on the speed boat trip along the Brunei River visiting the various water villages of the famous Kampong Ayer, I had three interesting observations. Firstly, the structures supporting the various buildings in the water are actually made from concrete (see photo) so they are actually very strong compared to similar water villages of neighbouring countries such as Indonesia where the structures are made of wood. Secondly, I noticed that there is a huge Shell petrol station on the water (see photo), which the boatman told me is the major petrol station for the speedboats moving along the river. The petrol used is the same as those for cars. Thirdly, some of the people staying in the water villages actually have cars, and they park their cars at a big carpark just next to the river (see photo).

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Like many other cities around the world, Bandar Seri Begawan is situated next to a river called the Brunei River (Sungai Brunei in Malay) which is the life line of the city. Even till today, there are about 30 water villages on this river (which make up the famous Kampong Ayer) and speedboats and other boats still move along the river almost every minute. This river is also a vital link to the Temburong area of Brunei (east of the city), which is cut off from the rest of the country by land so travelling there is only possible by boats leaving from Bandar Seri Begawan. A trip to Bandar Seri Begawan will not be complete without taking a boat ride on the Brunei River and exploring Kampong Ayer (see my Kampong Ayer tips and photos).