A gap year in Brunei
Gap years in Brunei
Impossibly glamorous Brunei is the must-see destination for backpackers in stilettos. Tax-free living entices the rich and famous to this Malaysian country. Best known for its oil exports (it produces 180,000 barrels of oil every day), Brunei is making a bid for the tourist market. Unfortunately, we’re not taking the bait. Only the savvy traveller makes Brunei part of a world itinerary. Why? Because – with high wages, incredible rainforests and great travel connections – it’s the perfect place to begin an astounding gap year.
Gap Year Opportunities
Teaching in Brunei, while not well-known or widely available, is extremely well paid. You can expect to earn at least £900 per month plus accommodation, which is more than enough to give you a good fund for further travel. Teachers are required by government schools; the education system in Brunei is, like other public services, excellent.
| There are currently no vacancies available. |
Getting Around
You’ll need a generous budget to travel around Brunei – room and food will cost at least £30 per day. Public transport in Bandar Seri Bagawan (the capital) is scarce, but buses do occasionally appear. Leaving the city is pleasurable, with good roads and tour operators running excursions to the national parks and oil refineries (if you must).
About Brunei
Happily seated at the north-western tip of Borneo, Brunei Darussalam (“Abode of Peace”) is one of the world’s richest countries – in oil, in cash, and in natural bounty. Its vast oil resources have meant that plundering the countryside has never been necessary: as such, most of the country is untouched tropical rainforest.
Brunei Darussalam is an Islamic state, and strict by any standards. Drinking and indulging in extramarital relations are forbidden – at least in public. Women should dress modestly and both sexes should be aware of basic etiquette. Don’t shake hands with a member of the opposite sex, don’t show the soles of your feet or point, and remove shoes to enter mosques.
In Brunei and all over the world, the royal family is a source of fascination. The current Sultan, 60-year-old Hassanal Bolkiah (full name curtailed – we don’t have the space), lives in the world’s biggest palace with his collection of 3,000 concept and luxury cars. He’s allowed four but presently only has two wives – having recently divorced a flight attendant for a Malaysian TV presenter. The Sultan and his children (six princesses and five princes) live in world-renowned luxury; sending $5m worth of diamonds to congratulate Mariah Carey, supporting dozens of children, and splashing out $16bn on yachts and jets have ensured they’re in the news on a constant basis.
See Brunei
Bandar Seri Bagawan, the capital, is the focus of plenty of Sultanate spending. There’s a vast marble shopping centre, a completely free amusement park, and several spectacular mosques. But beyond the commercial splendour of the city lies the splendour of a richly diverse rainforest.
In the Ulu Temburong National Park you can see proboscis monkeys, macaques, hornbills, crocs and snakes - and, of course, travel onward into Borneo. Mount Kinabalu, Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Turtle Island and Mulu Caves draw wildlife lovers here from all over the world. It’s easy to move on to explore the rest of Malaysia, Thailand and further afield – use Royal Brunei, the elegant airline funded by the Sultanate, and continue your trip in the style you’ve now become used to.