The Wonder Has A Name: Brunei

Long Hiatus

2011-05-11T17:02:00.000-07:00

Assalammualaikum (Peace be Upon You) and Hello,

I am writing to apologise to the blog readers or anyone who has come across this blog, for the super long hiatus. In 2008, both Sherwin and I have left Brunei to continue our education abroad and now, we are currently studying in New Zealand and United Kingdom respectively. Therefore, the situation has created some difficulties for us to update this blog, let alone to acquire information. Nonetheless, since I am already writing this post now, I am going to say that I will try my best to update this blog once in a while to promote Brunei Darussalam, and to provide information about Brunei to those who are interested. :)

Plaiting

2008-01-24T22:43:00.000-08:00

Plaiting is one of the most favourite local activities done by the female population in Brunei Darussalam. Although the purpose is only to kill the time, some of them do take plaiting seriously as a source of earning. There are numerous products of plaiting ranging from nyiru (basket) to tikar (mat).

Nyiru

It is an equipment to separate rice from paddy during rice cultivation. It is made from rotan (stem from a slender palm) and the frame is made from *salingkawang, *rotan peladis, *rotan manuk, or *tamanit.

*different types of rotan

Cloth Weaving (Tenunan)

2008-01-24T04:36:00.000-08:00

Cloth weaving has been practiced by a number of generations already in Brunei Darussalam. It is actively done by the villagers of Lurong Sikuna, Sungai Kedayan, Burong Pingai Ayer and Bukit Salat (all located in Kampong Ayer). Some of them are even hired by government to work at Arts and Handicrafts Centre to display their work to the public especially tourists. Enjoy the clip. =)

p/s: I apologise for the poor quality of the video as I had to compress it to 1.6 from 7.6Mb (notice the big difference!) due to poor dial-up connection. =( But, if you have any doubts or questions, feel free to drop a comment!

Simply green!

2008-01-23T20:00:00.000-08:00

Well preserved with greens, Brunei's beauty is a treasure that no one could ask for more. Brunei shines in freshness and warmth that is undeniable. Covered in more than 70% of rainforest, Brunei can simply be declared a "factory" to fresh air. Ranging from mangrove to peat swamp forests, the trees are exceptionally tall and big. Standing firmly on this solid ground, these trees are the partial "bricks" to Brunei's breathtaking beauty.

Averaging 26°C to 27°C throughout the year, Brunei is a relatively hot region. However, this is compensated with an annual rainfall which varies from about 275 cm along the coast to more than 500 cm in the interior. Being hot and wet, many types of vegetations can be supported and thus, blanketing Brunei with greens and beauty.

Moreover, Brunei is home to an extensive array of flora and fauna from thousands of different species. Likewise, these vegetations home many creatures, big and small, common and rare. In the heart of Brunei's rainforest, proboscis monkeys can be spotted hanging off the branches, colourful birds perched on branches of trees and delivering their melodious twitterings and butterflies from some of the rarest species fluttering around.

Proboscis monkey

Fragantia

Pitcher plant

We are what we eat

2008-01-19T23:11:00.000-08:00

Brunei traditional dishes of course have their own specialities. They are not just unique by their names but also because of their taste and how they are made. Traditional dishes usually are given priority during cultural ceremonies such as wedding ceremony and 'makan tahun' ('makan tahun' is an annual ceremony practiced by Kedayan people).

Kuih muih tradisi (In english; traditional junk food)

Basically, our traditional junk food has two categories: 'kuih muih kering' or 'dry junk food' and 'kuih muih basah' or 'wet junk food'. Eventhough the history of these two categories is unknown, however, in my opinion their purpose is to show numerous ways of baking.

Examples of 'kuih muih kering' are:

This is called Ardam. It is made from flour, oil and sugar.

This is Buahulu made from eggs, corn flour and sugar.

