Brunei Geography and Climate
Brunei is a small but very rich country in Southeast Asia. Brunei’s riches come from oil and gas available on site. The country is divided into two parts and is located on the northwest coast of Borneo. The country is surrounded by Malaysia which also divides it into two parts. Brunei’s location on the South China Sea is very strategic as it is very close to the shipping lanes that link the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The country has an exclusive fishing zone that extends to the Louisa Reef in the southern part of the Spratly Islands.
Brunei became independent in 1984 after about a century under British control. The country is a Muslim sultanate and where absolute monarchy applies and the throne is inherited. The official language of the country is Malay and the capital is called Bandar Seri Begawan. Most people understand English and this is the language used in business contexts. In 2013, it was estimated at around 415,000 inhabitants.
Geography and climate
When looking at Brunei’s geography, it is interesting to note that the country consists of two different enclaves that are separated by, and which are also surrounded by, Malaysia. The country has a coast facing the South China Sea and this coast is important for transporting oil and gas. After the capital Bandar Seri Begawan, the port city of Muara and the important oil industry city of Seria are the largest. Most live in the western part of the country.
According to bridgat.com, Brunei’s climate can be described as equatorialtropical, which means that you have high humidity and also high temperatures all year round. A large part of the country is covered by rainforest and there is a mountain area where the highest peak on the mountain Bukit Pagong measures 1850 meters. It rains a lot both on the coast and in the inland jungle-covered hills. It is driest in October, November and December, and driest in February and March. It almost does not matter when you choose to visit Brunei because the weather is very constant and you have to expect some rainfall during your stay.
A country with sharia law
In 2013, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah communicated his plans to introduce sharia law in Brunei. This means, among other things, that the death penalty is given for infidelity and homosexuality. This decision was met by protests from organizations working for human rights in the world and has also been disapproved of by the country’s own residents who may not really have the same freedom to openly protest in a dictatorship. Despite the foreign protests, the new laws have been gradually introduced and this process is expected to continue with the introduction of new parts of the Sharia law in 2014.
