A Warrior’s House One of the highlights of our trip to Brunei was having tea at a warrior’s house on the Brunei River. It is a house on stilts. I was very curious what these houses were like inside. Thankfully we had the chance to discover this with our afternoon sightseeing tour. It was quite a challenge to get off the boat and climb up the narrow wooden stairs to the large porch of the house. I did so holding on to the steps with my hands for extra caution as I was afraid of falling into the waters below. Inside the house we sat in the spacious and tidy living room. We were allowed to take photos so I can show you this warrior’s house. Who are these warriors of Brunei? These are the men who formed part of the King’s military regimen or the King’s Guards. In the 16th century, they were often sent to fight outside of the sultanate and reported to the local chiefs. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces became the official military unit of Brunei after its independence from the British in 198
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” - James Michener