| Foreign
Features
Peaceful
paradise JARUNEE TAEMSAMRAN Most people know little about Brunei Darussalam except that it is ruled by a sultan and is an oil-rich Muslim state.
When visiting the country, it is immediately obvious that the people have the utmost respect for the Islamic religion and the monarchy. It is also clear that the country is enormously wealthy and the government isn't shy about showing it, especially around Muslim-related sites. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah is not afraid to spend money to ensure his subjects enjoy the best standards of living. He subsidises basic necessities such as education, health and housing. One of the country's best hotels, the Empire Hotel, is a first-rate tourist facility with resort-style accommodation, movie theatres, 88-hole golf courses and other entertainment facilities. With an idyllic view of the South China Sea, most of the hotel's interior is glittered with gold decorations. The lobby, ceiling, picture frames and furniture sets are decked in 24-carat gold, and so are the toilets and room door handles. The Royal Regalia Building features Borneo ethnology, natural history and hundreds of intricate Islamic art pieces.
But the hotel seemed a bit lifeless because there were very few other guests. This is the perfect place for a serene and private holiday because there is hardly anyone else around. Families and romantic couples would have a ball here. Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, has many intriguing attractions for tourists. Many of the sites are related to the royal family and Islam. The two most important places on tourists' itineraries are the national royal mosques, one honouring the present sultan and the other dedicated to the previous sultan. The first mosque was founded for the 25th anniversary of the sultan's accession the throne. It is Brunei's largest mosque and arguably its most magnificent. The mosque features an outstanding giant golden dome, which looks beautiful at night with its golden exterior shining in the dark sky. The sultan visits regularly for religious ceremonies. Visitors can visit when there are no religious ceremonies but female visitors are not allowed to enter the prayer hall and must cover their bodies in a black cloth, which is provided. |
A
member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation, Brunei
only began promoting itself as a tourist destination a few years
ago. It is now ready to show off its wealth to the world. 
After
we checked into the hotel, we were impressed with the grandeur
of the whole compound, especially the wide lobby area. 
