TravelswithCharie

We started our river cruise from this jetty to Kampong Ayer. Kampong Ayer or the Water Village is the largest water settlement in the world. It is a self contained community with its own mosques, schools, stores, fire, police and gas stations, etc. Dubbed as the Venice of the East, it has existed for more than 600 years. I would definitely recommend taking a small boat to explore the 30-40 villages (reports vary) on stilts along the banks of the Brunei River. There’s so much to learn here about the culture and history of the country. It’s also refreshing to be out on the water especially since it can get very hot in Brunei in February. Please watch my video of Kampong Ayer here:  https://youtu.be/0NhbtIfmku4?feature=shared Eighteen and a half miles (30km) of wooden walkways connect the homes in the villages. Ripas Bridge or Queen’s Bridge is a cable stayed bridge connecting the city center with Mukim Lumapas in the southern district. Houses on stilts The wooden stilts are subject t...

  Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque One of the most picturesque mosques I’ve visited. It’s even more attractive to view at sunset when the gold domes reflect the sunlight. And it is surrounded by beautiful gardens with fountains that cool and calm the senses. Language and Literature Bureau The history of Brunei spread out across a 30 meter wall. Created from mosaic tiles after a painting by a local artist, it was completed in 1965 and portrays the people of Brunei performing everyday tasks related to its economy. Though Brunei is a small country with less than half a million inhabitants, it has a robust economy driven by oil and natural gas. Its citizens enjoy free education and health care. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) Mosque The SOAS mosque is one of two masjid negara or national mosques in Brunei. It is named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei hence it is sometimes called SOAS 28 Mosque. The large central dome is made of real gold. The mosque is also known as the Taj Mahal of ...