Madu Kesirat

Koya

Examples of 'kuih muih basah' are:

Kalupis

Salurut

Kusoi

Seri muka

Ancient rhythm

2008-01-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

Hello readers! It has been ages since I last posted something here. Anyway, let’s not waste any more time, why don’t you just sit back because in a few seconds or so, I am going to write about our famous Kampong Ayer, a part of our unique heritage =)

For almost 600 years, the capital’s sprawling water village, Kampong Ayer, has been the most important evidence proving the existence of Brunei for centuries. This village consists of scattering homes and various facilities such as mosques, schools, clinics and fire stations. Until this day, water taxis and boats are the most efficient and popular means of negotiating the Kampung’s labyrinthine waterways. From their prows, one could see the mosque’s glistening minarets rising above multi-hued garden-draped homes.

Kampong Ayer

facilities such as water boats, taxis and mosque.

Brunei is a modern and civilized country with its people practicing high technology and gadgets but beyond the cold blinking faces of computer screens and beneath the hum of modems, Kampung Ayer’s heart still dances to an ancient rhythm.

Apart from Kampong Ayer, the practice of making traditional handicrafts such as brass-smithing, silver-smithing and kain tenunan (cloth weaving) is part of our heritage too and being passed down from a generation to another. Brass-smithing and silver-smithing are mainly important for manufacturing our traditional musical instruments such as gulintangan and sometimes for the purpose of making jewelry where as pretty and colourful traditional clothings such as ‘baju kurong’, ‘kain jongsarat’ and ‘sinjang’ are produced in the end of cloth-weaving process.

'Jongsarat' , 'gulintangan' and 'meriam bedil'

Culture defines us

2007-12-30T05:48:00.000-08:00

Hello there fellow readers! Today is 31st of December which marks the end of 2007. Say hello to 2008 and goodbye to 2007. Anyway, that is not my reason of blogging tonight for I am here to share with you our very own culture.

As you all know, Brunei is quite similar to Malaysia and Singapore in a way; our country is multiracial. Brunei consists of Malay and Chinese in majority and Indian and indigenous Malay as minority groups. In other words, we celebrate different kinds of festivals here throughout the year.

Nevertheless, Brunei is adopted to a national philosophy called Melayu Islam Beraja (Malay Islamic Monarchy). It is a blend of Malay language, culture and Malay customs, the teaching of Islamic laws and values and the monarchy system which must be esteemed and practiced by all. That is why all Bruneians are known for their politeness, respectful manners and discipline.

Enchantment of Brunei's Nature

2007-12-27T05:16:00.000-08:00

Today's night is calm. Standing by the balcony, one could feel the gentle night breeze brushing through his hair, whispering mildly in his ears and noting its presence. Even the crickets’ ‘song’ seems so much melodious than ever. Blanketed by the starry sky above, every sad moment seems to have vanished soundly. By stretching out your arm, you could sense the humid air clustering around it like children gathering around Santa Claus during Christmas. The trees and grasses too, are dancingly happily with the mild chilly breeze, as if they were celebrating this festive season together. So much enchantment the nature of Brunei brings, the feeling it lays on our very soul. Such mystic, although abundant, but yet too dear to hold.

Brunei in Brief

2007-12-22T01:06:00.000-08:00

A sun-washed jewel clenched between the South China Sea and North Borneo's rainforest, the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam exudes the colour and mystique of a nation whose sovereignty once stretched across the entire island of Borneo and parts of the Philippines.

Indeed, the word 'Borneo' is an adaptation of the name "Brunei", by which the entire island was once known.

Sixth-century Chinese explorers and traders knew Brunei as "Puni" or "Poli", where Islam had taken deep root as early as 1371. References from 1521 described Brunei as a powerful maritime sultanate, the heart of a trading and tributary empire that dominated the South-East Asian region.

Just 443 km north of the equator, modern Brunei's 5765 sq km land area is bordered by the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak to the east and west respectively and Kalimantan (Indonesia) to the south. Rainfall and humidity are high, with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celcius throughout the year. Yet Brunei rests outside the tropical typhoon and earthquake belts.