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There are beaches with facilities
at Kuala Belait, Lumut Beach near Tutong and at Muara. Brunei is a
heavily forested state, and most activity is either on the coast or at
the estuaries.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN :
The principal tourist sights in the capital are
: the minaret crowning the golden-domed Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien
Mosque, which stands in the middle of its own artificial lagoon,
affording a fine view over the town and stilt village; the
Churchill Memorial, incorporating the Churchill Museum and
Aquarium ; the ancient Tomb of Sultan Bolkiah, the fifth
sultan, known as the ‘singing admiral’ for his love of both music and
conquest; the Brunei Museum; and the Malay Technology Museum
showing traditional crafts. Kampong Ayer is the water village
on the outskirts of the capital, reputed to be the largest collection
of stilt habitations in the world; visitors can walk freely around the
wooden walkways between the houses, which combine traditional
architecture with modern facilities such as Internet connections.
EXCURSIONS :
Outside the capital
within the Brunei-Muara district, Jerudong Theme Park, best
reached by road, offers free modern amusements and rides next to a
beach. Other beaches can be found at Muara and Serasa,
where watersports are popular. Local travel agents offer
half-day boat tours to Pulau Selirong, a mangrove island 45
minutes from Muara by boat, where wildlife includes proboscis monkeys,
macaques, kingfishers and eagles. Other islands in Brunei Bay offer
beaches and watersports.
ELSEWHERE :
Tasek Merimbun,
Brunei’s largest lake, is in a hill resort in the Tutong District just
over an hour’s drive from Bandar Seri Begawan; it offers peaceful
picnicking, bird watching facilities and jungle trails. Many unspoiled
jungle areas in other districts are accessible only by boat. There are
splendid traditional longhouses in the Temburong district, which
contains large tracts of virgin rainforest. Travel agents offer day or
overnight tours to the Ulu Temburong
National Park with
forest canopy trails on wooden walkways; trips can include rafting and
swimming. In the Belait district near Kampong Labi, there are
more traditional longhouses including Rampayoh. River safaris
up the Belait River offer opportunities to visit remote forest
communities, longhouses, hot springs and waterfalls. Recreational
parks in Belait district include Luagan Lalak, where there is a
picnic area and a wooden walkway across the lake. The Billionth
Barrel Monument near Kuala Belait is a testament to the
continuing importance of oil to Brunei’s economy. |
