October 23rd, 2009 — 3:40pm
With many prominent Bruneian’s having 20 or more words to their full name and title, deciphering who they are or how to address them correctly is tricky. Fortunately Bruneians allow much leeway to foreigners and slip ups in “protocol” are tolerated (or even expected!). Anyway this is a large and complex topic, but here are the basics. One word of caution though, never get a person’s title wrong in correspondence. This is an insult and your letter will in all likelihood remain unread or returned un-opened! A prominent Bruneian will usually have a name with a structure as follows: Title – Family Name – Son/Daughter of.
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Comment » | Brunei Darussalam
October 23rd, 2009 — 3:39pm
The main employers of expats in Brunei include:
The Loan Service (British Army personnel on loan to the Sultan)
Brunei Shell
Royal Brunei Airlines
Teachers: CfBT and the International Schools JIS and ISB
Hospitals: Jerudong Park Medical Centre
Hotels: The Empire and The Sheraton etc
Government depar Read More
Comment » | Brunei Darussalam
October 23rd, 2009 — 3:38pm
Yes. Brunei has a good range of Asian food outlets serving Bruniean, Malaysian, Singaporean, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese fare. Italian food is well catered for and you can even go to a “genuine” fish and chip shop should the mood take you. The Empire and the S Read More
Comment » | Brunei Darussalam
October 23rd, 2009 — 3:36pm
You can buy most things here in Brunei. Except alcohol !
If you are after your old favourites from home then choice can sometimes be limited or stock comes and goes. You soon learn to buy your favourite food items in bulk when you see them on the shelf (and those packets of Abbey Crunch have my name Read More
Comment » | Brunei Darussalam
October 23rd, 2009 — 3:16pm
Brunei People
Brunei has a mixture of Southeast Asian ethnic groups. About two-thirds of the population is Malay, nearly one-fifth is Chinese, and the remainder are indigenous peoples. Almost two-thirds of the people are Muslims, 12 percent are Buddhists, and 9 percent are Christians, and in the rem Read More
Comment » | Brunei Darussalam
October 23rd, 2009 — 3:15pm
Brunei Climate
The climate is tropical, with uniform daily temperatures in the high twenties to mid thirties with cooler evenings and nights, high humidity and heavy annual rainfall with most of this falling in the monsoon season between November and March. Heavy rain tends to last for less than an Read More
Comment » | Brunei Darussalam
October 23rd, 2009 — 3:13pm
Economy
Brunei enjoys one of the highest standards of living in South East Asia and remains one of the few countries in the world with no personal income tax. The sources of Brunei’s wealth are the oil and gas industries which supply the country with 76 per cent of its gross domestic product ( Read More
Comment » | Brunei Darussalam
October 23rd, 2009 — 3:11pm
Brunei Darussalam is located at the geographic centre of Asia on the island of Borneo. It is a small and self sufficient nation, protected by the political stability of the longest serving family monarchy in the world. The current Sultan, Hassnanal Bolkiah, has been the benevolant ruler of Brunei si Read More
Comment » | Brunei Darussalam
October 23rd, 2009 — 1:47pm
By the end of the 18th century, Omanis were in control of an extensive empire. In 1749 the first ruler of the present dynasty (Al-Busaid) gained power and in 1786 the capital was formally moved from the interior to Muscat. About this same time, the Al-Busaid adopted the title of Sultan which continu Read More
Comment » | Oman
October 23rd, 2009 — 1:46pm
The tribes in the northern part of Oman were converted to Islam during the first generation of the Islamic era , they follow a different form of Islam as compered to main Sunni and Shia Islam the middle of the 7th century AD and shortly after, came under the rule of the Umayyads whose centre was in Read More
Comment » | Oman